《I Pulled Out the Excalibur》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 The Wizard of the Lake, Merlin. A constetion, usually like a beautiful and tranquilke, always marked by gentle ripples, was boiling madly like water in a pot. ¡°Wow, wow, wow¡­¡±, she clutched her feverishly hot neck. ¡°What kind of insane person is this?¡± Stars listen to human voices. It¡¯s a well-known fact, but the reality is a bit different. There¡¯s one more condition attached. Stars listen to the voice of those with the right qualities. Not every human voice reaches the stars. Most voices be mere noise, passing by the constetions, but only the voice of someone with the right qualities can be meaningful sentences. ¡®Even then, it¡¯s heard only as a faint murmur¡­¡¯ It should have been so, but why? Merlin recalled the voice that had echoed in her ears moments ago. It was so clear. It wasn¡¯t just a sentence with meaning; she could even understand the mocking tone. A clear voice heard for the first time in hundreds of years. A definite will of someone with the qualities of a hero. And the will conveyed by that voice was enough to stir Merlin¡¯s tranquilke. It outright denied King Arthur¡¯s achievements, mocking him as a ¡®man of his time.¡¯ ¡°Is this really happening?¡± Fury red in Merlin¡¯s eyes. The Constetion, the Sword of Selection, the protagonist of ¡°The Chronicles of Arthur,¡± had the most followers among constetions across the continent. Everyone knew that. Yet, to insult Arthur? With such nonsensical words? Was this guy desperate to die? Merlin¡¯s eyes widened as she looked down upon the earth. Her gaze could reach anywhere touched by starlight. She rapidly scanned for the owner of the voice that had echoed in her ears. But she couldn¡¯t see him. She thought she had seen an insolent boy when the voice echoed¡­ but now, she couldn¡¯t see his face anywhere. ¡®Has he hidden in a ce where the starlight doesn¡¯t reach?¡¯ It didn¡¯t matter. Let¡¯s see if he can hide for a lifetime. ¡°Just get caught in my sight.¡± With a click, Merlin bit her nail. Her eyes, filled with blood vessels, moved rapidly. She wouldn¡¯t miss even the smallest trace. ¡°You won¡¯t die an easy death, kid.¡± Whether he was a genius with the qualities of a hero, an apostle of a star serving another constetion, or a favorite disciple of the Sword Master, it didn¡¯t matter to Merlin. She just needed to make him pay for insulting her king. The Wizard of the Lake vowed by her pride as a constetion. She would find and crush that audacious brat. ¡°Uh, what¡¯s this?¡±, I massaged my neck. Suddenly, my neck felt tight, as if someone had made a vow to the sky to catch and beat me. ¡®Who is it?¡¯ Honestly, I had made quite a few enemies here and there, so there were more than a couple of people who might be vowing to get me. Probably nothing. It could be the pickpocket, Tus, whom I disarmed a while ago, or the drunkard, Belga¡­ Anyway, it didn¡¯t seem like a big deal. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Shaking off various thoughts, I opened my eyes that I had closed. ¡°Offen, does this meditation stuff really work?¡± I turned my head and looked at a corner of the clearing. There sat a man in shabby clothes. He was like a mentor to me, teaching me swordsmanship. Responding to my question, he slowly opened his mouth. ¡°Of course. Gathering one¡¯s mind through meditation is the very basics. If your mind wavers, so does the tip of your sword¡­¡± Here we go again. I shook my head and drew my sword. ¡°Enough of that, just watch me swing my sword.¡± ¡°Tch. Show some respect for your teacher, you damned brat.¡± ¡°Then at least put down that bottle of liquor you¡¯re taking care of more than your student.¡± I looked disdainfully at Offen, who had been drinking since early morning. Rumor had it that he was a well-known mercenary in the upper city before being exiled to this underground city¡­ Every time I saw him like this, I doubted those rumors. Unkempt beard. Shabby clothes and drunken eyes. Offen looked like a man who anyone would just mumble ¡®Ah, a drunkard¡¯ and move on. ¡®But still¡­¡¯ I took my stance and swung my sword. ¡®His skills are undeniable.¡¯ As soon as I swung my sword, a sharp voice echoed in the clearing. ¡°You¡¯re too rigid. Loosen up. Tuck in your elbows more.¡± It was Offen¡¯s critique. I adjusted my stance ordingly, and the effect was immediate. The sound of my sword swing became heavier. Surprisingly, it sounded heavier even though I was using less force. Whoosh. I continued to swing my sword, and Offen asionally gave brief pieces of advice. His teaching was always like this. He wouldn¡¯t show or adjust the stance himself but always gave advice. ¡®And¡­¡¯ His advice was always genuine. Although he might look and actually be a drunkard, Offen became infinitely serious when it came to the sword. ¡°Lower your stance.¡± Like now. ¡°Keep your eyes open.¡± Sharp voice. ¡°Breathe. Exhale. You¡¯re putting in too much strength.¡± Not drunken eyes, but sharp pupils. ¡°It¡¯s not about pressing down with weight. What you¡¯re holding is not a blunt instrument, but a de for cutting. Don¡¯t press down, swing it as if you¡¯re brushing past.¡± Listening to Offen¡¯s voice, I swung my sword for a long time. Sweat dripped down my back. ¡°Put strength in your legs and step forward. It¡¯s not about swinging with force. Follow the path of the sword to the end.¡± Paying attention to his advice, I thought. Probably, this swing would be thest for today. I had a lot to do. ¡®Thest one should be clean.¡¯ I adjusted my grip on the sword. Remembering the advice I heard today, Iposed my breath. Offen¡¯s voice echoed in my ears like an illusion. ¡®Take a big step.¡¯ Thump. ¡®Compose your breath, and watch the tip of the sword without stiffening up.¡¯ I exhaled and swung my sword. From top to bottom, a basic swing that hardly qualified as swordy. Yet, at that moment, I had an intuition. It was different than usual. Swoosh! The sound of the sword cutting through the air resounded. The trajectory of the sword tip was clearly visible. A clean silver trace, drawn without any wavering. Only after the slicing sound echoed did I take a deep breath. ¡°Cough, cough!¡± For some reason, the breath I inhaled felt hot. Confused by the hot air, I coughed dryly and turned towards Offen. ¡°Offen, wasn¡¯t thatst one pretty good?¡± It was a surprisingly clean swing. I asked with a bit of expectation and excitement, but Offen looked at me with a lukewarm gaze. He opened and closed his mouth repeatedly. ¡°Well¡­¡± After a brief pause, Offen muttered nkly. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it good?¡± ¡°What kind of vague answer is that?¡± ¡°Well, it was good. Clean.¡± ¡°Right?¡± I smirked, wiping the sweat off my forehead before sheathing my sword. As I was finishing up, Offen asked me a question. ¡°Got any ns? You finished up earlier than usual today.¡± ¡°Where else would I go? Work, obviously.¡± ¡°Who is it this time?¡± Offen¡¯s eyes narrowed instantly. I answered with a bitter smile, ¡°Tricksy.¡± ¡°Tricksy of the Lc Tavern?¡± I nodded, and Offen clicked his tongue briefly. ¡°That bastard finally crossed the line, huh?¡± ¡°Seems like he got caught by Ivan after taking kids and slicing them open to sell. What can I do? I¡¯ve got to take care of it.¡± ¡°You?¡± ¡°Who else but me? I¡¯m Ivan¡¯s hound, after all.¡± Offen grumbled and took a swig of his drink. ¡°That Ivan, always making a kid like you do all sorts of things. Damn it, he¡¯s messed up, and so is his whole group.¡± ¡°You¡¯re part of Ivan¡¯s group too, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because he kept asking me to¡­ Ugh, forget it.¡± Offen waved his hand dismissively. It was his way of saying to get lost. I chuckled and began to walk away. ¡°Najin.¡± I had only taken a few steps when I heard my name and turned around. There stood Offen, staring straight at me, an empty bottle of liquor at his feet. ¡°Come back tomorrow.¡± ¡°I would have even if you hadn¡¯t said anything.¡± The empty lot where Najin had vanished. Offen slowly stood up and walked over to where Najin had been swinging his sword just moments before. He silently observed the traces Najin had left behind. His gaze lingered on the spot where Najin had swung his swordst. Offen exhaled deeply. Before getting stuck in this underground city, he had been a famous mercenary and a swordsman, although he hadn¡¯t been strong enough to take on real powerhouses¡­ But at the very least, he could recognize someone¡¯s level. Offen pondered over the trajectory of Najin¡¯s final sword swing. That damn kid probably didn¡¯t even realize what he had done at the end. ¡®I¡¯m sure he heard the sound.¡¯ The swish of cutting through the air. He probably thought nothing of it. He heard a slicing sound even though he was cutting through thin air. There was only one reason for that. Offen touched the ground where the sword marks were. It was where Najin¡¯s sword had passed through. The ground was hot. He could feel the heat emanating from the ground. Digging through the dirt, he found pebbles that had melted and fused together. This kind of feat couldn¡¯t be achieved by merely swinging a sword. Offen¡¯s lips twitched. He knew what it was. Mana, and remnants of sword aura. ¡°Crazy kid. He¡¯s learned things I never taught him.¡± Offenughed hollowly, realizing his hunch was right. He had been watching over Najin¡¯s swordsmanship for two years now, at the request of his old friend and Najin¡¯s employer, Ivan. Two years, enough time to gauge talent. He had known all along that Najin was a promisingd. He would understand ten things for every one thing taught, and he often realized things on his own that were never taught to him. ¡®I knew the kid was a genius, but¡­¡¯ To think he was this talented. Offen¡¯s face turned sour as he considered the extent of Najin¡¯s abilities. ¡°Tch.¡± He clicked his tongue briefly. He understood the value of Najin¡¯s talent, and also knew that in this damned city, such talent could never shine. Anxiously, Offen muttered, ¡°Kid, having such talent in this ce only leads to misery.¡± In this city, which was like trash. In this damned city, filled with nothing but trash. Children with light are still born. And everyone in the city, not just Offen, knew what would be of those children. No matter how brilliant their talent, no one could leave this city. That was the rule. So, ultimately, Najin, that unfortunate kid, too. Would slowly rot away in this city, losing his light. In other words, it meant dying. Being buried and rotting among the mountains of trash. Knowing this, Offen let out a long sigh. Stomp. Offen stomped roughly on the ground, erasing the traces of sword energy left behind. He thought he needed a drink, more than usual. Just as he was about to leave the spot, Offen suddenly looked up. He was reminded of a rumor he had heard during his days as a mercenary in the upper town. It was said that those with brilliant, star-reaching talents would always catch the attention of the stars, no matter where they were. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Instead of stars, the sky was studded with ores. Looking at the ceiling of the underground city, Offen let out a wryugh. For a moment, he found himself amusing for even entertaining the thought of ¡®perhaps¡¯. ¡°If it were that easy, then nobody would speak of it.¡± It was nothing but a vain dream. Why would the constetions of the night sky care for a nobody from an underground city like this? After all, rumors were just rumors. Dreaming such dreams only added to one¡¯s misery. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± With a sigh that seemed like resignation, Offen left the empty space, picking up an empty bottle of liquor. [The Constetion, the Staff of Selection screams.] [The Staff of Selection swears on its star to catch and punish that insolent brat!] Unbeknownst to Najin, the constetions in the night sky were boiling over with obsession for him. Chapter 2 Chapter 2 In the Underground City of Artman, even the mornings are colored with twilight. The dawn in Artman, where the sun never rises, is illuminated not by sunlight, but bymps fueled by ores, casting a twilight glow. Thus, Artman is always bathed in the light of dusk. Those who have forgotten the light of the sun reminisce about it through the artificial twilight of the oremps. Of course, this story doesn¡¯t apply to the boy currently strolling the streets. Born in the Underground City and having never experienced the outside world, the boy had never seen the sun. ¡°A letter for you.¡± Early in the morning, on a street dyed with twilight, Najin, dressed as a postman, was knocking on the door of a tavern. Although a postman¡¯s virtue is to leave the letter if there¡¯s no answer, the boy persistently knocked on the tavern¡¯s door. ¡°Damn it, who is it!¡± Unable to bear it anymore, a man opened the door. He grabbed the postman standing in front of the door by the scruff and lifted him up. ¡°Hey kid, you could have just left it. Why are you being so dumb¡­?¡± The man¡¯s words trailed off. The boy he had grabbed by the scruff, Najin, slightly lifted his postman¡¯s cap, revealing his face. The moment the man locked eyes with Najin, his face stiffened. ¡°Kabin.¡± Najin called the man by his name. Looking at Kabin, the boy smiled. ¡°Is Tricksy inside?¡± ¡°Why do you want Tricksy?¡± ¡°A letter from Ivan. It¡¯s for Tricksy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Kabin silently shifted his gaze inside the tavern. After briefly exchanging looks with his brother sitting there, Kabin let out a long sigh and released Najin¡¯s scruff. ¡°My brother says toe in.¡± ¡°Oh. Do you have something to drink? I¡¯m kind of thirsty.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Though clicking his tongue, Kabin headed to the kitchen. As he went to fetch water, Najin casually walked into the tavern. The tavern was filled with men, each with a de at their waist. Roughly seven or eight. Despite receiving sharp nces from all of them, Najin leisurely made his way to the center of the tavern and flopped down on the sofa which was for customers. ¡°This sofa is nice. Tricksy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a luxury item, cost a pretty penny.¡± Responding to Najin¡¯s mutter was a middle-aged man sitting opposite him. Tricksy, the man known by that name, swirled his drink and narrowed his eyes. ¡°So, what¡¯s up, Najin?¡± ¡°I told you, Tricksy.¡± Najin reached into his coat. At that moment, the men ring at Najin twitched, their hands moving toward their waists. Watching them, Najin smirked. ¡°A letter from Ivan.¡± What he pulled out from his coat was a letter. Showing the letter in his hand as if to ease their tension, Najin continued, but the wariness did not fade. Everyone in the room knew that the boy, despite wearing a postman¡¯s disguise, was not a postman. The Underground City, Artman. Governed by three powerful figures in a city almostwless, one of them was a man called One-eyed Ivan. And the boy in front of them was a figure well-known to anyone in Ivan¡¯s family. ¡°Tricksy.¡± Tricksy, also a member of Ivan¡¯s organization, knew well what kind of person the boy who so casually uttered Ivan¡¯s name was. ¡°I told you to keep it low-key.¡± Ivan¡¯s right-hand man. ¡°This time, you went too far.¡± The organization¡¯s collector. ¡°Using kids to harvest organs for sale? You know that¡¯s crossing the line, especially when Ivan hates it the most.¡± The enforcer in the guise of a postman. Ivan¡¯s hound. The boy known as Najin sighed and tapped his fingers on the table. Watching him, Tricksy clicked his tongue. ¡®This insolent brat¡­¡¯ He was a well-known merchant in these parts, not as much as Ivan but still with a high rank in the organization. He couldn¡¯t harbor good feelings towards the boy who treated him so disrespectfully. But he couldn¡¯t voice that. This boy sat before him as Ivan¡¯s proxy, and he was someone with the skills to back it up. Tricksy took a sip of his drink and spoke. ¡°So, what does Ivan want to say?¡± ¡°Should I read it for you?¡± ¡°That¡¯d be good.¡± Tricksy gestured with his chin. Najin unfolded the letter and cleared his throat. ¡°Tricksy.¡± Najin¡¯s lips moved. ¡°Your three chances are over.¡± An ultimatum. ¡°¡­¡± Tricksy didn¡¯t need to hear the rest to know what it meant. With that sign, the men surrounding Najin drew their des. Kabin, who had left under the pretext of fetching water, opened the back door of the tavern. Creak. Themps hanging from the tavern¡¯s ceiling swayed precariously. Each flicker of themp¡¯s shadow was apanied by a scream. Sounds of agony, frantic footsteps, and things being smashed echoed throughout. ¡°Aaaaargh!¡± ¡°That crazy bastard¡­!¡± Blood spattered far and wide. The sttered blood stained the tavern¡¯s tables, bottles, and windows a dark red. Amidst the vibrating stench of blood and screams, Tricksy¡¯s eyes shook. With every blink, one more fell. Severed arms and legsy messily around. Even with their limbs cut off, the men charging at Najin were met with his knees in their faces and jaws. Najin¡¯s movement among the falling men was eerily smooth. He slipped through the des swung at him as if gliding. With a light step, Najin stomped down on a thug¡¯s knee. Crack! With a chilling sound, the thug¡¯s knee bent backwards. Najin¡¯s knee struck his face before the thug¡¯s head hit the ground with a thud. Slice. An arm of another thug lunging at Najin flew through the air. Amidst the blood, Najin was seen swinging his sword. Right after, he lunged forward with a powerful kick. His movements were bizarre. Too fast. The rumors of his monstrosity had seemed exaggerated, but they were understated. As more than half of the thugsy defeated, Tricksy felt cold sweat running down his spine. ¡®Crazy.¡¯ Tricksy staggered backward. There were thirteen. Thirteen of them. He had heard rumors about Najin being a monster, but he thought thirteen would be enough to handle him. Half of them were skilled swordsmen sent by Land Spider Horace, ustomed to years of de battles. Yet, they were falling in mere moments. ¡®I was mistaken.¡¯ He had to admit it now. His calctions were wrong. The boy was more of a monster than he had thought. Tricksy turned and ran towards the door, but¡­ Click. The door handle turned, but the door wouldn¡¯t open. The door, locked earlier to prevent intruders from escaping, now trapped the fleeing tavern owner. ¡°Damn it¡­!¡± Tricksy cursed and fumbled at his waist for the key. Just as he was about to unlock the door. Crash! Something mmed next to Tricksy. He froze, then slowly turned his head. Therey his trusted henchman, Kabin, not one of Land Spider¡¯s men. Kabin¡¯s forehead was split, bleeding. Their eyes met in shock. Tricksy slowly turned around. Standing there was Ivan¡¯s hound. ¡°If you run, it won¡¯t just be you. Do I need to mention your son and wife by name?¡± ¡°You bastard¡­¡± The one who had mmed Kabin¡¯s head against the door. Najin, still holding Kabin¡¯s head, looked at Tricksy with tired eyes. Tricksy¡¯s gaze shifted beyond Najin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± ¡°Guh¡­¡± No one stood anymore. But none were dead. Lying around, moaning in pain, though crippled, they were all alive. Yet, Tricksy knew he wouldn¡¯t be so fortunate. The boy before him was Ivan¡¯s representative. And Ivan never spared the leaders. Knowing death was imminent, Tricksy let out a hollowugh. His legs gave out, and he slumped against the door. ¡°¡­¡± Najin, looking down at Tricksy, yanked Kabin¡¯s hair. Kabin, with wood splinters embedded in his face, groaned. Najin tapped Kabin¡¯s cheek with the back of his hand. ¡°Kabin.¡± Facing the trembling Kabin, Najin spoke shortly. ¡°I said I was thirsty.¡± Kabin nodded frantically. As Najin released him, Kabin limped off, finally getting water from a corner of the tavern. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Najin sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. He wiped his blood-stained face with his sleeve and crouched to meet Tricksy¡¯s eye level. ¡°Why cause unnecessary trouble? Tricksy, you weren¡¯t known for poor calctions.¡± ¡°Huh, heh¡­¡± Tricksy chuckled bitterly. ¡°Any sane person would think gathering thirteen would be enough to handle a brat like you.¡± ¡°Even if the opponent was Ivan?¡± ¡°That monster is an exception.¡± ¡°Then you should have made an exception for me too.¡± Tricksy burst intoughter. In the underground city of Artman, Ivan, the man who dominated it, was known for his prowess. He was a knight who once made a name for himself in the upper town, a true warrior among warriors, capable of manifesting sword aura unlike the ordinary. Tricksy, looking at the young Najin who boldly equated himself with such a powerful figure, couldn¡¯t help butugh. However, at the same time, Tricksy couldn¡¯tpletely dismiss Najin¡¯s words. The boy in front of him had an extraordinary martial talent. Properly trained, he was clearly a genius with shining potential. ¡®But¡­¡¯ This was the underground city, Artman. Regardless of their talent, those abandoned or born here could never leave. Thus, talent in this city was nothing but a subject of mockery. ¡°Haha, Najin.¡± Sensing his impending death, Tricksy chose to scorn instead of begging for his life. With a sneer, he opened his mouth, his jaw trembling. ¡°In this ce, you will¡­ ugh!¡± His words were cut off as Najin¡¯s sword pierced through Tricksy¡¯s throat. Choking on his blood, Tricksy toppled to the side. The pool of blood spread across the tavern¡¯s floor. As Tricksy¡¯s movements ceased, Najin finally pulled the sword from his neck. ¡°I know, Tricksy.¡± Muttering so, Najin slowly stood up. Turning around, he saw Kabin, trembling, offering him a ss of water. Najin gestured to Kabin. ¡°Yes, yes¡­?¡± ¡°Take a sip.¡± Kabin hastily drank the water. Despite being told to sip, he downed almost half the cup, making Najin frown. Seems like there was no poison in it. ¡°Thanks, Kabin.¡± Najin snatched the cup before Kabin could finish it off. He sipped the remaining water and looked around. ¡°Clean this up by today. Ivan doesn¡¯t seem to want this ce closed¡­ Just tidy up neatly and take over.¡± ¡°Me, sir?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I didn¡¯t cut off your arm.¡± Najin tapped Kabin¡¯s arm with the t of his de. Kabin¡¯s eyes shook. He was the only one here with intact limbs. ¡°By ¡®cleanup¡¯, I mean everything, including the money made from nonsense and your dealings with Land Spider Horace. Don¡¯t make me work twice, Kabin.¡± Land Spider Horace. Though Tricksy didn¡¯t specify which side he was on, Najin seemed to know who it was. Kabin swallowed dryly and nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll remember that.¡± ¡°Please do.¡± Najin, looking tired, stood up from his seat. After he left the tavern, Kabin copsed, feeling as if a storm had just passed through. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 ¨C Sword of the Star and Voice I deliberately didn¡¯t change my clothes. Drenched in blood, I walked the streets in my postman¡¯s outfit. As the time for shops to open approached, merchants started to appear one by one. I walked silently among them. Those who caught my eye flinched and quickly looked away. They pretended not to see me, knowing I was Ivan¡¯s enforcer. In this street, under Ivan¡¯s protection, I was both a fence and an absolute ruler. I protected those who followed his rules and showed them mercy. But those who crossed the line received no mercy and were ruthlessly punished. Ivan often warned those ustomed to his mercy not to take it for granted. Today¡¯s chaos at Tricksy¡¯s tavern and my decision to walk the streets in my blood-soaked attire were part of that warning. Ivan had instructed me to act this way. ¡°Lately, things have been toox,¡± Ivan had said. ¡°Signs of people crossing the line are showing up. Scare them a bit while you¡¯re dealing with Tricksy, Najin.¡± I was merely following his orders. A merchant who used to hang around Tricksy and who had been tightrope walking over Ivan¡¯s line flinched and stepped back in fear upon seeing me. I just looked at him silently. His eyes shifted from the blood clotted on my coat to the sword hilt at my waist. I passed by him without a word. Ivan hadn¡¯t ordered me to deal with him yet. I just hoped this served as a proper warning. ¡®Please,¡¯ I thought. ¡®Don¡¯t cross the line. Don¡¯t upset Ivan. The more you do, the more work I have, and the more needless killing I have to do. And I don¡¯t find it enjoyable at all. It¡¯s sticky, messy, and unpleasant.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t about moral guilt. It just felt terrible, especially when facing the families of the deceased. With a long sigh, I continued walking. How long had I walked? I stopped and looked up, reaching my destination ¨C the most bustling part of the underground city. Here, the best of everything was gathered. Bright, ostentatious oremps. Luxuries made from refined ore. Goods, food, and fabrics from the upper world. This was the hub of the underground city of Artman, where ores mined here were sent up, and goods were received in exchange. It was also the only passage to the upper world. I headed towards the most splendid building in the area ¨C the domain of Ivan, the One-Eyed, my employer. *** Ivan, the One-Eyed, was once a knight and a swordsman who had reached the level of a sword master. Though he had fallen into this city, he was still a powerhouse, capable of drawing out sword aura. A strong person like him would stand out wherever he fell, and Ivan was no exception. He quickly took control of the underground city. He pushed the original owner of themercial district, Land Spider Horace, to the outskirts and took his ce. Ivan crushed anyone who challenged his authority, expanding his power in a long and brutal civil war. I didn¡¯t know the full story, but I knew that the war had ended long ago, and Ivan had emerged victorious. To this day, he remained the de facto ruler of the city. And at the same time, he was my mentor and employer. He had taken me in when my parents abandoned me, teaching me how to survive in this city ¨C mostly how to kill. ¡°Are you there, Ivan?¡± I knocked on his office door. Soon, a voice from inside invited me in. As I entered, I saw a middle-aged man with an eye patch over his right eye. Broad shoulders, arms covered in scars, and streaks of white hair among the ck. This was Ivan¡¯s office, and he was its master. Ivan looked at me with his one good eye, a fierce gaze that could tear a person apart. But when he recognized me: ¡°Najin, it¡¯s you!¡± His expression softened, and he let out a heartyugh, thumping the table vigorously. ¡°I thought Land Spider had sent an assassin or something. Why are you covered in so much blood? I thought you¡¯d decapitated everyone downstairs and wereing for me next.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see any sign that you were worried.¡± ¡°Hey, man, don¡¯t you see? I¡¯m sweating here!¡± Ivan pointed to his neck, but I could only see tiny scars. I shrugged and took off the postman¡¯s coat and hat. ¡°You told me to give them a scare.¡± ¡°Did I say that?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you too young for dementia?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a joke, man, a joke.¡± Ivan lit a cigarette and gestured for me to report. I sat on the sofa and began my story. ¡°Just as you guessed, Ivan, Tricksy had sided with Horace. I saw some of Horace¡¯s men there.¡± ¡°I knew it,¡± Ivan muttered, exhaling a puff of gray smoke. ¡°Tricksy liked to y on the edge, but he wasn¡¯t brave enough to cross it. But, he suddenly crosses the line?¡± He tapped the table. ¡°So, how many were there?¡± ¡°Thirteen. About half seemed to be Horace¡¯s family.¡± ¡°And then?¡± Ivan¡¯s lips stretched into a long grin. I replied briefly, ¡°Twelve of the thirteen lost an arm or a leg. I left the cleanup to Kabin, who still had all his limbs. And Tricksy is dead.¡± ¡°All thirteen without a scratch?¡± I nodded, and Ivanughed out loud, hisughter echoing in the office. After a while, he sighed deeply. ¡°I bet Tricksy¡¯s face was a sight to see. He probably thought he could handle a kid like you with thirteen men.¡± ¡°Tricksy said the same thing.¡± ¡°This crazy guy.¡± ¡°Tricksy?¡± ¡°No, you, you.¡± Where did such a monstere from? Muttering to himself, Ivan extinguished his cigarette in the ashtray, creating a sharp sizzling sound. ¡°If there¡¯s more work, I¡¯ll call you. Until then, take a break. And¡­¡± Ivan paused, as if recalling something, ¡°Stay away from the za for the time being.¡± ¡°The za?¡± I inquired. ¡°Yes. They¡¯ve sent someone from above. It¡¯s about the Trial of the Constetion that¡¯s about to take ce there.¡± The Trial of the Constetion. The very mention of ¡®constetion¡¯ made me reflexively ask, ¡°What is the Trial of the Constetion?¡± Ivan exined, ¡°It¡¯s a kind of event that happens every 13 years. Have you never seen it? When I was five, 13 years ago, I wouldn¡¯t have known.¡± Ivan continued, ¡°You know the Constetion, the Sword of Selection, right? King Arthur? Remember the legend where he pulls the sword from the stone? That¡¯s the most famous part of his story. Excalibur, the legendary sword stuck in stone, marked the beginning of Arthur¡¯s saga andter became the shape of his constetion in the sky.¡± ¡°The Sword of Selection, every 13 years, sets a trial across the continent ¨C a straightforward challenge to pull the sword from the stone. It¡¯s more of an event really; no one has managed to pull the sword in centuries.¡± Ivan shrugged, ¡°It¡¯s about spreading the legend, keeping it alive in people¡¯s minds. Since these swords appear in every major city, one appears in our underground city too.¡± That was the problem. Ivan clicked his tongue, ¡°Even though they appear in all sorts of cities, it¡¯s still a sword created by the light of King Arthur¡¯s star. A sacred relic. When such a relic appears in a ce like this, do you think those above would stay quiet?¡± Considering the perception of this city from above, the answer was clear. ¡°They won¡¯t let anyone even touch the sword.¡± ¡°Exactly. Every time this periodes around, the Order of the Stars throws a fit.¡± ¡°And if someone tries to approach the sword, they get executed for sphemy?¡± ¡°Something like that. Usually, they just get beaten up badly, but in some cases, they might even get decapitated on the spot.¡± Ivan shook his head as if disgusted, ¡°Pretty brutal.¡± ¡°So, stay away from the za. The guards sent from above will be guarding the sword all day.¡± ¡°When will the sword appear?¡± ¡°Ivan,¡± he looked at me steadily, his earlier yfulness gone. As a senior and a mentor, he advised, ¡°It¡¯s best not to stir up those from above. Remember that.¡± Pointing to his eyepatch, Ivan gave a bitter smile, ¡°Live within the lines drawn. Cross them and life gets tough.¡± Perhaps, it was Ivan¡¯s own experience. Reluctantly, I nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± ¡°Alright, off you go.¡± As I was about to leave, Ivan stopped me, ¡°Najin.¡± Leaning back, Ivan casually said, ¡°The Trial of the Constetion starts at midnight tonight. If you find a good spot, you might see the sword ¡®nted¡¯.¡± Curious, I tilted my head. Ivan sighed and added, ¡°Section 31, Taria¡¯s Tavern, by the window. Use my name, and they should give you a spot.¡± Understanding his intent, I smiled, thanked Ivan, and hurried out. The tavern was buzzing with people not wanting to miss the event thates only once every 13 years. It was one of the rare opportunities for those in this city, who had forgotten the sun and the stars, to remember the outside world. A chance to see the stars. A chance to reminisce about the world they had forgotten. For this brief view, they were willing to pay double the usual price, especially for a window seat. At Taria¡¯s Tavern, I took my spot by the window, overlooking the za. I had an old fairy tale book with me, ¡°The Chronicles of Arthur,¡± opened to thest page. As midnight approached, only a few minutes remained. I stared out the window, swallowing dryly. Stars, starlight, constetions. The one longing a boy from thendfill, who cared for nothing of the outside world, couldn¡¯t let go of. Though the stars hadn¡¯t fallen yet, my eyes shone like stars themselves. ¡°One minute.¡± I counted down internally. A minute felt like an hour. With just a few seconds left, I exhaled deeply and opened my eyes wide. The bell chimed. With the sound of the bell, the tavern erupted in cheers. I immediately looked out the window towards the city¡¯s ceiling. What was once dimly lit by ore now shone brilliantly with starlight. Tiny fissures in the ceiling. tinum particles seeped through these minuscule gaps. It was the first time I realized that this was starlight. sh. The scattered starlight brightly illuminated the ores embedded in the ceiling. Despite being deep underground, the city was brighter than ever. Beautiful. I thought to myself, seeing starlight for the first time in my 18 years. Lines from the fairy tale book echoed in my head. The brilliant tinum starlight. Ah, I sighed unwittingly. Then, the starlight gathered, forming a sword. The sacred sword Excalibur, forged from starlight, began to descend. Pulling a trail of tinum light, it fell towards the city square. I wondered if this was what a shooting star looked like. ¡°Wow¡­¡± Sighs of awe echoed around the tavern. For this fleeting view, people had paid a fortune. Those who had forgotten, or tried to forget, the light of the stars, were now reminiscing, sighing with longing. The sacred swordnded quietly in the center of the square. No loud noise, just a solemn, deep sound sweeping across the city. ¡°Ah,¡± I saw the sword in the square. Though far away, I was sure the hilt bore constetions, depicting Arthur¡¯s journeys. I wanted to see it closer. The desire in my eyes was as bright as the starlight, or perhaps it was the light emanating from within. Feeling something odd, I paused. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± An indescribable feeling, not quite unease. A deep stirring turned into words and sentences in my head. One sentence filled my mind. Pull out the sword. Why that thought came to me, I didn¡¯t know. Dismissing it as a vain delusion, I shook my head. Touching that sword would mean losing not just an arm, but my life. nk, nk! That¡¯s when it happened. Thud. Soldiers emerged, surrounding the sword. The starlightden sword was now hidden by their armor. Sighs of disappointment filled the tavern. ¡°Just a little longer¡­¡± I too looked at the soldiers with disdain. Just looking won¡¯t wear it out. What¡¯s with these people from above? With that thought, I slowly stood up. The starlight in my eyes faded, returning to their original color and temperature. A resigned, cold gaze. Silently, I left the tavern. The starlight I had encountered for the first time in my life had quickly left my side, blocked by the line dividing this underground city and ¡®those above.¡¯ The soldiers surrounding the sword were no different from the city¡¯s ceiling in my mind. ¡°Ah well.¡± I sighed. Dreaming vain dreams onlyplicates life. It was a phrase often uttered by both Offen and Ivan, my two mentors. I mulled over that sentence, trying to clear my mind. But amidst the flurry of words, one line stood firm. ¡®Pull out the sword.¡¯ That one line, neither shaking off nor settling down, kept swirling in my head. Chapter 4 Chapter 4 ¨C Sword of the Star and Voice (2) Who is the most famous among the constetions? If asked, nine out of ten would answer: The Sword of Selection, of course. So, who is the Sword of Selection among the constetions? Most people would associate it with King Arthur, the protagonist of ¡°The Chronicles of Arthur.¡± Schrs who have studied the empire¡¯s history might say it¡¯s the founding emperor. Those following the path of the knight and the sword would answer that the Sword of Selection is the most honorable knight, the greatest swordsman, and a hero. The Sword of Selection¡¯s records can be found in various fields ¨C in the empire¡¯s history, swordsmanship textbooks, political and imperial studies, and even on steles recording wars against demons. A name found everywhere, it¡¯s the first constetion visible in the night sky. King Arthur, already famous among the constetions, had his renown further elevated by an event that took ce hundreds of years ago: a trial set forth by the Sword of Selection. The Trial of the Star, Selection. A trial conducted every 13 years for 13 days. All of humanity was its subject. The trial¡¯s task was remarkably simple: ¡°Draw the sword embedded in the rock.¡± There were no other conditions attached. Countless challengers attempted the trial. Great swordsmen acimed as geniuses, seekers of the sword¡¯s path, and heroes from historical records ¨C many reached out to the sword in the rock. And so, centuries passed. The sword remained undrawn by anyone. No one was selected by the sword. *** ¡®Today, my head feels heavy.¡¯ Najin rubbed his temples with his thumbs and sighed deeply. It¡¯s no wonder, considering the sleepless nights he¡¯d had recently. Even days after seeing the sword fall in the za, Najin still tossed and turned at night. The image of the holy sword kept haunting him. The brilliant starlight it emitted. And a sentence that filled his mind: ¡°Draw the sword.¡± That sentence never left his thoughts. Instead of fading, it now evolved into two sentences. Following ¡°Pull out the sword¡± came the absurd ¡°You can pull out the sword.¡± Pull what? Even the greatest Sword Masters couldn¡¯t pull out that sword. He knew it was baseless fantasy, yet the sentences wouldn¡¯t leave his mind. It felt as if someone had stirred up his thoughts. ¡°Haah¡­¡± Najin let out a long sigh and leaned back on the bench. Sitting on a bench at the outskirts of the za, he observed its center. The usually bustling za was eerily quiet, silenced by the figures at its heart. The soldiers sent from the upper city. d in armor that glinted with a cold light, they guarded the holy sword. A cloth they had draped over the sword prevented even a sliver of starlight from escaping. ¡°So stingy¡­¡± Disappointed, Najin had roamed the za, hoping to at least catch a glimpse of the starlight emanating from the sword. ¡°It¡¯s no use waiting here.¡± He was about to leave the za when something caught his eye. Two young children, huddled in a shaded area on the za¡¯s outskirts. They had set up a makeshift stall with odds and ends on a scrap of plywood. Suddenly, their eyes met Najin¡¯s. He walked over to them. ¡°What are you selling here?¡± ¡°Uh, well¡­¡± Crouching in front of the makeshift stall, Najin looked at the items the children hadid out: scraps of newspaper and misceneous trinkets. When he asked what they were selling, they pointed towards the center of the za. ¡°We picked up stuff those people threw away.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t point fingers.¡± Najin covered the child¡¯s pointing finger with his hand. Better safe than sorry ¨C a grumpy soldier might take offense and beat them up. ¡°How much for a newspaper?¡± ¡°Two, no, three copper coins.¡± Najin ced three coins on the child¡¯s outstretched palm. The child carefully took the coins, exchanged a smile with thepanion, andughed. ¡°We¡¯ve met our quota.¡± Najin was about to give more coins but stopped upon hearing this. He then bought some simple food from a nearby stall and ced it in front of the children. ¡°Eat up.¡± ¡°Thank you so much!¡± The children devoured the food eagerly. Clearly, they were starving. Najin knew from experience that giving these children food was better than money, which would only be taken from them. ¡°Brings back memories.¡± He had lived like these children before catching Ivan¡¯s eye. Watching them eat, Najin suddenly frowned. A mockingugh had caught his ear. The soldiers at the za¡¯s center were pointing andughing loudly at him and the children. ¡°Look at them, selling stuff we threw away¡­ Typical of people from this ce.¡± Despite the tant disrespect, the children didn¡¯t dare meet the soldiers¡¯ eyes. They acted as if they couldn¡¯t hear or see them. Humiliation and disgrace are temporary but broken limbs from a beatingst a lifetime. Najin wasn¡¯t much different. He sighed internally and stood up. ¡°Be careful not to make eye contact with those guys.¡± ¡°Yes, brother Najin!¡± ¡°You know my name?¡± ¡°You¡¯re quite famous among us.¡± The child smiled brightly. ¡°I want to be like you, big brother,¡± one of the children said. ¡°Many kids are saving up to buy swords, dreaming of being like you. The faster ones are even trained in swordy by their fathers.¡± ¡°I wish I could be like you too, but we¡¯re not fast runners, so dad says it¡¯s not for us,¡± the other child murmured. Najin stayed silent, contemting. ¡°What good is it to be like me? Living a life of drowning others isn¡¯t exactly honorable,¡± he thought but didn¡¯t voice these concerns. In his past, scrounging through trash cans and scavenging leftover food, Najin had also envied Ivan¡¯s men. ¡°Getting three meals a day and sleeping in a bed¡­ that¡¯s definitely something to envy,¡± Najin thought bitterly. ¡°Is that so.¡± After ruffling the child¡¯s hair, Najin moved on. Unfolding the newspaper, he read about various cities where the holy swords hadnded and the stories of those who dared to challenge the trial. ¡°The Empire¡¯s Sword Master, Sir Gerd Isabalt, expresses intent to attempt the Trial of the Star for the fifth time¡­ nned to challenge on the 13th day at Camelot, the capital of the Empire¡­¡± Stories about the old Sword Master¡¯s trials. ¡°Sword Saint, Karan, manages to slightly shake the embedded holy sword¡­ spection arises that in the next trial, the sword might be drawn¡­¡± Stories about the Sword Saint¡¯s endeavors. ¡°Executioner of the Starblood Sect, Uel Razian, causes the sword¡¯s hilt to shake violently upon touch¡­ though unsessful in drawing the sword, such a reaction from the hilt is unprecedented¡­ the Sect criticizes Razian¡¯s actions, stating ¡®a blood-crazed hound like him isn¡¯t worthy to touch the sword¡¯¡­¡± Stories about the sect¡¯s killer and various other challengers were detailed in the newspaper. As Najin read about their backgrounds and the moments they attempted to draw the sword, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of longing. ¡°I wish I could try too,¡± the thought crossed his mind. He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead, swallowing down the ¡®if¡¯, ¡®maybe¡¯, and ¡®what if¡¯ thoughts that followed. ¡°Don¡¯t cross the line. Live as you¡¯re meant to. Don¡¯t dream beyond your reach. Don¡¯t dare to reach for what you can¡¯t even look at.¡± These were Ivan¡¯s warnings and advice, which Najin now repeated like a mantra. ¡°Yes, reaching for the unattainable only leads to misery,¡± he thought. The countless people who fell into this city were evidence enough. ¡°¡­¡± Najin folded the newspaper. The spark in his eyes, briefly lit by the stories, had returned to its usual dull and murky state ¨C befitting of the dim underground city, Artman. He nced at the za onest time. Still, the stars were not visible. *** The boy was still nowhere to be seen. Merlin clenched her fists, grinding her teeth. Her brow was furrowed, and her fingers drummed on her arm in irritation. ¡°Huu¡­¡± She exhaled a sigh tinged with annoyance. For days, Merlin had been scouring the earth for a brash young man who dared insult Arthur. With her irvoyance, reaching anywhere her starlight touched, finding one insolent youth should have been easy. Until a few days ago, she was certain of it. But now, after several days, she still hadn¡¯t found the boy. She couldn¡¯t fathom why. How could he possibly remain hidden from her sight? ¡°Is another constetion shielding him?¡± No, that would have made him easier to find. Any attempt to hide something with starlight would only make that space appear distorted. ¡°Is he living somewhere untouched by starlight?¡± The thought was ludicrous. Even ces where constetions had fallen, like the abyss of Can, were barely inhabitable. Then why couldn¡¯t she see him? Was he burrowing in some tunnel, hiding away without showing his face? The thought of him hiding in a tunnel for a week was astonishing in its own right. Merlin sighed heavily, running her fingers through her hair. ¡°¡­¡± Annoyed, she clicked her tongue. She felt like she was wasting her energy on something trivial. After all, it was ridiculous for her, an entity who had lived for over a millennium, to be so riled up by a mere youth¡¯s provocation. ¡°Forget it, just forget¡­¡± She tried to calm herself, inhaling and exhaling deeply. Despite her efforts, the echoes of the boy¡¯s words,paring her to ¡®a blind man who can see¡¯ and dismissing Arthur as ¡®a hero made by his times,¡¯ rang in her ears. Insults that should have been easy to ignore. Yet, Merlin couldn¡¯t do so because she knew of a prophecy that echoed simrly. She pondered over the prophecy, now a thorn in her side. ¡°Excalibur will choose a new master.¡± ¡°In decades, or centuries, it will certainly find one.¡± ¡°A hero among men, destined to be greater than Arthur.¡± The prophecy left by the traitor of the Round Table. ¡°A true hero unlike Arthur, a mere product of his times. A savior! A king and guide to lead us beyond Can, to the world we dream of!¡± ¡°Merlin, you blind seer! Do you not see this glorious future?¡± Recalling the prophecy, Merlin¡¯s face twisted in difort. The boy¡¯s words resonated, especially the part about Arthur being lucky with his times. She frowned, refuting the idea. ¡°Arthur didn¡¯t just get lucky with his times.¡± ¡°He shaped the course of an era, you fools.¡± For centuries, no one had been able to draw the sword left by Arthur. That alone proved his greatness. Merlin scoffed, looking down at the earth. The ongoing Trial of the Star across variousnds, with numerous swordsmen attempting and failing to draw the sword. ¡°See?¡± She scoffed again. ¡°Who can draw the sword?¡± No one could. Therefore, no one could surpass Arthur. The traitor¡¯s prophecy and the unknown youth¡¯s taunt were all meaningless. With that thought, Merlin exhaled. Finally, her mind felt at ease. Chapter 5 Chapter 5 ¨C Prelude to the Civil War (1) Early in the morning, Najin headed to the cksmith shop. It was not for any peculiar reason, but simply because his usual sword had be unusable. He had vaguely noticed it while cleaning up Tricksy¡¯s tavern; the de had bepletely serrated. ¡®But it¡¯s a bit strange.¡¯ Until before he sorted out Tricksy¡¯s tavern, even during the swordsmanship training with Offen, it seemed to be in good condition. If there had been anything wrong with the sword, Offen would have said something. ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem right that it got damaged during a fight.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t a poorly made sword that would be dull after facing a few insignificant thugs at the tavern. It was one of the best ones avable at the cksmith. Unable to find a reasonable exnation, Najin scratched the back of his neck. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± If he just went there, Hogel would surely have a word or two to say. It was a sword he had received less than a month ago, and going back so soon made him feel a bit guilty. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Najin stopped in his tracks. Lost in thought, he had arrived at his destination before he knew it. At the edge of Ivan¡¯s territory, right where it bordered Land Spider Horace¡¯s domain, on the line separating the areas, was Hogel¡¯s forge. ng, ng! The sound of hammering metal and¡­ Whoosh. The rush of intense heat. Najin let out a short breath and stepped into the forge. There, an elderly man was hammering away, his back turned. ¡°What is it, boy?¡± The owner of the forge, Hogel, nced back at Najin. ¡°Is it something again? It hasn¡¯t been long since you took a sword. Did Ivan ask for a sword this time?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ no, that¡¯s not it.¡± Najin offered an awkward smile. ¡°Um, old man.¡± ¡°Spit it out. Don¡¯t beat around the bush.¡± ¡°About the sword you gave mest time.¡± Hogel nced at Najin¡¯s waist. Seeing his own creation tied there, the old man put down his hammer and lifted the corners of his mouth. ¡°It was quite a piece of work. One of the best I¡¯ve forged in recent years. Why, is the sword cutting too well?¡± ¡°It seems like a defective product.¡± ¡°What?¡± Hogel¡¯s eyes widened. Najin drew the sword and handed it to the old man. Taking it, Hogel¡¯s eyes widened even further. The once sharp and smooth de was nowhere to be seen, reced by a worn edge, as jagged as the old man¡¯s teeth. ¡°You, you¡­¡± Hogel¡¯s hands trembled as he held the sword. ¡°How in the world do you use a sword to make it end up like this? Were you using it as a hammer?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± Najin might have used the back of the de a few times, but never for hammering. As Najin shrugged, Hogel examined the sword from every angle. ¡°This sword, it¡¯s only been a month since you took it.¡± ¡°A month is quite a long time to use it.¡± ¡°You crazy thing.¡± ¡°Why are you cursing at me?¡± ¡°People who take swords from me use them for at least a year. If well-maintained, even longer. And you¡¯ve worn out such a sword in a month¡­¡± Mid-sentence, Hogel closed his mouth. He stopped examining the de. Something about the ruined de caught his eye. ¡°Najin.¡± ¡°Yes, old man.¡± ¡°Have you ever lent this sword to Ivan or Offen?¡± ¡°No? Why do you ask?¡± As Najin tilted his head, Hogel ran his finger along the de. The sensation under his fingertips made him furrow his brow. A swollen and finely cracked de. He knew well what this signified. It was amon urrence in the upper world but rare in this city. It happened when a swordsman capable of wielding Sword Aura was given a sword forged in an ordinary way. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Hogel silently red at Najin. In this city, only two people could wield Sword Aura: Ivan and Offen. If this boy hadn¡¯t lent his sword to either of them, then it meant he had wielded the Sword Aura himself. At his age? And in a ce like this, without a proper master? Frowning, Hogel turned away from Najin. Whether this boy was a genius who could wield Sword Aura or not, it was none of his concern. A cksmith¡¯s job was to forge metal well. Swish. He rolled up his sleeves. The thought of forging a proper sword for once brought a smile to the old man¡¯s lips. Hogel moved aside the tools he had taken out for sharpening and threw Najin¡¯s sword into a corner of the forge. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s that? Aren¡¯t you going to sharpen it?¡± ¡°Normally, I would sharpen it if it was slightly damaged. I¡¯ll make you a new one, so just wait.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t I just take one of those?¡± Najin pointed at the swords hanging on the wall. As Najin asked nonchntly, Hogel made a face as if he had bitten into a bug. Is he doing this knowingly? Or is he really unaware? ¡°Why would I give one of those to someone who can wield Sword Aura? If I did, you¡¯d ruin another sword in less than a month.¡± ¡°Huh? Sword Aura?¡± Najin blinked. ¡°How can I wield Sword Aura, old man? I don¡¯t even know how to handle mana yet.¡± ¡°Then why is the sword in this condition?¡± ¡°How should I know?¡± If you don¡¯t know, then who does? They exchanged such looks. Hogel was the first to turn away. It didn¡¯t seem like the boy was ying tricks on him, so he probably wasn¡¯t aware of it. ¡°Anyway.¡± Hogel increased the heat of the forge and muttered. ¡°This one¡¯s going to be expensive.¡± This was the underground city, Artman. A ce where even a well-forged sword found no proper wielder. But if the client was a swordsman capable of wielding Sword Aura, the story changed. ¡°I¡¯ll make it properly this time.¡± ¡°Wow, so you¡¯ve been giving me defective ones until now?¡± So that¡¯s why they broke so easily. As Najin grumbled, Hogel pointed a red-hot hammer at him. ¡°Shut your mouth and sit there before I use this to hammer something other than metal.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Najin quickly shut his mouth and obediently took a seat. ¡°I¡¯m Ivan¡¯s hound, you know. My efficiency might significantly be impacted with that sword. Are you okay with that?¡± ¡°Huh, shameless. Do you even remember how many swords you¡¯ve taken for free up to now?¡± ¡°Just kidding, just kidding.¡± Najin shrugged his shoulders. It was a joke in the first ce, and this job was something that had to be dealt with withoutpensation. Mediating disputes between different organizations was obviously something his side should handle. ¡°Old man, can I borrow anything to wield for now? It¡¯s a bit rough to beat them up barehanded.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem to mind that much.¡± ¡°Well, if I have to, it¡¯s not impossible.¡± Hogelughed as if it was ridiculous. ¡°For now, use this. The one I¡¯m making will take some time toplete.¡± Hogel tossed a sword to Najin. It was an old and rusty sword that seemed to have been neglected in a corner of the warehouse for a long time. ¡°It¡¯s a bit heavy?¡± ¡°It¡¯s an old sword that Ivan used to use. It¡¯s heavier because of the different ore ratio. Still, it should be good for a while.¡± Sturdy enough, at least. After saying that, Hogel focused back on his forging. The sound of hammering filled the forge. Najin, leaving the engrossed old man behind, took a seat in a corner of the forge. Then, carefully. Najin pulled out a crumpled hat from his pocket. A postal worker¡¯s hat. It was a disguise that Najin often used to cover his face. *** About an hour or two had passed. The outside of the forge became noisy. Najin peeked out, lowering his head and rolling his eyes. Six burly men were approaching the forge with a swagger. Men with scars openly on disy, as if proud of being beaten up and stabbed. Judging by their arrival from Horace¡¯s area, they seemed to be the Horace organization members Hogel had mentioned. Najin lowered his head and pulled the hat deeper over his face. ¡°Hogel, old man!¡± A rough voice. The man leading the group raised his voice as he barged into the forge. Three men entered the shop, with three more outside. ¡°Have you prepared the tribute we talked aboutst time? You must have saved up a good amount.¡± ng, ng! No matter what the man said, Hogel just kept hammering. The ignored man grimaced and kicked everything he could reach. ¡°Is this old fart deaf from all the hammering? Can¡¯t you hear me? Have you prepared the tribute? If not, we¡¯ll take all these swords.¡± He gestured to his follower. The follower put down the box he was carrying with a thud. ¡°Hey, old man. If you don¡¯t hand over the tribute, we¡¯ll take all these swords. Got it?¡± They continued their threats and chaos. Eventually, they approached where Najin was sitting. Ignorant Najin, who was sitting with his head down and wearing a postal worker¡¯s hat, theyughed mockingly. A boy wearing a postal worker¡¯s hat, head bowed down as if scared. To anyone, it looked like he was terrified. One of the men nudged the chair Najin was sitting on with his foot. ¡°Hey, kid. Don¡¯t you see the adults talking? Get lost, will you? So clueless.¡± The man raised his hand to hit Najin¡¯s head. Once, twice, and a third time. The fourth didn¡¯te. Najin had firmly grabbed the man¡¯s wrist. ¡°Hey, look at this. Lost all sense of fear¡­¡± The man¡¯s words were cut off. He couldn¡¯t move even if he exerted strength on his arm. His colleagues, unaware of the situation, jeered that even a kid was overpowering him. ¡°Hey, wait. Something¡¯s off¡­¡± The man, whose wrist was caught by Najin, started sweating. The wrist he held started to hurt, turning pale fromck of blood flow. Just as the man bit his lip and reached for a weapon with his free hand¡­ Crack! The sound of his bones cracking echoed. ¡°Aaaaah!¡± The man¡¯s wrist twisted in an unnatural direction. His colleagues, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, didn¡¯t react immediately. After a few blinks and breaths, they drew their weapons and shouted. In the suddenly chaotic situation, Najin nced around. His gaze wasn¡¯t on the men in front of him but on Hogel, the owner of the forge. Receiving the nce, the old man took a brief look back and said sharply. ¡°Go outside to fight. Don¡¯t mess up the shop.¡± With that, Hogel continued hammering. Najin twisted the man¡¯s wrist a bit more. With a scream and saliva dripping from his mouth, the man dropped to his knees. ¡°Seems like we¡¯ll have to.¡± Twisting the man¡¯s wrist slowly, Najin tilted his head. ¡°Shall we go outside to fight?¡± ¡°You crazy bastard!¡± As the men charged, Najin reached behind his back. At the same moment he gripped the sword hilt hidden there, he kicked the chair away and stood up. Rip. The sound of the sword being drawn from its scabbard and the slicing noise resonated simultaneously. sh. The arm of the man swinging an axe at Najin was cut off, along with the axe handle, smoothly and effortlessly. ¡°Ah, my arm!¡± A dyed scream, blood pouring. His colleagues, who had rushed in, hesitated in shock. In that moment, Najin grabbed another man¡¯s face. Then, crunch. The man¡¯s head smashed into a shelf in the forge. The shelf dented, and the man¡¯s eyes rolled back. Dropping the limp body carelessly, Najin looked at the screaming man with blood and debris all around. Blood sprayed everywhere. A wrecked shelf. A man screaming his lungs out in the forge. ¡°Eh, what a mess.¡± Surveying the near-chaos, Najin muttered and scratched his neck. This is messed up. ¡°I told you to fight outside.¡± Why don¡¯t they ever listen? ng! Najin hit the screaming man¡¯s head with the back of his sword. ¡°Cough¡­¡± The man¡¯s eyes rolled back. Najin grabbed the now silent man¡¯s hair and dragged him outside the forge. The remaining three outside. One looked like the leader. Chapter 6 Chapter 6 ¨C Prelude to the Civil War (2) Outside the cksmith¡¯s forge. The organization members, who were waiting for their leader to finish collecting the protection money and return, stood up when they saw someone walking out from inside the forge. They assumed that cksmith Hogel wouldn¡¯t have easily given up the tribute money, so he must have been stripped of a bunch of swords. Two members quickly dashed forward when they heard the rattling of a box. ¡°Boss, let me carry that fo¡­?¡± The member trailed off. The person who walked out of the forge was not their boss. Technically, their boss dide out, but not on his own feet. ¡°Ugh, uh¡­.¡± Their boss was groaning on the ground. And there was a boy, dragging him by the hair. Just as a member was about to scream in surprise, the boy threw a box at the feet of the organization members. It was the box they brought to confiscate the swords from the forge, but instead of swords, it neatly contained the severed arm of their boss. ¡°Uh, uh!¡± ¡°Boss!¡± The two members recoiled in shock. The boy, Najin, nonchntly tossed the armless man aside. As the two members hesitated, watching Najin and tending to their boss, Najin¡¯s gaze wandered indifferently. There were three waiting outside. Two were unremarkableckeys, but one was not. Najin shifted his gaze towards a man who had been standing still, watching everything unfold. ¡°¡­¡± The man, sitting on a rock and staring intently, was unrecognizable due to his deeply hooded face. ¡°It seems¡­¡± Najin exhaled shortly, ¡°that you¡¯re the one in charge here. Let¡¯s have a talk. There are some matters we need to discuss, aren¡¯t there?¡± The man chuckled at this. ¡°Look at this kid.¡± Removing his hood, the man revealed his face, marked with a long scar running from his right ear down to his neck. Recognizing the scar, Najin frowned. ¡°Goodness.¡± Najin sighed. ¡°Sending someone of your rank, things must be pretty messed up.¡± ¡°You know me?¡± ¡°The Land Spider Horace¡¯s sixth leg. One-Ear Flix, right?¡± ¡°Not the sixth, but the eighth leg. And it¡¯s not Flix, but Frix.¡± ¡°Being the eighth out of eightmanders means you¡¯re the weakest, right?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Frix corrected with a serious tone. ¡°The order of the legs doesn¡¯t indicate strength. I¡¯m stronger than the sixth.¡± ¡°Sure talk big. Whether it¡¯s the sixth or eighth¡­¡± Najin tapped the box at his feet with his toe. Inside, the arm stirred. ¡°Why would amander like you enter Ivan¡¯s territory? This is a clear breach of contract. Ackey¡¯s arm won¡¯t be enough to settle this.¡± ¡°Ha. So, you want my arm too?¡± ¡°Not the whole arm.¡± Najin raised his index finger. ¡°Let¡¯s just go with one finger.¡± ¡°You¡¯re truly insane.¡± Frixughed out loud, unfazed by the boy¡¯s audacity. He stood up and drew his sword with a swish. The well-maintained de gleamed brilliantly. Najin nced at the sword in his hand ¨C a ckened, rusty weapon. ¡°Yuck,¡± Najin licked his lips and adjusted his grip on the sword. *** Frix, one of the eightmanders under the Land Spider Horace. The eighth leg, Frix. In the upper world, he served a knight. Not a proper knight, though. The knight Frix served was old and infirm, using him more like a ve than a squire. But still, Frix learned swordsmanship from the knight and even a bit about handling mana. He didn¡¯t realize its value until he ended up in this city. ¡°In this city, I am a strong man.¡± In the upper world, he was nothing more than a knight¡¯s underling, but in this city, Frix was a clear powerhouse. Realizing this, he felt superior. Being ¡®properly educated¡¯ in this wretched city made him special. A strong man who knew how to strengthen his body with mana. Though not an expert capable of wielding sword energy, just knowing how to use mana made Frix one of the strongest in this city. To Frix, those who wielded des and boasted about their killings looked foolish, as did those who bragged about their exploits without understanding mana. Nothing was more ridiculous than seeing them strut about, flexing their muscles. ¡®This kid seems simr.¡¯ Frix observed the boy in front of him. He had heard rumors about this boy ¨C Ivan¡¯s prized hunting dog. Surely he had talent if Ivan had taken an interest, but¡­ ¡®There¡¯s no sign of mana.¡¯ The boy didn¡¯t exude the aura naturally given off by those who handled mana. It seemed he hadn¡¯t learned mana techniques from Ivan. If so, this boy was no different from those braggarts who strut around pretending to be something. Coming to this conclusion, Frix smiled. ¡°Hey, kid.¡± Frix teased, flipping the tip of his sword. ¡°You can have the first move. As you said, this is Ivan¡¯s territory, so you deserve that much.¡± Imitating a knight¡¯s sword salute, Frix graciously offered the first move. Najin, watching silently, adjusted his grip on his sword, epting the offer. Thud. Najin stepped forward. He nted his weight into that step, crouching with his sword held low. It was less a stance for swinging the sword and more for leaping. ¡®What an unorthodox¡­¡¯ To Frix, trained in proper swordsmanship by a knight, Najin¡¯s stance seemed pathetic. It looked like he¡¯d be overpowered by his own sword rather than wielding it effectively. Is he even less impressive than I thought? The moment Frix felt disappointed, Boom! Najin kicked the ground. The sound of hisunch and the shing of swords almost coincided. Frix¡¯s eyes widened. The gap between them was about ten steps. Najin closed that distance in a single leap and swung his sword, surpassing Frix¡¯s expectations. Crack, crack! Najin¡¯s rusty sword vibrated from the impact. Frix panicked under the heavy force he felt in his grip. He quickly mustered his mana and pushed Najin¡¯s sword away. Swoosh, Najin slid back three steps. It was a brief exchange, but Frix couldn¡¯t hide his astonishment. His hand gripping the sword tingled. ¡®¡­Does he really not use mana?¡¯ Such force just from swinging a sword? Frix red at the boy. Three steps apart, Najin breathed lightly, showing no signs of strain. Najin silently watched Frix, then his own hand holding the sword. After flexing his sword hand a couple of times, Najin narrowed his eyes. Frix didn¡¯t understand the meaning behind these actions, but he knew the boy was sizing him up. ¡°You cheeky brat¡­¡± Frix frowned. Now fully utilizing his mana, Frix adjusted his stance. He adopted the upper stance of the Imperial Swordsmanship, taught by a knight. Wisps of steam rose from his body. This phenomenon, caused by unrefined mana leaking from the body, was a sign of an unskilled mana user. Najin narrowed his eyes and stared at Frix. *** Najin doesn¡¯t know how to use mana. Ivan and Offen didn¡¯t teach him, so he thinks he can¡¯t use mana. ¡®Is that mana?¡¯ Najin watched in front of him. Frix, emanating a fierce aura with wisps rising from his body. Najin had sparred with Ivan and Offen before. ¡®I don¡¯t remember seeing such wisps from them.¡¯ Offen and Ivan are experts, while Frix is a novicepared to them. These wisps were a difference between a skilled user who could fully harness mana and an unskilled one who couldn¡¯t. But Najin didn¡¯t know that. He thought these wisps might be some kind of mana technique. At that moment, Frix stomped the ground. Adopting the basic stance of the Imperial Longsword Technique, Frix exhaled shortly and stepped forward boldly. He swung his sword, a diagonal sh straight from the Imperial Swordsmanship manual. Swoosh! However, whenbined with a body strengthened by mana, even the simplest sh bes a lethal strike. The sound of slicing air apanied the sword as it fell towards Najin. ¡°¡­¡± Facing the descending de, Najin thought, Mana really is fascinating. Noticing Frix¡¯s noticeably faster movements, Najin clicked his tongue. So, this is possible with mana? ¡®But¡­¡¯ It doesn¡¯t seem that fast. It was still visible and manageable. Making his decision, Najin moved. Thud. Instead of dodging, Najin stepped forward. He closed the distance, moving into the reach of Frix¡¯s swing. At first nce, it seemed like a suicidal move. But Najin moved into Frix¡¯s space and swung his sword. Before Frix¡¯s swordpleted its trajectory, before his strike could gain full force. ng! Najin¡¯s sword struck Frix¡¯s de fiercely. With minimal effort, he broke through Frix¡¯s technique, targeting his vulnerability with a swift thrust. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± A sh of surprise crossed Frix¡¯s face. However, it was brief. The mist around Frix thickened as he forcefully regained control of his thrown-off sword, elerating his movements. The sword¡¯s trajectory twisted. The technique, disrupted and repelled, returned to its original course. Such movements were impossible with an ordinary human body. It was a bizarre maneuver made possible only with the aid of mana. The resulting strike, in Najin¡¯s current stance, was impossible to avoid or counter. An unforeseen attack. Just as Frix¡¯s sword was about to tear through Najin¡¯s shoulder, Frix saw it. Najin¡¯s eyes, still tracking his movements, fixated on the tip of his sword. Thud! Najin mmed his foot down. In an instant, his body elerated. Twisting the sword he had thrust out, he raised it obliquely. Every movement was unnaturally fast, even faster than mana-enhanced Frix. ¡®How is this possible?¡¯ Frix had felt no mana from Najin before. But in this moment, he sensed it. In the blink of an eye, mana sparked and dispersed. For that brief instance, Najin had undoubtedly used mana to elerate his body. So smoothly and naturally. As if it was as effortless as breathing. ¡®This kid¡­!¡¯ Realizing he had been deceived, Frix was enraged. But Najin had no intention of tricking him. He thought he couldn¡¯t use mana and was unaware that his movements were assisted by it. Very efficiently. Using the least amount of effort for maximum effectiveness. Najin was simply moving ording to the basics ofbat ingrained in his mind, relying on instinct for secondary actions. Scratch, scratch, scratch! Following the lifted angle of Najin¡¯s sword, Frix¡¯s de slid off. As it scraped off the rusty surface of Najin¡¯s sword, a vulnerability was exposed. ¡°¡­Ck!¡± Conscious of Najin¡¯s sword, Frix hastily retracted his own, but Najin¡¯s sword did not move. It was Najin¡¯s leg that moved, mming down on Frix¡¯s knee. Crack. Thanks to the mana reinforcement, Frix¡¯s knee didn¡¯t buckle inward, but his expression twisted in pain, disrupting his stance. A properly weighted attack was impossible from such an iplete stance. Najin easily deflected the light sword. Deflecting it, Najin stepped in closer. They were too close for a shing strike. But Najin had no intention of cutting Frix. ¡®That would kill him.¡¯ He had no intention of killing. Najin needed to extract information, so he grabbed Frix¡¯s hair, wielding the sword hilt like a hammer. Thump! The pommel, weighted at the end, struck Frix¡¯s temple. True to the heaviness of Ivan¡¯s sword, the impact sound was solid. ¡°Cough¡­!¡± Caught off guard by the unexpected blow, Frix¡¯s head snapped back. His eyes still focused, indicating he was conscious. Seeing this, Najin clicked his tongue. ¡®Mana¡¯s good for something.¡¯ Mana-enhanced bodies could withstand a blow to the temple without losing consciousness. To Najin, who still believed he couldn¡¯t use mana, this was astonishing. ¡®But still.¡¯ Najin grabbed Frix¡¯s hair. ¡®A few more hits should knock him out.¡¯ Holding Frix¡¯s hair with one hand, Najin swung the sword hilt with the other. He struck Frix¡¯s face several times with the pommel. Thud, thump, and crack¡­ After half a dozen swings, Najin let go of Frix¡¯s hair. Frix, with a broken nose, began to bleed profusely. His shattered teeth dropped to the ground. Thump. Frix, with his eyes rolled back, copsed. Najin exhaled briefly and turned around. The organization members, who hesitated to intervene, nced at Najin as he spoke shortly. ¡°Put those down.¡± Najin flicked his finger. ¡°Just cut off one finger each. That¡¯s the rule.¡± It was a rule set by Horace and Ivan. Though not often followed, they realized they couldn¡¯t ignore it even in this moment. *** ¡°This is unbearably heavy.¡± Holding a box containing an arm and fingers in one hand and dragging the unconscious Frix by the neck with the other, Najin moved on. ¡®I¡¯d like to just throw him anywhere¡­¡¯ He couldn¡¯t handle amander so carelessly, especially not someone of Frix¡¯s rank. ¡®It¡¯s been noisytely.¡¯ Those Land Spider rats kept crossing the line. Najin had heard Ivan muttering about it. Not just heard; as the organization¡¯s executioner, Najin had seen that many of those he had ¡®dunked¡¯ recently had connections with Land Spider. And now, a tant territorial invasion. Whatever they were nning, it was clear. And amander like Frix was likely to know something. Najin intended to extract that information now. ¡­That aside. Najin pondered the recent fight. Reflecting on the techniques and movements he had used, Najin let out a faint smile. He had confirmed that his swordsmanship worked even against a mana-wielding opponent. ¡®It was worth learning so diligently.¡¯ The things he learned from Ivan and Offen. If Offen taught him how to swing a sword, Ivan taught himbat itself. If there¡¯s an opening, stab. If a big movement is shown, dive in. Don¡¯t just swing a weapon; use whatever you can. The most efficient way to move the body. How to block attacks with minimal effort. Close-quarterbat beyond the sword¡¯s reach. Utilizing terrain and knocking out opponents. Among other techniques, Najin learned numerous tricks from Ivan. He had been beaten and taught by Ivan since he was ten. Recalling those times, Najin frowned slightly. The long scar on his shoulder ached. ¡®Come to think of it, not something a knight would teach.¡¯ Knights in fairy tales were noble and refined. But Ivan, a knight from above, excelled in torture and covert operations, even more than Offen, a former mercenary. ¡°Watch carefully.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll do it too someday.¡± Ivan performing torture. ¡°That much torture doesn¡¯t kill him?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a naive im. You don¡¯t know how creative human nerves can be, how diverse the pain they can feel. Let¡¯s bet on how long hests.¡± Forcing open a clenched mouth, shattering someone¡¯s psyche. Flickeringmps, blood sttered everywhere, long screams. ¡°See?¡± ¡°You want to try?¡± As Najin pondered these memories, he nced back. Frix¡¯s groaning echoed from behind. Groaning and twitching, he seemed to regain consciousness. Blinking slowly, Frix¡¯s eyes met Najin¡¯s. Realizing the situation, Frix gritted his teeth, but there was no grinding sound. Many teeth had fallen out during the pommel strikes. ¡°Here¡¯s some advice.¡± Najin nonchntly spoke to Frix, who red with murderous intent. ¡°Better to just open your mouth than to boast. You¡¯ll have to open it eventually, better to end the torture while some part of your body is still intact.¡± Najin pointed ahead. Following his finger, Frix¡¯s eyes moved too. Realizing what Najin pointed at, Frix¡¯s eyes violently shook. It was a building known to everyone in this underground city. The residence of Ivan, the ruler of the underground city. Pointing at the building, Najin spoke. ¡°Ivan is scarier than you think.¡± Chapter 7 Chapter 7 ¨C Prelude to the Civil War (3) In Ivan¡¯s office. Najin waited for Ivan, sitting on a luxurious sofa that seemed out of ce in the underground city. About an hour passed before Ivan entered the office. ¡°Ha, what a funny guy.¡± Ivan,ughing cheerfully, wiped blood from his face and forearms with a wet towel. It wasn¡¯t his blood, but blood that had sttered on him. Najin nced at the towel turning crimson. ¡°Are you done?¡± ¡°Yeah. He spilled everything quickly. You must have really scared him. Just pulled out a couple of teeth and he confessed everything.¡± Ivan was tossing something up and catching it. Looking closely, Najin realized it was human teeth, likely belonging to Frix. ¡°As always, impressive work. Where did you catch such a guy? Absolutely perfect. I¡¯ve been frustrated with the lower rankstely, not doing their jobs properly¡­¡± Satisfied, Ivan mumbled to himself and took a seat. ¡°So, was it worth fighting? This was your first time against someone who can use mana, right?¡± ¡°Not the first time. I¡¯ve sparred with you, Ivan.¡± ¡°Man, that was training.¡± Training that almost killed me? As Najin pondered the definition of ¡®training¡¯, Ivan asked again. ¡°Any injuries?¡± ¡°Dragging him around made my arm sore, but nothing else.¡± ¡°Huh. A guy who can¡¯t use mana taking down one who can without a scratch? You¡¯re a real piece of work.¡± Ivan muttered, not particrly surprised. He seemed to have somewhat expected this. Observing Ivan¡¯s expression, Najin thought: Why did he rush to confront a high-ranking member without hesitation? ¡¸How far can you go?¡¹ ¡¸Well, unless it¡¯s me or those Land Spider guys, no one can really match you¡­¡¹ Ivan had said that before. ¡¸Apart from Horace, you can take on anyone.¡¹ ¡¸There are a few leaders in their group who strut around, but you could probably beat them in one-on-one fights.¡¹ ¡¸Provided you don¡¯t fight in their territory.¡¹ The Land Spider Horace. Apart from the head of the rival gang, Ivan had said Najin could take on anyone in a one-on-one fight. Najin trusted his words. Ivan was always urate in his judgments. ¡°Ivan.¡± Still, there was something Najin was curious about. ¡°What exactly is mana?¡± ¡°What do you mean? It¡¯s damn good stuff.¡± Ivan replied as if it were obvious. Not the answer Najin was looking for, he continued to look at Ivan silently. Ivan shrugged and borated. ¡°Being able to use mana is proof that you¡¯ve taken the first proper step as a warrior. Whether it¡¯s to enhance your body, extract Sword Aura, or perform swordsmanship, mana is at the core of it all.¡± Mana, energy umted within the body. ¡°The more mana you umte, the more trained your body bes, raising your limits. You can perform all sorts of feats impossible for a human body.¡± For example, this. Ivan spread his hand, revealing Frix¡¯s teeth from the interrogation. ¡°Watch closely.¡± Ivan gently clenched his hand with the teeth in his palm. When he opened it, the teeth had turned to dust. ¡°Of course, learning mana doesn¡¯t mean everyone bes like me. What cultivation technique you choose is crucial. Picking just anything can be fatal. You might get stronger initially, but your limits will be clear.¡± ¡°So, to reach the expert level, mastering a mana cultivation technique is essential?¡± ¡°Exactly. You need to know how to use mana to extract sword aura and such. Want to learn?¡± ¡°It would be nice if I could.¡± Ivan smirked. ¡°I¡¯ll teach youter.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been hearing that for five years.¡± ¡°Later, man.¡± A sign to end the topic. Najin didn¡¯t pursue further, knowing it would only irritate Ivan. He stepped back, respecting the boundary Ivan had set. ¡°Let¡¯s get to the main point then.¡± Ivan started the conversation. ¡°A civil war ising soon. Get ready, Najin.¡± *** The Land Spider Horace is preparing for a civil war. That¡¯s what their leader said. Lately, although there weren¡¯t direct orders from Horace,mands were continuouslying from above. The instructions were to prepare for war, gather resources. Apparently, their hassle at Hogel¡¯s forge for ¡®tribute¡¯ was groundwork for weapon seizure. Infiltrating my organization seems to have a simr context. Always causing trouble. I suspected they were crossing the line, but to go this far? Whatever their confidence is, they¡¯re clearly picking a fight with me. They must have something to rely on. Horace isn¡¯t crazy enough to start a fight without weighing the consequences. Regardless of what they¡¯re relying on¡­ Sigh. Civil war is such a pain. In this tiny city, fighting over a scrap ofnd, seeing people die¡­ it just makes you sigh. I didn¡¯t finish off Horace during ourst war for a reason. There¡¯s a point where it just bes a loss. People dying means less workforce, and the atmosphere in the streets turns gloomy. Whether screwing around in brothels or getting drunk in taverns, it all feels like shit. Makes you lose the will to fight. I¡¯ve been rambling but here¡¯s the point. I don¡¯t n to drag out this civil war. I¡¯ll end it quickly and clean up fast. So, We¡¯re going to make the first move. I¡¯ll give you more details tomorrow. Need to talk to Offen today. Anyway, be prepared. Can¡¯t guarantee how it will turn out. ¡°¡­Hmm.¡± Recalling Ivan¡¯s words, Najin walked through the streets. Ivan had said to prepare for a civil war. ¡®Civil war.¡¯ Najin didn¡¯t know much about it. Thest civil war between Horace and Ivan happened when he was very young. He only guessed its severity from the terrified reactions of adults. ¡¸Be prepared.¡¹ ¡¸Can¡¯t guarantee how it will turn out.¡¹ Najin kept pondering Ivan¡¯sst words. If even Ivan, who always spoke with certainty, said such things, it must be serious. ¡°Prepare, he says, but what¡­¡± Najin tilted his head. He wasn¡¯t sure what to prepare for. He visualized the map of the underground city, Artman, in his mind. Artman is divided into three main areas. The central area, under Ivan¡¯s control, has a direct trade gateway with the surface world. The corend with vital facilities clustered around the gateway. Next, the mining area. Located on the outskirts, far from the central area, under Horace¡¯s control. It¡¯s where the city¡¯s resources, the ores, are mined. ¡®Mining area, mining area, mining area¡­¡¯ It¡¯s said to be like abyrinth. The entrance to Horace¡¯s residence is connected to the mines,den with traps. Ivan had exined that Horace, a former Ranger from the surface world, could fully utilize his skills there. ¡¸Horace is a Ranger.¡¹ ¡¸Rangers excel in stealth, traps, ambushes, surpassing knights in these areas.¡¹ ¡¸They might lose to knights in one-on-one, but in their territory, they can take on multiple knights.¡¹ ¡¸Never fight in his territory.¡¹ ¡¸Even I can¡¯t be sure of victory without Offen.¡¹ Najin imagined infiltrating there. Theplex mining tunnels and skilled fighters popping out from anywhere, along with traps set by Horace. ¡°Tch.¡± It won¡¯t be easy. If he barges in like he does in Ivan¡¯s territory, he should be prepared to be peppered with holes. While strategizing in his mind, Najin sighed deeply. It was hard to get a proper grasp just by thinking. He felt he needed to see and experience the ce to know how to act. Wrapping up his thoughts, Najin suddenly recalled the underground city¡¯s ¡®third area¡¯. The central area, the mining area. Andstly, thendfill. Below this ce, down the rugged cliff, lies thendfill ¨C the final resting ce for trash discarded once above and then again here, a mixture of garbage, filth, and corpses. This is the domain of the drugmaker Hakan. Najin didn¡¯t know much about Hakan or thendfill. It wasn¡¯t just him; even Ivan seemed tock information. ¡¸Drugmaker Hakan, I don¡¯t know much about him either.¡¹ ¡¸He¡¯s been here even before I fell into this city, even before Horace.¡¹ ¡¸I don¡¯t even know if he¡¯s male or female.¡¹ ¡¸He¡¯s just been there for a long time, making drugs. I¡¯ve never seen his face.¡¹ All that was known about Hakan was his strength to dominate an area and his alchemy skills. ¡®Not relevant for the uing civil war,¡¯ Najin thought. How the civil war would unfold would be clearer tomorrow, as Ivan had said. Thud. Najin stopped on his way home near the edge of the za. He gazed from a distance at the sword embedded in the ground, still concealed by the tent. ¡¸Pull out the sword.¡¹ ¡¸You can pull it out.¡¹ These sentences still echoed in his head. Najin watched the tent-covered sword for a while and then left the za. *** Thud. The sound of a ss being set down echoed softly in an old tavern where only Ivan and Offen were drinking. ¡°So.¡± Breaking the silence, Offen spoke. ¡°You¡¯re going to start a civil war?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the n.¡± ¡°Taking the initiative?¡± ¡°Quicker that way.¡± ¡°And you want my help?¡± Offen¡¯s question was answered with Ivan¡¯s silence as he drank his liquor. Offen ruffled his hair, visibly annoyed. ¡°I don¡¯t like getting involved.¡± ¡°Just this once.¡± ¡°Feels like I heard that a few years ago.¡± ¡°Help me this time. I can¡¯t handle it quietly alone.¡± Ivan took another sip. He could certainly stir up trouble alone, but that wasn¡¯t his goal. He sought a quick and clean resolution, not the start of a prolonged civil war. ¡°Annoying.¡± ¡°Horace is up to something. Not sure what, but we need to end it fast.¡± ¡°Tch.¡± Offen clicked his tongue. ¡°This is thest time. If you ask again, I¡¯ll smash your head with this ss.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°That aside, about you.¡± Offen lightly threw a question as he refilled his ss. ¡°Are you going to leave Najin as is? Not teaching him mana cultivation or anything? You know he¡¯s been ready to learn since long ago.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Then why not teach him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s too quick.¡± Ivan sighed deeply. Leaning back, he opened up to Offen, a longtime acquaintance from the surface world. ¡°Najin learns everything too quickly. It¡¯s frightening how he¡¯s progressing. I can¡¯t tell how far he¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°Jealous?¡± ¡°Cut the crap. You know what I mean.¡± Ivan chuckled. ¡°In this forsaken city, what good will such talent do? Let¡¯s say I teach him mana early. In a few years, he¡¯ll probably be extracting sword aura. He could even break the empire¡¯s youngest Sword Master record of 23 years old.¡± Najin was that capable. ¡°But.¡± Ivan downed a strong drink. He sighed and continued. ¡°What¡¯s the use in this trash heap of a city?¡± In a city of discarded things, filth, and trash. In thendfill, where garbage piles up into mountains. ¡°If the youngest Sword Master emerges from this dump, and the surface dwellers hear of it, what then?¡± He¡¯d be disposed of. They¡¯d see his background first, not his talent. The fate of those who fell out of favor with them was well known. ¡°Witchcraft, ck magic, false star worshipers, heretics, Kamran¡¯s cursed bastards. They¡¯d use him of such and execute him. Or make sure he never wields a sword again. We¡¯ve seen how they handle things up there.¡± Ivan knew this because he was a knight. Offen knew because he had climbed high in a mercenary group. Both were well aware of how society operated in the surface world. They had seen firsthand how those who displeased the high and mighty were dealt with. ¡°Damn frustrating.¡± ¡°Yeah. If they execute Najin, they won¡¯t stop at him. You and I will be next.¡± Ivan chuckled bitterly as he rolled a cigarette. Lighting it, he took a deep drag. ¡°We live by the rules given to us. Reaching for the unreachable only leads to misery.¡± ¡°So you¡¯ll just leave him be?¡± ¡°Exactly this much is appropriate. Any more and we¡¯ll catch the surface dwellers¡¯ attention.¡± ¡°Well, I get your point, but¡­¡± Offen swirled his ss. ¡°He already knows how to use mana.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ivan froze, mid-drink. ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°He can use mana.¡± ¡°You taught him?¡± ¡°No. Never did.¡± ¡°Then how?¡± Offen shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. He doesn¡¯t seem to have any mana umted, but he uses it. Sometimes he moves rapidly, and I see mana flowing in his body.¡± ¡°Does that even make sense?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m puzzled. Najin doesn¡¯t seem aware either.¡± Najin apparently did not umte mana nor learned any mana cultivation techniques. This was a clear fact. Yet, without umting mana, he was using it to enhance his body? ¡®Does that make any sense?¡¯ Ivan frowned. ¡®Then that means¡­¡¯ Although it defied logic, Ivan knew of one historical figure who made it logical. ¡°You¡¯re thinking the same thing, huh?¡± Offen smirked. Swirling his ss, heughed. An impossible event made possible by a historical figure, the foundation of all current mana cultivation methods. There was one, but only one, such figure in human history. The Constetion, Sword of Selection. Arthur, the great hero who led the era of humanity hundreds of years ago. Arthur¡¯s life story, which defiesmon sense, is filled with unbelievable tales. Among them, many point out the absurdity in the saga¡¯s prologue about Arthur¡¯s uniqueness. ¡°Arthur moved rapidly without umting mana and even drew out Sword Aura.¡± Offen muttered with a grin. This was in the prologue of Arthur¡¯s saga. A sentence that disregardsmon knowledge and the foundation of cultivation methods. ¡¸Mana is not to be umted.¡¹ ¡¸It¡¯s about taming the mana flowing through the world.¡¹ That was the only exnation given, too absurd to be considered historical by the empire¡¯s records, yet often mentioned in countless fairy tales. Ivan and Offen both thought of the same thing. The book that Najin always carried must have that story too. ¡°So.¡± Ivanughed dryly. ¡°You mean Najin is awakening mana like King Arthur, a star in the night sky? That¡¯s absurd.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just a guess. I had no other exnation.¡± Ivan fell silent. Whether Najin was awakening mana like Arthur or using it in some unknown bizarre way, the implication was the same. Najin was more exceptional than Ivan had anticipated. Trying to hide or dy teaching him was futile. ¡°Even if we try to hide or dy it, it¡¯s meaningless. He¡¯ll draw Sword Aura soon. He¡¯s already created fragments of it. At most half a year to go.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Then it¡¯ll surely reach the surface. And everything you said will happen.¡± They¡¯d try to kill Najin. They would deal with anyone associated with him. Offen and Ivan would be among the first. ¡°So, choose.¡± Offen set down his ss. Thud. The sound reverberated in the tavern. ¡°Kill him now.¡± Now, before he bes too prominent. While Najin is still kible. ¡°Or teach him.¡± Otherwise, let Najin try. If he can surpass the Sword Master and reach the next level, even the surface world won¡¯t be able to discard him. A warrior of such caliber cannot be easily dismissed. In short, it was a gamble. Faced with these two choices, Ivan quietly drank his liquor. Chapter 8 Chapter 8 ¨C Prelude to the Civil War (4) Early in the morning, Najin headed towards Ivan¡¯s office. Summoned by Ivan at dawn, Najin found the office empty. Inquiring the guards outside, he learned that Ivan hadn¡¯t left. Hesitant at first, Najin returned to the office and kicked a bookshelf in the corner. Dr-r-r-r-uck¡­ The bookshelf slid aside, revealing a passage leading to the building¡¯s basement. Predictably, the usually locked basement door was open today. ¡®It seems like an invitation.¡¯ Najin scratched the back of his neck, knowing whaty below. Descending the stairs, he entered a vast open area used by Ivan for honing his sword aura. It was also the training ground where Ivan had taught Najin. Silently, Najin touched his scarred shoulder, a reminder of Ivan¡¯s harsh lessons. He surmised there could only be one reason for being called here. With a long sigh, Najin continued down the stairs. As expected, Ivan awaited him. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this about, summoning me to the basement?¡± ¡°There¡¯s only one reason I¡¯d call you here.¡± Ivan tossed something that nged at Najin¡¯s feet¡ªa sharp steel sword. Unlike his usual wooden sword, Ivan held a simr steel one, indicating a serious spar. Najin swallowed nervously. ¡®When was thest time I sparred with Ivan?¡¯ It had been years since theirst ¡®training,¡¯ which was more akin to a beating. Najin stepped into the training ground, Ivan¡¯s sinister voice echoing. ¡°Focus.¡± Ivan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The moment he exhaled, Najin¡¯s instincts screamed danger. He reflexively grabbed the fallen sword and retreated. The air in the basement grew dense, almost suffocating. Shrriing. Ivan slowly extended his sword towards Najin. Facing the cold de, Najin realized this was a fight for survival. A new scar like the one on his shoulder awaited him if he didn¡¯t face Ivan with the intent to kill. Najin was apprehensive about sparring with Ivan. He wanted to make excuses to escape the basement. It was a learned fear, a scar etched into his body. Ivan had taught Najin to fight and survive in the city, often through brutal sparring sessions. These sessions included bone-breaking, consciousness-losing beatings, and forced awakenings. Ivan imprinted survival skills into Najin through such harsh methods. ¡®Helpful, but¡­¡¯ Najin realized Ivan¡¯s teachings were not just about guidance. They were also threats and warnings. ¡°Don¡¯t overestimate your talents. I am above you. Don¡¯t cross the line I¡¯ve set. I can crush you anytime.¡± That was the warning. After Najin stopped showing interest in the Upper World, Ivan stopped these sessions. But now, why the sudden call? Najin had not overstepped his bounds recently. His only deviation was observing the Excalibur at the za, which Ivan had allowed. ¡®But why now?¡¯ While he couldn¡¯t fathom the reason, Najin knew what he had to do now. Thump. He tensed his senses, ready to react to Ivan¡¯s moves. As Ivan motioned his sword, Najin braced himself. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing?¡± In response, Najin positioned his sword diagonally. Ivan moved forward, and at a three-step distance¡­ Whoosh. Ivan¡¯s step turned heavy. His sword elerated with a swift motion. ng! As their swords shed, Najin gritted his teeth, feeling an enormous weight press down on him. He managed to hold his ground, unlike his younger days. He twisted his sword, channeling the force sideways¡ªa basic skill, but against Ivan, it was futile. Spin. Ivan¡¯s sword followed a bizarre trajectory, wrapping around Najin¡¯s. Despite seeing it, Najin couldn¡¯tprehend it in time. He ducked, narrowly avoiding Ivan¡¯s sword. Crack. ¡°Argh!¡± A kick to Najin¡¯s abdomen sent him tumbling. He immediately got up and faced Ivan¡¯s relentless assault. Each blow was a strain on his shoulder and grip. ¡®Breathless¡­¡¯ Struggling for breath, Najin fended off Ivan¡¯s attacks. Ivan¡¯s swordsmanship was beyond Najin¡¯s pace. ¡®Mana¡­ that damn mana.¡¯ Najin envied those who wielded mana, for Ivan never taught it to him. He could only mimic Ivan, moving faster than usual, feeling an unseen force propelling him. For the first time, he pushed Ivan¡¯s sword back. In that moment, Ivan¡¯s eyes narrowed. Stepping back, he tensed like a drawn bowstring andunched a powerful strike, overwhelming Najin. ¡°Ugh!¡± As Najin blocked the attack, he was flung into the air and slid backwards. He quickly regained hisposure, but contrary to his expectations, Ivan didn¡¯t immediately charge at him. Instead, Ivan stood still, raising his sword, preparing something other than an attack. Ivan, with his one eye, covered his empty eye socket with the raised sword de, resembling the Sword Salute performed by knights in heroic tales. Then, Najin saw it. Hiss¡­ From Ivan¡¯s raised de emerged a calm, cyan aura, the Sword Aura, signifying his status as a Sword Master. Wrapped in this aura, Ivan¡¯s sword was no longer a meremon steel sword. It became a unique weapon that only the one-eyed Ivan could wield. Enthralled momentarily by the beauty of the Sword Aura, Najin quickly realized this was not the time to admire it and urgently spoke out. ¡°Wait, Ivan. Hold on.¡± Najin retreated in panic. ¡°Drawing Sword Aura is overkill, isn¡¯t it? Isn¡¯t this too much?¡± It was unusual. Ivan had never drawn Sword Aura in their past sparring sessions. It was obvious ¨C Najin couldn¡¯t handle Sword Aura. Only Sword Aura can counter Sword Aura. A regr steel sword would be shredded upon contact, along with the wielder. Panicking, Najin stepped back, but Ivan silently advanced towards him. Step by step¡­ Then, with a leap, Ivan lunged at Najin. The cyan Sword Aura encased steel sword streaked towards Najin. ¡°Ugh!¡± Najin hastily raised his sword in defense, but a regr steel sword couldn¡¯t withstand Sword Aura. As Ivan¡¯s Sword Aura-imbued de met Najin¡¯s, Najin clearly saw his own sword being sliced away. Unable to withstand the Sword Aura, the de crumpled. Ivan¡¯s sword, cutting through the steel, advanced relentlessly. To Najin, everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Najin realized he was facing death. In a moment of heightened awareness, an unknown force surged through him, propelling his body. And this force wasn¡¯t just propelling his body anymore. sh. Najin¡¯s half-severed sword flickered with light. Though ephemeral and barely a fraction of Ivan¡¯s mighty Sword Aura, it was undeniably a strand of Sword Aura. A light that a boy in such a city should not possess. Confronted with the radiance in Najin¡¯s sword, Ivan¡¯s eyes widened, and his mouth twitched in surprise. Then the Sword Auras collided. ng! The sh echoed loudly as Najin¡¯s sword pushed back Ivan¡¯s. But beforepletely repelling it, with a clink, Najin¡¯s sword broke. Not just Najin¡¯s, Ivan¡¯s sword too shattered. Both swords, not designed to withstand Sword Aura, had met their end upon drawing and receiving it. ng. The broken des fell to the ground. Najin copsed, panting heavily. ¡°Whoo, huff, huff¡­!¡± His heart raced, feeling as if it was being squeezed. Blood trickled from his nose onto the ground. Overwhelmed by headache and fatigue, Najin raised his head to see Ivan looking down at him. Silently, Ivan observed Najin, then looked at the broken sword in his hand. The aftermath of the sh of Sword Auras. He let out a hollowugh. ¡°Always a madman.¡± Ivan had seen the light. Confronted with the brilliance that Najin possessed, Ivan stroked his face, realizing what it meant. ¡®This is maddening.¡¯ It was a light that someone like him, buried in a ce like this, should never possess. Chapter 9 Chapter 9 ¨C Prelude to the Civil War (5) Ivan, a former knight, still considered himself one, despite knowing he could no longer be called such. A knight was someone who upheld honor and pride. Ivan might have lost his honor, but he held onto his pride and, despite losing one eye, he could still see with the other. Thus, he remained a knight in part, able to perceive the light with his remaining eye. ¡°Damned brat¡­¡± Ivan saw the radiance Najin had produced and understood its significance: a tremendous potential. It was a brilliance that shouldn¡¯t be buried in a city like this, a me that would surely be snuffed out if noticed by those above. Najin¡¯s potential and radiance shouldn¡¯t emerge from a city fallen to the curse of Can. Torn, Ivan reflected on the conversation he had with Offen the night before: kill Najin or nurture him. Honestly, killing was the right choice, as nurturing him was a gamble. If things went wrong, both Najin and Ivan¡¯s lives were at stake. It would be crossing a line Ivan had set for himself. A twinge in his lost right eye reminded him of a hard truth: one must live ording to their station. Crossing lines only leads to misery, a lesson Ivan knew all too well. ¡°Dig out the eyeball.¡± ¡°Confiscate the masterpiece and cast him out.¡± ¡°You are no longer a knight of Atanga, Ivan.¡± ¡°Just a filthy heretic who dared reach for the stars.¡± Having reached for the unreachable, he had lost everything, relegated to a world without light or stars. ¡°I should kill him.¡± People should live within their means. Thus, it would be right to kill or cripple Najin, a clear risk. That was Ivan, the ruler of the underground city. But as a knight, he thought differently. Once a knight who dreamed of the pinnacle, who wished to hang his star in the night sky, Ivan knew the value of a dream. The knight in him asked if he would trample on the dream before him. Silent, Ivan exhaled deeply. ¡°I¡¯m going mad, really.¡± ¡­Ivan was a knight. Still longing to be one, he made his decision. *** ¡°I¡¯m going mad, really.¡± Ivan chuckled bitterly, releasing the oppressive atmosphere. Najin felt the change and knew he was no longer in immediate danger. ¡°Why did you have to show that¡­ why did you have to have it¡­¡± Ivan ran his hand over his face, sighing deeply as he looked at Najin. There was hesitation in his eyes. After a moment, he spoke decisively. ¡°Najin.¡± ¡°¡­Why?¡± Out of breath, Najin struggled to respond, still fearful after nearly facing death and curious about the light in his sword. Mixed curiosity and fear. Facing those eyes, Ivan spoke. ¡°Today, I¡¯m going into Horace¡¯s territory with Offen. I¡¯ll be away for a couple of days¡­¡± Unbuckling his belt, Ivan removed one of his two ever-present swords ¨C one from the world above and the other a masterpiece by the cksmith Hogel. He handed Hogel¡¯s masterpiece to Najin, who epted it, bewildered. ¡°Guard my ce while I¡¯m away. If anyone causes trouble, use this sword to cut them down. It¡¯s proof that you¡¯re acting on my behalf.¡± With those words, he handed over the sword. ¡°And.¡± Ivan smirked. ¡°When I return, I¡¯ll teach you how to handle Sword Aura.¡± Promising what he had long dyed, Najin blinked in surprise. Ivan shrugged. ¡°You look like you don¡¯t believe me.¡± ¡°I was almost killed just now. I¡¯m scared you¡¯re using it as an excuse to kill me.¡± ¡°Hey, do I look like such a viin?¡± Najin nodded. Ivanughed bitterly. Well, he couldn¡¯t deny it. ¡°I had no intention of killing you. If you hadn¡¯t reacted, maybe I would have just added another scar to your shoulder.¡± ¡°You¡¯re terrible, really.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all for a reason, you damned brat.¡± Ivan exhaled long, facing Najin¡¯s still suspicious gaze. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll make a trustworthy bet.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The heaviest thing I can offer.¡± cing a hand on his remaining sword, Ivan¡¯s demeanor changed. ¡°On my pride as a Knight of Atanga, I swear.¡± Not as the one-eyed ruler of the underground city, but as Ivan the knight, he spoke. ¡°This is a deal, Najin.¡± A proposal and a deal, recognizing Najin as an equal. ¡°I¡¯m investing in you from now on. I¡¯ll teach you everything, not just drawing Sword Aura.¡± The brilliance that you showed me. I¡¯ll bet everything on that light. ¡°So, you must rise higher than me.¡± Beyond a Sword Master. Reach the next level. Reach the heights I couldn¡¯t. ¡°Ascend, and retrieve what I left in the world above. Be strong enough to negotiate with those above.¡± ¡°¡­What did you leave above?¡± ¡°My honor.¡± The title and honor of a Knight of Atanga. Ivan extended his hand. Without further words, his gesture was his offer. Najin hesitated briefly. Then, decisively, he grasped Ivan¡¯s hand. With a strong pull, Ivan helped Najin to his feet and smiled. ¡°From today, you are my prot¨¦g¨¦.¡± A prot¨¦g¨¦, a knight¡¯s squire. ¡°The prot¨¦g¨¦ of Ivan, Knight of Atanga.¡± *** In Ivan¡¯s office, Najin, taking his ce during his absence, sat in the chair usually upied by Ivan. Tapping his finger on the table, Najin muttered to himself, puzzled. ¡°What was that about?¡± He couldn¡¯t make sense of the recent events: Ivan¡¯s request for a duel, the abnormal use of a steel sword instead of a wooden one, and Ivan enhancing his body with mana and finally drawing Sword Aura. Najin had genuinely feared for his life when Ivan swung his aura-imbued sword. ¡°And then¡­¡± His body had moved on its own, instinctively, instinctively emitting a glow on his sword de. Even with his limited knowledge of mana and Sword Aura, Najin knew what had manifested for a brief moment on his sword. ¡°Light. Mana. A fragment of Sword Aura.¡± A mark of a warrior at the Master level. Was he now at that level? It seemed unlikely. Najin gripped the sword lying on the table, attempting to draw out the Sword Aura again, but to no avail. Recalling the moment, he remembered the sensation of being pushed from behind and the exhaustion that followed when the light manifested. ¡°It feels like a dream.¡± But the lingering pain in his palm and body was proof that it wasn¡¯t a dream. Did I really draw out Sword Aura? How could he, without ever learning mana techniques? The only people who could provide answers, Ivan and Offen, had just departed for Horace¡¯s territory. ¡°I¡¯ll ask when they return.¡± Soon, he would be able to ask. Ivan had promised to teach him everything about Sword Aura and mana when he returned. That knowledge was something Najin had longed for but never received from Ivan, who always evaded the topic, warning him whenever he probed too deeply. ¡°Ivan will teach me. Sword Aura, proper swordsmanship.¡± These were special things that couldn¡¯t be obtained in the underground city, things beyond the line drawn by Ivan. And they were¡­ Featured in the fairy tale book Najin always carried. The ¡®brilliant Sword Aura¡¯ of King Arthur and his knights was an inseparable part of their portrayal. Smiling at the thought, Najin felt a bit closer to the stars. ¡°A squire of Ivan, the knight of Atanga.¡± Not Ivan¡¯s hunting dog, but his squire. Najin savored the resonance of the word, finding it quite pleasant. * * * ¡°Ivan has taken the bait.¡± In a deep chamber connected to the mining tunnels, Land Spider Horace spoke. He wasn¡¯t alone; someone was listening intently. ¡°Hand over what you promised.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be so impatient, I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± A woman sitting on Horace¡¯s desk tossed a packet of drugs at him. With trembling hands, he tore open the packet and consumed its contents, finally calming his shakes. Horace looked up at the woman with an unreadable expression. She was unpredictable and mad. Staring at her, Horace asked, ¡°What¡¯s your n now?¡± ¡°Why bother asking? You just need to do as you¡¯re told.¡± She grinned, propping her chin on her hand. ¡°By the way, your first leg, Arnold, has fled. Did you have a hand in that?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t involved.¡± ¡°Well, it doesn¡¯t matter. Ivan fell for the trap.¡± ¡°What will you do with Arnold?¡± ¡°What else? He broke the rules¡­¡± She gestured towards a corner of the office. There, Horace¡¯s men were crammed into a cage, listless and defeated. ¡°He¡¯ll end up like them.¡± With a flick of her hand, a sharp noise rang out. One of the men began to swell unnaturally. Horace closed his eyes, unable to watch. Sshes of blood and flesh, weak moans echoing in the office. Amidst these sounds, Horace clenched his teeth in anger and frustration. Chapter 10 Chapter 10 ¨C Deviation (1) ¡°What is a Knight of Atanga, sir?¡± The boy¡¯s abrupt question made Hogel, who was hammering, pause and nce at Najin. Hogel had called Najin to the forge to check his build and how he wielded the sword, even though the sword was not yetplete. ¡®He could just leave after I took his measurements, but here he is, starting a conversation.¡¯ Hogel, slightly annoyed at the interruption to his work, yet intrigued by the nostalgic name mentioned, set aside his hammer for a moment. The Knights of Atanga. A story worth pausing his hammering for. Hogel, rich with years of experience and not one to be stingy in sharing his stories, took a sip of water and began to speak. ¡°Ah, Atanga. A name I fondly remember. Why, did Ivan mention Atanga?¡± Najin nodded, and Hogel inwardly clicked his tongue. It was rare for Ivan to speak of Atanga. ¡°So, what is Atanga? Sounds like a famous family name.¡± ¡°Atanga is not a family name, young one,¡± chuckled Hogel. ¡°While most knights belong to a family and identify themselves with it, those from Atanga are different. Atanga is a kind of military group, a knightly order.¡± The Atanga Knights. ¡°A knight is someone who upholds honor and pride. Without honor and pride, a knight should not and cannot exist.¡± These were the ones who preserved the old rules of knighthood. ¡°Centuries have passed since the age of heroes, and the meaning of the word ¡®knight¡¯ has changed a lot. Nowadays, anyone with strength, even without honor or pride, can be a knight.¡± It was an era where the weight of the name ¡®knight¡¯ had diminished. Muttering so, Hogel spoke emphatically. ¡°Atanga Knights stand directly against this era. They insist that without honor and pride, one cannot be called a knight, holding onto the old rules and redefining what it means to be a knight.¡± Some call Atanga idealists. Others say it¡¯s where the truest of knights belong. ¡°Rigid, upright, sometimes foolish, but that¡¯s why they¡¯re undeniably endearing.¡± ¡°You talk as if you¡¯ve met many of them.¡± ¡°I have. I¡¯ve forged quite a few swords for them.¡± The old man¡¯s eyes grew distant, filled with memories. A faint smile yed on Hogel¡¯s lips, lost in the past. ¡°Well, that¡¯s what Atanga knights are like. Living and dying by honor and pride. Just like the knights in fairy tales.¡± ¡°That sounds quite cool.¡± ¡°They are, especially when they speak of their honor and pride.¡± Though they often seem foolish. Muttering this, Hogel picked up his hammer again. ¡°Your sword will be ready in about three to four days. Come to pick it up then. If you need a sword in the meantime¡­¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m fine.¡± Najin interrupted him. Standing up, he gestured towards his waist. ¡°I can use this for the time being.¡± Pointing to where he gestured, there hung Ivan¡¯s sword, a masterpiece forged by Hogel about ten years ago. Seeing Ivan¡¯s sword with Najin, which should have been on Ivan¡¯s waist, surprised Hogel. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Hogelughed. ¡°Ivan must have taken a liking to you.¡± ¡°Well, I am quite something.¡± ¡°Cheeky brat.¡± Jokingly, Najin left the forge as Hogel watched him go,ughing heartily for the first time in a while. *** ¡°So, what did you do about it?¡± Offen¡¯s question, missing its subject, briefly halted Ivan¡¯s work on the sword. But only for a moment. Ivan continued his work, responding since he knew what Offen was asking. ¡°I decided to teach him.¡± ¡°That¡¯s surprising. Did you see something?¡± ¡°I did. Probably the same thing you saw.¡± Ivan smirked. Offen shrugged, knowing that anyone who has walked the path of the sword would recognize Najin¡¯s talent. A brilliance that shouldn¡¯t be buried in this city. Ivan¡¯s mixed expression of bitterness, joy, and excitement revealed his thoughts. ¡°I thought of crippling him so he couldn¡¯t wield a sword, but the kid pulled out sword aura. Blocked my sword with it. Even pushed it back.¡± The standoff ended with both swords shattered. But for a moment, Ivan felt overpowered by Najin. ¡°Crazy kid. He pulled it off without being taught.¡± ¡°At eighteen, just a fragment of sword aura.¡± ¡°Youngest ever. Even the famed Sword Saint, Karan, drew sword aura at twenty-three, as per records.¡± Which meant¡­ ¡°The upper world would be in chaos if they found out.¡± ¡°Yes. Such a prodigy shouldn¡¯t emerge from a ce like this.¡± Najin¡¯s existence was a clear ¡®threat¡¯. Born elsewhere, he could have been hailed as a prodigy, receiving all sorts of support. But Najin was born in the underground city. And everyone born here was a sinner. Like the damned of Can, heretics who reached for the forbidden. If word got out that such a heretic possessed brilliant light, the upper world, especially the Church, would surely try to bury him. ¡°So.¡± Ivan said. ¡°We need to make him invaluable, too significant to be covered up.¡± A Sword Expert could easily be suppressed from above. Unable to resist. But if Najin reached the next level? Sword Seeker. Standing between human and transcendental beings, between Sword Expert and Master. Wanderers of the sword, seeking ascension. If Najin reached that rare realm essible to only a few Sword Experts¡­ Even those above wouldn¡¯t be able to bury him quietly. A massive force would be needed to suppress a Sword Seeker-level warrior. If they tried, it would inevitably create noise, alerting someone. Quietly handling it would be impossible. ¡°If we get that far.¡± Ivan, refurbishing the sword he wielded as a knight, continued. ¡°We might negotiate with the upper world. They would have to listen to us then.¡± In that negotiation, Ivan and Offen would sit as Najin¡¯s mentors. Not as trash fallen from grace in the underground city, but as knights and mercenaries. ¡°It¡¯s not easy.¡± ¡°Difficult, but not impossible.¡± ¡°If we seed, we climb back up again. If we fail, it¡¯s death. Quite the bold gamble.¡± ¡°But worth taking.¡± Ivan grinned. ¡°An impudent kid who drew sword aura without being taught. Isn¡¯t he worth the gamble?¡± Aplete change in attitude from the previous night at the tavern. At this, Offenughed incredulously. ¡°Uncharacteristic of you. You never used to take such risks.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t. Until I lost an eye and fell down here.¡± But then, Ivan added. ¡°What can I do after seeing that?¡± The brilliance of the boy. A glow too beautiful to rot in this underground city. That light rekindled a dream Ivan had abandoned since falling into the underground. Remembering that brilliance, Ivanughed. Not the murkyugh of the ruler of the underground city, but the clearugh of a knight who once chased the stars. ¡°You¡¯re still the same.¡± Offen chuckled at Ivan¡¯s demeanor. ¡®So it¡¯se to this.¡¯ When Offen first witnessed Najin¡¯s brilliance, he pitied the boy¡¯s fate. Condemned to decay in this city for life, Offen felt sorry for him. That¡¯s why he casually suggested to Ivan at the tavern to gamble on Najin. An impulsive proposal born from sympathy for the wretched kid. Ivan epted the proposal, fleshing out a n. It was like seeing Ivan from his knightly days. A scene now strange yet nostalgic. ¡°Huh¡­¡± With a slight smile, Offen exhaled deeply. Not his usual drunken breath. Clear-headed, he ced a hand on the hilt of his cherished sword from his mercenary days. ¡°We¡¯ll be busy from now on.¡± ¡°Indeed. Need to think of ways to train him.¡± ¡°Well, that, but also this.¡± Offen gestured with his drawn sword. ¡°First, we need to figure out what to do with this.¡± Offen¡¯s sword tip pointed to an entrance leading to Horace¡¯s territory. Not the main gate at Hogel¡¯s forge, but a backdoor through a tunnel. Of course, there were guards at the back entrance. With a knight¡¯s smile fading from his face, Ivan narrowed his eyes, assessing the guards¡¯ movements and the condition of their equipment, his hand caressing the hilt of his sword. ¡°Fourmon soldiers and one officer.¡± ¡°Is that one Senya? Never met him.¡± ¡°Not really. He knows how to handle mana, but he¡¯s not an Expert. Probably their fourth leg.¡± ¡°Any traps?¡± ¡°None visible right now.¡± ¡°Then we¡¯re good.¡± Offen gestured with his chin. ¡°I¡¯ll take the three on the right.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll handle the officer.¡± The conversation ended there. From atop a hill overlooking the tunnel entrance, the two men, as if on cue, silently dashed down. But no sound of footsteps followed. Offen, who hadpleted countless missions as a mercenary. Ivan, who had been deployed in numerous operations as a knight. They might not match a Ranger specialized in stealth and assassination, but both had their fair share of experience in infiltration and targeted killings. They weren¡¯t Sword Experts just from swinging their swords against walls. Their practical experience was more than ample. TL/N: Looks like there are two different stages in power rankings, Sword Expert < Sword Master. And Ivan and Offen are now revealed to be Sword Experts, so we¡¯ll be using that going forward. Thud. By the time the sound of footsteps echoed, Ivan and Offen were already upon the guards. Before the guards could widen their eyes and scream, Offen¡¯s sword had already sliced through their throats. Blood sttered. Cutting through the blood, Offen¡¯s sword shot forward like a dart. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Another guard¡¯s throat was impaled. Pulling his sword out of the guard''s neck and taking arge step forward, Offen reached out towards the mouth of another guard who had turned around toote. Squeeze. Silencing the guard by twisting his throat, three guards were dead in an instant. After swiftly dispatching the three, Offen exhaled and turned around. ¡°Gurk, gurk¡­¡± An officer, grasping his own throat, writhed on the ground. However, it didn''tst long. Ivan struck down the officer''s back with his sword. A brief spasm. The officer ceased to move. The method was simple: first silence them by shing their throats, then finish them. After withdrawing his sword from the corpse, Ivan gestured towards the tunnel. A signal to move forward. Thud. Heading into the dark tunnel, the two proceeded. *** Late in the afternoon, Najin was patrolling the streets. Only a few in the organization knew Ivan was away, and what could possibly happen in just a few days? ¡®But there¡¯s always a possibility.¡¯ With the city¡¯s atmosphere growing increasingly tense, there might be a spy from Horace¡¯s side looking to cause trouble. While patrolling, Najin found nothing unusual. ¡°¡­¡± Walking, he found himself near the square. Najin nced at the soldiers guarding the center of the square. Today was thest day of the 13-day trial of the sword, wasn¡¯t it? The Sword of Selection, Excalibur, was said to vanish at midnight. For the past 13 days, Najin had frequently visited the square, hoping to see the sword, but aside from the first day, he saw neither the sword nor its light. ¡®All I did was gaze at the soldiers¡¯ armors.¡¯ Najin smirked bitterly. But now, he no longer needed to linger around the square. Tomorrow, the Holy Sword would disappear, and so would the voice that had been echoing in his ears. Draw the sword. You are the one who can. Chewing over the almost familiar sentence, Najin moved his reluctant feet. Just as he was about to leave the square, ¡°Najin!¡± Someone called his name . Najin turned his head back. There was an organization member running towards him, one of the few who knew Ivan was away. ¡®Collector Zek.¡¯ Next in hierarchy to Ivan''s organization, after Offen and Najin. ¡°What¡¯s up, Zek?¡± ¡°Huff, huff¡­ That is, you see.¡± ¡°Catch your breath. What is it?¡± Breathless from running, Zek took a deep breath and then spoke. ¡°At Daisy Tavern right now, one of Horace¡¯s thugs is causing havoc. He¡¯s demanding Ivan toe. Says he has something to tell him.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Najin blinked in confusion. ¡°Is he insane? Why in our territory? We should just tie him up and wait for Ivan to¡­¡± ¡°We can''t restrain him.¡± Zek interrupted Najin. ¡°About a dozen of us tried to hold him down, but it won¡¯tst long. He¡¯s an officer, the first leg, Arnold. Looks like you need toe.¡± The first leg of Horace, Arnold. Among the eight legs, he was the strongest, almost reaching Sword Expert level ording to Ivan. Hearing Zek¡¯s story, Najin¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Let¡¯s go. I¡¯ll head there first, follow me.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll catch my breath and follow.¡± Najin started running towards the tavern where the first leg was causing trouble. Although he headed there, Najin couldn¡¯t shake off a sense of unease. ¡®Why exactly?¡¯ The question lingered in his mind. Arnold, the first leg, was known as the second-inmand of Horace¡¯s organization. Why would such a persone into Ivan¡¯s territory and cause a scene? ¡®Did he catch on to Ivan¡¯s preemptive move?¡¯ No, that seemed imusible. If he had realized Ivan¡¯s move, he should be guarding Horace in his own territory, noting here demanding Ivan, iming he has something to say. A strange sense of unease. And above all¡­ ¡°¡­¡­¡± The air in the streets felt different. Najin rubbed his nose with the back of his hand, frowning at the stench mixed in the air. It was a familiar smell, but he couldn¡¯t quite ce when he had encountered it before. ¡°¡­Bring Ivan!¡± Then a voice rang in his ears. He had arrived in front of the tavern. There, Arnold, the first leg, was shaking off the organization members trying to restrain him and shouting. ¡°Bring Ivan! I have to tell him!¡± Arnold screamed with bloodshot eyes. ¡°That Horace and I, we were just being used!¡± His eyes, red and swollen, looked as if under the influence of drugs. Chapter 11 Chapter 11 ¨C Deviation (2) ¡°Horace and I, we were just used!¡± This loud promation echoed through the air. Najin pushed through the crowd of organization members gathered in front of the tavern. ¡°Move aside.¡± ¡°Ouch! Who¡¯s¡­ Najin?¡± Najin grabbed one of the members charging at Arnold by the back of the neck and pulled him back. As Najin stepped forward, the remaining members hesitated and backed away, creating a brief silence. Arnold, catching his breath, looked at Najin. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Najin, Ivan¡¯s deputy.¡± Najin casually touched the hilt of his sword at his waist. It was a symbol of Ivan. ¡°If you have something to say, say it.¡± ¡°I need to see Ivan¡­¡± ¡°Be realistic. Do you think we¡¯d just let a hostile organization¡¯s executive meet our boss?¡± Najin¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°I¡¯m already giving you a lot of leeway considering your situation. So, if you have something to say, say it before I cut off an arm, as per the rules. You have ten seconds.¡± With a ¡®ng,¡¯ the sword slid out of its sheath. Najin, gripping his sword, pointed it at Arnold. ¡°If you don¡¯t speak within that time, I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°How insolent, you little¡­¡± ¡°Who¡¯s being insolent here? You¡¯re causing a scene because you¡¯re desperate, aren¡¯t you?¡± Najin exhaled sharply. ¡°Either speak or offer an arm.¡± Arnold gritted his teeth. Ten, nine, eight¡­ As Najin counted down, Arnold finally spoke when the count reached three. ¡°¡­It wasn¡¯t Horace.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°The conflict with your group wasn¡¯t started by Horace. We were just being used by that madman.¡± As Najin listened to Arnold¡¯s story, the surrounding members shivered. Najin, too, caught his breath in surprise. His eyes widened as he looked at Arnold. Drip, drip. Something fell. It was blood, of a dark crimson color. Blood was dripping from Arnold¡¯s bloodshot eyes, from his mouth, ears, and nose. Trying to continue, Arnold nced down mindlessly. Seeing the pool of blood forming at his feet and his vision turning red, heughed, a mix of self-mockery and amusement. ¡°Hey, kid.¡± Looking at Najin, Arnold said, ¡°Tell Ivan right away.¡± He coughed up a mouthful of blood as he uttered hisst words. ¡°Hakan, the drug maker, is on the move.¡± Najin¡¯s eyes widened in shock. *** The tunnels connected to Horace¡¯s hideout¡­ Ten years ago, during the civil war, these were the tunnels where Horace made hisst stand. Ivan and Offen, having infiltrated the ce, were moving deeper into the tunnel in silence. ¡°I think that guy¡¯s not a spider but a mole or an ant. Why else would he dig such deep tunnels?¡± ¡°Keep your voice down. We¡¯ve infiltrated sessfully, why get caught now?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t feel any presence anyway.¡± Ivan shrugged. Offen couldn¡¯t disagree. While there were many guards near the entrance, there was no sign of anyone deeper inside. A deadly silent tunnel. Ivan felt uneasy about the quiet. The tunnel was eerily silent. Not just quiet, but the path was too open. There were no traps, something very unusual. ¡®It¡¯s too easy. Suspiciously so.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t like this before. During the civil war, Ivan had failed to breach these tunnels. Traps were set everywhere, and Horace¡¯s arrows flew from the darkness. Horace was a ranger, and a cornered ranger could be exceedingly troublesome. That¡¯s why Ivan had to give up on finishing Horace off and end the war. Of course, now with Offen, he was confident they could make it through, but¡­ ¡®Something¡¯s off.¡¯ Ivan frowned. Just as he began to suspect the tunnel itself might be a trap, he sensed a presence. Deep within the tunnel. Ivan gripped his sword tightly. A brief exchange of nces. Then, Ivan and Offen sprinted towards the source of the presence, the deepest part of the tunnel. At the end of the tunnel, a wooden door stood. Reaching it before Offen, Ivan didn¡¯t slow down. Crash! He added more force to his step, swinging his sword charged with energy. The de¡¯s energy smashed the door entirely. Bursting in, Ivan widened his eyes to adjust to the new setting. A vast open space. A huge dome-shaped cavity. It was a crossroads where the winding tunnels intersected. Railroads for transporting ores were entangled like spider webs. Seeing holes leading to different paths, Ivan¡¯s frown deepened. ¡®Was there such a space before?¡¯ He didn¡¯t recall seeing this during the civil war. How could they know which way to go now? There were dozens of passages; they couldn¡¯t search each one. Then, at that moment. Click. A small stone fragment fell. Ivan¡¯s head quickly turned towards the sound. Up above, a path unreachable due to a broken rail. Someone was there. ¡°Huh.¡± Ivan chuckled. ¡°Saved me the trouble of searching. What is it, spider? Came to greet me?¡± Land Spider Horace. The figure that appeared, hooded and holding a crossbow, was Horace. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Ivan.¡± ¡°Indeed. I wanted to catch and kill you as soon as I saw you, but you evaded well.¡± Ivan smirked. He adjusted his grip on the sword and signaled to Offen. Be ready to move if Horace tries anything. ¡°So, what¡¯s your bold move?¡± Fwssh. Energy surged on Ivan¡¯s sword. ¡°You dare enter my range. Are you sure about this?¡± Ivan was a Sword Expert, a knight who had reached extraordinary levels. For him, the distance between him and Horace was practically nonexistent. A leap or two was all it would take to close it. Why then had Horace revealed himself? Horace was a ranger. He couldn¡¯t possibly have the upper hand in closebat with a knight, especially not in a situation like this with two Sword Experts. ¡®Is there a hidden trick?¡¯ But at this distance, it would be meaningless. He could sever Horace¡¯s neck before any tricks could be yed. Just as Ivan was about to spring into action, ¡°I¡¯m not confident.¡± Horace spoke. ¡°To be honest, Ivan, I don¡¯t want to fight you. I still feel the scars you left. Why do you think I¡¯ve been hiding for thest ten years?¡± He stepped forward, emerging from the shadows where the light of the oremps didn¡¯t reach. ¡°But what can I do about it?¡± In the area illuminated by the light of the luminous stones. The dim light of the luminous stones revealed Horace¡¯s face, previously hidden in the darkness. He took off the deeply-pulled hood, as if inviting a closer look. ¡°I had to lure you out to survive.¡± His face was grotesquely distorted on one side. One of his eyes, clouded and out of focus, as if blinded. Every time he spoke, his mouth twitched, a symptom seen in addicts intoxicated by drugs. ¡°You¡­¡± Before Ivan could speak. ¡°To survive that madman, I had no other choice.¡± Horace pulled the trigger of his crossbow. But his target wasn¡¯t Ivan. The arrow was aimed at something hanging from the ceiling of the dome-shaped cavity. Horace hit it with an arrow. Zzzzz¡­ A strange noise echoed through the cavity. Though its nature was unknown, it was clear Horace was up to something. Ivan dashed toward Horace. No, he intended to. Ivan stopped in his tracks, letting out a hollowugh as he sensed presences from all directions. From the myriad passageways branching out of the cavity, footsteps echoed. It wasn¡¯t just one or two. It wasn¡¯t even dozens. From the passageways, countless people emerged. Their eyes were unfocused, saliva dribbling from their open mouths, as if intoxicated by drugs. ¡°What is this now¡­¡± Ivan frowned. Though they held weapons, they weren¡¯t very threatening, merely numerous, slow, and sluggish due to the drugs. ¡®What¡¯s the intention?¡¯ As Ivan was counting their number, he turned his gaze back to Horace. Horace was smirking bitterly. ¡°Both you and I have been yed, Ivan.¡± Given the situation and information, Ivan made his assessment. Understanding dawned upon him that this ce was a trap. That the civil war Horace seemed to be instigating and even Horace himself were merely bait thrown by someone. ¡®For what purpose is this bait?¡¯ The answer came quickly. Bait to lure him and Offen here. Then, who orchestrated this? The smell of chemicals vibrating in the air provided the answer. One of the three rulers of the underground city. A figure who remained uninvolved in the civil war, in frequent power struggles, in any situation ¡ª the ruler of thendfill. ¡°¡­Drugmaker Hakan.¡± The alchemist of thendfill had intervened. But Ivan didn¡¯t understand why Hakan would lure him here. Information about the drug maker was insufficient, and he didn¡¯t know much about the alchemist¡¯s folk. ¡°Ivan.¡± The same was true for Offen. He also didn¡¯t know much about the drugger. But he was well aware of what kind of folk alchemists were. As the former head of a mercenary group, he had undertaken requests from those damned alchemists several times. In other words. ¡°Step aside.¡± Offen knew how alchemists ¡®utilized¡¯ humans. Pushing aside Ivan, who was about to swing his sword, Offen stepped forward. He kicked the approaching person at the front. After a brief convulsion from the kick, the person¡¯s body swelled massively and exploded with a bang. As blood and flesh rained down, Offen let out a long sigh. ¡°Be careful of those trembling with blood on them.¡± Offen said with disgust. ¡°They¡¯re living bombs.¡± *** Najin¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Drug maker Hakan is on the move.¡± It wasn¡¯t because he understood the meaning of Arnold¡¯s words. What Najin¡¯s eyes saw was the expanding flow centered around Arnold. The expanding flow. Arnold, vomiting blood. The faintly trembling ground centered around Arnold. And Arnold¡¯s face, sensing imminent death. Four pieces of information had been obtained through his eyes. At that moment, a single sentence shed in Najin¡¯s mind: ¡®I need to create distance.¡¯ This was a thought that suddenly came to him during battle, something he had relied on since he was very young. Intuition, in that sense. But this was far from a vague thing like intuition. It was a part of Najin¡¯s talent. This was an extension of that talent. Based on the information he saw, he made an immediate judgment. An innate talent. Andbat sense honed in real battles. Those two intertwined to create a momentary foresight. Bang! Without doubting this, Najin immediately acted on his judgment. Dashing forward, he kicked Arnold, who was vomiting blood. Crack, the sound of a kick embedding in the abdomen. The moment Najin¡¯s foot touched Arnold¡¯s abdomen, he extended his bent knee. A kick meant to push away. Arnold, thrust by the impact, crashed into the alleyway between buildings. ¡°Now!¡± Immediately after, Najin turned and ran, shouting. ¡°Everyone, retreat!¡± As he scowled at the hesitating organization members retreating, Najin grabbed the nape of a member close to the alleyway and hurled himself forward. Then¡­ Kaboom! With a loud explosion, Arnold¡¯s body in the alleyway exploded. The aftermath of the explosion sent the organization members tumbling, and the sight of a person exploding before their eyes caused screams of horror to erupt, plunging the surroundings into chaos in an instant. Organization members fleeing, civilians screaming. In the midst of the chaos they created, Najin clenched his teeth. ¡°The drugger has moved,¡± said the high-ranking officer of Horace¡¯s organization. And then Najin realized the identity of the stench he had sensed earlier. A stench he had encountered when he once captured a junkie trying to spread drugs in Ivan¡¯s territory. A nose-stinging stench created by a mix of hallucinogens and various chemical drugs. That stench was vibrating in the alleyway where Arnold exploded. And, Najin had smelled the same stench earlier on his way here. Thud. Najin dashed off. Running back the way he hade, the stench grazed his nose. Whipping his head around, Najin¡¯s gazended on a locked alleyway. ¡®That ce.¡¯ A conduit for sewage, refuse, and garbage to be sent to the underground city¡¯sndfill. At that moment, Najin saw it. Thump. A hand clutching the bars from inside the cage. He saw the hand gripping the bars convulsing. The swollen hand reached its limit and exploded. Boom! With a loud explosion, the cage crumpled. From the dark beyond the cage, filled with the stench, someone walked out. A woman, covered in the blood of the person who just exploded. Najin and the woman locked eyes. The moment their eyes met, Najin felt a sharp sensation all over his body. The same feeling he had during his spar with Ivan, a sense of intimidation felt from a strong opponent who had reached a certain level. That sensation. It told Najin who the woman standing before him was. Najin immediately drew his sword. With a sound, he drew his sword with such force it nearly shattered the sheath, keeping a distance with the sword in hand. The woman, watching him, curled her lips. ¡°You have a good sense.¡± She snapped her fingers. At that moment, a sound like insects buzzing echoed. Najin didn¡¯t know what the sound was. But he did know. Immediately after the sound echoed, the presence of dozens of people beyond the woman and the explosions heard throughout the underground city indicated some connection to that sound. And¡­ ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± The woman¡¯s identity as well. ¡°Drug maker.¡± In response to the woman¡¯s question, Najin answered. ¡°Drug maker Hakan.¡± Chapter 12 Chapter 12 ¨C Deviation (3) Ruler of thendfill, Drugger Hakan. Najin didn¡¯t know much about this entity. After all, the drugger¡¯s gender, age, personal details, appearance, nothing was known about them. ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± The only things Najin knew about the drugger were that they were an alchemist and a formidable opponent,parable to Ivan. ¡®Limited information, but¡­¡¯ These few pieces of information were sufficient. They were more than enough to associate the woman in front of him with the drugger. ¡°Drug maker.¡± The oppressive feeling weighing on his shoulders and the sharpness of his senses gave Najin the answer. ¡°Drug maker Hakan.¡± Dering this, Najin braced himself. At this, the woman smirked. Her lips curled up, and she narrowed her eyes. Looking at Najin with half-open eyes, she spoke. ¡°Good sense. Quick-witted. But the conclusion you¡¯ve reached doesn¡¯t sit well with me.¡± She didn¡¯t deny Najin¡¯s guess. Drugger Hakan pointed her finger straight at the de Najin was pointing at her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to run? If you¡¯re sure, as you say, that I¡¯m Drugger Hakan, shouldn¡¯t you be running away?¡± A powerful figure, on par with Ivan and Horace. She questioned whether fleeing wasn¡¯t the right choice when facing an overpowering adversary. ¡°Ivan¡¯s rule is to strike first if a boss from another organization enters our territory.¡± ¡°And yet Ivan himself is away, isn¡¯t he?¡± Did she know he was absent? Horace¡¯s backer whom Horace believed in. Could that have been Drugger Hakan? Considering how Horace¡¯s officer exploded to death just moments ago, their rtionship seemed far from coborative. ¡­Anyway. Najin gripped the sword Ivan had entrusted to him tightly. ¡°Rules are rules.¡± ¡°Unnecessarily conscientious, aren¡¯t you, kid?¡± Hakan shrugged her shoulders and flicked her finger. Zzzzz¡­ The same buzzing noise echoed again. Those who appeared intoxicated and were standing behind Hakan reacted to the noise. They saw their master, Hakan. And then, they saw the end of her outstretched finger. It was pointing at Najin. Soon they started rushing towards Najin. Dozens of addicts. Their eyes and ears oozing blood, Najin looked at them and let out a long breath. He did not move. It wasn¡¯t just because of the rule set by Ivan. It was intuition. The farther he gets from Drugger Hakan, the more dangerous it gets. There were many of them. Najin¡¯s eyes moved rapidly. Counting those surrounding Drugger Hakan and pushing him back, there were over twenty addicts, just within sight¡­ ¡®There seem to be more behind them.¡¯ This was just the first wave. He felt more presences behind Hakan. And not just that. Considering the screams echoing throughout the city and the explosion he had heard earlier, their numbers could exceed a hundred. Ivan and Offen were away. No support from organization members could be expected. And there was ack of information about the opponent. It was a worst-case scenario, a situation akin to the brink of death, and all he had in his hand was a single sword. ¡®But it¡¯s no ordinary sword.¡¯ The sword Ivan had thrown to him. It was a masterpiece, different from the usual swords Najin used, a symbol of the value he had proven to Ivan. Najin¡¯s roving eyes stopped. They rested on Hakan, standing beyond the addicts. The addicts were moving at Hakan¡¯smand, the mastermind behind this situation. Ivan always said, in battle, the first one to take down is the leader, the one responsible. Najin¡¯s eyes, tinted with the hue of sunset, flickered briefly. Bang! Najin sprang into action. A burst of speed. In an instant, Najin closed the distance and swung his sword at the neck of an addict blocking his path. Sssssk. Blood sprayed along the smooth trajectory of the de. Shudder. The moment the neck was severed, the addict¡¯s body convulsed violently. Swelling. Without hesitation, Najin kicked the decapitated corpse. Boom! Several addicts were caught in the explosion. Arms were torn off, legs flew in the air, yet they kept advancing towards Najin as if they felt no pain. Najin frowned slightly at the sight. ¡®It¡¯s like the undead from a fairy tale¡­¡¯ Alive or dead? The stench of rotting corpses and decaying humans. Some of them were definitely corpses, but whether all were dead was uncertain. The situation was too dire to contemte such uncertainties. Instead of thinking, Najin judged and acted. ¡®The range of explosion is about three steps.¡¯ Timing of explosion? Within 2 seconds of convulsion. Conditions for explosion? Clearly, cutting the neck and ensuring death triggered it. But there¡¯s no guarantee it won¡¯t explode while they¡¯re alive. So, maintaining a distance of at least three steps seemed necessary. Assessment of the situation. Organization of information. The only thing left was to act. Najin trailed his sword low. The first thing he learned from Ivan was how to handle multiple opponents. ¡¸No matter how talented and sensitive you are.¡¹ ¡¸Before you seriously handle mana, ending up skewered and dead is the same. So, how do you handle it?¡¹ Tactics ingrained in his body while working as an executioner. Repeatedly used in numerous situations. ¡¸One, block the approach.¡¹ Sweeping low, his sword skated across the ankles of the addicts. Sssk, some ankles were severed, others deeply sliced, making it impossible for them to stand. Four addicts fell, blocking the path. ¡¸Two, lead them into a narrow space.¡¹ A narrow alleyway, open at the back. Only the front is essible by enemies, and the fallen four dyed the next row¡¯s advance. ¡¸You know what¡¯s left.¡¹ ¡¸You know it, right? You¡¯ve learned it.¡¹ Do what you do best. Judge and y your best move in each situation. Stepping over the bodies, Najin swept his sword across the necks of the addicts as the rear row tried to advance. Immediately after swinging, he leaped backward. Boom! Those caught close in the explosion lost legs or ankles. Their bodies piled up, again blocking the path. The roar of the explosion and sttering blood and flesh were gruesome. Not a sight for the faint-hearted. Even for Najin, who had seen deaths from a young age, it was a stomach-turning scene. Najin wiped the blood sttered on his face with the back of his hand and dashed. In the narrow alley, Najin¡¯s sword gleamed. He cut or kicked those within three steps, trying to close the gap with Hakan. But the distance seemed to never shrink. ¡®They keeping. Endlessly.¡¯ Pushing back, more keeping, overwhelming in numbers. Najin, who had been advancing, started to step back. One step, two steps, three steps¡­ This way, he¡¯ll be pushed out of the alley. A wide space. If pushed into an area where he could be surrounded, it would be the end. Najin clenched his teeth. If it were Ivan, it wouldn¡¯t be like this. If Ivan were here, he would have been faster and more decisive¡­ So. Thump. Like this. Sssk. Najin, diving in swiftly, swung his sword like Ivan. Following the optimal path he had only imagined, his body moved, and his de shed. Najin¡¯s eyes widened. ¡®This again.¡¯ An unusual sensation as if something was propelling his body. It was not something Najin could control. It came instinctively, reflexively. ¡®But¡­¡¯ To ovee the situation, he needed that movement. Najin focused on Hakan, who stood beyond the horde of addicts. ¡°¡­¡± Silently, she just looked up at the sky. It meant she wasn¡¯t considering him a worthy opponent. Not exerting her full strength. His eyes set on ¡®what¡¯s next¡¯ rather than him. This fact irked Najin a bit. Annoyance surged at the sight of a powerful opponent who didn¡¯t even acknowledge him. ¡®Let¡¯s see how long you can remain carefree.¡¯ Najin moved, keeping in mind the sensation he had just experienced. He stepped forward, picturing the optimal path in his mind. And the moment he felt the flow pushing his back. Thud. There was a feeling as if something had snagged. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± The propelling flow disappeared. His elerated movement returned to its normal pace. At that moment, a disconnect urred between the movement Najin had envisioned and the actual movement of his body. What Najin had pictured in his mind was ¡®dive in, swing the sword, and then step back.¡¯ But the decelerated Najin¡¯s body froze the moment he swung the sword. Shiver. A trembling corpse, bleeding, signaling an explosion. Hurriedly, Najin threw himself backward, but it was toote. Boom! Thrown by the explosion, Najin rolled on the ground. He was barely out of range, but still caught in the shockwave due to the close call. Rising from the ground, he gasped for air, feeling a throbbing pain all over his body. ¡®What went wrong?¡¯ That snagging sensation. It wasn¡¯t a physical hindrance, more like a psychological factor. Realizing this, a voice echoed in Najin¡¯s ears. Do not cross the line. Live as you¡¯re told. Don¡¯t reach for the unreachable. Those were always Ivan¡¯s words. Words Najin repeated to himself whenever he resigned or gave up on something. Now, they had be shackles grasping his ankles. ¡­Shackles that Najin himself had fastened. Mana and sword aura, things he shouldn¡¯t handle. Even if he saw ways to use them, he believed he shouldn¡¯t reach out. That was what he had always thought. They existed beyond the line Ivan had drawn. Although he had the ability to cross the line. He hadn¡¯t out of fear of Ivan. Unconsciously, he had been restricting his own actions. Just a step forward, a reach towards the front, could have grasped those things. But they remained unreachable without crossing the line. What Najin needed now were those very things. The boy needed the courage to cross the line. But shackles don¡¯t break easily. The shackles he had worn for a long time had be a part of Najin. He felt the scar on his shoulder throb. Najin exhaled heavily as he stepped back. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Looking at the sword in his hand left by Ivan. ¡°¡­Ha.¡± Najin let out augh involuntarily. What was he hesitating for? Receiving this sword was, in itself, a permission. ¡®Permission to cross the line.¡¯ Najin lifted his foot. With the raised foot, he stamped on the line he had subconsciously drawn. Shattering the shackles he had imposed on himself, Najin stepped forward. At that moment, his body elerated. Screech. The flow propelled Najin¡¯s body. No longer snagged by anything, his movement became smooth and fast. The movement he envisioned in his mind perfectly aligned with his physical movement. Sssk. The sword that plunged in, carving a clean trajectory, opened a path. The corpses that fell, trembling, about to explode, but by the time they showed signs, Najin was no longer there. However, he didn¡¯t retreat. Najin leaped. Bang, he kicked off the narrow alley walls, leaping high. A movement impossible with human strength alone, made possible with the aid of mana. Landing and swinging his sword, as the addicts trembled, Najin kicked off the wall again, not retreating as he advanced towards the drugger. Crack. Najin leaped high, kicking off the wall. Najin, leaping high, raised his sword, emting Ivan¡¯s swordsmanship. The boy reached out across the line. There was light. Things he thought he shouldn¡¯t grasp unconsciously, even though they were visible, things he hadn¡¯t seized. Crack. The moment he grasped it, strength poured into Najin¡¯s hand, gripping the sword. The flow that propelled Najin¡¯s body now surged through his fingers into the sword. sh. Najin¡¯s sword shed brightly. The light on the sword was pure white. Though it hadn¡¯t yet taken on its own color or fully enveloped the de, the white brilliance embedded in the sword was undoubtedly a fragment of sword aura. Najin consciously drew it out. Not unconscious, not idental, not instinctive, but a light kindled purely by his own will. In the dark alleyway, untouched even by the light of the oremps, the white sword energy on the boy¡¯s sword shone brilliantly. *** Drugger Hakan scoffed. The boy who had been charging at her was now obscured by a horde of addicts. His movements were decent, but not enough to break through her forces. He¡¯ll fall after a bit of resistance. ording to rumors, he was the beloved youngster of Ivan. Presenting his corpse would surely please them. ¡®No hup in the n.¡¯ She had gathered corpses discarded in thendfill to create living bombs. Over time, she swallowed Horace¡¯s territory and drugged Horace to control him. And finally, used Horace as bait to lure Ivan and Offen. A n years in the making. But Hakan didn¡¯t believe that such a trap would be enough to end Ivan. She knew Ivan, even if he didn¡¯t know her. ¡®Atanga¡¯s Knight, Ivan.¡¯ She knew how persistent and relentless knights of Atanga could be. He would surely break through the trap and return here. ¡®So, conquer before that.¡¯ She nned to upy the central area where Ivan resided, forcing him into a war of attrition. That way, the war would be hers. She would control all of Artman¡¯s Underground City. A long-prepared n. If only she could achieve it¡­ ¡°¡­¡­¡± Hakan looked up quietly. She looked at the ceiling of the underground city. Once a prodigy, considered the next head of the forge, but she fell into the underground city after being expelled at a young age. Like others in this city, she couldn¡¯t forget her glorious days. Drugger Hakan, as an alchemist from the Forge, wished to shine once more. Conquering the city was just a step; her destinationy further. She smiled, looking beyond, not far off. The day to leave this city, filled with rejects and trash, was not far. While she was gazing up high. Thump. Najin kicked off the alley walls, leaping up. Hakan¡¯s view, once set on the path to the upper world, was now blocked by Najin. Before she could feel annoyed at this interruption¡­ sh. Najin¡¯s sword shone. In this ce filled with rejects, in the dark alley, amid the trash of the city, the boy¡¯s sword cast a bright, pure white glow. Like a star in the sky. The moment she faced the light, Hakan¡¯s eyes widened. The shining. Things that could affect her n. She thought she had eliminated all such variables, yet one remained here. ¡°¡­Didn¡¯t see thising.¡± Hiding such a thing, she chuckled at Ivan¡¯s cunning. The boy, once insignificant trash. But now, the boy emitting light was a definite variable. Drugger Hakan no longer gazed at the sky, at what was next in her n. She stared directly at the boy, slicing her forearm with a dagger. Blood dripping to the ground hissed and vaporized. A pungent aroma filled the alley. It signified Hakan had brought out her hidden trump card and recognized the boy as a worthy opponent. Chapter 13 Chapter 13 ¨C Deviation (4) Drugger Hakan, whose real name is Hakante Kanariel. She is an alchemist, not one of those who stir adle in front of a jar in a secluded room of the healing school, but an alchemist of the Sanguine School. Sanguine School. A school of alchemy that uses blood as a medium. Some say, ¡°They have something more dangerous than a de flowing in their veins.¡± When Hakan once heard this, sheughed out loud and replied: That¡¯s an urate assessment. Sssht. Hakan scattered her own blood. The moment it touched the ground, it vaporized. The blood turned into mist, enveloping the alley like fog. It was a kind of doping agent she had concocted. A doping agent that enhances physical abilities, including strength and reaction speed, to their limits, inducing a state of excitement. The drug previously injected into the addicts reacted with the dopingponent. Once they inhaled the mist filled with doping agents, their eyes reddened with blood vessels. Graaaagh! They screamed and charged at Najin, much faster than before. ¡®I was saving this forter.¡¯ Hakan warmed up while breathing in the mist. The doping agent had no side effects on her, but for others, it was a double-edged poison. The moment they inhaled it, it brought dramatic enhancement and euphoria, but¡­ Hakan narrowed her eyes, watching the addicts. Their bodies started making loud cracking noises. The sound of their bodies beginning to fall apart. That was the side effect of this doping agent. Enhancements came at the cost of physical deterioration. Soon, they would be immobile. In simple terms, it was meant for a short-term decisive battle. Originally saved for Ivan, but since the boy showed that light, she had to bury him here. One couldn¡¯t be sure what variables the boy might introduce. And, in hindsight, her decision was right. Bang. Najin, who had leaped off the alley walls, swung his sword. The de, carrying a white glow, sliced through three bodies in one stroke. Despite their enhanced physical abilities from the doping, the addicts couldn¡¯t react to Najin¡¯s sword. They sped up with the help of the drug, just as Najin elerated with the help of mana. Though still somewhat awkward with his elerated movements, Najin ruthlessly ughtered the addicts, advancing forward. His movements, zigzagging between the walls, appeared acrobatic. Crash. With each swing of his sword, severed arms and heads fell to the ground. As the headless figures were about to explode, Najin threw and kicked their bodies. All his movements were astonishingly fast. When Najin stomped the ground, it no longer made a ¡®thump¡¯ sound. Rather, it broke the ground as he rushed forward. Groooar! The addicts, regardless of how many were sliced, relentlessly threw themselves at Najin. Watching the group jumping towards him, Najin leaped backward for the first time. But it was not a retreat. Najin leaped back significantly andnded, burying his feet deep into the ground. He slowly exhaled, his sword hanging behind. ¡°Phew¡­¡± The space created by Najin¡¯s retreat was for a running start. As the addicts took a step towards him¡­ Boom! Najin stomped the ground. An eleration so fast it was hard to follow with the eyes. The white sword aura, trailing like a meteor, crossed the alley. And as he reached his target, Najin swung his sword, twisting his waist. An improbable horizontal sh in the narrow alley. However, Najin¡¯s de didn¡¯t bounce off the wall but smoothly sliced through it. Without any obstruction, the de emerged from the wall. The sword aura¡¯s cutting power freed Najin from being confined by the terrain. sh! The long swing of the sword cut through all the addicts blocking his path. As their bodies, sliced in half, started to tremble, Najin stomped the ground again and surged forward. Boom! The explosion behind him propelled him even further towards Hakan. Targeting themander, Hakan, was Najin¡¯s best choice. The best choice, but one thing Najin overlooked. He didn¡¯t understand alchemy. He didn¡¯t know what the Sanguine School was. Najin didn¡¯t know how Hakan fought. A conclusion drawn from minimal information. It was the best choice, but not necessarily the right one. The moment Najin swung his sword at Hakan, he saw it. Hakan smiled at him. It wasn¡¯t the smile of someone cornered. Rather the opposite. The smile of a hunter who has cornered its prey. ¡­Sanguine School. At that moment, the alley was full of blood. Blood spilled by dozens of addicts, sttered in all directions by their explosions. Blood was everywhere Najin stepped, and even the sword in his hand was stained red with blood. Since the addicts had consumed the mist and drugs made from Hakan¡¯s blood, their spilled blood was mixed with hers. Therefore, all of it was¡­ An impable catalyst for Hakan, an alchemist of the Sanguine School. Snap. Hakan flicked her fingers. Instantly, the alley was drenched in crimson. Using the blood scattered around as a catalyst, Hakan¡¯s alchemy was simple yet effective. Explosion. Boom! The alley shook with a thunderous explosion, vastly different from the explosion caused by the addicts. The shockwave swept the walls, sending stones tumbling down with heavy thuds. Dust and hot air billowed. Hakan swept her hand to clear her vision. As the dust settled, it revealed the chaotic scene of the alley and the boy, flung outside the alley by the st. ¡°Heh.¡± Hakan chuckled. Despite being caught in such an explosion, the boy still stood on his feet, supported by his sword. Standing with his sword¡¯s support, Najin remained upright. In that brief moment, he had pulled his arm in to protect his face, and although one arm hung limply, his face was unscathed. His eyes, tinted with the hues of sunset, still red at Hakan. Chilling eyes. And Hakan recognized them. They were the same eyes of the Knight from Atanga who had thrown her into this city 17 years ago. Feeling a chill run down her spine, Hakan twisted her lips into a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s see.¡± Hakan gestured. ¡°How much longer can youst?¡± When you can no longer move, I¡¯ll gouge out those two eyes. Despite consuming a considerable number of addicts, Hakan still had a sizable force left, all thanks to her 17 year long preparation. Now, not just from behind her, but from all over the city, addicts began to swarm towards Najin. And Najin¡­ Just tightened his grip on his sword. The sword aura emanating from Najin¡¯s de remained unflustered. Hakan, who had been smiling at the thought of finishing off the boy and gouging out his unpleasant eyes, gradually stoppedughing. Her face started to stiffen. ¡°What the hell?¡± She muttered in disbelief. She had cornered him. She used her hidden trick, exhausted his stamina, and had him caught in an explosion, breaking one of his arms. At a nce, the boy¡¯s body was far from normal. He looked so beaten and battered that it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if he copsed at any moment. But why has he be faster? Hakan saw before her eyes. Najin was now facing addicts swarming from all directions, not just from the front. The worsened battle situation, the tougher fight due to his injury, yet Najin seemed to be moving even faster than before. The boy who asionally seemed to be flung around by his sword was nowhere to be seen. In that short span, as if he had be ustomed to handling mana, Najin was moving faster, cutting through the addicts pouring in from all sides. ¡°This Ivan, what exactly did he hide?¡± This was strange. Too strange. Was there ever anyone of that age who could move like that, let alone draw sword aura? Even to Hakan, who didn¡¯t know much about the history of swordsmen, this seemed abnormal. A battered body. Yet, as it deteriorated, the sword aura shone even more brilliantly. The light embedded in the boy¡¯s sword became more intense as time passed, evolving from mere fragments to aplete form of sword aura. ¡°This is insane.¡± He¡¯s still growing. His movements are bing faster, more concise, and efficient. If it continued like this, he would catch up to her. Although she didn¡¯t want to admit it, Hakan knew she had to ept the fact. sh! The path cleared following the boy¡¯s sword swing. The sunset-tinted eyes red menacingly in the dimly lit underground city. Though she should have the upper hand, Hakan felt increasingly anxious. The tide of battle was turning. If it continued like this¡­ Crack. At that moment, a faint noise made Hakan narrow her eyes. The sound came from the boy¡¯s sword. Hakan saw it. ¡°Ah.¡± At that moment, Hakan burst intoughter. She saw it. The slight crack in Najin¡¯s sword that was gradually spreading as he swung it. A sword which was overused. A sword that bore the full brunt of the explosion As a result of the shock, small cracks appeared in Najin¡¯s sword, throwing off its bnce. Normally, this wouldn¡¯t have been a problem, but¡­ Najin was extracting sword aura, raw and unstable. The turbulent energy gnawed at the sword, rapidly depleting its lifespan. Although Najin was swiftly growing since crossing that line, his growth was limited to himself. Najin could evolve. But the sword in his hand could not keep up. Crack! Eventually, Najin¡¯s sword snapped. The moment it broke, the white radiance clinging to the de scattered. With the sword¡¯s demise, the radiant boy lost his light. ¡°Kill him,¡±manded Hakan. The addicts swarmed towards the now-dimmed boy, obscuring his sunset-colored eyes from view. *** The sword was broken. Without it, victory was impossible. Najin clenched his teeth and rolled, evading the onught of addicts and starting to run. But there was nowhere to escape. Hakan had spread addicts throughout Ivan¡¯s territory; wherever Najin went, they emerged. He had to fight. But how? He needed a weapon. One that could withstand his sword aura, unbreakable and solid. The first realistic option that came to mind was visiting Old Hogen¡¯s forge. ¡®If only the sword was finished.¡¯ Even if it wasn¡¯t, carrying dozens of swords and breaking them inbat might allow him to hold out. ¡®But that¡¯s impossible.¡¯ The journey was too long; he couldn¡¯t break through the hoard of addicts without a weapon. Though he was currently moving without feeling pain, Najin sensed this wouldn¡¯tst long. His body was gradually starting to ache. Defeat meant death. He couldn¡¯t die here, not when he had just begun to transcend his limits. Desperately seeking a solution, a thought struck Najin. ¡®Draw the sword.¡¯ A voice echoed in his ears, the same one that had tormented him for thirteen days. Always resigned, Najin clung to a longing that echoed in his ears. Yes, there was a weapon. A sword that would never break, one that could endure his sword aura. The legendary sword. ¡®But that¡¯s¡­¡¯ It was something a bottom-dweller of the underground city like him should never touch. Touching it meant death. It was untouchable. And he wasn¡¯t even sure he could draw it. You shouldn¡¯t bet on uncertainties. But Najin realized he was already running towards the square. The soldiers guarding the sword were nowhere to be seen, and the cloth covering the Excalibur was gone. The swordy exposed. The tinum Excalibur. The Sword of the Stars with thirteen stars etched on its de. Confronted with Excalibur, Najin¡¯s eyes turned tinum. Starlight. Faced with the light he had longed for, Najin smiled genuinely, not in mockery or derision, but in pure joy. The star he had yearned for. In the dark underground city, the boy¡¯s mind filled with pure desire at the sight of the bright star. Worries, agonies, and the taboo of breaking rules evaporated, leaving only pure longing. ¡°If I¡¯m going to die anyway.¡± Death was inevitable either way. If he didn¡¯t act, he¡¯d be caught and killed by the addicts. If death was certain, if he had to crawl at the bottom and die there¡­ ¡°Might as well try.¡± Najin leaped. The boy, who had started to cross boundaries, thought no longer of the consequences. Focusing only on the present, he ran towards the holy sword. There was no certainty he could draw it, but¡­ ¡®I can draw it.¡¯ No. He was certain. He could draw the sword. His intuition, which had never betrayed him, was shouting. He could draw it. Trusting his intuition as always, Najin reached for the sword embedded in the rock. Hakan, arriving at the square, also witnessed this. Sheughed at the sight of the boy reaching for Excalibur, thinking he had gone mad. Could he, despite his talent, really believe he could draw that sword? The sword that had remained undrawn for centuries? But then¡­ The moment Najin¡¯s hand touched Excalibur. Hakan could no longerugh. Her smirk dropped, her eyes widening in shock. Gwoong, Gwooung¡­ A majestic bell tolled, echoing around them. As the reverberation spread, addicts were knocked off their feet, and even Hakan stumbled and fell. On the ground, Hakan saw it. Excalibur, beginning to shine the moment it was touched by the boy. The legendary sword, ringing with a mighty sword¡¯s hum, was being drawn into reality by a single boy. Creak! The sword was being pulled from the stone. Excalibur, thought to be merely a legend due to its unyielding nature for centuries, was now being summoned by the boy. Crack! The sword emerged from the rock. Chapter 14 Chapter 14 ¨C The Star¡¯s Sword, Excalibur The boy didn¡¯t know how brightly the stars shine. The boy didn¡¯t know how warm the sun is. What everyone naturally enjoys, the boy has not. Born in a deep underground city where neither starlight nor sunlight reaches, the only thing he could see when looking up was the dark ceiling of the underground city. Born among the abandoned, the boy dreamed, yearning for the unseen stars in the ceiling. He wanted to possess the stars. To be a self-illuminating being wherever he was. Like the knights and heroes in fairy tales, beings with brilliant light. Holding a tattered fairy tale book, the boy dreamed. Even though he knew it was unattainable. Even though he knew it was a desire beyond his station. The boy couldn¡¯t let go of his dream. *** The first thing children in the underground city learn is how to give up. More urately, it¡¯s something theye to realize rather than learn¡­ From a very young age, children in this city suddenlye to understand. That they are destined to rot in this ce for life. That they can never escape this city. No matter what they do, they cannot ascend. Thus, they naturally learn to give up and resign themselves. The bright eyes of children, full of dreams, quickly be clouded with the haze of the underground city. Najin was no different. Najin knew his talent. He always said he didn¡¯t overestimate his talent, but he had an approximate idea of how immense his talent was. ¡®How could he not know?¡¯ Najin has keen eyesight. He is observant, sensitive to changes in people¡¯s expressions, and has quick wits. Therefore, Najin always noticed. Whenever he wielded a sword. Whenever he did something. The astonishment of Offen and Ivan. Sometimes they would forcibly hide their astonishment and treat him nonchntly. Najin wasn¡¯t so foolish as to not understand their intentions. He knew it all. That his talent did not fit this city, that even the strong Ivan and Offen thought his talent was abnormal, that Ivan was wary of his talent and tried to control its growth, he knew it all. He just turned a blind eye and blocked his ears. ¡®After all, he can never ascend.¡¯ No matter how brilliant his talent. No matter how vast his abilities. He is doomed to rot in this city. Therefore, Najin always resigned himself. Even if he saw the light in front of him, he never reached for it if it was beyond the line. That light was not permitted for him. Resigning, giving up, forgetting, shaking off. Thus, the boy stripped himself of his self-confidence countless times. Although he shed it time and again, there was something he couldn¡¯tpletely shed. The longing for stars. Najin looked ahead. There, he couldn¡¯t let go of a dream he had. Excalibur, the sacred sword, which began and ended the saga of King Arthur, a symbol of the king himself. The moment Najin saw the sword shining like a star, he had an intuition. That he could not shed even this. ¡®No matter how things go wrong, it¡¯s none of my concern.¡¯ The boy lives for today. Just like children who dream, at this moment, Najin¡¯s eyes shone. Not with the dim twilight of the underground city, but with the tinum color of the stars. Crossing the line drawn by Ivan, and over the boundary set by the higher-ups of the city for everyone, Najin gripped the sword. Crunch. The moment Najin gripped the Star¡¯s Sword, thirteen stars etched on the de of Excalibur twinkled. The stars connected, forming a constetion. Then, boom. The sacred sword began to sing. The majestic sword-cry, echoing for the first time in hundreds of years, shook the underground city. But this story was not confined to the underground city alone. In ces where the stars cannot be seen, it was unknown. But when Najin gripped the sacred sword, the celestial bodies in the night sky trembled. Thergest constetion, which hadn¡¯t moved for hundreds of years, stirred because of it. *** In the wide ins of the Britain Empire. Gerd stopped swinging his sword and looked up at the sky. The once calm night sky was shaking. In the tumultuous night sky, Gerd felt the shaking of his own seven stars. A star-bearing swordsman, though not a constetion. The empire¡¯s greatest sword, the empire¡¯s only Swordmaster, the old man smiled as he looked at the sky. At the highest ce in the Order of the Sword. Karan, who was caring for his sword, looked out the window. Beyond it, stretching the night sky. Feeling the shaking of his own six stars, he put down the sword he was maintaining and approached the window. Opening the window and looking at the tumultuous night sky, the constetion revered by the Order was there. Constetion, the Sword of Selection. The long-silent constetion was shaking. Karan swallowed his saliva at the sight of the shaking star. The owner of the Order of the Sword, Sword Saint Karan, realized he had missed his chance to obtain the sacred sword. At the execution ground of the Starblood sect. Uel, who was drinking from a bottle with a blood-stained swordid out, suddenly looked up at the sky. Feeling her six stars shaking, she put down the bottle she had emptied. Looking at the sky, she curled her lips into a smile. The executioner of the Starblood Sect, Uel Razian. The murderer smiled as she looked up at the night sky, pleased that there was one more person to kill. Those who were qualified to challenge the Trial of Stars, the Selection, looked at the night sky and realized someone hadpleted the trial. And. The astrologers studying the stars of the sky and the astronomers observing the movements of the stars. The tinum Tower, where they gathered, was thrown into chaos by the unusual shaking of the constetions. The fierce shaking of many constetions. Since the constetions never showed suchrge movements, they were astonished. But they had to doubt their own eyes at the realization that all the movement was caused by a single star. A star that had not moved for hundreds of years was moving. Thergest star. A constetion made of thirteen stars. The Sword of Selection was shaking. Not only they but everyone was looking up at the sky. Adults and children alike raised their heads to look at the sky. They were amazed and some were afraid as they watched the night sky shake. The sky is shaking. The stars are trembling. The vibration that started deep in the underground city, beyond the underground city, to those living on thend, and even to the night sky above. The tumultuous night sky. Small constetions swept up in the movement of thergest star screamed, while those that held their ground in the massive flow remained silent. Those silent ones were the stars of heroes from a long-ago era, who had traversed the continent with King Arthur. They realized. A great hero who led an era had moved. That day, they intuited that the flow of time, halted by Arthur, was beginning to move again. And. Another constetion. The constetion closest to the Sword of Selection, which apanied the beginning and end of King Arthur¡¯s journey, and sealed the original Excalibur. The Constetion, the Staff of Selection. The Lady of the Lake, Merlin, widened her eyes. Herke, where Excalibur should havein quietly at the bottom, was scattering light. This was a change not seen in hundreds of years. Hundreds of years ago, at the end of the journey, Excalibur lost its light with its master. Since the First Knight returned it to theke, Excalibur had not shone. But now, at this moment, Excalibur was scattering brilliant starlight. Merlin¡¯ske was dyed tinum. Then, in a sh. Excalibur turned into light and dispersed. Including the original Excalibur sealed at the bottom of theke, all copies of Excalibur scattered throughout various cities on the surface turned into light and scattered. The scattered lights gathered. Towards the now unified Excalibur. No one could see this procession of light. Not even Merlin. The only one permitted to behold it was a boy who had passed the Trial of Stars. In the blink of an eye. A momentary change. Merlin knew better than anyone what this change meant. Knowing well, Merlin bit her lip. Someone hadpleted the Trial of Stars. The sacred sword, which no one had chosen for hundreds of years. Excalibur had selected its master. In other words, it had appeared. The sessor to her king. The one to write the next chapter in the unfinished Chronicles of Arthur. Not only Merlin felt this. At the world¡¯s end, the abyss of Can, where stars fall. Where Arthur¡¯s journey ended, where he sacrificed himself to halt everything, making it and where time stood still, the beings of thatnd also witnessed the shaking of the night sky. The cursed dragon writhed. The witch of the fallen rejoiced. The betrayer of the Round Table exulted. The stars that fell in the distant past were enraged. At this moment. All in the fallen underground city. The countless strong ones walking on thend above. The transcendent beings shining in the night sky above them. The cursed beings of Kamran, the world¡¯s end. All were focusing on the change brought about by the boy from the lowest ce. They were paying attention to the ripples and the changes the boy would bring. Crack! The sword was being drawn. By a single boy. Boom, boom. The sword began to sing. By a boy who had nothing. The echoing sword-cry, the swirling starlight. The brightest starlight ever seen flooded the city of Artman, which had forgotten the light of the stars. The wave of starlight whitewashed the underground city of Artman. Amidst the flood of starlight, the boy readied his stance. Recalling the sentence he had read several times in the fairy tale book, Najin gripped the sword in the same posture as King Arthur. Arthur drew the sword that no one else could, with just one hand. Without exerting any force, the sword effortlessly came out the moment Arthur touched it. The sword had recognized Arthur as its master. The same was true for Najin. The moment Najin grabbed the sword, Excalibur automatically pushed out of the rock. The sacred sword, drawn out with a tinum glow, had selected the boy. Shring. Finally, Excalibur fully revealed itself. A de shining tinum. A hilt adorned with thirteen stars. The sacred sword, which had lost its light long ago, was now shining in the boy¡¯s hand. The shining sword announced. The start of a new history. The history that had been still for hundreds of years began to move. A new sentence was being written in the ¡°Chronicles of Arthur,¡± which had been iplete for hundreds of years, waiting for its next chapter. The boy holding the Star¡¯s Sword was Najin. In a ce where no stars were seen, the boy who had reached for the stars finally grasped one. *** Ivan, who escaped the tunnel cutting down the horde of addicts, stopped swinging his sword and looked up at the sky. Though there were plenty of addicts to cut down, he couldn¡¯t help but pause at this moment. A star had risen in Artman. The majestic bell ringing throughout Artman. The flooding brilliant starlight. It was a sight long forgotten by those living in this city. ¡°¡­¡± Offen, Ivan, and even Horace, whom they were confronting, all silently gazed at the sky. The starlight bursting from the center of the underground city and shooting into the sky was reflected in their eyes. None could look away from that light. For it was where they had left their dreams above. With the rise of the star, the ceiling of the underground city was no longer just a ceiling. The dark ceiling of the underground city had be a wide-open night sky. Looking at the lone star shining in the night sky, Ivan chuckled. The Knight chasing the star, Ivan. The knight once known by that name was both ted and despaired in front of the risen star. He seemed to know who had created that starlight. And Ivan knew what would happen next. ¡°Najin, you damned boy.¡± Ivan groaned. ¡°What the hell have you done?¡± Chapter 15 Chapter 15 ¨C The Light That Shouldn¡¯t Be Grasped (1) A star rose in the underground city of Artman. Artman, where no starlight could reach due to the ceiling blocking the sky, was now illuminated by a star, making it all the more prominent. A clear light, not obscured by thick fog or dim light from oremps. The tinum-colored starlight, something the boy had longed for, nowy in his hands. Gazing at the star in his grasp, he blinked in disbelief. ¡®I really did it.¡¯ In his hand was the Sword of the Star. The sacred sword, Excalibur, a symbol akin to King Arthur himself. Looking at the glowing sword, Najin¡¯s eyes were dyed in tinum color. A gamble taken in desperation. The only basis for this gamble was the voice echoing in his head and his own intuition. Yet, he really managed to pull out the sword. Although it felt unreal, the weight of the sword in his hand confirmed to Najin that this was reality. ¡®If so.¡¯ If this is reality. If he¡¯s not dreaming. ¡°Drugmaker Hakan.¡± There was something he had to do. The boy, once lost in dreams, returned to reality. Feeling the cold touch of the sword hilt on his fingertips, Najin slowly lifted the sword. Aimed at Hakan. Facing the intruder in Ivan¡¯s territory, Najin smiled with the sword pointed at Hakan. ¡°Anyst words?¡± The boy, once in tatters. The only change from moments ago was the sword in the boy¡¯s hand. However, the boy was, albeit weakly, a swordsman, and for a swordsman, a change in the sword meant everything had changed. The tide of battle had turned. The scales had tipped. The boy stood, while Hakan sat copsed. She still had many addicts left, but the star in the boy¡¯s hand wasn¡¯t something that could be overshadowed by such trivialities. Hakan burst into hollowughter. ¡°Does this even make sense?¡± Who could have imagined? That a boy from this filthy underground city, filled with nothing but discarded things, would pull out Excalibur. Hakan had prepared for this day for a full 17 years. Faced with the boy who thwarted her ns, Hakan could only respond with hollowughter. Najin stomped the ground. Holding the sword trailing tinum starlight, the boy advanced toward Hakan. The addicts rushed towards him without waiting for their master¡¯smand, but they were already finished; they couldn¡¯t stop the boy¡¯s path. Swoosh! The addicts were swept away like a current. Hakan stared nkly at this scene. There, she saw the dream she had left behind in the upper city. The thing she had longed for but never obtained. ¡®Stars.¡¯ Brightly shining stars. Not everyone in this city might have dreamed of stars, but at least the strong representatives of each area once dreamed of them. Land Spider Horace. One-Eyed Ivan. Drugmaker Hakan. They all once dreamed of having their own star. Yearned to hang their star in the lofty night sky. Having fallen into this city while reaching for the sky, they could never forget the starlight. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Hakan groaned in front of the approaching star. The star eventually stopped right in front of Hakan. She looked up at the boy. His body was a mess from the explosion. Clothes stained with soot and the blood of addicts. However, his eyes hadn¡¯t lost their brightness. On the contrary, they were even more vivid than before. Hakan sensed her impending doom. Realizing her end, she sneered at her fate and at the miserable future awaiting the boy. ¡°Kid.¡± Hakan smiled at the boy. It was theughter of a loser who had dreamed like the boy but fell into this city. ¡°That light¡­ it¡¯s not meant for this city.¡± You¡¯ve drawn too much attention. You might have been worthy to pull the sword, but¡­ ¡°That light is something you¡¯re not ready to possess.¡± You¡¯ve moved ahead too soon. You¡¯ve grasped something too bright without being prepared. ¡°The higher-ups don¡¯t bless those with starlight. If someone unprepared possesses it, they just crush it.¡± She lifted her right arm. A right arm scorched with a brand, simr to Ivan¡¯s lost right eye and Horace¡¯s lost fingers. ¡°You too will be crushed.¡± Having grasped a greater light than us, you will lose something even more immense. ¡°You will lose everything.¡± It was a curse, a prophecy, and advice. Listening to Hakan¡¯s words, Najin recalled a not-so-distant past. Tricksy¡¯s curse when he sensed his death. ¡°Najin, you will rot in this city for the rest of your life!¡± At that time, he couldn¡¯t refute. Although he always wanted to, knowing it was true, Najin merely let their words pass. ¡®But now.¡¯ It¡¯s different. Having crossed the line, Najin had started to run. He reached for the unreachable and grasped it. Now it was time to look higher and start running. No one can block that path. ¡°That¡¯s your story.¡± Najin spoke. ¡°The story of those who failed and fell into this city¡­¡± Sess and failure are a thin line apart. How his future will turn out can only be known by facing it. Rather than resigning, giving up, and feeling bitterness, he¡¯d rather choose the path of crashing head-on. The shackles that bound him for so long had shattered. Najin¡¯s eyes were no longer tainted with the dull sunset of the underground city but were colored in the tinum light of the Sword of the Star. ¡°I have no intention of listening to the stories of failures.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± At the word ¡®failures¡¯, Hakan burst intoughter. ¡°Right, you¡¯re not wrong.¡± Hakan twisted her lips into a sneer. ¡°Let¡¯s see then.¡± Najin lifted his sword. ¡°If you can still say that¡­¡± After feeling it yourself. How cruel and ruthless the world above can be. Feel it with your own body, Hakan shouted. And then, Najin swung his sword. The body of Drugmaker Hakan fell. Looking down at the blood on the floor, Najin exhaled deeply. His body ached, not just from the injuries. A feeling of something draining from his body. This feeling of exhaustion intensified after swinging Excalibur. Gasping for breath, Najin lowered the sword. He had defeated Hakan and cut down all the addicts. If only things could end here¡­ ¡°¡­¡± Najin silently extended his gaze. There, residents who had fled in the chaos, and the underground city¡¯s inhabitants peering out of buildings, were watching him. Watching the sword in his hands. The star that rose in the underground city. But not everyone was looking at the star. Some were observing the boy holding the star. They were soldiers sent from the upper city, guards who had been protecting the vicinity of Excalibur. The moment their eyes met, Najin realized. He had to pursue them and kill them. He had to silence their mouths. But Najin no longer had the strength to chase after them, who had disappeared into the crowd. He limped down the back alleys. This was not a dream, but reality. Since it was reality, Najin had to make a decision. To avoid being crushed, as Hakan had said. Najin began to flee to a ce where no one¡¯s eyes could reach. *** The Order of the Star. Starblood, Starbody, and Starlight. Once a single order in the distant past, now divided into three distinct factions. Among them, Ond, the head priest of the Starlight faction, furrowed his brows. ¡°What brings you here so early in the morning, Berlot?¡± Berlot, a knight of the order, apanied by two soldiers, came to visit Ond¡¯s office. He knelt the soldiers before Ond and greeted him with a bow. ¡°There is news you must hear.¡± ¡°Is it aboutst night¡¯s extraction of the sacred sword? I¡¯m already tired of hearing about it. I¡¯ve been swamped with letters from every territory. I¡¯m quite busy, you know.¡± Ond tapped his desk impatiently. ¡°Is this something so important that you had to report to me directly?¡± ¡°Yes, more important than anything else.¡± If the usually reticent knight Berlot was insisting so much, it must be crucial information. Ond exhaled deeply and gestured Berlot to proceed. And the story that Berlot told was enough to make Ond put down his quill and widen his eyes in shock. ¡°Berlot.¡± ¡°Yes, please give me your orders.¡± ¡°If there¡¯s even a shred of falsehood in what you¡¯ve said, you will find yourself falling into the ce you¡¯ve just mentioned, voiceless.¡± ¡°I swear to the divine, it¡¯s the truth.¡± ¡°This can¡¯t be!¡± Ond mmed his desk. ¡°I ordered to guard that sword so no one could touch it! And now you¡¯re telling me someone from that city of sinners has drawn the sacred sword? How can such a story even be usible!¡± His eyes quivered with emotion. Pressing his finger against his forehead, lined with veins, Ond exhaled slowly. Berlot had just reported that a boy from the underground city had pulled Excaliburst night. Testimonies from the soldiers guarding the sword. Eyewitness ounts from the sinners of the city. ¡®I thought it would be one of the three ¨C the Sword Saint of the Order of the Sword, the Executioner of the Starblood Order, or the Sword Master of the Empire¡­¡¯ With the continent in turmoil after the extraction of the sacred sword, the general consensus was limited to those three. They were the closest to Arthur, and it was believed they were the only ones worthy to draw the sword. One of them must have drawn the sword and kept it hidden. That¡¯s what people thought, including Ond, the high priest of the Starlight Order. ¡®But now.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t one of the three who drew the sword. A boy living in the underground city, unnoticed by people¡¯s eyes or starlight, had drawn the sword. Ond could hardly believe it. Incredible but undeniable. Given the situation, a decision had to be made. The position of leading an order always demands quick judgments. The elderly priest Ond chose to decide rather than to understand the situation. ¡°How many know of this? Who are the witnesses?¡± ¡°In the city of sinners, there are countless. However, the only ones who can step into this city are these two.¡± He pointed to the two soldiers kneeling before Ond. Ond narrowed his eyes. ¡°Only these two?¡± ¡°Yes. They were on guard dutyst night. They neglected their duties and failed to prevent a sinner from approaching the sacred sword.¡± ¡°Dispose of them.¡± With a flick of his finger, Ond issued the verdict. Before the soldiers could even beg for mercy, Berlot¡¯s sword swung. The de sliced through the soldiers¡¯ necks. Swoosh. As the soldiers copsed, spewing blood, Ond, without sparing them a nce, turned to Berlot. ¡°It¡¯s fortunate the Executioner of the Starblood Order didn¡¯t draw the sword, but this makes things moreplicated.¡± Ond pointed to where Berlot was standing. ¡°This is the location of the main church of the Starlight Order and the seat of the order¡¯s tribunal. Isn¡¯t it absurd that a sinner judged under the light of stars here should possess the sacred sword?¡± Starlight, Starbody, Starblood. Each order had its own tribunal and methods of judgment. The Starblood Order judges sins through blood. The sinner is executed where the most stars can witness, bleeding them to death as punishment for their sins. The Starbody Order judges sins through the body. The sinner¡¯s body is torn and scattered, punishing their sins. And the Starlight Order¡­ An order that judges sins through light, deprives the sinner of the chance to see starlight, condemning them to rot underground for life without the grace of stars. ¡°The fact that a sinner judged under the starlight has drawn the sword¡­¡± Ond asserted. ¡°Undermines the foundation of the Starlight Order¡¯s tribunal and tarnishes the essence of the order. An event that should never have happened.¡± His eyes narrowed. ¡°I trust you understand what I mean, Knight Berlot.¡± Dispose of it. That was what Ond was saying. All the powerhouses of the continent, even the transcendent beings, and even the stars in the night sky, still don¡¯t know who drew the sword. Now is the only time. Erase it as if it never happened. Quietly, cleanly. Of course, Ond had other options. He could make an exception to the order¡¯s ways and forgive the boy¡¯s sins to keep him by his side, or admit the order¡¯s erroneous judgment. But Ond chose not to. He was the high priest leading the order, and his faith in his own order was stronger than anyone else¡¯s. He knew there couldn¡¯t be any ws in the path the order had taken. So, he chose to bury the w that had been created. There was nopromise in that decision. That¡¯s how Ond had always lived. That¡¯s how he had always sorted things out. The head of the Starlight Order, existing above the underground city, had made his judgment about the boy. ¡°Can I trust you to handle this?¡± ¡°I will meet your expectations.¡± With a bow, Berlot left the office. Asters dragged the soldiers¡¯ bodies away, Berlot walked down the church¡¯s corridor, pondering. The city of sinners, Artman. He was in charge of managing the church¡¯s soldiers sent there, so he knew well who ruled that city. ¡®Knight of Atanga, Ivan.¡¯ Once arade, standing on the same battlefield, but ultimately fallen, Ivan now ruled that city. A smile crept onto Berlot¡¯s lips. ¡°Time to see a junior¡¯s face after so long.¡± Former Knight of Atanga, Berlot. Having thrown away his honor and pride with his own hands, now unable to even utter the name of Atanga, the order¡¯s hound smiled. Chapter 16 Chapter 16 ¨C The Light That Shouldn¡¯t Be Grasped (2) It was early morning when the battle finally ended. Oveing the myriad of addicts prepared by Hakan, and the numerous traps andbyrinthine tunnels set by Horace, they seeded in targeting Horace¡¯s neck, but it took too much time. ¡°I¡¯m going to die.¡± Offen groaned. His arms, sore from incessant sword swinging, circled around as he cast a nce at Ivan. Ivan¡¯s expression was rigid. Understandably so. During the battle, both men had seen it. A star rising in the sky of the underground city. Although the finer details were unclear, they knew Najin had done something significant, and it was enough to attract the attention of those above. In other words, things had gone as wrong as they could. Silently, the two returned to the center of the underground city. The center was littered with the corpses of addicts, and the air vibrated with the stench of blood and drugs. The atmosphere was far from calm. Organization members stood on edge. Residents whispered from hiding spots in buildings. The gaze of the crowd brieflynded on Ivan upon his return, but soon, Ivan noticed their attention shifting. It was directed toward the center of the square, where a figure, seemingly sent from above, stood. Different from a regr soldier¡¯s uniform. A figure cloaked in dark leather, concealing face and body. ¡°¡­It¡¯s the Order¡¯s shadow unit.¡± Offen murmured quietly. Ivan¡¯s expression crumpled further. As Ivan stepped forward, the shadow agent lifted his head. Upon their eyes meeting, the agent spoke. ¡°Listen, criminal Ivan.¡± A deration. ¡°Sir Berlot, a knight of the Starlight Order, wishes to see you. Criminal Ivan, respond to the call.¡± TL/N: Starshine Order has been changed to Starlight Order. Chapter 15 has been fixed ordingly. Sir Berlot. Hearing this name, Ivan¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Follow me.¡± After a brief moment, as Ivan followed the agent, Offen, who had been quietly observing, let out a long sigh, sensing how badly things had tangled. ¡­Offen was a mercenary. To survive as a mercenary, one must always make quick decisions. Offen assessed the situation and made a decision, one he had long postponed. ¡°So it hase to this.¡± Exhaling deeply, Offen headed somewhere. *** In a dark alleyway, unreachable by the dim light of mineralmps. Leaning against the wall, Najin slowly caught his breath. Still new to using mana, the bacsh from drawing out his Sword Aura was catching up to him. The feeling of power draining and fatigue. Added to the injuries from his battle with Hakan, even standing was a struggle. ¡®At least, there¡¯s a silver lining¡­¡¯ Najin nced at his arm. The arm that took the brunt of the explosion. Initially limp, it had recovered enough to move, though wielding a sword would be difficult. Abnormal healing ability. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess where this came from ¨C the blessing of Excalibur. In the tales, King Arthur, despite broken arms and pierced body, would recover instantly and rush at enemies. Najin didn¡¯t possess such transcendent healing yet, but the sword¡¯s healing ability was a great help. That he could even move now was thanks to this sword. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Silently, Najin looked at his right wrist. Narrowing his eyes and focusing on the flow, a constetion pattern appeared on his wrist. This change urred when he thought of hiding Excalibur. The Sword of the Stars, transformed into starlight, embedded in his body. Concentrating and grasping the air, he could draw the sword again. Staring at the constetion on his wrist for a while, Najin let out a hollowugh. ¡®I can¡¯t believe it.¡¯ Reality still didn¡¯t feel real. But now, he knew he had to face the consequences of drawing the sword. Ivan had said it was okay to cross the line, but this was crossing it too far. He had attracted too much attention. Many had witnessed him pulling the sword. Among them were soldiers sent from above, so it was inevitable that this news would reach higher-ups. How would they react? ¡®Probably¡­¡¯ They might try to bury him. Najin always assumed the worst. He never expected things to work out. The world had always been cruel to him. The likelihood of Ivan and Offen turning hostile was high. They were people too, and self-preservation is human nature. Until the situation was clear, fleeing would be his priority. ¡®¡­But where to?¡¯ There was no exit from the underground city. The only way up was through the central hub. Even if he managed to ascend, he¡¯d be skewered by the guards and knights. Where to go, how to escape, and how far? He didn¡¯t know. He had to start thinking. Blink. His eyelids kept drooping. Fatigue from using mana and an unidentified drain from wielding Excalibur was overwhelming him. Thinking of catching a brief rest, Najin leaned his head against the wall of the alley. How much time had passed? Footsteps. Najin¡¯s eyes snapped open at the sound of footsteps in the alley, apanied by something being dragged. The sounds were approaching. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Holding his breath, Najin stilled himself. Watching the figure emerging from the darkness, his eyes widened. ¡°Leaving a blood trail like that, who wouldn¡¯t notice, you idiotic kid. You¡¯ve been found out,e out now.¡± It was his swordsmanship teacher, Offen. About to get up in relief, Najin paused. He couldn¡¯t be sure how much time had passed or what Offen had decided. ¡°Tch. Raising a disciple is useless, they say.¡± Offen clicked his tongue. Then, pulling out a bag from his belongings, he tossed it towards where Najin was hiding. ¡°Come out. I¡¯m not nning to kill you.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Cautiously, Najin stood up. Picking up the bag Offen threw, he found it filled with bandages, simple potions, and pieces of dried meat. ¡°Wrap up your wounds with these. There¡¯s nothing easier to track than a guy bleeding everywhere.¡± Muttering, Offen gestured for Najin to move aside. It was a signal to clear the area. Najin stepped aside, and Offen threw the body of an addict he had dragged to the spot where Najin had just been sitting. Then, with a thrust. Offen stabbed the addict¡¯s corpse with his sword, covering Najin¡¯s blood with that of the addict. ¡°From now on, move without leaving tracks. Trackers will be on you soon.¡± ¡°¡­What do you mean?¡± ¡°What do you think? I¡¯m trying to help you escape, isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± Offen nced at Najin. Najin silently observed Offen, who then sighed deeply and spoke. ¡°A knight and a shadow agent from above visited. They looked like they were sent to get rid of you. Ivan has been summoned. By now, they would have had their discussion and made a decision.¡± Offen ruffled his hair. Annoyed by the situation. ¡°Ivan is a pragmatic man. He¡¯s be realistic. He knows what¡¯s best in this situation. His n to nurture you has failed, and now he has only one choice left.¡± He mimicked shing his throat. ¡°To kill you. If he doesn¡¯t, Ivan himself will die. After all, before being a knight, he¡¯s a human. And for a human, their own life is the most important, you know that.¡± ¡°¡­I understand.¡± ¡°Good. So don¡¯t hold too much of a grudge against him.¡± Offen took a deep breath. ¡°But I really don¡¯t want to see that happen. It¡¯s just wrong. So, I¡¯d prefer if you escaped.¡± Offen did not wish to witness either side raising their swords against each other, leading to one¡¯s death. ¡°But where to?¡± Najin replied. ¡°There¡¯s nowhere to run. To leave this underground city, the only exit is the portal¡­¡± ¡°There¡¯s another.¡± Offen interrupted Najin. Pointing at Najin¡¯s bag, he continued. ¡°There should be a map inside. At the very bottom of the underground city, where waste is dumped in thendfill. If you go a bit further from there, there¡¯s a cliff where water flows off.¡± A ce unreachable by ordinary people. Even for someone like Ivan or Offen, it¡¯s a perilous cliff requiring a risk of life to descend. Once down, there¡¯s no returning. ¡°If you follow the waterway from the cliff, you might escape the underground city. You¡¯ll risk your life, but that¡¯s the price. There¡¯s no other way.¡± The only way to leave the city alive. Najin wouldn¡¯t know, but the bag and map had been prepared by Offen long ago. Since the day he recognized Najin¡¯s talent, Offen prepared it, anticipating the day he might need to help Najin escape the city. Offen was a mercenary. A renowned mercenary who had survived many years. Known for meticulous preparation and always finding a way to survive, Offen used his skills, previously unnecessary in the underground city, for the boy he taught. Offen shrugged at Najin, who was looking at him with wavering eyes. ¡°What are you staring at? Are you moved?¡± ¡°¡­What about Ivan and Offen?¡± ¡°We have no chance of escape.¡± Offen smirked. ¡°Everyone who falls into this city is branded by the Starlight Order. The moment we step into the light, trackers will be on us. But not you.¡± Not a criminal fallen to the city. Not judged by the Starlight Order¡¯s tribunal. Just born in this city, you bear no brand. ¡°So you can escape.¡± ¡°¡­Why are you doing all this for me?¡± ¡°Who knows.¡± Offenughed bitterly. ¡°Unlike Ivan, I have no attachment to life. I used to be a famous mercenary leader above, you know?¡± A story he had never shared before. ¡°I received des, tried everything, saw both the good and the ugly. I experienced almost everything life had to offer. But there was one thing I never did.¡± A tale of his life above. ¡°The stars.¡± Offen looked at Najin. ¡°To have my own star. The first step to bing a constetion in the night sky. To earn the heavens¡¯ recognition and etch my star in the night. That¡¯s the one thing I never achieved.¡± Though he attempted it, he fell to this city. Muttering, Offen chuckled. ¡°I failed, but¡­¡± He raised his hand. ¡°You¡¯re different.¡± Najin had what Offen didn¡¯t. ¡°Talent. You¡¯re not someone who should rot here. Too valuable to waste away without a chance to strive, in a ce like this.¡± A light too precious to waste in this city. Perhaps Offen saw in the boy the dream he once lost. ¡°Last night, the star that lit up the underground city. That was your doing, right? The organization guys are saying you pulled the sword. Is the rumor true?¡± Najin nodded silently. Then, he consciously grasped the air with his wrist. Despite doing it as gently as possible, the scattered starlight faintly illuminated the alley. Despite hearing it as a rumor. The moment Offen saw the Sword of Stars in Najin¡¯s hand, his eyes widened. With a dazed gaze, Offen instinctively reached out towards the star in Najin¡¯s hand. But as soon as his hand approached, the starlight dispersed, as if dering he was unworthy. ¡°¡­Anyway.¡± A star unattainable even when reached for. Watching the more brilliantly shining star with a mixture of bitterness, Offenughed for the first time in a while. Like his younger self, who once dreamed. ¡°Crazy, I tell you.¡± Hiding his bitterness, Offen reached for his waist. ¡°That thing, shining too brightly for a weapon while fleeing. So¡­¡± The sword in its ce was the one given to Offen by Hogel, who hade abruptly to the central city before Offen¡¯s arrival. ¡°Give this to the youngster,¡± Hogel had said. ¡°If he breaks it this time, I won¡¯t repair it. Tell him to use it well.¡± The sword forged by Hogel for the boy. Offen handed it to Najin. ¡°Hogel said this,¡± Offen mentioned. ¡°If you break it, he¡¯ll kill you.¡± Hearing this, Najin inadvertently smiled. ¡°Go now.¡± Having delivered the message and said what needed to be said, Offen slowly stood up, turning his back to the boy and began to walk away. After a few steps, a voice called from behind. ¡°Offen.¡± Offen turned around. There was Najin, slowly bowing his head. ¡°Thank you, Master.¡± Calling him ¡®Master¡¯ in the end. Offen, looking at the deeply bowing boy, let out a slight chuckle. *** ¡°Let¡¯s get straight to the point,¡± said Berlot, a knight of the Starlight Order. ¡°Cooperate in the search, Ivan.¡± Surrounded by the Order¡¯s hounds, kneeling Ivan heard Berlot¡¯s low murmur. ¡°Find and kill the boy who drew the Sword of Stars. If you can¡¯t bring his body to me, I will kill you¡­¡± Berlot smiled, looking at his former junior from the same knight order, now stripped of his honor and unable to be called a knight of Atanga. ¡°If you seed, I¡¯ll restore the honor you lost.¡± Pointing to Ivan¡¯s empty eye socket, Berlot continued. ¡°I mean, I¡¯ll write a rmendation for you in the name of the Starlight Order, to be reinstated as a Knight of Atanga.¡± Unlike High Priest Ond, Berlot knew how to negotiate with reality and manipte people. Whether human or beast, all it takes is a carrot and a stick to control even the wisest like a beast. ¡°Make your choice, Ivan.¡± Berlot offered and also threatened Ivan. Chapter 17 Chapter 17 ¨C The Light That Shouldn¡¯t Be Grasped (3) An offer, yet also a threat. Ivan looked at his long-time senior. A knight who once stood with him on the same battlefield but betrayed Atanga and devoted himself to the Order. He wanted to scream in disdain at the man who had forsaken honor and pride to dare speak the name of Atanga, but Ivan knew he couldn¡¯t. He was no longer a Knight of Atanga. He had lost his honor that day ten years ago. ¡°The high authority wishes this matter to be resolved quickly and quietly. For now, the other constetions and factions are unaware¡­ but that won¡¯tst forever.¡± Berlot continued, oblivious or indifferent to Ivan¡¯s internal struggle. ¡°We are short on time, Ivan.¡± He spread three fingers in front of Ivan. ¡°I¡¯ll give you three days. Bring the boy to me alive or dead within that time.¡± ¡°¡­ Sir Berlot.¡± Ivan, who had been silent, finally spoke. Though on his knees and one-eyed, his eyes were clearly filled with anger. ¡°Isn¡¯t the Order supposed to serve the stars?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t give you a chance to ask questions.¡± ¡°Respecting and protecting the will of the great stars, isn¡¯t that the doctrine of the Order¡­¡­¡± Ivan¡¯s words were cut short. Berlot kicked him in the jaw. With a thud, Ivan¡¯s head snapped to the side. ¡°Hey, Ivan.¡± Berlot grabbed Ivan¡¯s hair. ¡°Am I a joke to you for showing leniency out of old times¡¯ sake? A sinner who insulted the stars dares to question a Knight of the Order about the will of the stars? Get a grip, man.¡± Berlot sighed as if frustrated. ¡°Know your ce. It¡¯s troublesome if you trample on the favor I¡¯ve offered like this.¡± ¡°¡­ It was a slip of the tongue.¡± ¡°That¡¯s better. Now you¡¯re seeing eye to eye.¡± Ivan lowered his head. Berlot looked down at him, head held high. ¡°None of the constetions, not even the ¡®Lighthouse that Illuminates All Things¡¯, the main deity of the Starlight Order, are aware of the current situation.¡± Don¡¯t understand what this means? Berlot continued. ¡°It means this is a clear error. If even the Lighthouse didn¡¯t notice, it means this event should never have happened. When something that shouldn¡¯t happen does, making it as if it never happened is the loyalty the Order offers to him.¡± All stars are noble and sacred to the Order that serves the stars, but¡­ there¡¯s always a clear hierarchy. The constetion, the Lighthouse that Illuminates All Things. Berlot caressed the armor engraved with the constetion of the Order¡¯s main deity. ¡°I won¡¯t repeat myself, Ivan.¡± Berlot red at Ivan. ¡°Swearing on the loyalty I offered to the great Lighthouse, I promise you. The offer I made here as not just Berlot, but as Knight Berlot of the Starlight Order, will be honored.¡± A knight who chose the divine over honor and pride. Such a Berlot swore an oath of allegiance to his god. The heaviest oath Berlot could make. Ivan knew refusing meant immediate death. ¡°I am grateful for the extraordinary opportunity and will do my best.¡± Ivan bowed his head. His forehead did not touch the ground, thest remnant of his pride, but Berlot pressed down on the back of his head. ¡°Gratitude is shown like this.¡± Ivan¡¯s forehead hit the ground. Berlot whispered in his ear. ¡°Start moving now, before I lose my patience.¡± * * * Having stepped outside, Ivan fumbled for a cigarette. He lit it and inhaled deeply. Exhaling the murky smoke, Ivan¡¯s expression was rigid. ¡¸They promise to help restore my status as a knight of Atanga.¡¹ ¡¸It means I can regain the honor I lost.¡¹ The offer extended by Berlot, the former Knight of Atanga. Of course, Ivan knew. A knight¡¯s honor isn¡¯t something to be regained like this, through maniption and filthy power games. He didn¡¯t desire such things. The honor gained in such a way was worthless to Ivan. Yet Ivan couldn¡¯t refuse Berlot¡¯s offer, due to a natural human desire. The desire to live. Unlike Offen, Ivan still clung to the desire to live. ¡®I can¡¯t die yet. I want to live more.¡¯ In this starlight-deprived underground city. As a half-worthless knight who lost his eye and honor, Ivan didn¡¯t want to face death. If he survived, maybe another chance woulde. Ivan ended up thinking that way. He must kill Najin. To kill him meant Ivan could survive. Beneath that clear proposition, Ivan chain-smoked. Under the dim light of the ores, Ivan¡¯s eyes clouded over. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± His knightly self questioned. ¡°Is there meaning to such a miserable life?¡± To that question, Ivan answered. ¡°I still want to live, even if it¡¯s like this.¡± Human beings always prioritize their own lives. Faced with impending death, humans can be endlessly selfish and cruel. Ivan was no different. He was the same, yet¡­ Ivan couldn¡¯t easily step forward. He met Offen¡¯s eyes as he emerged from the alley, understanding that Offen had helped Najin, yet Ivan didn¡¯t immediately act. Just a bit more. Just a little longer. Pulling out another cigarette, Ivan fumbled with it. Lighting it and exhaling smoke, he didn¡¯t move until every cigarette in the pack was gone. *** The Order¡¯s hounds, the Shadows. Those belonging there weren¡¯t knights but were close. Unable to draw out sword energy but skilled in mana maniption,parable to knights. They were more akin to rangers than knights. Ambush, undercover, pursuit, assassination. Those dirty tasks were precisely what the Shadows specialized in. Sworn to secrecy to prevent this incident from leaking, they dispersed to track down the boy. The boy who drew the sword had fled the day before. Not fully understanding theyout of the underground city and needing a day¡¯s time was a significant gap¡­ But for those in the Shadows, such things were hardly a constraint. A back-alley boy who had never received proper training, wasn¡¯t he? Despite the uniqueness of drawing the sword. That was all there was to it. In fact, if the boy used the sword during an encounter, that would be the end. The moment the burst of light was spotted, all scattered Shadows would converge there. So, lure him into a battle. With this judgment, the pursuers acted alone. ¡°¡­¡± A pursuer, silent, followed a narrow alley. He narrowed his eyes as he sensed a presence from deep within. Following the sound, he slowly moved. Distinct footprints on the ground. Footprints that seemed to be the size of the boy¡¯s. Following the footprints, the pursuer stopped abruptly at the sound of footsteps echoing in the alley. Had his pursuit been noticed? He leaped toward the source of the sound. But what awaited him was nothing but abandoned shoes. Thrown from above down to the alley. The pursuer realized the true nature of the sound he had heard. The shoes were a decoy. The target was his life. The pursuer quickly drew his sword and swung it upwards. Thanks to his heightened senses, he managed to react in time. As he swung his sword, there was a nging sound of metal striking metal. Najin, who had leaped down to ambush the pursuer, slid to anding on the ground. In the darkness that shrouded the alley, the boy¡¯s dusk-colored eyes ominously glowed. The pursuer, feeling a chill, heightened his mana and senses. Just for a moment, those glowing eyes wavered. Thump! With a sound of kicking the ground, the boy¡¯s figure vanished instantly. A shing de sliced through the darkness, aiming straight for the neck. The pursuer barely deflected the sword with a ng, creating some distance. ¡®Not very fast, but threatening.¡¯ This wasn¡¯t the skill of someone who had cut down just one or two people. Whilecking the outstanding speed of mana users, he was still a nuisance. His technique for exploiting blind spots was considerable. ¡­Tsk. The pursuer clicked his tongue and narrowed the distance with the boy, swinging his sword in a wide arc to force Najin back. Then, he threw a concealed weapon from his sleeve. A ck dagger. In the darkness, something that would be hard to see with the naked eye unless one was ustomed to such conditions like the Shadows. He envisioned the dagger piercing through the retreating boy¡¯s neck, but¡­ Whack. Najin caught the flying dagger in his hand. Having lived his entire life in the dark underground city, Najin was naturally ustomed to seeing in the dark. Throwing back the dagger at the pursuer, Najin kicked off the ground. ¡®Conceal your full strength.¡¯ ¡®Only move quickly when necessary.¡¯ ¡®That createscency and openings.¡¯ Energy flowed into the boy¡¯s body. In an instant, Najin¡¯s speed elerated. Caught off guard, the pursuer managed to deflect the dagger just as Najin closed the gap with an unexpected burst of speed. The pursuer¡¯s reaction was too slow, and Najin didn¡¯t miss this opportunity. Swoosh. The pursuer¡¯s arm was severed. As he widened his eyes and raised his remaining arm to strike, Najin grasped the pursuer¡¯s wrist. When you have the upper hand, don¡¯t let it go. Following Ivan¡¯s teaching, Najin pulled the pursuer¡¯s wrist, breaking his stance, and swung his sword across the neck. It was over. Najin dragged the limp body of the pursuer in the opposite direction of where he intended to go. A lesson learned from Offen, the mercenary. Blood trails make good bait. Using everything he learned, Najin moved on. There were quite a few pursuers chasing him, and heading straight to his destination felt risky. Najin intuited. ¡®¡­If they discover my destination.¡¯ They would swarm there. So, for the time being, he would pretend to wander. Seemingly hiding here and there without a clear destination. To do this, he needed to eliminate one more pursuer. Decisions had to be made quickly. Actions, even quicker. Walking a tightrope, Najin sprinted through the alleyways. Not a single mistake could be allowed. That was the lesson imparted by Offen and Ivan. ¡®I¡¯ve found one.¡¯ Najin spotted a nearby pursuer. The distance between the pursuers was consistent. Expanding and contracting at regr intervals. Noting this, Najin waited for the right moment when the distance was maximized. The Shadows might think they were the hunters pursuing their prey, but the reality was the opposite. The boy was hunting the pursuers. *** ¡°¡­Four of them are down?¡± As the day and a half passed since the boy¡¯s escape, Berlot frowned at the report. While only four were confirmed, the number could increase, ording to the Shadows¡¯ report, which was surprising enough for Berlo. The pursuers of the Shadows might not be knights, but they were not to be underestimated. At least, not by a boy from the underground city who hadn¡¯t received proper training. Berlot was aware from the information obtained that the boy had been acting as Ivan¡¯s executioner in the organization, but¡­ This was strange. It was more than just being good at killing people. Familiarity with the terrain, ambushes, and such could perhaps allow for the killing of one or two by chance. But killing four was beyond mere luck. Moreover, considering the locations where the bodies of the Shadows were found, it indicated that the boy had actively sought and killed them, not just defended himself while fleeing. ¡°Crazy bastard.¡± Hunting the pursuers while being chased? Amused by the absurdity, Berlotughed mockingly. He had thought the boy must be talented to have drawn Excalibur, but this was beyond talent. He was well-rounded. The boy had exceeded the category of a mere talented novice. Originally, the n was to move when the distance was sufficiently closed or when the boy drew Excalibur. Now, Berlot realized he had to take action himself. Rising from his seat, Berlot asked his subordinate. ¡°Where¡¯s Ivan?¡± ¡°Operating alone. Oh, and¡­¡± The subordinate pointed to the door. ¡°There¡¯s someone who wishes to see you, Sir Berlot. He introduced himself as a mercenary and said he would assist for the right price.¡± ¡°¡­A mercenary?¡± ¡°Yes, it seems he was the leader of a mercenary group before falling to this ce.¡± Mercenary, huh. A de easily wielded by money and power. Berlot gestured with his chin. ¡°Let him in.¡± The door then opened. Entering was a man reeking of alcohol. A seemingly lighthearted man bowed to Berlo. ¡°Mercenary, Offen at your service.¡± Ready to do whatever you ask. Chapter 18 Chapter 18 ¨C The Light That Shouldn¡¯t Be Grasped (4) The pursuers had changed their tactics. Najin faintly sensed this shift. Previously operating alone, they were now moving in pairs or in groups of three or four. ¡®Killing six in two days did have an effect.¡¯ Two days since he started fleeing after drawing the sword, Najin had killed six lone pursuers. Handling one or two had given him a feel for how to deal with them, making the six kills not too difficult. Ambushing, creatingcency. Concealing his strength until a burst at the right moment. Thebat techniques learned from Ivan and Offen proved effective against the Shadows of the Order. But it seemed like that wasn¡¯t all. Najin quietly clenched and unclenched his hand. The injury from the battle with the Druggist Hakan was healing. His arm, which could barely move before, was now strong enough to wield a sword. ¡®It¡¯s not just the healing that¡¯s improved.¡¯ He felt an overflow of energy, his mind was clearer. His eyes could vividly predict an opponent¡¯s movements, and he could freely manipte the flow within his body. Was this also an effect of Excalibur? ¡­Was it not King Arthur who was remarkable, but Excalibur itself that was simply overpowered? For a brief moment, Najin entertained this irreverent thought. Of course, this was a misconception. Excalibur had only granted him rapid healing. The other aspects were always part of Najin. Only because he resolved to cross the line. And released the constraints he had ced on himself. Thus, Najin¡¯s inherent talents began to bloom rapidly. He had plenty of experience already. His growth curve, poised for flowering, was skyrocketing. ¡°¡­Huh.¡± Observing the movements of the pursuers, Najin exhaled deeply. For the past two days, he had roamed the underground city aimlessly, as if hunting, not escaping. It seemed his act had worked. Thinking Najin¡¯s purpose was hunting, the pursuers started moving in groups¡­ As a result, gaps appeared in their across the city. It was time to proceed to the real objective. Just one more time. A definitive end. Najin approached a group of three pursuers moving through a dark alley. The underground city was full of narrow alleys, and the walls naturally had many footholds. Treading from gap to gap, Najin closed in on them. How to face multiple opponents at once? Najin recalled the battle experience drilled into him during the fight with Hakan. Of course,paring the mindless addicts to the Shadows of the Order was an enormous insult to thetter¡­ But, well, what does it matter? ¡®They don¡¯t explode like the addicts.¡¯ No risk of being discovered by killing them. With that thought, Najin leaped down from the wall of the alley. The three pursuers quickly formed a defensive line upon sensing his fall. The leader swung his sword to counter Najin, and the moment created by this move was exploited by the other two. Najin saw all their movements and realized they stillcked full information about him. ¡®It¡¯s not about countering.¡¯ Just as Najin¡¯s falling sword was about to sh with the pursuer¡¯s, it shed white. A sliver of Sword Aura wrapped around Najin¡¯s de. ¡®You should have dodged.¡¯ Though just a sliver, it was undoubtedly Sword Aura. Najin knew its terrifying cutting power too well. He vividly remembered his own steel sword sliced by Ivan¡¯s Sword Aura, the moment when death loomed close. A sword without aura cannot counter one with it. Crack! The moment the swords collided, the pursuer¡¯s sword shattered. Najin¡¯s sword, continuing its trajectory, sliced into the shoulder of the pursuer and emerged from the other side. ¡®One.¡¯ Their n of one person countering while the others attack was shattered by Najin¡¯s single move. Plip, plop. As blood droplets flew, Najin ducked low. Dodging two swords shing through the darkness, he swept his energy-wrapped sword low. The pursuers, unable to use Sword Aura, were limited in their attack methods in the narrow alley. Their des would just rebound off the walls. But not for Najin. His de, aided by Sword Aura, cut through the wall and struck. One avoided it, but the other couldn¡¯t. As one pursuer¡¯s ankle was severed and he toppled, Najin swiftly stabbed and withdrew his sword from the neck. ¡®Two.¡¯ Blood spurted. A body copsed. After handling two, Najin turned to face the third pursuer, who lost twopanions in an instant. His expression hidden under a deep hood, but Najin noticed the trembling in his eyes. Thump. As Najin stepped forward, the pursuer retreated. The disadvantage of asymmetric information. Seeing the boy, Sword Aura in hand, advancing, the pursuer turned and fled. The roles of hunter and prey had reversed. Najin didn¡¯t chase the fleeing prey. Instead, he drew a weapon from the bracelet on his wrist. A weapon plundered from the hunted pursuers. Holding it, Najin aimed at the fleeing figure. He had never used such a weapon before, but he had seen how they used and threw it. Mimicking them wasn¡¯t hard. Thud. Stepping forward, Najin hurled the weapon. It whistled through the air and buried itself deep in the pursuer¡¯s leg. ¡°Argh!¡± As the pursuer fell with a scream, Najin finished him with another throw. ¡®Three.¡¯ After plundering necessary items from the corpse, Najin delved deeper into the alley. This was enough. Now, he started running towards his real destination. The ce Offen told him about. The only exit from this underground city. *** Shortly after Najin left the alley. Two pursuers who entered found their colleagues¡¯ bodies and contorted their faces in disgust. Three together, and yet they were defeated. By a boy raised in this underground city? ¡®Nine in two days.¡¯ Nine, plus three. Twelve in total. They had no pride as Shadows, but they had their self-respect. Still, the mission must be carried out. They suppressed their anger and investigated the traces left by Najin. During the investigation, they frowned upon noticing something strange. ¡®The sword is shattered.¡¯ A colleague¡¯s sword waspletely destroyed. Even the wall bore marks of being split. Not something a normal sword could do. It was the mark of Sword Aura. The target was supposed to be 18 years old. An 18-year-old boy using Sword Aura? Could it be Excalibur¡¯s work? But if that were the case, a brilliant light should have burst forth. As they struggled to ept this situation, a figure entered the alley with a thud. They turned toward the sound, relieved or perhaps disappointed, to find it wasn¡¯t the boy they were after. Instead, a mercenary who had volunteered to assist with the mission stood there. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± In response to the Shadow¡¯s query, Offen nodded. ¡°Yes, there¡¯s something urgent to report¡­¡± Piecing together usible phrases, Offen took step by step towards them. By the time the Shadows frowned at Offen¡¯s nonsensical words, he had already closed the distance to about five steps. Five steps. The distance Offen had marked. With arge step, Offen drew his sword, simultaneously enveloping it with Sword Aura. The Shadows reacted toote to the sudden change in Offen¡¯s demeanor. Swords shed several times. Blood sttered a few times. Having created two more corpses, Offen exhaled briefly and left the scene. Before leaving, he smiled upon seeing the Sword Aura marks likely left by Najin. It seemed Najin was doing better than Offen had anticipated. Najin had killed six pursuers in two days. But the pursuers knew of nine deaths. The remaining three were Offen¡¯s doing. Pretending to cooperate, he tracked their movements and struck when they were isted, mimicking Najin¡¯s style. This should be enough. With such a smokescreen, Najin¡¯s real objective would be perfectly concealed. The only thing left was to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Anticipating the absolute worst, Offen headed towards thest ce Najin would be heading. It wasn¡¯t these Shadows he was wary of. Knight Berlot. He, too, was pursuing Najin. It seemed he hadn¡¯t realized Najin¡¯s true destination yet, but Offen couldn¡¯t ignore the possibility. If he was going to do this, Offen was determined to see it through. ¡®What a hassle this is.¡¯ Yet, he didn¡¯t feel too bad about it. Offen had lived aimlessly in this city, drowning his days in alcohol. He wasted time meaninglessly, but even in that wasted time, there was something undeniably shining. A light that didn¡¯t belong in this underground city. A light he couldn¡¯t possess himself. Perhaps Offen projected his past onto that light. The starlight he reached for but could never grasp. That¡¯s why Offen hoped. He hoped that light would not be trampled upon. *** Following the path Offen had shown, Najin ran. He realized he was nearing his destination. The sound of water falling was growing louder. He recalled the map in his mind. The waterfall marked on the map. To reach it, he had to pass through an old, unused tunnel leading to the falls. Just entering the tunnel meant escape was almost certain. As Najin ran towards the tunnel entrance, his heart pounded with excitement. He was close. Soon, he would escape this city. He hadn¡¯t even crossed the waterfall yet, but he couldn¡¯t help but feel uplifted. The possibility of getting out was bing real. With each step, voices echoed in Najin¡¯s ears. ¡®Pitiful thing.¡¯ ¡®Why were you born in such a ce?¡¯ These were the words he had heard all his life. ¡®You will rot here forever.¡¯ ¡®You are destined to die here, amidst this trash¡­¡¯ The taunts and jeers he had always faced. The words spat out by Tricksy as he died, the mockery of the gang members he killed, the voice of the druggist Hakan, all echoed in his ears. You cannot ascend. You will rot here forever. Your talent will only lead you to misery. These were the words he had ignored or cut off. But not anymore. Let them talk. Let themugh. I am going to escape this ce. A smile formed on Najin¡¯s lips. With each step, with each approach towards the tunnel, the echoing voices disappeared one by one. Reaching the tunnel entrance, only one voice remained. Thest voice Najin couldn¡¯t shake off echoed in his ears. ¡®Don¡¯t cross the line, Najin.¡¯ ¡®If you do, I will have to kill you.¡¯ Najin stopped. The entrance to the tunnel was right before him, but he couldn¡¯t move forward. There stood the person who had drawn a line for him, whose voice still echoed in his ears. ¡°Have you arrived?¡± The entity that set limits for Najin. The owner of the voice still echoing. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting.¡± The one-eyed Ivan. Thest line Najin had to cross, the towering wall, was right there. Chapter 19 Chapter 19 ¨C The Light That Shouldn¡¯t Be Grasped (5) Thest gateway to leave the Underground City. Najin clenched his teeth as he gazed at Ivan, who stood guarding the entrance to the tunnel leading to the waterfall. It was a reality that Najin had been trying to ignore. ¡­He knew Ivan was pursuing him. Offen had told him. However, Najin also harbored a hope. Perhaps Ivan was intending to let him go, deliberately not pursuing him. That was Najin¡¯s hope and wish. He didn¡¯t want to encounter Ivan. He didn¡¯t want to point his sword at Ivan. He didn¡¯t want to fight Ivan with the resolve to kill. ¡°Have you arrived?¡± But reality imposed itself before the boy¡¯s eyes. The worst scenario he had imagined hade to pass. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting.¡± To escape this city, he had to ovee that massive wall. The man who had drawn lines and limited him had to be surpassed to exit. Najin¡¯s expression crumpled in the face of this reality. ¡°Draw your sword.¡± Ivan drew his sword. Ivan didn¡¯t offer a swordsman¡¯s salute. He simply aimed the tip of his sword at Najin, with colder eyes than ever and a low voice. The pressure weighing on his shoulders. The sticky murderous intent he felt. Najin instinctively knew there was no other way. Despite not wanting to fight, despite his fear, there was no other option. Najin drew his sword with a rough scrape from the sheath, aiming it at Ivan. And then, with a bang. Ivan lunged forward. Unlike during their sparring sessions, Ivan didn¡¯t wait for Najin to approach first. Dragging a cyan sword aura, Ivan swung his sword at Najin. Ivan forced him to attack with the readiness to die. Otherwise, he would have no choice but to cut him down. *** Knight of Atanga, Ivan. At the age of 31, Ivan reached the realm of Sword Expert, and for eight years he served as the Knight of Atanga. Despite losing his honor and falling to the Underground City, he did not neglect his training over the past decade. 18 years since reaching the realm of Sword Expert. Once a promising figure of the Atanga Knights, Ivan could have be a Sword Seeker with proper support and training. A man who spent 18 years at one level. The implication was simple. Among Sword Experts, Ivan was ranked in the upper tier. This meant he could likely defeat most experts inbat, and his swordsmanship andbat skills were nearing perfection over many years. In other words¡­ ¡°¡­Ugh!¡± For Najin, who had only recently approached the realm of Sword Expert, Ivan was an overwhelmingly formidable opponent. The moment Najin blocked Ivan¡¯s sword, he was sent flying. Different. The weight behind the sword. Different. The density of the sword aura. Even enveloped in sword aura, Najin, pushed back, rolled on the ground and stood up again. Naturally, there was no time to catch his breath. Ivan, who immediately pursued, struck the ground where Najin had just been standing with a loud bang! The ground deeply cratered, and dust billowed up. In the moment his vision was obscured by rising dust, Ivan¡¯s sword, cutting through, soared towards him. Even though he barely blocked it, Najin was again pushed back. His hand gripping the sword felt numb. Najin realized. How much Ivan had been holding back in their past sparring sessions, how much control he had maintained. Just two or three shes had his fingers trembling. Cold sweat ran down his spine. Najin gritted his teeth and steadied his breath, his eyes wide open following Ivan¡¯s movements. Fast. Heavy. Unceasing. Ivan¡¯s movements seemed to break but always flowed into one. Najin was being swept away in that flow. ¡°Kuk!!¡± Although he blocked the sword, it struck his knee. Attempting to deflect the sword, his technique was countered, and the pommel struck his temple. Blurred vision for a moment, Ivan¡¯s kick to the stomach disrupted his breathing. His breathing disrupted, so was his stance. Narrowly avoiding a targeted strike, but a scratch from the de drew blood. Amidst the blood spurting, Najin groaned. He couldn¡¯t be swept away by this flow. ¡®I have to counterattack.¡¯ But how? Combat skills, grappling, deception, inducing the opponent¡¯s carelessness¡­ Everything Najin had learned so far was ineffective against Ivan. Because all those were taught by Ivan. These were what Ivan had taught Najin, and naturally, Ivan was more advanced in them. Sword aura density, technical proficiency, sword weight, posture, grappling techniques¡­ Ivan had the upper hand in every area. ¡°Don¡¯t fight on your opponent¡¯s battlefield.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no guarantee you¡¯ll always fight weaker opponents. Then, how should you fight against stronger ones?¡± Najin remembered. ¡°Draw them into your battlefield.¡± ¡°Find where you surpass your opponent.¡± Where Najin could surpass Ivan. ¡®¡­Even though I was told not to overestimate my talent.¡¯ The only thing Najin could rely on and try was his unique talent and specialty. Najin¡¯s eyes widened. His eyes, red with strain, moved rapidly. Even when he couldn¡¯t keep up with Ivan¡¯s movements before, and even now while being pushed back, Najin¡¯s eyes urately followed every move. He put more strength into his eyes. When he opened his eyes wide, he saw it. The gap between Ivan¡¯s movements. The subtle time difference when connecting moves. There was no technique to precisely strike in that gap for Najin yet. He hadn¡¯t learned such a thing. ¡®But.¡¯ Just because he hadn¡¯t learned it didn¡¯t mean he could only be passive. Since when had he relied solely on learning? The techniques he learned only expanded his options, but it had always been quick judgment and boldness that found his way. Najin lunged forward. ng, ng, ng! The sword flowed along the de, and the moment Ivan attempted to counter Najin¡¯s movement, Najin dove into Ivan¡¯s embrace. Boldly twisting his body, Najin struck Ivan¡¯s shoulder with the pommel. Crack. Najin had spotted a vulnerability with his own eyes. He struck at the joint between stances. For the first time, the flow Ivan had created was broken, and seizing the moment, Najin leaped. Turning to Ivan¡¯s side, Najin swung his sword. With a loud ng, Ivan stepped back for the first time. Absorbed in his sword swing, Najin didn¡¯t notice, but at that moment, a faint smile spread across Ivan¡¯s lips. ¡®Using a technique I never taught¡­¡¯ Ivanughed inwardly as he responded. ¡®He figured it out on his own.¡¯ Najin was stillcking. He was still immature, and his understanding of the sword as a weapon was also shallow. But he waspensating for all that with his senses and eyes. Using techniques he had never been taught. Creating and using techniques spontaneously, Ivan was impressed by Najin¡¯s movements. However, he still thought. He¡¯scking. Even with so many clues given, he hasn¡¯t realized it yet. Ivan continued to strike back at the persistently pursuing Najin. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Najin, pushed back, felt something amiss. The murderous intent from Ivan seemed to disappear and reappear intermittently. As if trying to kill him, or as if trying to teach him. Neither was false. Ivan was earnestly trying to kill Najin, and at the same time, earnestly trying to teach him. The human heart cannot be simplified into one path. Amidst his confusion and sensing this discord, Najin¡­ ¡°Huff¡­¡­¡± Ivan exhaled. Then, he repeated a seemingly meaningless action several times during the battle. It was the act of raising his sword and catching his breath. Screech! Ivan¡¯s sword aura sharpened. The once wavering sword aura became precise, and the dimming blue me red up again. This repeated action. Najin silently observed it. Ivan approached. He swung his sword, and Najin blocked it in his own way. Blocking. Being shed. Kicked. Pushed back, exploiting openings, retreating again. As the battle continued, Najin realized. There are elements he could improvise, but fundamentally, there was an aspect where he was inferior to Ivan. That was the sword aura Ivan wrapped around his sword. Ivan¡¯s sword aura was clear and precise. Najin¡¯s was blurry and rough. The perfectly consolidated sword aura versus the iplete one. That gap between Ivan and himself. How to bridge it? As Najin sought the answer, Ivan again assumed his stance. Repeatedly assumed stance. Najin narrowed his eyes. ¡°When you return, I¡¯ll teach you how to handle sword aura.¡± ¡°Knight of Atanga, Ivan, I stake my pride on it.¡± ¡­Could it be? Najin observed Ivan¡¯s movements. Since a while ago, Ivan had been repeating meaningless actions. As if showing them to him. At that sight, Najin couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle. He finally understood. The answer was there. ¡®¡­What exactly?¡¯ What rhythm to follow? Najin had seen Ivan¡¯s stance and the flow of his movements and sword aura from up close, several times. Having seen it, he realized. Najin stepped back greatly. Ivan didn¡¯t pursue. As if saying, try it. ¡°Huff¡­¡­¡± Najin exhaled deeply, steadying his breath as he assumed his most familiar stance. Sword trailing behind his waist, body lowered, poised for a charge. He focused on the flow within his body, not just letting it meander but actively shaping and directing it. This was no simple feat. It wasn¡¯t something that could be easily replicated after just a few observations. This was a state usually achieved through prolonged meditation in a seated position. Ivan had done it. So had Ivan¡¯s master and most of the Knights of Atanga. But Ivan knew well. The boy before him was different from those merely gifted. Najin had exceptional eyesight. Ivan was acutely aware of this. Better than anyone else. Showing once was better than telling a hundred times for this boy. Direct experience was his best teacher. Ivan, watching Najin, chuckled softly. ¡°Yes,¡± Ivan finally spoke. ¡°That¡¯s how you use it.¡± Najin¡¯s drawn sword, encircled by white sword aura, now had golden particles rising along the de. The emerging particles filled the gaps the white aura hadn¡¯t covered, blending into it. Thebination of white aura and golden particles created a tinum-colored sword aura. It was like the color of starlight, fitting for a boy who longed for the stars in a ce where none were visible. tinum, a color reminiscent of starlight itself. Ivan¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the sword aura coloring Najin¡¯s sword. He burst intoughter. tinum sword aura. As far as Ivan remembered, it was a color that no one else possessed. It was exclusively Arthur¡¯s, resembling the starlight. There stood the boy, having drawn the sword left by King Arthur and possessing an aura akin to Arthur¡¯s. With his own distinct color. A sword aura thatpletely enveloped his sword, going beyond mere fragments. This signified the boy had reached the true realm of a Sword Expert. Ivan, gripping his sword anew, charged towards Najin. The two sword auras shed. The tinum sword aura and the dark blue sword aura collided. *** With each sh of their swords, bursts of dark blue mes and tinum starlight erupted. After several exchanges, Ivan and Najin simultaneously stepped back. Ivan, recognizing that the boy had nearly caught up to him, thought to himself. This was enough. ¡°Najin.¡± His duty as a teacher was fulfilled. ¡°Come at me with the intent to kill.¡± Ivan extended his sword in a stance he had never shown Najin before, a stance to unleash a technique that was his pride as a Knight of Atanga. A sword technique used to execute the dishonored, those who had lost their honor and pride as knights. Before demonstrating the technique, Ivan warned. He would unleash everything he had to kill Najin, and Najin should do the same. Aim your brightest at me, he indicated. Any hesitation vanished. All that remained in Ivan was a lethal intent. Silently, Najin lowered his sword. This was not an admission of defeat. Quite the opposite. With his sword sheathed at his waist, Najin reached out into the void. He clenched the air. Revealing his brightest. The void rippled, and starlight began to gather. In the boy¡¯s hand appeared the Sword of the Star, Excalibur. The starlight brightly illuminated the Underground City. The moment Excalibur was drawn, Najin staggered, summoning the sword requiring considerable effort. But soon, he regained his posture. Determined to break through the wall before him, to move forward. The boy holding the star and the knight pursuing it faced each other. Chapter 20 Chapter 20 ¨C Honor, Pride, and the Stars (1) The moment Najin summoned Excalibur¡­ Once again, a star rose in the Underground City. Although not as dramatic as when the sword was pulled from the rock, the light from Excalibur was too bright to be obscured by the city¡¯s fog and darkness. The starlight soared high into the sky. The residents of the Underground City. The shadow forces that pursued the boy. The knights of the self-proimed righteous order. The mercenaries who chose loyalty over money and power. And¡­ ¡°Ha¡­¡± The knight who had chased the star also saw the starlight clenched in the boy¡¯s hand. Ivan exhaled a breath of admiration and adjusted his grip on his sword, grateful for the honorable opportunity to face the legendary sword. Ivan¡¯s sword aura red up in a dark blue hue. In response, the boy¡¯s sword also wrapped itself in a tinum aura. The starlight sword aura around the Sword of the Star. In the Underground City, where Ivan never forgot the light of the star, he smiled. His forgotten dream was right there. ¡°Come,¡± Ivan called, and the boy charged. The boy holding the star and the knight who chased it collided. *** Najin gave it his all. With a lowered stance, he dashed forward, swinging his elerating sword, not caring for defense. It wasn¡¯t a technique taught by anyone, and it was vague to even call it a technique¡­ But it was undoubtedly Najin¡¯s best strike. Thud, Najin stomped the ground. With each step, his speed increased. On his third step, Ivan momentarily lost track of Najin¡¯s movement, and by the sixth, Najin¡¯s speed had surpassed Ivan¡¯s. In Ivan¡¯s eyes, Najin¡¯s movement was invisible, only the trajectory of the Sword of the Star in Najin¡¯s hand was visible. And that was enough for Ivan. ¡°Come on.¡± Ivan stood his ground. ¡°I¡¯ll face it head-on.¡± The Sword of the Star is approaching. The starlight is approaching. Boom! On his final step, Najin lunged at Ivan with his highest speed. Excalibur, reaching its peak velocity, elerated further, scattering starlight as it approached Ivan. Knight of Atanga, Ivan. The essence of the technique he honed all his life. A technique synonymous with the symbol of Atanga. Facing the opponent¡¯s technique head-on, and boldly denying it, is the Atanga way. Ivan, unwavering, received Najin¡¯s sword. Crash! Swords and auras shed. The moment he received the sword, Ivan realized. It was simple yet firm, and its firmness made it heavy. The weight behind Najin¡¯s swing exceeded Ivan¡¯s expectations. His firmly nted feet wobbled. His knees began to buckle. But a Knight of Atanga never bends or steps back, even on the brink of breaking. Ivan strengthened his knees and pushed forward, letting out a battle cry. Crack! Gradually, Ivan¡¯s sword moved forward. Najin¡¯s understanding of the sword was stillcking. He hadn¡¯t learned proper swordsmanship. Ivan¡¯s sword, refined over years, exploited this gap. Ivan¡¯s stance, initially receiving Najin¡¯s sword, now appeared to be pressing down on it. Ivan¡¯s bending knees straightened. His retreating steps now moved forward. As Ivan advanced, Najin was pushed back. ¡°Ugh!¡± The tide had turned. Najin¡¯s sword swing, gradually overpowered, was on the verge of beingpletely broken. Najin¡¯s eyes widened. He brutally infused the flow from his body into Excalibur. He knew he was outmatched in technique. So, he decided topete in power. Responding to its master¡¯s will to win at all costs, Excalibur flickered violently. The densely intensified tinum aura shattered Ivan¡¯s technique head-on. ¡°¡­¡± Ivan¡¯s eyes widened. Najin¡¯s swordpletely overpowered Ivan¡¯s. Ivan¡¯s hand, holding the sword, was forced upwards. A deadly vulnerability was exposed. Ivan had no strength left to receive the second strike. In a rush, Ivan retracted his sword, but a fatal wound was inevitable. The moment Ivan sensed his defeat¡­ Rustle. Najin¡¯s swinging sword turned into starlight and vanished. Only the remnants of the aura grazed Ivan¡¯s body, with no fatal blow as expected. ¡°Ugh!¡± Instead, it was Najin who suffered a critical hit. He copsed in the same posture he swung his sword. He had used a power not yet permitted to him. Although he drew Excalibur, his body and soul weren¡¯t mature enough to handle it properly. Lacking the strength to maintain Excalibur, he couldn¡¯t swing for the second time and copsed. ¡°¡­¡± Ivan was silent. Drip, a droplet of blood fell from the wound grazed by the sword aura. Something dropped amidst the falling droplets. It was Ivan¡¯s eyepatch that covered his right eye. The fallen eyepatch. The fallen blood. And the boy lying before him. Seeing all this with one eye, Ivan realized. He had won and also lost. As the ruler of the Underground City, the one-eyed Ivan had won over the boy. He stood till the end and could have killed the boy with a swing of his sword. But as a Knight of Atanga, Ivan had lost to the boy. Atanga¡¯s way was to never bend or retreat, to crush the opponent head-on. However, overpowered by the boy¡¯s momentum, Ivan had ultimately retreated and bent. A victory as the ruler. A defeat as a Knight of Atanga. Which one to ept? Ivan groaned in front of the choiceid before him. At the very end, the world once again asked Ivan. What will you choose? And what will you remain as? *** Like everyone else, a person¡¯s life is their most precious possession. Death is the end. Death is frightening. It¡¯s a fundamental fear shared by all humanity. Therefore, In the face of death, humans can be cowardly, cruel, and contradictory. No one can mock their disy of the desire to live, as it¡¯s an aspect everyone possesses. Ivan was no different. He wanted to live. He didn¡¯t want to die here. He wanted to see the stars again, the sun again, and to be a knight again. The chances were slim¡­ But if he survives, there¡¯s a possibility. Death, however, is the end. Ivan clenched his teeth. He must kill the boy before him to survive. It was only right to swing his sword and end it. He understood this logically. But he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. The raised sword didn¡¯t move an inch. Najin, lying on the ground, looked up at him. As their eyes met, Ivan¡¯s expression twisted. A boy different from himself. A boy shining with the star he held. Looking at the boy, Ivan groaned. What to be? What to remain as? Although Ivan had been postponing his answer to these questions, now he had to decide. It would have been better if Najin¡¯s sword had struck him down. Better to face death that way. Ivan groaned. [I swear upon the pride of Knight of Atanga, Ivan.] Echoing in his ears was the oath he had sworn upon his pride. The moment he strikes with this sword, he would lose that pride. A person who has lost honor and pride. Can such a person truly be called a knight? Sure, there are many knights who know neither honor nor pride. Many, but Ivan could never regard such people as true knights. The moment he loses his pride here, he ceases to be a knight. Ivan knew this. Even if he survives this battle. Could he, having shed his pride and embracing a false honor, still chase the stars? Could he proudly im himself to be a Knight of Atanga? ¡°No.¡± No, it wasn¡¯t so. What he desired was to possess the stars as a knight. Not as a tarnished, dishonored scrap, but¡­ ¡°As a knight bearing pride and honor.¡± That was his dream, to possess the stars as such a knight. ¡°¡­¡± Ivan pondered. He agonized. He hesitated until the very end. ¡­Every person cherishes their own life. ¡°But a knight is.¡± The knight he wanted to be. ¡°For honor and pride, a foolish breed ready to throw away their lives.¡± Foolish, yet it¡¯s their brilliance that makes them live a life more radiant than anything else. Recalling the dreams of knighthood he held dear in his youth, Ivan made his choice. ¡°Damn it.¡± Ivan ruffled his hair in frustration. ¡°Really, damn it all.¡± Cursing, he sheathed his sword. With his sword at his waist, Ivan reached out to the fallen Najin. Najin, blinking nkly, grasped Ivan¡¯s hand and rose to his feet. ¡°Can you move?¡± The intent to kill had vanished. Responding to Ivan¡¯s question, Najin nodded slowly. Ivan opened and closed his mouth repeatedly, as if he had something to say but found it hard to express. ¡°Uh, Najin.¡± Ivan slowly began. ¡°When you go down the waterfall, be careful of the slippery rocks. The footing can be treacherous. One wrong step and you¡¯re gone. And¡­ no. No, that¡¯s not it.¡± After a long sigh, he spoke again. ¡°Najin.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°Do you remember what I always said?¡± ¡°Not to cross the line?¡± ¡°Yes. That.¡± Don¡¯t cross the line. Know your ce. Don¡¯t reach for what you can¡¯t have. ¡°That¡¯s what I meant.¡± Ivan touched the spot where his right eye once was. It had been over ten years since he fell into this city. During that time, Ivan abandoned his dreams, chipped away at his knightly self. He lived repeating the mantra to stay within the line, to live as given¡­ But it was also a statement he made to himself. A word thrown at himself, who could no longer rise higher. ¡°I¡¯ll correct that.¡± Today, Ivan decided to change that saying. ¡°Listen well. You know I hate repeating myself.¡± Ivan smiled. ¡°Cross the line, Najin.¡± He spoke with a smile. ¡°Reach for the unreachable. Punch the faces of those muttering about staying in your ce. Only you know how far you can go.¡± Ivan negated the words he had always uttered. ¡°Look high and run. Climb higher than anyone else. You have the talent for it. Believe in the talent you possess.¡± Though he had only one eye. Though he had neither the eyes to see the future nor the sharp senses to sense it. ¡°When you reach the highest point.¡± Ivan was certain. The boy before him would reach the highest point. He would hang his own star in the highest night sky. Ivan was sure that future would surelye. Certain of this, Ivan said. ¡°Shout it from there.¡± What should he shout? ¡°That I was there.¡± That I was at the beginning of your story. ¡°That the Knight of Atanga, Ivan, was there.¡± To grace the prologue of a hero¡¯s tale, what greater honor could there be for a knight chasing the stars? Seeking honor while bearing pride. What finer end could there be for a knight? ¡°Go on.¡± Ivan pushed Najin towards the tunnel. He no longer watched the boy¡¯s wavering gaze or his hesitant figure. Turning his back to the boy, Ivan stood guarding the entrance to the tunnel. To earn back the time he had taken from the boy. ¡°Thank you, Ivan.¡± With that voice fading away, the sound of the boy¡¯s footsteps receded. Before theypletely vanished, new footsteps began to approach from ahead. They areing. The pursuers, drawn by the light, seeking to extinguish it, were approaching. They were the order¡¯s shadow unit, its knights, and also his formerrades. Listening to the fading footsteps. Ignoring the approaching ones. Ivan drew his sword again. This time, not for the retreating boy, but for those who followed him. ¡°Not as the one-eyed ruler.¡± Ivan stepped on the fallen eyepatch. ¡°But as the Knight of Atanga, Ivan.¡± The knight chasing the stars smiled. It was lighter than ever before. Chapter 21 Chapter 21 ¨C Honor, Pride, and the Stars (2) Najin ran through the tunnel. It was the path out of the Underground City, opened by Ivan. Clenching his teeth, he raced along it. The boy was not foolish. He understood the resolution and thoughts with which Ivan had opened this path. Najin was aware. Aware that if he didn¡¯t kill Ivan, Ivan would die. He knew Ivan had no other choice. Yet, Ivan let Najin go. It meant Ivan was prepared for death. The agony on Ivan¡¯s face as he raised his sword, his trembling sword tip, and his form pushing Najin into the tunnel and standing guard at the entrance shed before Najin¡¯s eyes. Najin clenched his teeth even tighter. He felt like screaming. He wanted to ask Ivan why he made such a choice. Why did he risk his life for him? Najin couldn¡¯t understand the reason. Their past interactions didn¡¯t justify Ivan¡¯s decision to save him. Honor and pride. The weight of these was still unknown to the boy. The young Najin didn¡¯tprehend what Ivan had chosen to remain as in the end. He didn¡¯t understand, but he remembered the light in Ivan¡¯s eyes at that moment. ¡°Climb to the highest point.¡± ¡°Shout from there.¡± ¡°That I, the Knight of Atanga, Ivan, was there.¡± The image of a knight, talking about his dreams with shining eyes, lodged deep in Najin¡¯s heart. It was the weight of someone¡¯s life. A weight that could never lighten. Never be forgotten. Feeling this heavy pressure on his heart, Najin ran. The tunnel was dark, cold, and seemingly endless. In the pitch-ck tunnel, even the light from the miningmps had vanished. Najin ran tirelessly. A mercenary and a knight chasing the stars. Bearing the weight of those who risked their lives for him, the boy looked up high. The stars were still invisible, but that didn¡¯t matter. In a ce where no stars shone, the boy vowed. To etch his own star in the night sky. To hang his star at the highest point. *** The pursuers chasing the star arrived one by one. There was an entrance to an old, neglected tunnel leading to the Underground City. It wasn¡¯t difficult to guess that the boy had fled there. All that remained was the simple task of entering the tunnel and killing the boy, but¡­ ¡°¡­¡± No one dared to move hastily. There was someone guarding the entrance of the tunnel, and the pursuers felt the formidable aura emanating from him. They intuitively knew they had to defeat this man to enter the tunnel. ng. The pursuers drew their swords one by one. They pointed their weapons at the former knight they once knew as an ally, but they were mistaken about one thing. ¡°I am Ivan.¡± The man standing before them was not a half-knight who had lost his honor and fallen into the Underground City. Although he had lost his honor, he had kept his pride until the end and thrown his life away for the future that would shine. A man who had gambled his life to keep his oath. A man who wanted to be a knight until the very end. Foolish, yet noble in its foolishness. Who could mock such nobility? Standing before them was a knight prepared for death. ¡°Knight of Atanga, and¡± In the Underground City, where no stars rise. In the city of sinners, dimly lit only by faint miningmps. ¡°I am Ivan, the knight chasing the stars.¡± His sword wrapped in sword aura. A dark blue glowing aura. It was an ordinary color, nothing special. Not like Najin¡¯s Sword of the Star that brightly illuminated the Underground City, nor like Najin¡¯s aura that resembled starlight. Yet, even so. Ivan¡¯s sword shone. ¡°You cannot take a single step further.¡± Holding the shining sword. Risking his life to protect something. For this moment alone, Ivan could proudly dere himself. Proudly proim that he was a knight of Atanga, a knight chasing the stars. With that realization, Ivan smiled. The pursuers began to charge towards the smiling Ivan. More than ten gathered, their swords razor-sharp. But Ivan didn¡¯t retreat a single step. ¡°Knights of Atanga do not retreat.¡± For it was their pride. Ivan swung his shining sword to buy time for his squire to escape the city. To return the time he had stolen from the boy. ¡°Come, as many as you like.¡± My pride is not so light to open a path for those ignorant of honor and pride. ¡°Ivan, have you gone mad?¡± Ivan did not respond. ¡°Do you think you can fight me? n to fight the entire order? What foolishness¡­!¡± Berlot ruffled his hair in irritation. Things had gone awry. The mission entrusted to him by the High Priest Ond. He was responsible for this mission, and now, punishment was inevitable. He had to continue the pursuit alone. As Berlot drew his sword irritably and took a step forward, Ivan, who had been silent and motionless, finally spoke. ¡°Ah, senior.¡± Ivan smirked. Facing over ten shadow operatives at once, his body was covered in wounds, and blood flowed from a deep cut on his shoulder. His breath was rough, and his breathing uneven. Exhausted to the limit. Yet, Ivan¡¯s posture remained unshaken, and the sword in his hand still shone brightly. ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°I asked what¡¯s with that look. I thought when you left the order, abandoning honor and pride, you were grasping onto something great¡­ But what is it?¡± Ivan scoffed. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re not holding onto anything, but rather being held by a leash? What¡¯s the difference between you and the corpses strewn around here? To me, you¡¯re just another dog of the order.¡± A clear mockery and ridicule. Berlot¡¯s eyes red with rage. ¡°I can¡¯t let thatment slide. It¡¯s an insult to the order. I¡¯ll give you a chance to retract your statement.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Ivan burst intoughter. ¡°You¡¯ve forgotten the mindset of a knight since leaving the Knights of Atanga. If you¡¯ve forgotten, then it¡¯s up to this unworthy junior to remind you.¡± Unwavering posture. Unshaken gaze. A sword that still hadn¡¯t lost its light. ¡°Insults are cleansed through a duel. Honor and pride are proven with the sword. That¡¯s the rule of knights. You¡¯re nothing but the order¡¯s filthy hound.¡± ¡°Ha!¡± A clear provocation that crossed the line. Enraged by the offensive words, Berlotughed mockingly as he unsheathed his sword. A dark blue aura like Ivan¡¯s wrapped around his sword. But unlike Ivan¡¯s, his aura didn¡¯t shine. Taking steps towards Ivan, Berlot¡¯s sword wrapped in aura. Still, Ivan remained motionless. He looked like he might fall with a simple push, but Berlot knew better than to be careless. Even cornered, Ivan¡¯s eyes still shone. Berlot felt a chilling sensation from that gaze. The aura of a man prepared for death. The spirit of one who swore to hold his sword until the very end. In the darkness, swords and auras collided. Sparks of aura and droplets of blood flew. It was the blood of a knight, and also the life of a knight. shing swords, Ivan smiled. He couldn¡¯t hear it anymore. The footsteps receding behind him. ¡®I¡¯ve bought the time. Damn brat.¡¯ What kind of squire makes his knight risk his life for him? A damn fool, that¡¯s what. Ivan smiled till the very end. Because until the very end, he could be a knight. *** The waterfall where the water cascades down. Najin was descending the steep cliff, inserting stakes into the ground. Despite slipping on the wet cliff and droplets, he used the rope tied around his body and his body¡¯s momentum to gradually descend. Exhausted from continuous battles, Najin squeezed out thest of his strength. The end of the seemingly endless cliff was in sight. The extending waterway caught Najin¡¯s eyes. Carefully, he continued to descend the cliff. Thud. Landing on the ground, Najin caught his breath. His palms were raw from gripping the stakes so tightly, the skin peeling off. Najin bandaged his bleeding palms and took onest look back. The cascading waterfall. Looking at the waterfall, pouring only in one direction as if to say there¡¯s no going back, Najin silently watched. He mulled over his memories of the Underground City, where he was born and spent his childhood, then turned away. His eyes were set on where the flowing water led. Once he started running, there was no stopping, no turning back. Najin didn¡¯t know where the water would lead. But he was certain about one thing ¨C there would be stars. He ran along the waterway. Arriving at the end of the road. The path ended, and a wall blocked Najin¡¯s way, but the water still flowed. Offen had said to hold his breath and dive at the end of the path. Unsure of whaty beyond, Najin felt fear but¡­ ¡°¡­Hoo.¡± He steadied his breath and jumped into the water. He let the rushing water carry him. The rough current swept Najin away. In the churning water, Najin narrowed his eyes. He couldn¡¯t see anything. Nothing at all. He felt like he was sinking. His breath was running out. When he reached his limit, Najin looked up. Above him, the endless surface of the river. Something reflected on the surface. It was a twinkling light. Najin moved towards the light. His body, which felt like it was sinking, began to rise. ¡°Cough, gasp¡­ Hoo¡­¡± Najin¡¯s head emerged above the water as he gasped for air. Breathing heavily, he slowly moved towards the riverbank. After failing several times to grasp the protruding roots and scraping his body against them, Najin finally managed to escape the current. His body ached. Unable to stand, hey t on the wet riverbank. Lying in the field, gasping for breath, Najin realized what the light he saw on the water¡¯s surface was. He blinked several times and, for the first time in his 18 years, looked up at the sky. The vast night sky. There, countless stars shone brightly. A scene indescribable by any line from a fairy tale unfolded before him. For the first time, the night sky he looked up at was beautiful. More than anything else. Chapter 22 Chapter 22 ¨C The Staff of Selection (1) For the first time in his life, Najin faced the sky, but that wasn¡¯t all he encountered. He tuned into the sounds around him¡ªthe cries of insects, the flow of the river, the rustling of leaves in the wind. All these sensations were new and alien to him. The cool breeze tickling his hair, the vast, openndscape, the clear, breathable air, and above all, the wide night sky filled with stars¡ªeverything was novel, unfamiliar, and thus, magical to him. Najin took a deep breath, taking in the air of the outside world for the first time, his eyes widening in wonder. He saw so much. His vision stretched unobstructed. Looking up, he didn¡¯t see the usual ceiling embedded with ore of the underground city but a vast night sky dotted with stars, too many to count. The night sky. And the stars. These were what Najin had longed for. Counting the numerous stars, he focused on the center of the sky, where he found the constetion he had been seeking. Hanging at the highest point of the night sky. Thergest constetion. A sword-shaped constetion formed by 13 stars. ¡®The Constetion, The Sword of Selection.¡¯ The constetion of the great hero, King Arthur. Najin had seen this constetion in illustrations in fairy tales, but today, he finally witnessed it with his own eyes. Encountering the constetion, the world of the boy, once trapped underground, expanded in an instant. His heart throbbed. Though the distance between him and the constetion was immense, he knew his destination. Stars were no longer a vague, unseen goal for him. He could see them and estimate the distance to them. His eyes, filled with dreams and longing, shone brightly, a light he had lost long ago. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± In this expanded world, Najin exhaled deeply. He had often resigned and let go of many things, but now, no more. Even if they were high above, he would reach out and grasp them, as Ivan had advised him to climb to the highest point. Najin stretched his hand towards the highest star in the night sky, gauging his destination. He murmured a wish deep in his heart, not yet ready to share it with anyone. But then¡­ ¡°Remember,¡± A voice echoed. ¡°The stars always watch over you.¡± His silent voice, unspoken yet heartfelt, reached a distant star. Suddenly, Najin felt an acute sharpness in his senses. But even as he heightened his awareness, he couldn¡¯t move. His body stiffened, unable to even breathe. But soon, he realized it wasn¡¯t just him. The blowing wind ceased, the rustling grass stopped, the sound of flowing water halted. Everything began to freeze. In that moment of stillness, a voice echoed in his ears. ¡°Found you.¡± The calm constetion beside King Arthur¡¯s, which had been like a tranquilke, suddenly churned. Stars shone, and Najin¡¯s vision flickered. His eyes turned a light blue-white hue. A sensation as if being swept away enveloped him. With this feeling and his vision swirling, he saw numerousndscapes shing before his eyes. ¡°Ugh!¡± When the rapid passing of scenes halted, Najin finally could breathe. His vision was foggy. After blinking several times, his surroundings came into focus. What he saw was ake in the forest. Moments ago, he was on the open riverside, but now, his gaze fell upon ake in a dense forest. Confused, Najin rose to his feet. ¡°Finally.¡± A voice resonated. The same voice that had echoed earlier. While the voice was clear and gentle, it carried an undertone of uncontainable anger. ¡°Finally, I¡¯ve found you.¡± Turning toward the source of the voice, Najin saw a woman with flowing water-like hair and blue eyes that resembled ake. The woman, who had been sitting on a rock by theke, locked gazes with Najin. Then, she descended from the rock. Stepping softly on the ground, she approached Najin. With each step towards him, Najin squinted his eyes. ¡®A sense of incongruity.¡¯ He felt a strange sensation. Trying to maintain eye contact made his vision wobble, as if it was forbidden. Amidst the flickering vision, Najin saw the woman¡¯s robe. It resembled a magician¡¯s robe, yet also the formal attire of a knight. The corner of her fluttering robe, following her movements, bore a symbol. Najin recognized it from fairy tales. ¡®The symbol representing ake and a staff.¡¯ A symbol only one person in this world could wear, symbolizing a particr constetion. The Lake Wizard. Or, The Staff of Selection. A well-known constetion¡¯s true name, which Najin was about to unwittingly utter, was suddenly halted. A slender finger swiftly covered his mouth, immobilizing him. ¡°Dare you speak my name with your filthy mouth?¡± Merlin¡¯s eyes widened in anger. ¡°Who are you, exactly?¡± *** Merlin, despite her attempt to maintainposure, was clearly perplexed by the current situation, unable toprehend what was unfolding before her. The voice she had heard just moments ago matched the impudent youngster who had previously called Arthur a ¡®victim of his era¡¯. Reflexively, Merlin had reached out with her powers to ensnare the consciousness of the voice¡¯s owner, a feat she hadn¡¯t actually expected to seed. Merlin was a celestial who ascended hundreds of years ago. As a being whose story had concluded and ascended to the heavens, her ability to intervene in the earthly realm was severely limited. She thought, ¡®Of course, I can force it, but there would be bacsh.¡¯ She had merely intended to confirm the location, not expecting it to work so seamlessly. ¡°Why did this work?¡± Merlin wondered, looking at the boy before her, clearly distressed yet vividly present, indicating he hade here without resistance. The boy appeared confused, and Merlin was equally bewildered. ¡°What are you, exactly?¡± The boy pointed at Merlin¡¯s fingers on his mouth, implying he needed her to let go to speak. Reluctantly, Merlin released Najin. ¡°Speak up.¡± ¡°I¡¯m Najin.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You asked what I am. I¡¯m Najin, that¡¯s my name.¡± Najin exined after wiping his chin, his mind racing. He was certain the woman before him was Merlin, matching the descriptions he had seen in fairy tales. ¡®I¡¯ll put that aside for now,¡¯ Najin thought, focusing on why Merlin had brought him here and her hostility. Was it because he drew Excalibur? As he was pondering this, Merlin interrupted his thoughts. ¡°Funny guy, when did I ask for your name?¡± Merlin chuckled in disbelief. ¡°Arthur is just a fortunate man, right? Those were your words?¡± Najin was taken aback, unable to immediately grasp the meaning. Then, realization struck him. ¡°Arthur was just a fortunate man of his time. He would have been nothing in this era.¡± He recalled his own disparaging remarks and felt sweat trickling down his back. ¡°Annoyed? Wanna go at it? Thene and bring down your divine punishment.¡± Embarrassed, Najin felt a bit wronged. It seemed unfair that only his voice was heard, not the stars. Understanding Merlin¡¯s hostility, he tried to exin. ¡°That¡¯s a bit of a misunderstanding¡­¡± ¡°Stop with the excuses. What I really want to know is how you could say such things? And why is your voice so clear to me?¡± Merlin stepped closer. ¡°It¡¯s strange. Your voice is so distinct, you being pulled right in front of me like this, and maintaining your form and consciousness in my starfield¡­¡± Her blue eyes narrowed as she stared intently at Najin. ¡°Is this all because you made some deal with that detestable Mordred? But even then, it doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± Merlin stood right before Najin, their breaths almost mingling. Her blue eyes met his sunset-hued ones. ¡°What are you, really?¡± Najin couldn¡¯t immediately respond to her repeated question. Merlin sighed deeply and spoke. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what you are.¡± The important thing was, ¡°You insulted Arthur. And I have no intention of letting that go.¡± ¡°You were the one who asked for divine punishment,¡± she muttered, flicking her finger. In her domain, everything was under her control. At that moment, Najin was supposed to bepletely at her mercy, unable to move, blink, or even breathe without her permission. As Merlin reached out to punish him, something unexpected happened. Najin caught her wrist. Though Merlin could easily break free and disintegrate his fingers to sand, she didn¡¯t. Shocked, she looked at the hand holding her. Initially, she was surprised and intrigued, but seeing her own wrist held by him, her emotions evaporated into sheer astonishment. That astonishment was soon reced by horror. Merlin saw the constetion pattern on Najin¡¯s wrist. It was usually visible only in Najin¡¯s eyes, and even the most powerful beings, including celestial constetions, couldn¡¯t see it. But Merlin was an exception. She had designed the circuitry of the constetion that housed Excalibur. Therefore, she knew the significance of the pattern on Najin¡¯s wrist. Raising her head, Merlin shifted her gaze from her wrist to Najin¡¯s eyes. His eyes, once the color of a sunset, were now tinged with tinum. Her own eyes, first filled with shock, quickly turned to anger. Gritting her teeth, Merlin shook off Najin¡¯s hold and grabbed his wrist instead. With force, she extracted the tinum light from him. The light coalesced into the tinum-colored holy sword, Excalibur. After taking it from Najin, Merlin sighed deeply and long. ¡°Why did it have to be¡­¡± She pressed her temples. ¡°Why him¡­!¡± Three days since Excalibur was drawn, and neither she nor any other constetion in the night sky had been able to find its wielder. And now, its owner stood before her, but Merlin found it hard to ept. The one before her was not a Swordmaster, not even close to a powerful warrior, nor a special being with his own star. ¡°Just a brat who insulted Arthur. How can he be the owner of the holy sword?¡± ¡°But that¡¯s mine.¡± Najin clenched the air, and the Excalibur in Merlin¡¯s hand shattered into starlight, returning to him, reforming into a sword. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t just take it like that.¡± In Najin¡¯s hand, the sword shone brilliantly, as if he was its true master. Watching this, Merlin¡¯s forehead veins bulged. ¡°Wow.¡± Merlin was genuinely amazed, sighing. ¡°What kind of kid is this?¡± Chapter 23 Chapter 23 ¨C The Staff of Selection (2) Merlin had envisioned countless times the meeting with Arthur¡¯s sessor, the hero chosen by Excalibur. Although no one could surpass Arthur¡¯s greatness, being chosen by Excalibur meant possessing certain qualities of a hero. Merlin had expected someone with the stature of a hero, even if not equal to Arthur. When the sword was drawn recently, Merlin had considered heroes of this era as potential candidates: the greatest swordmasters, the Sword Saints leading the Orders, or even the proud leaders of knightly orders who upheld ancient chivalric codes. Though these candidates didn¡¯t quite impress her, they were barely passable, possessing fame, skill, and character. ¡°But now,¡± Merlin looked at the boy in front of her, holding the shining sword with a frustratingly smug expression. He was neither a transcendent swordmaster nor a person of great character. Hecked thepleted stature of a hero and had no fame or aplishments to speak of. The only notable thing about him was his insult to Arthur, which was more of a demerit than an advantage. Merlin mentally scored the boy before her: a fail. He was like a candidate who, instead of attending an interview, flipped off the interviewer. Merlin felt a headacheing on. ¡®Is this really the sessor?¡¯ She was tempted to dismiss him as unworthy of being Arthur¡¯s sessor. ¡®Why did it have to be him?¡¯ Merlin nced at the sword in Najin¡¯s hand, Excalibur, the sword that became Arthur¡¯s voice after his death. ¡®Why this boy¡­¡¯ She thought of Arthur, now long gone. Excalibur chooses the material for a hero, but it¡¯s the Staff of Selection, Merlin, who determines the path that hero will walk. Though she disliked the boy, Merlin tried to set aside her personal feelings and the fact that Najin insulted Arthur. After all, he had drawn the sword, and that fact couldn¡¯t be changed. Najin had broken centuries of silence by drawing the sword. What did Excalibur see in him? What potential made it choose him? Merlin needed to know. Sheposed herself, opened and closed her eyes, her gaze deep like a tranquilke with stars rising to its surface. ¡°Boy.¡± Merlin red at Najin. ¡°Do you think you can handle that?¡± It was both a warning and advice, a trial set by Merlin. ¡®That is no ordinary sword for humans. It¡¯s beyond your capacity. You will surely crumble.¡¯ The same trial Arthur faced before bing a renowned hero. Merlin now posed it to Najin. ¡°Will you crumble?¡± To test him. To select him. ¡®What exactly?¡¯ Najin¡¯s qualities and potential. *** ¡°Will you crumble?¡± Merlin¡¯s words made Najin frown. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°You still don¡¯t seem to understand what wielding Excalibur means.¡± Merlin pointed at the sword in Najin¡¯s hand. ¡°Drawing Excalibur isn¡¯t just about bing Arthur¡¯s sessor. As long as you hold the sword, you¡¯re ¡®bound¡¯ to walk the path of a hero. Excalibur will ensure it.¡± Excalibur, the Sword of Selection, not only chooses a hero butpels the wielder to be one. Although depicted as noble and glorious in fairy tales¡­ ¡°The path you walk with that sword is fraught with countless obstacles and trials.¡± Reality was harsher. Trials and tribtions make a hero. They walk a thorny path, always on the edge of life and death. ¡°Damned creatures of Cann, traitorous knights and their followers, dragons at the world¡¯s end, witches of the forsaken¡­¡± Merlin stepped forward, and a mirage rose where she walked. ¡°Filthy beings that have led countless heroes to death and desecrated their spirits and bodies. They will all set their sights on you. And that¡¯s not all.¡± She sighed. ¡°How many constetions above, and beings below who walk the earth, will be displeased by you? How many will seek to eliminate you?¡± Countless malevolence. ¡°Can you endure all that?¡± The inevitablepanions of a hero¡¯s path. ¡°If you were somewhatplete, I wouldn¡¯t even say this. A transcendent swordmaster, a famed hero, a leader of a group, or even of noble birth¡­¡± If he was any of these. If he had followers or a firm foundation to not be swayed. ¡°If you had any of these when you drew the sword, my words would merely be advice.¡± If he possessed even one of these, he could withstand the storms. Even if swayed, he could quickly return to his path. ¡°But you don¡¯t.¡± Merlin stared directly at Najin. ¡°You have nothing. You¡¯ll easily be swayed, maybe even lose your way. You are prone to be a ything, prey, or puppet for the powerful.¡± A future foreseen for the boy. ¡°That you will¡­¡± ¡°Why are you so long-winded?¡± Najin interrupted Merlin. She frowned. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why are you making it soplicated? The point is simple. You¡¯re asking if I can handle the responsibility of drawing the sword without understanding what it entails, right?¡± His tone was disrespectful but not wrong. Merlin nodded reluctantly. Najin sighed and faced Merlin. ¡°As you said, I have nothing. I¡¯m insignificant and if pushed, I¡¯ll be crushed. Who wouldn¡¯t know that?¡± He was painfully aware of his situation. The struggles he faced just to reach the surface, how close he came to death, how he would have been a corpse in the underground city without Ivan¡¯s sacrifice. ¡°Will the strong hunt me? Will numerous forces try to bury me?¡± Najin scoffed at Merlin¡¯s warning. He was prepared to face these challenges from the moment he reached for the sword. ¡°I didn¡¯t draw the sword without that resolve.¡± From crossing the line, Najin had been prepared. The only thing he could hold onto was his yearning for the stars. He¡¯d rather be crushed than give in to fear from the start. Najin nced at Merlin. ¡°Wasn¡¯t King Arthur also not great from the start? He rose from the bottom without any foundation, and that¡¯s why he¡¯s called a great hero.¡± Najin knew the stories well. He remembered Merlin guiding Arthur, a figure in the fairy tales who saw potential in the unremarkable and led them to greatness. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a bit petty for you, who guided King Arthur, to talk like this?¡± ¡°Are you provoking me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just stating facts.¡± Merlin chuckled. Did he realize this was a test? It didn¡¯t seem so. ¡°Anyone can talk.¡± But not bad for a start. Najin¡¯s defiance was not unimpressive. Merlin flicked her finger. Snap. The mirage following her footsteps suddenly rushed into Najin¡¯s eyes. Talking was easy, but proving oneself was always through action. ¡°If you can still say the same after seeing this.¡± Merlin stopped. ¡°Then I¡¯ll acknowledge you.¡± The mirage in Najin¡¯s eyes showed him the path and battlefields he must traverse. The trials he will ¡®inevitably¡¯ face now that he has drawn Excalibur. The same trials shown to Arthur centuries ago. If he could still utter the same words after witnessing them, then she would reassess him. With that thought, Merlin watched Najin stiffen. *** Najin saw countless scenes sh before him. He felt as if he were right there, trembling. The vibrating stench made his nose sting, and the heat seemed to burn his skin. Battles against vile and wicked beings. He saw countless strong beings devoured alive by demons in their dark realms. As soon as their eyes met, Najin felt torn apart by the demons. Torn apart, destroyed, and ultimately turned into their minions after death. He had no time to shudder at the horrific fate as the scenes shook again. Battles where stars were born and faded. He witnessed the arrogance of established constetions in this ultimate battleground. He saw numerous heroes mocked and ended by them. Crushed by those dreaming of bing stars. Destroyed by those coveting stars. He saw corrupted constetions amassing power at the expense of others. They greedily expanded their influence. When they noticed Najin, he felt crushed by something immense, as if his very existence was denied. And beyond these countless scenes. Najin saw onest thing. Najin witnessed and of death beyond the horizon, a ce dominated by entities far greater than anything he had seen before. He wasn¡¯t standing there but merely observing from a great distance. Something surged on the horizon, resembling a mountain range forming waves. It was a dragon, immeasurably vast. Merely acknowledging its existence shattered Najin¡¯s soul into fragments. Cann, the abyssalnd. Confronting a fragment of that ce, Najin¡¯s spirit crumbled. As the scenes repeated, the light in his eyes, despite the haze, dimmed. Merlin sighed as she watched this. She had been wrong; the boy had broken. It was expected, as even the mightiest warriors would be bedridden for months after witnessing such scenes, and some would be utterly broken. Arthur, however, had stood up defiantly after seeing these visions and argued his resolve to Merlin¡­ ¡®But that was because it was Arthur.¡¯ Who else could be like Arthur? Merlin had a glimmer of hope in the boy¡¯s bold words, but was it all just talk? Disappointed, Merlin reached to erase his memories and retrieve the sword. If he crumbled here, there was no potential for him. Better to end it here than to leave him as prey for the corrupted. Just as Merlin¡¯s fingers almost touched Najin¡¯s forehead¡­ ¡°Wait, you.¡± A sudden hand grabbed her wrist. Surprised, Merlin looked at Najin, whose eyes were now focused, the haze gone. He had freed himself from the illusion. His eyes still shone brightly. ¡®How?¡¯ Before Merlin could react, Najin spoke. ¡°I know I¡¯m nothing special. I¡¯m not as noble or exalted as King Arthur. It¡¯s obvious that I¡¯m unimpressive to you.¡± Breathless, Najin continued. His eyes were bloodshot. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean it when I said Arthur was just fortunate in his era. I don¡¯t think that way. King Arthur was the greatest, shining brightest in the night sky.¡± A hero who dispelled humanity¡¯s dark age. Who overcame countless demons. Who toppled false constetions. And ultimately, halted Cann¡¯s time. ¡°That¡¯s why.¡± Because Arthur shone so brightly. ¡°I must reach King Arthur, or even higher.¡± It had to be a goal worth pursuing. Not just a hero of the era, but a great hero leading the times, making it worthwhile to challenge. This was what Najin was saying. ¡°Whatever stands in my way, I¡¯ll go. I must hang my own star at the highest ce.¡± He had promised a proud knight. Sworn from and where no stars shone. ¡°So, I can¡¯t return this to you.¡± Najin gripped Excalibur tightly. It still shone brightly. ¡°¡­¡± Merlin silently watched him. Her blue eyes saw Najin and also something beyond him, a past long gone. ¡¸No matter what stands in my way, it¡¯s fine.¡¹ ¡¸I will be the hero leading this era.¡¹ ¡¸To be a beacon for those who follow, I need a symbol. A symbol like this sword.¡¹ Arthur¡¯s first meeting. His defiance even after seeing the future Merlin had shown. ¡¸So, I can¡¯t give this back.¡¹ ¡¸From now on, this sword will be a symbol with me.¡¹ ¡¸A symbol of victory, glory, and hope.¡¹ Remembering Arthur, Merlin sighed deeply. Najin couldn¡¯t see her face due to her hanging hair, but a smile was on Merlin¡¯s lips. ¡°That statement.¡± Merlin lifted her head, clearing her smile. She stepped back, no longer pressuring the boy, and spoke. ¡°The one about Arthur being a hero of his time.¡± ¡°You said it without meaning it¡­¡± ¡°You have to prove it. Prove that audacious im, boy.¡± Merlin smirked. ¡°If you can¡¯t prove it, you die by my hand. I¡¯ll hold off your divine punishment until then. If you give up or run away, I¡¯ll strike lightning on your head immediately, so don¡¯t even think about backing out.¡± Her extended hand stopped in front of Najin. Not at his forehead or neck, but a position to shake hands. Looking at the offered hand, Najin¡¯s eyes narrowed in confusion. What does she expect? Frowning at his gaze, Merlin growled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to take it? Do you want to die?¡± Reluctantly, Najin grasped Merlin¡¯s hand. As he did, his vision shook, simr to the sensation when he was first drawn here, but slightly different. Through the flickering vision, Najin saw a constetion being engraved on the back of the hand he held with Merlin. It was a constetion of eleven stars, the constetion of the Staff of Selection. Merlin had made her decision. Remembering Arthur¡¯sst words, she had to guide this new owner of Excalibur. Her extended hand was a gesture of agreement, a sign of her willingness to guide him on this path. Najin looked at the hand, understanding its significance. Grasping it, he epted the challenge, the path, and the trials ahead. Chapter 24 I PULLED OUT THE EXCALIBUR Chapter 24 ¨C The Staff of Selection (3) Najin blinked in a daze. Instead of the forestndscape he had been in moments before, a vast night sky filled his view. Staring at the night sky, Najin blinked several times. ¡®¡­Have I returned?¡¯ Had he returned? Or was it all just a dream? Slowly rising to his feet, Najin instinctively lifted his hand. The hand that had shaken with Merlin, The Wizard of the Lake. It seemed like a constetion had been engraved on the back of his hand, but now there was nothing. ¡®Was it really just a dream?¡¯ It was strange for a dream. ¡®Anyway¡­¡¯ Najin slowly stood up. He didn¡¯t know how much time had passed, but he couldn¡¯t let his guard down. Pursuers might be following along the river he had drifted down. As he erased the traces he left behind, Najin¡¯s gaze drifted towards a distant city. Perhaps a city built above the Underground City, Artman. Although he felt a sense of wonder looking at the massive city, he couldn¡¯t view it positively. Knowing all too well what foul things filled that ce, Najin red at the city¡¯s spire visible even from afar. The spire adorned with symbols like those of the Order. Was that the Order¡¯s Lighthouse, the one he had only heard rumors about? Memorizing its appearance, Najin resolved to eventually bring it down and turned away. There was no time to dwell on the past. He had to move forward. ¡®But, where should I go?¡¯ It was Najin¡¯s first time in the outside world. He had no knowledge of it. He didn¡¯t know where to go or how far to flee. The world had suddenly be vast for the boy, but in this vast world, he felt as lost as a child. The vast world. The wide-open fields. Where to go, where to walk? Feeling lost and about to take his first step away from the city, something happened. Twinkle. Najin¡¯s hand lit up. The constetion that had been invisible until just a moment ago was now rising on the back of his hand. ¡°Did you call me, Merlin?¡± Shortly after the boy disappeared from Merlin¡¯s realm, a new visitor set foot there. A Constetion like Merlin, with stars in the same realm, and a knight who stayed at the Round Table until the end. The oldest knight. Bedivere of the one arm. A knight who, out of sheer loyalty to Arthur, still guards the shattered Round Table. Merlin smiled at this knight who could be trusted more than anyone else. ¡°I have something urgent to discuss.¡± ¡°Is it about the Sword of Selection, Excalibur? I have some information about that too.¡± Bedivere sat on a stump near theke. ¡°It¡¯s hard to intervene ind, so the information is limited, but first, it seems the Starblood Faction doesn¡¯t know about Excalibur¡¯s new wielder.¡± ¡°The Faction?¡± ¡°Yes. A close associate of the Starblood Faction confirmed that the worst-case scenario of them pulling out Excalibur didn¡¯t happen. Their god directly negated it¡­ so it¡¯s probably true.¡± He also contacted others, but¡­ As Bedivere trailed off with a sigh, he added, ¡°Honestly, the information is too limited. We should have started a Faction or something.¡± Thend of stars, the battlefield of stars, even the vicinity of Cann ¨C it¡¯s extremely difficult for ascended Constetions to intervene in the ind where humans live. That¡¯s why some Constetions started Factions to intervene, and others created armed groups to fight for themselves in the ind. However, Merlin, Bedivere, and the knights rted to the Round Table didn¡¯t do that. To be more precise¡­ ¡°We didn¡¯t start one, we couldn¡¯t.¡± Merlin sighed, her gaze drifting beyond the horizon. As she flicked her finger, the of stars stretched out, trapping the writhing dragon and mming it into the ground. Koom¡­ Turning her gaze away from the dust rising beyond the horizon, Merlin continued, ¡°It¡¯s hard enough to keep those cursed beings in Cann in check. How can we pay attention to the ind too?¡± ¡°You seem quite investedtely, hearing voices and such.¡± ¡°¡­That was an abnormal phenomenon.¡± Merlin averted her eyes slightly. Bedivere smirked and shrugged. ¡°So, what information did you find?¡± ¡°I found the owner of Excalibur.¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s great. Who is it? The Empire¡¯s Sword Master? The Sword Saint of the Order of the Sword? Or their disciple?¡± ¡°None of them. It was a brat I¡¯d never seen before.¡± A brat who seemed barely twenty, or perhaps even younger. A brat who had achieved nothing yet had pulled out the sword, Merlin recounted. ¡°Such a rude brat. Staring with wide eyes, talking back without hesitation¡­¡± Listening to her, Bedivere nced at Merlin¡¯s face, feeling something off. ¡®She¡¯sining, but¡­¡¯ There was a clear amusement in her voice. As if she found it interesting. Bedivere noticed a smile on the corners of Merlin¡¯s lips. It was odd considering Merlin would usually be the most reluctant about a new sessor. She had witnessed Arthur¡¯s death up close and heard the prophecy of the traitorous knight. She had hoped the prophecy wouldn¡¯te true, which is why Merlin used to be wary of potential candidates for Excalibur, right? ¡®But now¡­¡¯ She was smiling. It was like the old days when she traveled with the king. Though Bedivere didn¡¯t fully understand, he soon came to realize why. ¡°He said the same thing.¡± Merlin continued, ¡°The same answer as Arthur. Can you believe it?¡± Hearing the story from Merlin, Bedivere also found himself smiling. The tale of ¡®the boy who pulled out Excalibur¡¯ was interesting enough to remind him of past memories with the king. ¡°Remarkable indeed. An unremarkable brat with not a single star, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He has nothing, truly just an ordinary brat.¡± ¡°But he withstood that vision¡­ just like our king?¡± Merlin nodded. Bedivere smiled. ¡°I¡¯d like to see him myself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why¡­¡± Merlin grinned mischievously, the smile of a strategist and a guide who had plotted incredible ns by Arthur¡¯s side. Bedivere should have been happy to see Merlin¡¯s smile after so long, but instead, he felt a chill down his spine. Whenever Merlin smiled like that, she usually caused trouble. Though things always turned out well, Bedivere remembered how hard the process was. ¡°Wait a minute¡­¡± Before Bedivere could interrupt, Merlin, with her yful smile, spoke first. ¡°I¡¯m going to bring him here, to this ce.¡± ¡°What? Who?¡± ¡°That brat. We can¡¯t intervene where he is, at least not until he reaches the stars¡¯ battlefield. There, we can talk properly, give trials, and so on.¡± Why wait until then? What if other bastards snatched him in the meantime? ¡°So, I¡¯m going to move my consciousness down there.¡± ¡°Wait, hold on. What are you¡­¡± ¡°By using Excalibur as a medium, I can move my consciousness to that brat. Then I can see and hear the same things as that brat.¡± Which means¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll guide him directly. He said he¡¯s ready, he¡¯ll aim for the highest ce. Then there¡¯s only one path to take.¡± Merlin¡¯s decision to be the boy¡¯s guide was evident. ¡°The same path our king walked.¡± The king¡¯s path. Or, the path of a hero. ¡°I¡¯ll make him walk that path.¡± Bedivere silently observed Merlin, who spoke of transferring her consciousness. He knew what it meant. A Constetion¡¯s poweres from the realm where their constetion is ced. Moving the consciousness somewhere else meant leaving behind all the power and might of a Constetion, bing a being that can only intervene in reality through voice. ¡®Sure, it¡¯s the only way to intervene ind, but¡­¡¯ It wasn¡¯t an easy or safe decision. If something happened to the boy who housed Merlin¡¯s consciousness, her consciousness itself could be in danger. You must choose wisely. Bedivere intended to advise her, but seeing her determined face, he held back his words. She had already made up her mind. ¡°¡­You won¡¯t listen to more, will you?¡± He sighed and shook his head. ¡°I know why you called me. To take over the duties while you¡¯re gone, right?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not hard. Just press down the dragon whenever it squirms. I¡¯ll leave a star behind, so it won¡¯t be too hard.¡± ¡°It sounds like the hardest job to me.¡± Suddenly burdened with a task, a wrinkle formed on Bedivere¡¯s forehead, but he soon stood up with a sigh. ¡°I can¡¯t do it for long.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t take long.¡± It might seem long to humans. But for constetions that have guarded this ce for hundreds of years, it¡¯s just a fleeting moment. With those words, Merlin closed her eyes and her body dissolved into starlight. At thekeside where Merlin disappeared, Bedivere, left alone, touched his armor. Engraved there was the symbol of the Round Table. It¡¯s been centuries since the Round Table lost its master and was shattered. The knight, who had been guarding the Round Table alone for centuries, exhaled deeply. Having waited for hundreds of years, waiting a decade or two more seemed insignificant. Although Bedivere thought this way, he couldn¡¯t help but be curious about the boy who might be his new master. Pondering the appearance of the boy who could be his master, Bedivere clenched his fist in the air. In his grip formed a pure white spear, a weapon bestowed upon him by Arthur. Holding the spear, Bedivere left the star domain. He wasn¡¯t sure when the boy would reach this ce, but until then, he would stand guard. Bedivere set off to tidy up the cursed beings of Can, trying to slip through the seal¡¯s cracks. Najin squinted his eyes, looking at his palm where the constetion had flickered momentarily. The constetion, which had seemed to etch itself on his hand just a moment ago, had now vanished. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Najin rubbed his palm, puzzled. ¨C Rubbing it won¡¯t make it visible. I¡¯ve hidden the other constetions too. A voice echoed in his ears. Startled, Najin looked towards the source of the voice, but there was nothing to see. ¨C Stop turning around; it won¡¯t do you any good. With a chuckle, the familiar voice continued. Recognizing the voice, Najin realized who it was. ¡°Merlin?¡± ¨C Seems like you¡¯re quite startled? ¡°What¡¯s this? I hear your voice in my ear.¡± ¨C What do you think it is? The voiceughed scornfully. ¨C I told you I¡¯d be watching. Najin blinked, and the voice continued. ¨C And if you¡¯re topete with Arthur¡­ shouldn¡¯t the conditions at least be the same? That¡¯s fairpetition. The same conditions as Arthur. Najin, not immediately grasping the meaning, was about to ask what she meant when Merlin responded. ¨C You need a guide, too. A guide to show the way for a hero. Najin then understood what Merlin was implying. Arthur¡¯s journey always included an advisor and guide. While many knights followed Arthur, the ce by his side was always reserved for one person. The guide, Merlin. Always showing the right path. That¡¯s how Merlin was introduced in the fairy tales. Najin, however, responded with a slightly reluctant tone. ¡°So¡­ you¡¯ll be my guide?¡± ¨C That¡¯s the n. ¡°But didn¡¯t you dislike me?¡± ¨C Yes, I do. ¡°Still?¡± ¨C Disliking is one thing, but recognition is another. You¡¯ve proven your worth by oveing the trial I set. Merlin spoke calmly. ¨C Those who are worthy deserve appropriate opportunities. ¡¸Opportunities for those who are worthy.¡¹ A line Najin remembered from ¡°The Chronicles of Arthur.¡± Slowly nodding, Najin epted the offer. Whether he liked it or not, there was no reason to refuse. ¡®Honestly, I was at a loss.¡¯ Although he had managed to escape from the underground city, Najin knew nothing of the outside world. With no knowledge of whaty beyond, he had no idea where to go or how far to flee. ¡°I appreciate that.¡± ¨C No need to thank me. It¡¯s only right. ¡°Then, let me ask for your advice right away.¡± There was no intention to refuse the help. Use everything you can, as Ivan had taught him. Najin exhaled briefly and spoke. ¡°One, I¡¯m currently being pursued. If caught, I¡¯ll likely be killed. I¡¯ll exin the details as we move, so just listen for now.¡± Najin pointed towards the city behind him. ¡°Two, it¡¯s best to keep as far away from that city as possible. The pursuers are from there, and my appearance and characteristics are probably already exposed.¡± ¨C ¡­Did youmit a crime or something? ¡°Well, it¡¯s hard to exin. I¡¯ve been a criminal since birth, kind of.¡± I¡¯ll exin thatter, too. ¡°So, we need to flee immediately. Is there a safe route?¡± Following the path guided by Merlin for a while, Najin finally caught his breath after entering a densely wooded forest. The city was now a good distance away, and the towering trees provided perfect cover. Although he had only been guided for a short time, he had to admit: Merlin was quite a capable guide. Finding a ce that was ideal for hiding and resting was done in an instant. ¡®It¡¯s convenient.¡¯ Although it felt like using a person, or rather a constetion, as a tool, Najin didn¡¯t feel much guilt. She offered help, so why refuse? With that thought, Najin looked up at the dense trees. ¡®So this is what trees look like.¡¯ There were trees in the underground city, but none asrge as these. Admiring the trees several times his height, Najin marveled at everything being so new to him. -So. Noticing Najin had caught his breath, Merlin spoke. -What¡¯s this about being a criminal and having pursuers? ¡°Well, it¡¯s¡­¡± Just as Najin was about to answer Merlin¡¯s question, he stopped abruptly. The night sky he had been looking up at through the trees had changed. Where there had been darkness, now there was a glow. The ckness that had painted the sky was receding, reced by twilight. Soon, a round object burst forth from beyond the horizon, glowing bright and warm. That thing. Najin mused to himself. ¡°That¡¯s the sun.¡± Najin witnessed his first sunrise. The rising sun. Watching the sky brighten and the twilight fade, turning blue, Najin was mesmerized by the breathtaking sight. -The sun, really? Merlin sounded incredulous. -Like you¡¯re seeing the sun for the first time. ¡°I am. Just today.¡± -What? Najin chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen the sun or blue sky before today. Where I lived, neither the sun nor the sky was visible.¡± -Did you live in some kind of tunnel? ¡°Something like that.¡± How to exin it? Najin hesitated to speak. It wasn¡¯t easy to summarize 18 years of life in one ce. As he was pondering how to start, -If it¡¯s hard to exin, let¡¯s move while you talk. No rush. ¡°Should we?¡± -Yeah. Though it wasn¡¯t intentional, Merlin said, -Your desired conditions seem to match the destination I had in mind. A ce far from this city. Somewhere to escape the pursuers and to start anew. Coincidentally, the destination Merlin had chosen matched all these criteria. -The City of Opportunities, Cambria. Do you know that ce? At that question, Najin¡¯s eyes widened. Cambria, that name was familiar to him. ¡®I¡¯ve read about it in fairy tales.¡¯ The story in ¡°The Chronicles of Arthur¡± began right after the prologue, where Arthur pulls out Excalibur. The main story starts in the first chapter, set in Cambria. ¡®The ce where Arthur and Merlin first met.¡¯ And the city where Arthur began to rise to prominence. The city¡¯s other name was¡­ ¡°The ce where two dragons are buried. The Tomb of Dragons.¡± -You know who did that, right? Of course, he knew. ¡°You and King Arthur.¡± The legend that started their story. Two warriors, a swordsman and a mage, brought down two dragons. That¡¯s where Arthur and Merlin¡¯s tale began. Although it wasn¡¯t the time, Najin felt his heart beating faster. The stories he had only read in books were unfolding before him. -Before heading to Cambria, let¡¯s do one thing. Merlin suggested. -Let¡¯s check your abilities. I need to gauge your level. ¡°My abilities?¡± -Yeah, nothing major. Can you handle mana? Just seeing that should give me a rough estimate. After a moment of thought, Najin drew his sword from his waist. It was a sword he owed to Hogel, having used it extensively during his escape from the underground city. Holding the sword, Najin drew out his sword energy. Woosh. A white glow formed over the sword, followed by golden particles. ¡°Will this do? It¡¯s about all I can show right now.¡± -¡­¡­ There was silence from Merlin. As if words had failed her. Chapter 25 I PULLED OUT THE EXCALIBUR Chapter 25 ¨C The City of Opportunities, Cambria (1) Sword Aura, the symbol of a Sword Expert. It¡¯s considered the exclusive domain of the strong who have reached a certain level, but for a transcendent being like Merlin, Sword Aura wasn¡¯t anything special. The stage where she had been active was crowded with those who easily emitted Sword Aura. The Sword Aura itself wasn¡¯t surprising. The realm of a Sword Expert was the same. Having seen countless seekers and masters surpass the level of a Sword Expert, Merlin wasn¡¯t easily amazed by mere talent. So, what exactly had left her speechless? The answer was simple. -¡­How old are you? ¡°I¡¯m eighteen.¡± -By the standards of the Empire? ¡°Yes, by the standards of the Britain Empire.¡± The first point was the boy¡¯s age. 18. Not a young age, but too young to emit Sword Aura. Even for Merlin, who wasn¡¯t greatly concerned with the ways of the world¡­ ¡¸Merlin!¡¹ ¡¸Look at this. The youngest-ever Sword Expert has emerged. He managed to emit Sword Aura at the age of twenty-three. Can you believe it?¡¹ ¡¸My goodness, twenty-three!¡¹ She remembered, about a decade ago, the buzz around the birth of the youngest Sword Expert. Bedivere had made a fuss about it. She clearly remembered her own surprise upon confirming the news. Emitting Sword Aura at twenty-three was certainly astonishing. Except for the exceptional case of King Arthur, he was called the youngest-ever Sword Expert. Isn¡¯t he now the head of the Order of the Sword? ¡®A so-called genius emitted Sword Aura at twenty-three.¡¯ But the boy before her was eighteen. When had Arthur emitted Sword Aura? She couldn¡¯t be sure since Arthur was already handling Sword Aura when they met, but she thought their ages were simr. -¡­¡­ Merlin gazed at the boy¡¯s sword in silence. Even if it was impressive that he emitted Sword Aura at a young age, the color of the Sword Aura shimmering before her now was something she couldn¡¯t overlook. She was at a loss for words. tinum-colored Sword Aura. That was something only Arthur could handle, Arthur¡¯s exclusive domain. Of course, it¡¯s too early to judge just by the color of the Sword Aura. She would need to re-evaluate when the boy reached the level of a Sword Seeker capable of imbuing his Sword Aura with his own sentiments¡­ But just in case. If the boy¡¯s Sword Aura possessed simr properties to Arthur¡¯s, it was not a matter to be taken lightly. tinum-colored Sword Aura was like a thorn in the side of anything rted to Cann. And above all. The moment the dragons recognized the boy¡¯s Sword Aura, they would try to kill him by any means necessary. ¡®¡­This has beplicated.¡¯ Even if it wasn¡¯t revealed that Najin was the owner of Excalibur, the moment Najin¡¯s Sword Aura was exposed, he would be targeted by countless forces. The light the boy possessed. It was something the boy as he was now couldn¡¯t handle. Merlin had thought it would be fortunate if the boy could handle mana to some extent, but she discovered something beyond her imagination in him. She chuckled. What the boy held was full of too many dangerous things. If discovered, things that would make the whole world target him. To nurture the boy to a level where he could survive in the world with these things in his possession was her role as a far-off guide. A difficult task. A path where everything copses if misstepped. But, as the boy himself would say¡­ That¡¯s what makes it a path worth challenging. A smile spread across Merlin¡¯s face. While traveling, Najin had several conversations with Merlin. From these conversations, he gathered a few points and tried to organize the information. ¡°First, you said that the constetions that could be my allies¡­ are far from here, right?¡± -Yes. We are bound near Cann. The Knights of the Round Table. And the heroes who were with Arthur. They were located not ind but on the boundary line at the edge of the world, spending their time hunting the cursed beings from Cann that crossed through the cracks in the seal Arthur created, Merlin exined. -Even if that weren¡¯t the case, constetions usually find it difficult to intervene ind. To intervene, they need to create an order, and that¡¯s not a simple task. The fact that most constetions cannot intervene ind. Constetions can only intervene in intermediate areas away from ind or in battlefields of stars and near Cann. -Normally, just talking to you would require me to bear an enormous burden. But since I transferred my consciousness through Excalibur, I can talk to youfortably like this. Although she didn¡¯t fully understand, Merlin boasted that what she had done was quite amazing and something ordinary constetions wouldn¡¯t even dream of. For Najin, listening to her, it was just a matter of epting it. -The point is this. Merlin said. -Unless you have your own star and reach a certain level toe to the battlefield of stars, it¡¯s hard for us to protect you. Inside the maind, you must survive on your own. ¡°Like King Arthur did?¡± -Yes. Arthur was pursued by numerous demons and nations that worshiped demons¡­ but for you, it¡¯s just different enemies. There might be constetions and forces friendly to Arthur and to Najin¡­ -Simply relying on goodwill, the malice of those who are determined to kill you is a bit too intense. There were too many enemies to rely on just goodwill. Merlin muttered and smiled bitterly. -Do you understand what I¡¯m trying to say? ¡°Roughly.¡± Najin was quick to understand and had a rough idea of what Merlin was trying to say. ¡°Hide the special things I possess. That¡¯s what you mean, right? If they are exposed, I¡¯ll be targeted by troublesome forces.¡± -Exactly. Fortunately or unfortunately, only a very few knew that Najin had drawn Excalibur. The order was somewhat annoying, but they wouldn¡¯t want to expose their own faults either. ¡°For now, I just have to be careful of the Starlight Order.¡± -¡­¡­ At the mention of the order, Merlin fell silent. Having briefly learned about Najin¡¯s origin and the background of his life in their conversations, she sighed deeply and spoke. -¡­That¡¯s my oversight. Her voice slightly subdued. -I never thought the order¡¯s judgment body would be maintained in such a way, in such a manner. To think they would try to kill a candidate who drew the sword, possibly challenging Arthur¡¯s authority. Would they act so decisively to protect the order¡¯s reputation? -I didn¡¯t think the ¡®Lighthouse¡¯ I know would have the audacity to do that. Whether it¡¯s the lower ranks acting on their own or the Lighthouse is involved, I need to find out. I¡¯ll ask Bedivere to¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t do it.¡± As Merlin was muttering about how to respond to the order¡¯s actions, Najin interrupted her. -¡­What? ¡°Don¡¯t. Don¡¯t touch the order.¡± Najin said decisively. ¡°Whether it¡¯s taking revenge on the order or punishing them¡­ I¡¯ll do it with my own hands, without anyone¡¯s help.¡± He had made that promise. Ivan had said to be an existence that no one could ignore and to reim his honor. Saying so, Ivan made Najin his squire. Even though that promise was broken. And was overshadowed by a new vow. Najin still considered himself Ivan¡¯s squire. The honor that Ivan had been trampled by the order could only be reimed by his own hands, Ivan¡¯s squire. He didn¡¯t think Ivan would appreciate honor regained with someone else¡¯s help. ¡®Someday.¡¯ Beyond a Sword Expert. When he reaches the next level after Ivan, a Sword Seeker. If that¡¯s not enough, then to the even higher level of Sword Master¡­ When he is fully qualified. When he has enough power. Then he will return to that city and proim. He came to reim the honor of the Knight of Atanga, Ivan. That the starlight they tried to trample has returned like this. Imagining a distant future, Najin said. ¡°There are things that I can only reim, only obtain if I bring them down with my own hands. So don¡¯t interfere.¡± Merlin was silent. Feeling the weight in the boy¡¯s voice. -If that¡¯s what you say, alright. His determination to achieve his goals with his own strength. Someone might mock that stubbornness as foolish, but Merlin liked that foolishness. The people who were with Arthur were nothing but such fools. ¡­He¡¯s an interesting young man to guide. Thinking so inwardly, Merlin returned to her original role. A guide who shows the way. She was there to advise, but walking the path was the boy¡¯s responsibility. The City of Opportunities, Cambria. The city that became the backdrop for King Arthur¡¯s rise to prominence and where his epic began to take shape. Was it because Arthur built his reputation in Cambria and gathered hisrades there? Or was it because Cambria was the starting point of his journey? At some point, Cambria came to be known as the ¡®City of Opportunities.¡¯ The city, with its background of magical beasts and various anomalies, and the legend of King Arthur tied to it, naturally attracted adventurers and mercenaries. In this city formed by adventurers, nobles seeking hidden talents and external capitalists and merchants targeting adventurers and mercenaries flocked in. As the city developed, students from academies, apprentice mages from magic towers, apprentice knights, and others¡­ young buds about to step into society woulde to Cambria to hone their sense of reality. Hence the nickname, City of Opportunities. If you have talent, if you have the right qualities, no matter how lowly your origin, you can rise to great heights in Cambria. Chasing opportunities. Or gold and power. Every year, countless peoplee to the City of Opportunities with big dreams. But, of course, not all of them can seed. While some find sess, others realize the limits of their talent and end up stuck in the city¡¯s alleyways. So¡­ Although the situation is a bit different, like Najin now. -¡­¡­ ¡°¡­¡­¡± Both Najin and Merlin were silent, unable to ept the current dire situation. ¡­Here¡¯s the context: Najin arrived in the City of Opportunities, Cambria, after following the path guided by Merlin for ten days. Camping in the forest, filling their stomachs by hunting animals, and barely catching a ride on a carriage, they made it to the city. Everything was fine until they reached the city. The problem was they had run out of money. And they were starving. Their emergency food supplies had been used up long ago, and it had been days since they had a proper meal. Wandering the city with a hungry stomach for a while. When Najin came to his senses, he found himself in a dingy alleyway. It was almost like a habit. -¡­Why did youe here? ¡°Thinking of rummaging through the trash.¡± -¡­Seriously? Najin nodded. Merlin was horrified. -That¡¯s, that¡¯s not really right, is it? ¡°No, we have to survive somehow.¡± -You should beg rather than¡­! No matter what, rummaging through trash isn¡¯t the way to go¡­! Najinughed while listening to Merlin¡¯s cries of dismay. In truth, Najin didn¡¯t intend to rummage through trash. He would do it if really cornered, but for now, he still had some leeway. There was a reason he came down this alley. ¡°It¡¯s a joke.¡± Najin exhaled deeply. ¡°I was thinking of resting here for a bit.¡± -Really? ¡°Why would I lie about something like this?¡± -¡­Why not rest outside? ¡°It¡¯s too bright. Hurts my eyes.¡± Najin was still unustomed to sunlight. He could move around in it, but when resting, he instinctively sought out shade where light didn¡¯t prate. ¡®It feels somewhat cozy.¡¯ It had only been ten days since he left the Underground City. Habits ingrained over 18 years don¡¯t easily fade away. Leaning against the wall of the alleyway, Najin slowly exhaled. City of Opportunities, Cambria. The city was very different from what he had seen in fairy tales and muchrger than Najin had imagined. A wider stage. A broader backdrop. By drawing Excalibur and escaping the Underground City, the prologue of his story had ended. Now, it was time to begin Chapter 1. Najin suddenly shifted his gaze, looking at those dozing off against the walls of the alleyway. Likely the dropouts and failures of this city. There were many like them in the Underground City. ¡®If you settle for coziness¡­¡¯ He might end up like them. Najin took a deep breath and spurred himself on. Staying still wouldn¡¯t make the hunger go away. He had to do something. Just as Najin was about to get up from the alley, he turned his attention to an approaching presence. At the entrance of the alley. A girl stood there, backlit by the sun. She was looking down at Najin, who was about to get up, narrowing her eyes. Najin met the gaze of the girl looking down at him. ¡®She¡¯s been watching me since earlier¡­¡¯ More precisely, she had been watching this alleyway. She had been sitting on a bench with a clear view of the alley, observing it all the while. ¡°Looks like.¡± The girl smiled. Her hair sparkled in the sunlight, a light brown color. The girl¡¯s half-closed eyes reminded him of a snake. Najin knew this type of gaze well. The eyes of a loan shark, or a merchant. The greedy, glittering eyesmonly seen in the Underground City. The girl didn¡¯t seem to hide her greed. Najin sensed that her greed was directed at him. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to have had a proper meal.¡± She reached out her hand to Najin. ¡°How about we go to a nice ce together?¡± Her name was Dieta Arbenia. The nobles of the city called her the abandoned child of Arbenia, but the adventurers and mercenaries of this city had a different name for her. The Snake that Swallows Gold. A nickname earned because she would pounce on anything that seemed profitable, swallowing it whole. Dieta rushed towards anything that could produce gold, whether it was a relic, a request, or even¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a meal.¡± Even if it was a human being. Chapter 26 Chapter 26 ¨C The City of Opportunities, Cambria (2) ¡°I¡¯ll buy you a meal.¡± Najin looked at the girl who had reached out her hand to him. A girl who seemed about his age. Her light brown hair,mon and unremarkable, didn¡¯t catch the eye, but the girl¡¯s eyes, glittering with desire, did. The rare, golden-yellow color of her eyes was unusual. Some might see the gleam of gold coins in those eyes, others might think of a snake¡¯s gaze. Eyes that tantly revealed intentions without any attempt to hide desire. The emotion in the girl¡¯s eyes was interest. Najin, after staring into her eyes, looked down at her outstretched hand. A hand d in white gloves. Najin took her hand and stood up. He followed the girl, who walked ahead, his own hand resting on the hilt of his sword at his waist. -It seems suspicious. Are you sure about following her? She¡¯s offering a meal. Though he muttered this inwardly, Najin didn¡¯t let down his guard. Yet, despite his caution, the girl genuinely led him to an ordinary restaurant. A restaurant in Cambria¡¯s central square. Upon entering the seemingly upscale restaurant, what greeted Najin was not a deadly weapon but the appetizing smell of food, making his hungry stomach scream in protest. ¡°Please sit there.¡± Even as he sat down, Najin didn¡¯t let his guard down. But he couldn¡¯t maintain that attitude in front of the tes of food served one after the other on the table. ¡­Gulp. Food he had never seen in the Underground City. In front of warm and fragrant dishes, Najin involuntarily swallowed. His hand, which had been resting on his sword hilt, was now reaching for the fork on the table. ¡°You must be hungry.¡± The girl, watching Najin, smiled. ¡°Shall we eat first and then talk?¡± What had seemed like a sinister smile filled with ulterior motives, now seemed no different from the smile of a benevolent gentlewoman. Najin took his hand off the sword hilt and grasped the fork. It was delicious. Really. Even considering it was his first proper meal in days, it was a truly moving experience. When chewing on a piece of well-cooked meat, Najin almost shed a tear. So, the people from the upper levels eat this regrly? In the Underground City, a feast meant dried meat of unknown age or dishes made by frying leftovers from animals butchered above ground. Even such meals were only tasted when Ivan heldrge events in the city¡­ ¡®It¡¯s a different level.¡¯ The food of the upper levels was tender, not dry, greasy, and filling. Najin genuinely admired it. He felt a simr emotion to when he first ate a proper meal after being noticed by Ivan while rummaging through trash as a child. After finishing the meal, Najin was cleansing his pte with water when the girl sitting opposite him finally spoke. ¡°Tastes good, doesn¡¯t it? It¡¯s one of my favorite ces.¡± Najin nodded vigorously. His wariness had already dissipated. Regardless of her intentions in treating him to such a meal, Najin was very open to considering them positively. Najin adjusted his posture, ready to listen. Seeing that Najin was prepared to hear her out, the girl began to speak. ¡°Let me introduce myself first.¡± She took out a business card from her pouch and handed it to Najin. Having learned to read and write the standard script of the Empire from Ivan, Najin found it easy to read the card. The card belonged to the owner of the Dieta Trading Company, with the names of high-ranking officials recognizing the legitimate authority of thepany. At the top, there was a name that seemed to be the girl¡¯s. Dieta ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö. The letters written afterward were unreadable. It seemed more like someone had deliberately scratched off the letters with a knife rather than just wear and tear. Puzzled, Najin handed the card back to the girl. ¡°My name is Dieta.¡± Receiving the card back, she began. ¡°As written on the card, I run the ¡®Dieta Trading Company¡¯ here in Cambria. I¡¯m quite well-known in this city but¡­¡± She nced at Najin. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve just arrived in this city?¡± ¡°I arrived today.¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t gotten your ID card issued yet?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the money for it.¡± An ID card was necessary for formally epting quests and operating in the city. However, obtaining an ID card required money. And Najin had none. The travel money Offen had given him for escaping the Underground City had been used up on the way here. ¡°You really came to this city with nothing, huh?¡± ¡°I have quite a story.¡± ¡°It¡¯s harder to find someone without a story in this city.¡± Dieta tilted her teacup. After taking a sip, she opened her mouth as if to get to the main point. ¡°It seems you¡¯re in a tough situation¡­ Would you be interested in making a deal with me?¡± ¡°A deal?¡± ¡°Yes, a deal. I have a problem that¡¯s been troubling metely.¡± Najin sensed it. This was the main point. The meal wasn¡¯t just a kind gesture but something with a motive, an expectation. From Najin¡¯s perspective, this was morefortable. Pure kindness is hard toprehend. But thetter is intuitive and easier to understand. Still, there was something troubling him. Why would someone like apany owner need him? The more Najin listened to Dieta, the narrower his eyes became. ¡°So.¡± Najin, having listened carefully to Dieta, spoke. ¡°You want me to catch a group messing with yourpany¡¯s ledgers and punish them. Is that what you¡¯re saying?¡± ¡°Exactly. They meddled with the ledgers and hid in the alleyways, didn¡¯t they? I reported it, but the city guards here aren¡¯t very reliable.¡± ¡°But why me?¡± Najin¡¯s question was natural. If thepany was asrge as it seemed, they could hire private soldiers or even mercenaries without relying on someone untested like himself. ¡°Is the reason that important?¡± Dieta responded briefly to his question. ¡°What matters is that I¡¯m offering you a good opportunity¡­ and epting this request won¡¯t be a loss for you, right?¡± It doesn¡¯t matter why. ¡°You don¡¯t have to ept it. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not the type to say, ¡®Pay for the meal!¡¯ if you refuse my offer.¡± Dieta smiled as she did at the beginning. Although her smile was highly suspicious, Najin decided not to delve deeper. As she said, there was nothing for him to lose in this proposition. Certainly, an attractive offer. The amount of money Dieta promised to pay for capturing them seemed quite substantial, even to Najin, who had a less developed sense of money. -It¡¯s not a losing proposition. But don¡¯t you have one thing to check? Merlin¡¯s voice rang in his ears. Najin answered inwardly. It seemed Merlin was thinking the same thing. ¡®Just need to confirm if the people she wants me to catch are actually criminals.¡¯ Otherwise, it could be a trap. In the Underground City, where Ivan was thew, acting recklessly could turn one into a criminal in an instant. Najin was aware of this. -You¡¯re not clueless, are you? Satisfied with his response, Najin nodded. ¡°Do you have any descriptions of them?¡± ¡°Just pick from here. You don¡¯t need to choose them all, just as many as you want.¡± Dietaid out several wanted posters in front of Najin. She spread out about six. Looking at the posters, Najin suddenly smiled. Out of the six wanted posters, three. They were individuals who had apparently hidden in a very familiar setting. Najin pointed at those three posters. ¡°I¡¯ll take these.¡± ¡°¡­All three?¡± Dieta seemed a bit surprised. Najin, holding the detailed information and descriptions of the wanted individuals, stood up. ¡°Onest thing.¡± Najin asked Dieta before leaving. ¡°How capable are the targets? Do they handle mana¡­ or emit Sword Aura?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Dieta¡¯s face, which had remained expressionless, showed a significant change at Najin¡¯s question. She looked as if wondering whether she really had to exin that. But then, sheposed herself and answered. ¡°If they knew how to emit Sword Aura, they¡¯d be Sword Experts¡­ then I¡¯d hire a knight or a professional mercenary group, right? And the cost of the request would include a few more coins.¡± She exined calmly. ¡°I heard they hired a few bodyguards, but they¡¯ll just be at the level of handling weapons. People who know how to emit Sword Aura aren¡¯t hired cheaply.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Have you been living deep in the mountains or something? This is almostmon knowledge.¡± Deep in the mountains, huh. Najin chuckled and nodded. ¡°Something like that.¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll visit you again soon. And thank you for the meal. It was quite satisfying.¡± Just as he was about to leave the restaurant, Najin¡¯s gaze lingered. It settled on a man sitting in a corner of the restaurant. The man had been observing Najin and Dieta since the moment they entered. Their gazes met. Despite the man¡¯s prating stare, Najin didn¡¯t look away but rather stared back directly, as if to challenge him. After a brief sh of gazes in mid-air, the man chuckled and turned his head away first. Leaving the man behind, Najin exited the restaurant. He didn¡¯t forget to take note of the restaurant¡¯s sign and location before leaving, thinking he must return once he earned some money. With these thoughts, Najin moved on. A short while after Najin left the restaurant, a man approached Dieta, who sat alone sipping her tea. It was Pasion, a knight who had been circling around her, providing protection. The only knight who followed her when she almost ran away from the Arbenia House. Pasion, who owed a debt of gratitude to her mother, now lying cold in the grave, nced at Dieta before speaking. ¡°How was it, Sir Pasion?¡± ¡°Not bad. He noticed us.¡± ¡°¡­He noticed?¡± ¡°Yes. He seemed to be hiding his presence, but he caught on. He stared for quite a while before leaving.¡± Pasionughed as if it was absurd. ¡°He seems like a bold kid.¡± ¡°Any peculiarities?¡± ¡°His eyes seemed sharp, but other than that, nothing notable. But¡­¡± Pasion sighed. ¡°As I always say, please refrain from dealing with those entrenched in the back alleys. They are unpredictable.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what makes it interesting, Sir Pasion. You don¡¯t understand.¡± Dieta chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s fun to find shining things in the dark. Sometimes you find a gem or two in the alleys. Just one meal can give a good impression to talents? It¡¯s a win-win deal.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve treated nearly 40 people so far, and only two have paid back. Quite a worthy investment.¡± ¡°Now it¡¯s three.¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± ¡°Including the boy who just left. Three out of forty isn¡¯t bad, right?¡± She spoke with conviction. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Pasion silently observed his mistress. Although she belonged to the Arbenia family, she did not possess the family¡¯s characteristic golden hair. Strongly inheriting her mother¡¯s genes, Dietacked the luminescent blonde hair of her father¡¯s lineage. But those eyes. Those sharp, yellow eyes, piercing through people¡¯s worth like a snake, were reminiscent of the head of the Arbenia family. Observing the sometimes spine-chilling gaze of his mistress, Pasion inwardly sighed. When his mistress was this confident, there was usually something special about the other party. ¡°It seems you took quite a liking to that boy just now.¡± ¡°Well, he¡¯s good-looking.¡± ¡°¡­Is that the reason?¡± ¡°There are other reasons too.¡± Dieta trailed off. ¡°It¡¯s not something I can exin. Just a feeling.¡± Thinking back to the boy, Dieta propped her chin up. He had the sharp edge of someone who wed their way up from the bottom. Yet, his eyes were different, uncorrupted, carrying a clear light. Eyes that contrasted with the atmosphere he exuded. Dieta felt intrigued by those eyes. The boy, still dirty, marked by the world, and a greenhorn just stepping into the city, had something. ¡°There¡¯s something about him. Not sure what it is.¡± ¡°A hunch?¡± ¡°Something like that.¡± Dieta chuckled, propping her chin. ¡°Sir Pasion, want to make a bet?¡± ¡°On what exactly?¡± ¡°Whether the boy willplete the task and return in a few days. How long will you bet on?¡± After a moment of contemtion, Pasion spoke. Pasion bet on a week, while Dieta bet on four days. This was a positive assessment of the boy. Even the week Pasion mentioned was a tight timeframe for an average bounty hunter. Dieta had not lied to the boy. In reality, the targets the boy chose posed little threat in terms of force. The problem was their escape skills. Coming from the back alleys, they moved through the city¡¯s maze-like alleys as if it were their own home. Finding them might not be difficult¡­ But capturing them was no easy task. -It¡¯s not a trap. ¡°Seems like it. Suspicious, but¡­¡± The task proposed by the girl named Dieta. Having confirmed that the targets of the task were wanted criminals, Najin was now heading towards the alleys. Dieta had marked a street where they were known to appear. Stepping into that street, Najin took a deep breath. The stale air of the back alleys was familiar to him. The alleys were dark, without sunlight, but this too was no issue for Najin. Living in darkness, he was ustomed to seeing in such dim light. ¡°It¡¯s an opportunity I can¡¯t deny.¡± Indeed, it was a good opportunity. To establish a footing and grow in this city, Najin needed some initial capital. Money was necessary for lodging, for food. He didn¡¯t need a lot, but at least enough to not struggle. ¡°Let¡¯s earn a solid start.¡± -Right. At least you won¡¯t have to rummage through trash. ¡°I told you that was a joke.¡± Ignoring Merlin¡¯s grumbling, Najin steadied his breathing. Merlin whispered in his ear as he loosened up his body. -But do you have a n? It¡¯ll be hard to find them in such dark ces. Why those three, specifically? Najin just smiled at that question. The three wanted posters Najin had chosen. The ces where those three fugitives were seen were none other than the city¡¯s shadowy alleys. In other words, environments very simr to the Underground City. ¡°Well.¡± A familiar stage. And a familiar job. ¡°This is my area of expertise.¡± The former hunter of Ivan¡¯s organization smiled. Hunting down those who ran off with money had always been Najin¡¯s specialty. Chapter 27 Chapter 27 ¨C The City of Opportunities, Cambria (3) In the ces where light doesn¡¯t reach well. Secluded, dark, damp, with limited visibility and narrow paths where moving freely is difficult. Back alleys or slums, as they are called. Present in every city, these areas growrger as the city expands. Naturally, in the City of Opportunities, Cambria, there were slums. ces where fallen adventurers and mercenaries ended up, and criminals hid, creating abyrinthine maze. To any sane person. To those leading a decent life. Just stepping into these slums would cause chills, making them tense and stiffen up. They would instinctively feel the need to leave immediately. After all, that¡¯s what slums are. However, the boy who stepped into this ce was different. Najin felt as if he had returned home. His mind, tired from seeing unfamiliar things over the past ten days, rxed as if saying, ¡®This is my home.¡¯ His tension eased, and his body moved fluidly. Simr to the Underground City, Artman. Swallowing the murky air, Najin lightly shook his body. After taking a few deep breaths, he narrowed his eyes. In the darkness, his sunset-colored eyes glimmered. ¡®Found it.¡¯ -¡­What? Najin murmured to himself and took a few steps forward. Moving slowly towards the inner part of the alley, he suddenly quickened his pace when he sensed a presence in the distance. Thud. His powerful step. Immediately afterward, a flow of energy surged through his body. Now adept at using mana to enhance his physique, Najin dashed forward with a burst of speed. Realizing the change toote, the hiding man tried to flee, but Najin was already upon him. ¡°Kuhk!¡± Najin grasped the man¡¯s neck and lifted him off the ground. The man, who appeared quite robust, was helplessly suspended in the air. Realizing his feet weren¡¯t touching the ground, the man looked down. Then, he met Najin¡¯s gaze. In the dark, where light barely prated, Najin¡¯s eyes shone like those of a predator in the wild. The man¡¯s legs trembled as if his marrow had turned cold. ¡°Why were you watching me?¡± Najin asked. The man didn¡¯t immediately respond, so Najin grabbed his fingers with his free hand. Knowing how to make someone talk, Najin applied pressure. Crunch. A scream echoed. After repeating the process a few times, reducing the number of unbroken fingers to less than two, the man spilled everything he knew. Having gathered the necessary information, Najin knocked the man out with a punch to the jaw. After tossing the limp body aside, Najin murmured to himself. ¡®Hired a few lookouts, hiding in the alleys, keeping distance from bounty hunters who enter¡­¡¯ The man had given simple information. But from that, Najin deduced how the fugitives had been evading capture. Merlin, incredulous,mented on Najin¡¯s swift deduction. -You figured that out from just a few clues? ¡®After catching and punishing quite a few, you realize their tricks are all simr.¡¯ Najin moved on. He knew exactly ¡®how¡¯ to catch those who employed such tactics. There were safe and slow methods, and fast but risky ones¡­ Najin chose thetter. ¡®How did I do that?¡¯ Najin steadied his breath. Conscious of the speed of his steps and the area of his shoe soles touching the ground, he moved. ¡®It was something like this.¡¯ Remembering how the shadows of the Underground City had moved and silenced their presence while observing from a distance, Najin advanced. One step, then another. At first, there was a faint sound, but by the third step, there was no sound at all. When he grew ustomed to the movement, he started running silently. -¡­What? Merlin blinked, watching. Najin¡¯s movements, once heavy, were now stealthy enough to befit an assassin. Silently, Najin ran along the walls, passing right over the heads of the lookouts without them noticing. After bypassing several, he reached the heart of the tangled alleyways. There, chatting idly, was a man. He was ying cards with what seemed like hired bodyguards. On the table were cards and coins scattered around. The fugitive, Lopes. The man matched the description in the wanted poster Dieta had given him. Having confirmed his target, Najin silently leaped over Lopes. Then, thump. Landing, he seized Lopes¡¯ head and mmed it onto the table. The table shattered, and cards and coins flew into the air. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± The guards, startled by the sudden intrusion of Najin, reached for their waists. In the Underground City, such a reaction would be considered slow. But speed is always rtive. To Najin, everything seemed to move in slow motion. He stepped on the hand of a man trying to pick up an axe from the ground, breaking his hand with a loud crack. Najin then spun around on the spot. He stomped on the back of another man¡¯s hand as he tried to draw a sword from his waist, and quickly twisted and broke the wrist of a third man who attempted to stab him with a dagger. The movements of those trying to draw their weapons were dyed by a moment each time, and that was enough for Najin. He subdued them one by one. There was no need to use his sword. A swing at the chin, a punch to the face ¨C that was all it took. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Lopes, who had been smashed into the table, slowly lifted his head. By the time he came to his senses, the three bodyguards beside him were already lying on the ground, their eyes rolled back. ¡°¡­¡­¡± At the moment Lopes¡¯ eyes met Najin¡¯s, his pupils trembled. Just as he hastily tried to turn and flee: Thud. A throwing knife lodged itself into Lopes¡¯ calf. It was a knife Najin had snatched from the assassins of the Starblood Sect and had been using ever since. ¡°Argh!¡± Lopes fell to the ground. Clenching his teeth, he turned his head to look at the mysterious boy and yelled at him. ¡°You¡¯ve messed with the wrong person.¡± Sweating profusely, he pulled something out from his clothes and squeezed it tightly. Beep! A loud noise rang out. It was a signal to gather his colleagues and hired guards scattered in the alleyways. ¡°This is mine and Brother Brom¡¯s territory. You¡¯re a bounty hunter, huh? You¡¯re screwed now, kid.¡± Lopesughed confidently. Najin responded with a smile. As Lopes looked at him, he felt an uneasy sense of foreboding. ¡°You¡¯re making my job easier.¡± Najin muttered. After all, Brom was also one of Najin¡¯s targets. Listening to the footsteps approaching from all sides, Najin drew his sword. With a swish, he unsheathed his sword and narrowed his eyes. It took a few minutes for Lopes, the wanted criminal, to realize that something had gone terribly wrong. Najin, who had eluded and even hunted the professional pursuers of the Starblood Faction, found these street thugs simple prey. In the alleys where they roamed, they were no match for him. Five minutes. That¡¯s how long it took for Najin to subdue all the thugs and throw Brom, the wanted criminal who had been directing them from afar, next to Lopes. ¡°That makes two.¡± Wanted criminal Brom. Wanted criminal Lopes. Najin murmured as he tied them up. ¡°If I knew it would be this easy, I should have taken all six wanted posters.¡± ¡°Madam, a young adventurer has arrived.¡± Early in the morning, Dieta blinked at her secretary¡¯s words. Already? She had just arrived at the tradingpany and was sipping her morning coffee. ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°A young man with gray hair. He received a task from you yesterday¡­¡± The gray-haired young man. It was the boy she had treated to a meal yesterday. She had given him the location of her office, but toe this early? Was he here to ask for more information about the wanted criminals? She had given him all the information already. If he wanted more, it would be somewhat disappointing. With that thought, Dieta gestured for the secretary to let him in. Heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs, and after a short while, the office door opened. The boy from yesterday entered the room. But the moment Dieta saw him, she realized he wasn¡¯t here to ask for more information. The boy had brought in three wanted criminals. Dieta¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Not just her, but even her bodyguard Pasion was taken aback. ¡°Are these three the right ones?¡± Regardless of their reactions, Najin pointed behind him. There stood three wanted criminals, limping and bound. Their arms were tied, but they didn¡¯t resist or attempt to escape. As Najin turned around, they bowed their heads as if avoiding his gaze. ¡°Right¡­ they are.¡± Dieta murmured nkly. Brom, Lopes, Miles. These wanted criminals from the back alleys, notorious for slipping away like eels, were now standing meekly in ce. As if they were terrified of the young man standing before them. Chapter 28 Chapter 28 ¨C The City of Opportunities, Cambria (4) Just as Dieta couldn¡¯tprehend the situation, Pasion whispered into her ear. As a knight, he had noticed something. ¡°These three, their fingers are broken. Knees and ankles too, precisely shattered just enough to hobble on one leg.¡± Pasion muttered in a shocked tone. ¡°This isn¡¯t the skill of a novice.¡± Dieta swallowed hard. Even though she had bet on four days in their wager, it was still a very optimistic prediction. These three bounties were notorious back alley dwellers, troublesome even for seasoned bounty hunters. But to aplish this in just one night? It was an unbelievable achievement. Dieta recognized the boy had sessfullypleted the task and deserved his reward, but she couldn¡¯t immediately find the words to speak. ¡°Ah, also.¡± While she was still in shock, ¡°Could you check these out?¡± Najin ced a leather pouch on the office desk. Pasion, standing beside Dieta, ensured there was nothing dangerous inside and then emptied its contents on the desk. Spilled out were gold coins, tampered ledgers, various valuable trinkets and gold bars. All the money and items these three bounty heads had swindled from Dieta¡¯s firm, along with their liquidated assets, were all tracked down and brought by Najin. Realizing this, Dieta couldn¡¯t help but let out a hollowugh. ¡°How did you manage all this?¡± To this, Najin, who was about to boast of his skills, closed his mouth. There was no need to exin his past profession. ¡°There are ways to make them talk.¡± After a bit of finger-twisting, they all start talking. Najin added this thought internally. -I¡¯d like to ask that too. Really. Merlin echoed in Najin¡¯s ears, incredulously. Despite witnessing Najin¡¯s work closely, Merlin couldn¡¯t grasp the process. Fragments of information obtained through coercion. Gathering these fragments, Najin quickly located their hidden safe. How he derived such a conclusion from those fragments was beyond Merlin¡¯s understanding. Watching him felt like witnessing magic. Amid Merlin¡¯s voice and Dieta¡¯s incredulous gaze, Najin just smiled. Unbeknownst to them, Najin had been both a debt collector and an enforcer. ¡°It¡¯s obvious where these types hide their money.¡± The way these types hid their money was predictable, and with just a bit of information, locating the safe was not challenging. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Dieta, who had been silent, let a smile creep onto her lips. Her eyes, even more deeply yellow than the day before, twinkled. Feeling a shiver down his spine, Najin flinched. ¡°You¡¯re better than I had imagined.¡± Dieta beamed. She took out a paper from a pile in the corner of her office, scribbled some words with a quill, stamped it with the owner¡¯s seal, and handed it to Najin. ¡°Here¡¯s your reward. You can exchange it at the trading counter on the first floor. Ourpany also functions as a bank, so you can leave it with the vault keepers for safekeeping.¡± ¡°¡­The amount is one zero more than what you mentioned yesterday?¡± ¡°I was very pleased with your work.¡± And then, standing up, Dieta extended her hand, now gloveless, towards Najin. ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll be seeing each other often, so shall we formally introduce ourselves? I think I forgot to ask your name yesterday.¡± As I mentioned yesterday, my name is Dieta. What¡¯s yours? With an attractive smile, the girl asked. And Najin¡­ After the boy left the office, Dieta gazed nkly at her outstretched hand. Her pale, slender fingers were exposed after removing her glove, a signal of her own. I liked you. Let¡¯s see each other more often¡­ that kind of signal. Dieta, confident in her appearance, had once been the subject of several marriage proposals, nearly sold off in a seasonal deal. She was considered the most beautiful among the daughters of the Arbenia family. A pretty smile, an extended hand without a glove. A scene that would normally attract a man¡¯s attention, right? ¡°Surely it should have¡­¡± Yet, the boy hadn¡¯t taken her hand. Leaving words about not having a name worthy of sharing, he had smoothly exited the office. It felt like being rejected without even confessing. Feeling an odd sensation, Dieta clenched her hand in the air a few times. It could have been an upsetting moment, but instead, she smiled. After all, it wouldn¡¯t be fun if he was too easy to catch. ¡°He was impressive, wasn¡¯t he? The boy just now.¡± Sitting back down and donning her gloves, Dieta spoke. Pasion, standing by her side, nodded. ¡°Definitely beyond expectations.¡± ¡°I think so too. What could be his identity?¡± Dieta, who had seen countless adventurers and mercenaries in this city, knew well. Even professional bounty hunters couldn¡¯t handle tasks as cleanly and quickly as that boy. What exactly was the identity of that boy? Pondering over the conversation she had with the mysterious boy, Dieta leaned on her chin, deep in thought. The skill the boy showed was too exceptional to have no background. ¡°A skill cleaner than professional bounty hunters.¡± Could he have been involved in this line of work? As far as she knew, only Rangers had such expertise in stealth, ambush, and pursuit. ¡­Could he really be a former Ranger? But the boy looked too young to be a Ranger. If he was, he would have been the youngest ever, and she had never heard such rumors. ¡°A trainee from the Ranger program?¡± But it was rare for a trainee to be so skilled. ¡°Ah.¡± Suddenly, a piece of information shed through Dieta¡¯s mind. Among the Rangers, those from the ¡°Techo Mountain Range¡± were considered the elite. Even their trainees were said to be on a different level. From a very young age, they were trained to kill,y traps, ambush, pursue, and torture. These trainees, honed to perfection, would spend their lives intercepting enemies in the Techo Mountain Range, oblivious to worldly matters. Dieta knew only a few of them graduated from this hell-like ce to be called ¡®Rangers of the Techo Mountain Range.¡¯ How could she not know? One of the most famous mercenaries in the city was a Ranger from the Techo Mountains. ¡®Could that boy be one?¡¯ It might just be spection. But at that moment, Dieta¡¯s mind shed back to the conversation she had with the boy. ¡°Did youe from deep in the mountains where you were training? That¡¯s quite basic knowledge.¡± The question she had asked the boy, who seemed oblivious tomon sense. To her casual question, the boy had answered, ¡°Something like that.¡± ¡°Gasp!¡± Dieta inhaled sharply. She pped the table with her palm and turned to Pasion, who was standing beside her, eximing with excitement. ¡°I told you, it¡¯s going to be very profitable!¡± A single meal had connected her with a potential trainee (presumably) from the Techo Mountain Range. Even Pasion couldn¡¯t deny it this time. To him, a knight of high caliber, the boy was exceptional. Dieta smiled broadly, calcting in her head. Ah, I smell it. The scent of gold coins. The ¡®Snake that Swallows Gold¡¯ had caught the scent of gold. She had left a not-so-bad impression on the boy and established a connection. Now, it was just a matter of slowly drawing him in. Investing in a talent about to flourish was one of the most efficient businesses, as Dieta knew. A connection with a promising talent would elevate the firm¡¯s status. ¡°Great. Just great.¡± The boy settling in the city. How much value he held in gold coins and how much more it would increase in the future was still unknown. Since it was unknown, she had to gradually find out. She pondered what offer to make and what task to assign to gain his favor. Dieta¡¯s eyes shone even more brilliantly yellow than usual. Cough. A short cough. Someone broke Dieta¡¯s concentration. She shifted her gaze and looked at the three bounties tied up in front of her. The moment she saw them, her eyes instantly turned cold. They were worthless. They were worthless trash that might not even cough up a single gold coin. Dieta had no interest in such trash. She coldlymanded her secretary. ¡°Take them away and deal with them. Sell off anything of value.¡± His wallet suddenly thickened. Having secured a room at an inn, Najin paid the rent in one lump sum. Despite earning more than expected, he still had plenty of money left after paying for both rent and food. ¡°This will be my ce for a while.¡± A room with sunlight streaming through the window and a soft bed. Even the convenience of having meals downstairs was an unbeatable offer. Common for an inn in this city, but not for Najin. ¡°No more starving and sleeping on the floor for a while.¡± -Good to hear. So, you¡¯ve got the basics down now? Najin nodded. He had sessfully secured basic funds. He had a ce to stay, food sorted, and even managed to get an identification que. He took out the que from his pocket. Still just a piece of metal. The employee who issued it exined that it would only be an official ID afterpleting several tasks and gaining trust from the guild. This que is only proof that you¡¯re part of the city, not a confirmation of your identity. So now, it was time to prove himself. ¡°Indeed, this seems like the perfect stage for me.¡± Najin smiled. ¡°A city where I can start from scratch and grow my abilities. As long as I have achievements, I can create means to prove myself.¡± Najin rolled the que in his hand. Although just a metal piece for now, umting achievements and enhancing his skills would turn it into a badge proving his existence. -Speaking of which. Merlin smirked. -You heard about the grades, right? Starting from ck and progressing to white. The brighter the color, the higher the grade, allowing ess to higher-level tasks and facilities. A straightforward rule where anyone with skill can climb up. -Your path is one of a king. Merlin said. -You have to leave a mark wherever you walk, and you must reach the highest point of wherever you step. That¡¯s the way of a king, the way of a hero. Just like Arthur, you too must follow this path. Climb to the top, setting unapproachable records. Merlin was saying that. -You know where you need to aim for, right? Najin nodded. -Of course, the white grade. The white grade. The pinnacle. The highest rank and the pinnacle of the city. Currently, there are only five people in the city with the white rank. Among them, two are swordsmen, and Najin had seen their realm on the guild¡¯s bulletin board. Sword Seeker. The first goal he should aim for. -How about aiming for two years? Two years. Najin knew what that meant. It was the time it took Arthur to rise from Expert to Seeker. How absurdly short that period was, Najin realized aftering to this city. ¡®From Expert to Seeker.¡¯ A talented expert typically takes about 15 years to reach Seeker with proper support. Geniuses take about 10 years with support. The unparalleled genius, Karan of the Order of the Sword, took seven years from Expert to Sword Seeker. Knowing this, Najin understood how absurd Merlin¡¯s two-year challenge was. Yet, he smiled. With a smile, Najin voiced his ambition. ¡°Two years? That¡¯s too long.¡± Najin lifted the corners of his mouth. ¡°One year is enough.¡± To break records, update every ¡®youngest¡¯ record, and aim for the highest spot. And among the records Najin had to break, Arthur¡¯s was included too. It¡¯s not about following; it¡¯s about surpassing. No matter what anyone says, the boy¡¯s goal was to rise higher than King Arthur. Chapter 29 Chapter 29 ¨C The City of Opportunities, Cambria (5) ¡°One year is enough.¡± Najin¡¯s ambition brought augh from Merlin. She wasn¡¯t displeased by his determination to surpass even the records set by Arthur. After all, it¡¯s better to aim high. -That¡¯s right. That¡¯s the spirit. Merlin would have been disappointed if he had whined. She exhaled deeply. Najin had secured basic funds, found a ce to stay, and was ready to begin his real journey. This meant the foundation wasid. Now was the time, Merlin was certain, not just for surviving day by day, but to look forward and prepare for the future. -How much do you know about mana? The one thing the boycked. Knowledge and practice of mana. It was the perfect time to teach him. Mana, the energy umted within the body. Najin knew little about mana. No one had taught him about it. He understood it only intuitively, observing others manipte it. ¡°I hardly know anything.¡± Responding honestly to Merlin¡¯s question about mana, Najin admitted his ignorance. Though he had managed to handle mana and extract Sword Aura, he couldn¡¯t exin the ¡®how¡¯ of these processes. ¡°It¡¯s just intuition.¡± Najin had relied solely on his intuition to handle mana. Merlin, having observed him for over ten days, was aware of this. -True, you¡¯re relying on intuition. Merlinmented. -Intuitively handling mana isn¡¯t bad. It¡¯s proof of your innate talent. But relying solely on intuition has clear limits without urate knowledge. Basic theory and knowledge. -Knowing and moving is important in everything ¨C swordsmanship, magic, mana. Understanding this, Merlin stated, would enable Najin to use mana more broadly and diversely. Najin listened attentively to her. The knowledge she shared was new to him, something no one else had taught him. -And more importantly¡­ Najin thought to himself. Sometimes he almost forgot, but the person currently discussing ¡®mana¡¯ with him was none other than the great sorceress Merlin. A constetion with eleven stars. A woman known as a grand sorceress in countless heroic tales. Najin recalled the many titles that described her. The first sorceress to reach the mysteries, the sage who touched the truth, the sage who awakened the essence of mana. Merlin had delved deeper into ¡®mana¡¯ and ¡®magic¡¯ than anyone in history. Like Arthur, who made his mark in the history of swordsmanship, Merlin had written the basics of magic. ¡®That person is talking about mana.¡¯ Najin was not going to miss this opportunity to learn from her for free. He focused on every word she spoke. -Although mages and swordsmen handle mana differently, the basic process of umting mana is simr. It¡¯s how you use it that differs. Swordsmen enhance their bodies and extract Sword Aura with mana, while mages create circles and etch circuits into their souls. -So, I¡¯ll teach you mana cultivation. Mana cultivation. The method of umting mana in the body. -I was nning to start by opening paths in your body to draw in mana, but¡­ Merlinughed incredulously. -You already know how to handle mana? ¡°In a sense, yes. I do know how to handle it.¡± -Right. It¡¯s absurd, but you¡¯ve already opened the paths. Making paths is usually harder, where did you learn that? It was the same method Arthur used. Merlin mumbled, and Najin tilted his head. He had only followed what was written in a fairy tale book. -You followed a few lines from that ridiculous story? ¡°Yes.¡± -Unbelievable, really. Merlin sighed, tired of being surprised. Regardless of the method, the paths for mana flow were already established in Najin¡¯s body. What remained was to umte mana inside. Najin had created paths in his body simrly to Arthur. Merlin viewed his body as a perfect nk canvas, ready to be painted. It was still a vast in, but soon a tower, sturdier and taller than anything else, would be built upon it. -Shall we start with breathing techniques? Merlinid the foundation stone on the vast in, beginning the construction of the tower. -Inhale deeply. ¡°Let the flow settle into your body as you usually do.¡± Najin moved as Merlin instructed. He felt the flow settle into his body. -Good. You¡¯re doing well with letting the flow settle. But you¡¯re using it briefly and immediately discarding it, right? How should I exin this¡­ Merlin spoke. -You¡¯re like someone filling a bucket with water and then immediately spilling it all. It¡¯s fine for that brief use, but there¡¯s no progress¡­ What should I do? ¡°How should I do it?¡± -It¡¯s simple. She smiled. -Don¡¯t just spill what you¡¯ve gathered. Let it slowly seep into your body. Can you hold it as long as you can? Najin had been using mana short-term, instantaneously. But Merlin was suggesting he maintain that state for an extended period. 1 minute, 3 minutes¡­ then 5 minutes. By the end of 5 minutes, Najin was drenched in cold sweat. His body ached, and his nose stung. When another minute passed, blood dripped from his nose. He was overwhelmed by the pain as if his body was being shed with a knife. -Stop. Merlin warned, and Najin exhaled the breath he had been holding. ¡°Cough, cough!¡± His throat burned. Blood mixed with his cough. Unable to bear the pain, Najin copsed on the floor. -The longer you hold mana in your body, the more it seeps into you. What you just did is the process. It¡¯s excruciating, of course. ¡°It¡¯s so painful, I feel like I might die¡­¡± Najin barely managed to speak. Merlin chuckled at his voice. -Of course, it hurts. Normally, mana is not umted this way. Usually, you¡¯d absorb spiritual elixirs and focus on retaining the pure mana that enters the body¡­ If not that, then¡­ -People usually swallow refined mana from a family¡¯s or group¡¯s secret mana spring or sanctuary, not like this. umting raw mana from the wilderness will utterly destroy your body from the inside. Najin¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°So, I¡¯m doing it wrong¡­¡± -No, you don¡¯t have the money for elixirs, nor the background to use sanctuaries or mana springs. This is the best method for you. And you can afford a bit of body damage, right? What kind of nonsense is that? Before Najin could respond, Merlin answered first. -You¡¯re holding Excalibur. ¡°¡­Yes?¡± -You don¡¯t have a star, so half of Excalibur¡¯s functions might be locked¡­ But you still have its healing power, right? The healing power provided by Excalibur. Najin understood what she meant. He had already benefited greatly from this healing power while escaping the Underground City. -It won¡¯t heal external injuries immediately, but it should rapidly heal internal ones. Arthur did, after all. Merlin was teaching Najin the mana cultivation method Arthur had used. A brute force method, painfully umted by an Arthur who had nothing, a raw and absurd approach. -Torn and healed, torn and healed. In this process, the body is reconfigured to optimally contain mana. Thinking back, it¡¯s absurd¡­ but it¡¯s incredibly efficient. ¡°It¡¯s incredibly painful.¡± -Endure the pain. What can you do? That¡¯s how we all learned. Merlin mumbled, continuing her speech. -Training is supposed to be tough and hard. If it¡¯s easy, is it even training? That¡¯s just taking the easy way out. Najin frowned. ¡°Such an old-fashioned view¡­¡± -What did you say? Groaning, Najin rolled over. After a few minutes, he could move enough. Leaning against the wall, he slowly regted his breathing. ¡°So, I just keep doing this?¡± -Do it briefly every morning. It¡¯s important to be consistent over time with this kind of thing. And, Merlin added. -umting mana alone won¡¯t make you strong, right? Najin caught what she meant. ¡°Go outside and move your body?¡± -Yes. It¡¯ll help the mana seep in faster. ¡°Just breathing makes my body ache everywhere.¡± -Pain is part of training, isn¡¯t it? If it doesn¡¯t hurt, is it even training? Such crap¡­ ¡°Ugh.¡± Grunting, Najin forced himself to stand up. His legs trembled, but he followed Merlin¡¯s advice and moved his body. Arthur must have trained like this, too. And Najin had to surpass Arthur. Reminding himself of his goal, Najin pushed his body further. Holding his sword, he stepped outside the inn and found an empty lot to practice in. As he swung his sword, Najin¡¯s expression turned contemtive. He was reminded of the past. Back in the Underground City, he would go to the open field every morning to swing his sword. There, his master, always with a bottle of liquor, would give advice. ¡°The sword is not swung that way.¡± ¡°Watch the tip of the de.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t just swing randomly. Focus on your posture, pay attention to your breathing.¡± Offen¡¯s voice echoed in Najin¡¯s ears. Even though he had no master to watch and advise him here, Najin diligently practiced, recalling Offen¡¯s teachings. Swoosh. In the empty lot, only the sound of Najin¡¯s sword cutting through the air was heard. It was on the fourth day that Najin felt a change. Following Merlin¡¯s instructions, drawing mana every day, and enduring the nauseating training, Najin noticed changes in his body. He felt lighter and moved faster than usual. The speed of his sword swings visibly increased, and each step he took was filled with power. Even without actively drawing the flow to enhance his body, Najin marveled at how much faster he had bepared to a few days ago. ¡°The effects are quite noticeable.¡± He could see the growth. Four days of spitting blood and tearing his body apart had paid off. With renewed vigor, Najin swung his sword even more earnestly. ¡°Phew¡­¡± After finishing his training, Najin washed away the sweat with stored water. While cleaning himself, he nced at a mirror. Should he have disguised his appearance? The members of the sect might recognize him. While Najin pondered this, Merlin, looking at Najin¡¯s reflected upper body in the mirror, thought of something entirely different. Scattered across Najin¡¯s body were numerous small scars, with a long, sword-like scar on his shoulder. Tiny scars. Among them, the cracked muscles stood out. These were muscles grown from realbat, something those who rest on their talent could not achieve. Observing them, Merlin secretly admired them. To be honest, she had been worried. Najin possessed extraordinary talent and growth rate. And like most geniuses, Merlin thought he had reached this point without a proper foundation. But what about the actual situation? His foundation was solid enough. Najin¡¯s body, toughened by harsh training, pleased Merlin. With a proper training method, the effects were immediately apparent. With both conditions and foundation set. The boy was just waiting to leap forward. Merlin pondered as she gauged Najin¡¯s skyrocketing growth curve. She could teach him how to handle mana and basic training, but¡­ -Swordsmanship is the issue. Swordsmanship. That was the problem. Merlin was a mage through and through. She had seen the swordsmanship of Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, but she didn¡¯t have the martial prowess to teach it. The boy was a swordsman, not a mage. A swordsman destined to wield Excalibur. Just umting and handling mana wouldn¡¯t be enough to reach the Sword Seeker level. Understanding the sword and grasping the nuances of swordsmanship was necessary to reach that level. ¡°I have something in mind for that.¡± Changing clothes after wiping off the moisture, Najin spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve been back and forth to the guildtely, haven¡¯t I?¡± Najin was still not recognized as a proper mercenary. To gain minimum credentials for proper quests, he had been doing odd jobs given by the guild for the past three days. Thanks to clearing a horde of goblins, he scored big. Last night, the guild colored his badge ck. He had be a ck ranked mercenary, earning the right to take on proper quests. ¡°There¡¯s still not much I can take on.¡± Arriving at the guild, Najin said, ¡°But now I can take personal quests.¡± Quests not from the guild but individuals. One such quest caught Najin¡¯s attention. Not very lucrative, so others seldom chose it, but to Najin, it was appealing. [Wanted: Porter to move monster corpses.] A simple job, following a hunt to carry bodies. What mattered was the information about the person who posted the quest. [Sword Expert from the Order of the Sword.] [Mid-rank priest Volkman.] The Order of the Sword. A group dedicated solely to the way of the sword, where individuals devoted their lives to honing their swordsmanship. In other words, ¡°People skilled in swordsmanship.¡± Najin smiled. He reached for the request and grabbed it. The quest form didn¡¯t mention Volkman teaching swordsmanship, but¡­ That¡¯s none of my concern. I¡¯ll find a way to mimic what I see. Chapter 30 Chapter 30 ¨C Mid-Rank Priest Volkman (1) From a young age, Najin excelled at mimicking others¡¯ movements. He easily replicated techniques shown by Ivan after just a couple of viewings, rarely forgetting anything once learned. Even if his physical limitations sometimes prevented him from mimicking movements precisely, he never forgot any movement he observed. Najin had never questioned this aspect of himself, but after leaving the Underground City and conversing with Merlin, he realized his exceptional observational skills and memory were not normal. -Usually, people can¡¯t do that. -You are the strange one. Even to the transcendental constetion in the night sky, Najin¡¯s abilities were abnormal. However, Najin¡¯s eyes possessed a special quality beyond mere observation and memory. ¡°Doesn¡¯t everything break down into steps in your head, like movements chopped into pieces?¡± Najin pulled out paper and a pen. He sketched the technique Ivan had shown him just before escaping the Underground City. The drawings represented a series of movements, each broken down into multiple stages. This was how the world appeared to Najin when he concentrated ¨C not as continuous motions but as a series of segmented actions linked together. -Well¡­ Merlin sighed in disbelief after seeing Najin¡¯s drawings. They were not just rough sketches of movements; every subtle detail was captured ¨C the muscle tension, sword angles, even breath control. It seemed impossible to replicate such detail after only a couple of viewings. Even Ghad, one of the strongest knights of the Round Table, didn¡¯t imitate movements to this extent. He relied on instinct rather than precise replication. ¡®If Ghad recreates a painting based on feeling, Najin is tracing directly over it.¡¯ Merlin realized that ordinary people simply cannot replicate in the manner Najin does. -That¡¯s what I mean. Normal people can¡¯t do that. Merlin was now slightly fearful of this abnormal ability. Guild Hall. Sitting in a corner of the bustling guild hall, Najin waited for his client. With some time to spare, he browsed through a brochure listing the city¡¯s top-ranked mercenaries. His focus was on the highest tier, the White rank, where he checked the names and brief profiles of the top five mercenaries. ¨C A former Techo Mountain Ranger. Hawk-eye, Kapman Theosis. ¨C Former leader of the Zenobel family¡¯s knight order. Sword Seeker, Rihardt Polsen. ¨C Leader of the Red Eye Mercenary Group. Sword Seeker, Roselin Ascalon. Only basic information and background for the first three were disclosed. The remaining two had chosen to remain private. Najin pondered over their ranks as he read. ¡®To reach the White rank probably earns one an honorary title. Seems like it.¡¯ -Probably. Sword Seekers of that caliber are notmon ind. They¡¯re usually capable of leading a noble family¡¯s knights. They deserve such recognition. Sword Seekers of such caliber are rare, capable of securing a significant position even in the capital of the empire. ¡®And¡­¡¯ The level Ivan and Offen aspired to. The level Najin set as his primary goal, assessing where it stands. As he was evaluating, a shadow fell over him. He looked up to see a middle-aged man standing there. The man, with his roughly trimmed beard and worn-out robe, looked more like a wandering swordsman than a priest. He held out a paper to Najin. ¡°Are you Ivan?¡± 28-year-old mercenary Ivan. This was the name and identity Najin borrowed from his mentor to operate in the city. Although Ivan¡¯s actual age was in his mid-forties¡­ ¡®Forty-something would be a bit too obvious.¡¯ So, they settled on 28 years old. It seemed usible enough to pass off as a talented young swordsman even if he were to manifest Sword Aura. Thud. Najin stood up from his chair and nodded to the man. ¡°Yes, I am Ivan.¡± ¡°Hmm. Younger than I thought. Your ID says you¡¯re a 28-year-old mercenary¡­¡± ¡°I have a youthful appearance.¡± ¡°Wish I had that problem. Well, I won¡¯t pry.¡± The man grinned and extended his hand. ¡°I¡¯m Volkman. A mid-rank priest and Sword Expert of the Order of the Sword. I¡¯m counting on you today.¡± Najin joined Volkman on a carriage ride to the meadows. Volkman exined that a small vige near Cambria was their destination. ¡°A horde of orcs was spotted near that vige. I quickly took the contract. Can¡¯t let someone else snatch it.¡± As they conversed during the ride, Najin realized a few things. ¡°Not going to save the vige? No, why should I? Aren¡¯t there plenty to do that? I just want to practice my swordsmanship on the orcs. They¡¯re the best for gaining experience.¡± Volkman was quite talkative. ¡°The orcs¡¯ hides are exceptionally tough. Tough skin,rge stature ¨C perfect targets for practice. It¡¯s difficult to cut them without using Sword Aura, ideal for training.¡± Despite being a priest, Volkman didn¡¯t fit the typical image. With his sturdy build and shabby attire, he seemed more like a nomadic swordsman. ¡®Is this typical for priests of the Order of the Sword?¡¯ -Why do you think they¡¯re called the ¡®Order of the Sword¡¯? They¡¯re an ancient group, always been like this. Obsessed with swords. It¡¯s said that the Order of the Sword doesn¡¯t worship any deity. Their sword is their god. ¡°Ah, we¡¯re here.¡± As Najin was mulling over Volkman¡¯s words, they arrived at their destination. The carriage stopped, and the orc vige became visible not far away. ¡°Follow me if you want, or wait here until the hunt¡¯s over. Did you bring a sack for the orc heads?¡± ¡°Yes, got it from the guild.¡± ¡°Good. What will you do?¡± Najin answered without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ll follow. If it¡¯s not too much trouble, I¡¯d like to observe your swordsmanship up close.¡± ¡°Ha! Such enthusiasm from a young man.¡± Volkman smiled. His gaze shifted to the sword at Najin¡¯s waist and his calloused hands and fingers ¨C evidence of the young man¡¯s diligent training. ¡°You¡¯re wee to watch. Just don¡¯t get too close. It might get dangerous.¡± ¡°Thank you for the opportunity.¡± Najin kept a few steps behind Volkman as they walked. Eventually, they reached the outskirts of the orc vige, where Volkman stopped. As he breathed deeply, the air around him shifted. From that moment, Najin watched intently. As Volkman inhaled and exhaled, currents of air formed around him. Then, snap. Volkman drew his sword. Despite his unassuming appearance, the sword in his hand was exceptionally sharp. His aura transformed as he gripped it. Holding the sword out, Volkman stepped into the orc vige. Inside, four orcs and several smaller goblins were milling about. Gurgle! A goblin, sensing Volkman¡¯s presence, charged towards him. The goblin led the charge, followed by orcs stomping their heavy footsteps towards Volkman. ¡°Huff¡­¡± Volkman exhaled briefly and stepped forward, not swinging his sword at the approaching goblin. Instead, he simply lifted the sword horizontally above his shoulder. No grand movements were needed. Maintaining his stance, Volkman thrust his sword forward. Thud. The sword tip pierced the goblin¡¯s neck. Volkman lightly flicked the blood-stained sword, slicing through a second charging goblin. Amidst the spray of blood, Volkman took another step, seemingly returning to his initial stance ¨C sword held horizontally above. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Najin intently observed Volkman¡¯s stance and movements, discerning a pattern. ¡®Repetition, a cycle.¡¯ Volkman was repeating four different stances. Each stance seamlessly transitioned into another. The acts of transitioning themselves were both offensive and defensive. The movements were impressively efficient. Without drawing Sword Aura, Volkman was effortlessly ughtering the goblins with minimal force and movement. ¡®Different from Ivan¡¯s sword.¡¯ If Ivan¡¯s swordy Najin imitated was heavy and powerful, Volkman¡¯s was precise and sharp, creating a continuous flow. Precisely arranged stances and movements. The sharp sword strikes were a mix of stabs and cuts, smoothly connecting each action. The shifting stances, adapting to the enemy¡¯s moves, resembled a dance. ¡®This is the swordsmanship of the Order of the Sword.¡¯ Certainly worth observing and learning. However, watching Volkman, Najin wondered: ¡®Efficient, but¡­¡¯ There were no powerful strikes. It¡¯s easy to sh goblins, but what about that orc? Kuung. An orc charged at Volkman with heavy footsteps. Still, Volkman did not draw his Sword Aura, as if unnecessary. Then, snap. Gripping his sword tightly, Volkman moved differently than before. His steps scattered across the ground. When Volkman halted, his stance was entirely different from the previous four. Sword hanging down. Knees bent as if ready to spring upwards. As the orc swung its club, Volkman leaped up, swinging his sword. Swoosh. Najin¡¯s eyes widened. Even without Sword Aura, Volkman¡¯s sword smoothly sliced through the orc¡¯s tough hide. The sword, halfway severing the orc¡¯s wrist holding the club, pointed upwards. A clean and powerful upward sh. Volkman reversed the sword¡¯s direction, striking downwards. His sword glinted, carving a long gash from the orc¡¯s shoulder to its waist. Ssh! Blood spurted out. Watching the entire process, Najin clicked his tongue. The swordy was precise, powerful, and somehow beautiful. Najin felt slightly overwhelmed by the finesse of the Order of the Sword¡¯s technique, honed over many years. As Najin was visualizing what he had just seen¡­ ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Volkman, looking dazed, turned his head towards Najin. He began to shout, but before his voice could reach, Najin had already turned, sensing something. Three goblins had emerged from the vige, charging at Najin. It was a sneaky attack, but not fatal for Najin. Leaping down from above. The goblin¡¯s movement digging in from the side. To Najin¡¯s eyes, everything seemed slow. With enough time, Najin, holding his sword, recalled Volkman¡¯s stance in his mind. The exact steps and power distribution forming the stance. Where to apply force. How to take a step. In which direction to lift the sword. All of it was vividly pictured in Najin¡¯s mind. Now, all he needed was to replicate it. Gripping his sword like Volkman, Najin took a step. The first stance. Najin extended his sword horizontally towards the sky, piercing the charging goblin¡¯s neck. Before he could even confirm it, he was already moving. Transitioning from stance to stance. From the first to the second. His sword smoothly sliced through the goblin. The impaled goblin copsed, spewing blood. Thud. As Najin returned to the first stance, only three goblin corpsesy beside him. He exhaled briefly, lowering his sword. ¡®So, this is how it¡¯s done?¡¯ Definitely efficient. He hadn¡¯t yet tried the movement Volkman used against the orc, but it seemed attainable with practice. As he turned with these thoughts¡­ There stood Volkman, in an awkward posture, staring at him. Volkman¡¯s wide-open eyes trembled, his mouth opening and closing repeatedly. ¡°Priest Volkman!¡± Najin shouted towards the stunned priest. ¡°Behind you! Look behind!¡± Orcs were still charging towards Volkman. Grasping for breath, Volkman turned to face the imminent threat. -Ah, I think I understand that feeling. Merlin muttered. -The feeling of wanting to say something but being utterly speechless. ¡®What is that?¡¯ Najin inquired. -It¡¯s there, the feeling of encountering a monstrous prodigy. Regardless of Merlin¡¯s reaction, seeing Volkman¡¯s response confirmed Najin¡¯s belief. His initial n to make a strong impression on Volkman had evidently seeded. Chapter 31 Chapter 31 ¨C Mid-Rank Priest Volkman (2) Seeing Volkman¡¯s reaction, Najin was certain. His n had sessfully taken effect. ¡®It looks like the n worked.¡¯ -So it seems. After epting Volkman¡¯s request, Najin had researched the Order of the Sword. He gathered information from Merlin¡¯s knowledge, rumors about the Order, and relevant books. Information about the Order of the Sword was rtively easy to find since they were an open, not a closed group. Based on the information he gathered, Najin hade to one conclusion before starting the request. ¡®I can show off some of my talent.¡¯ Of course, Najin knew that disying his talent could be perceived as a ¡®dangerous element¡¯. If he tantly copied the secret sword techniques of noble families, it wouldplicate matters. Yet, he chose to reveal his talent in front of Volkman because he was confident. He believed it was safe to do so in front of the Order of the Sword. ¡¸Haha. Such an enthusiastic young man.¡¹ ¡¸Feel free to watch. Just don¡¯te too close. It could be dangerous.¡¹ From Volkman¡¯s previous conversation, Najin confirmed that the information he found about the Order was correct. ¡®The Order of the Sword doesn¡¯t hide its swordsmanship.¡¯ Dedicating decades or their entire lives to the enhancement of swordsmanship, the members of the Order didn¡¯t mind their techniques being exposed to the outside world. Moreover, if someone stole their swordsmanship and developed it in their own way, the Order would actually apud and celebrate the fact. They were content if new paths in swordsmanship were opened. -I told you. It¡¯s a group of odd ones. Merlinmented. -They¡¯re satisfied if it leads to the advancement of swordsmanship. Their way of thinking is a bit different. The priests of the Order of the Sword. What they valued most was the development of swordsmanship and the nurturing of swordsmen. Mulling over this, Najin recalled the rules of the Order of the Sword he had read about. He had seeded in garnering Volkman¡¯s interest. What remained was to attract Volkman using those rules. Recalling the n he had set in advance, Najin fiddled with his sword handle. ¡®If I¡¯m lucky¡­¡¯ I might be able to imitate a wider range of swordsmanship. Watching Volkman swing his sword, Najin licked his lips. He didn¡¯t n on learning just a few simple techniques and returning. He suspected that Volkman had many more techniques hidden up his sleeve. ¡®If I¡¯ve decided to steal¡­¡¯ Najin smiled. ¡®I might as well clean him outpletely.¡¯ After finishing off the remaining orcs, Volkman let out a long breath. Sweat beads formed on his forehead, and his breath was rugged. Even for a Sword Expert, facing orcs without sword aura wasn¡¯t easy. But that¡¯s what made it training. Relying on the sharpness of sword aura dulls the inherent sharpness of the sword itself. Each time Volkman affirmed the sharpness of his swordsmanship honed over many years through such training, he felt joy. Normally, he would be smiling happily now, but¡­ ¡®¡­¡¯ Volkman couldn¡¯t smile. He turned his head back silently. Something was bothering him. There stood a young man, stuffing the necks of orcs Volkman had sliced into a sack. The young man who introduced himself as Ivan. Before starting the orc hunt, when the young man asked if he could closely observe Volkman¡¯s swordsmanship, Volkman readily agreed. The young man seemed diligent in his training and eager to learn, which Volkman liked. ¡®So I allowed him to watch.¡¯ Volkman¡¯s eyes narrowed. He vividly remembered the movement the young man had just shown. As if sensing the goblins¡¯ approach from the blind spot, he moved before Volkman could even shout. That could be passed off as good intuition, but¡­ The problem was the swordsmanship that followed. Thebination and cirction of stances, creating a flow of both offense and defense. That was the swordsmanship Volkman showed the young man, the foundation of the Order of the Sword¡¯s techniques. Of course, the techniques themselves weren¡¯t rare. The Order of the Sword¡¯s techniques were well-known, especially the four basic stances often found inmon swordsmanship textbooks. ¡®But still¡­¡¯ Volkman pressed his temple. The Order didn¡¯t fear disclosing their swordsmanship because it wasn¡¯t something just anyone could mimic. The Order¡¯s Sword was perfected through years of training and repetition. Small movements were finely adjusted, and mastery of a single stance often took years to perfect. The sophistication of these stances was the essence of the Order¡¯s swordsmanship. ¡®A swordsmanship that only effort and time can perfect.¡¯ It¡¯s not something you can just watch and replicate. Even if you steal the techniques, you can¡¯t steal the time invested in mastering them. ¡®Surely that should be the case.¡¯ But what about the young man¡¯s movements just now? Although itsted only for a moment, Volkman clearly saw it. The young man¡¯s posture was perfectly angled, and the transition between stances was smooth. The force in each step. The angle of arm movement and the trajectory of the sword tip. The direction of his gaze and breath. Even the grip on the sword. All were perfectly mastered. The young man¡¯s precise movements were not something that could be achieved overnight. ¡®So¡­¡¯ The sophistication he showed was equivalent to what middle-ranking priests, who had practiced the same movements for decades, might have. Despite the difference in physique and appearance, Volkman felt as if he was looking in a mirror when he saw the young man move. He was so simr to Volkman. Even the slightest habits and movements. Feeling this uncanny simrity, Volkman was uneasy. Did he watch for a moment and then copy it? No, that was logically impossible. Then had he learned the Order¡¯s techniques somewhere before? No matter how much he pondered, no answer came. ¡°Was it Ivan?¡± After much deliberation, Volkman finally spoke up. Approaching the young man, he asked, ¡°Have you learned the Order of the Sword¡¯s techniques somewhere before? The movements you showed earlier were our techniques, not something that can be perfected overnight. It seems you¡¯ve trained for a long time¡­¡± The young man remained silent. Volkman continued to probe. ¡°If you have a master who taught you swordsmanship, may I know their name?¡± If the young man had a master, Surely they would be a renowned swordsman. For a young man of his age to attain such perfect postures, he must have had a good master to correct his stances. ¡®A high-ranking priest of the Order? Or a famous wandering swordsman? Either way, it would be someone well-versed in the Order¡¯s techniques.¡¯ Who could it be? Volkman might even know them. With these thoughts, Volkman waited for the young man to speak, but¡­ ¡®¡­¡¯ The young man remained silent. Feeling frustrated, Volkman was about to ask again when, ¡°I¡¯ve heard a lot about the Order of the Sword.¡± The young man finally spoke. What he said wasn¡¯t what Volkman expected, but it was not something to be ignored. A certain word uttered by the young man narrowed Volkman¡¯s eyes. ¡°There is this rule there.¡± The Sword Rule. Like the knights of Atanga following their long-standing knightly rules, the Order of the Sword has been adhering to a few guidelines set by the first Sword Saint. The young man articted one of those rules. ¡°If you wish to discuss the sword, then argue with the sword.¡± Volkman¡¯s eyes widened. A chuckle then broke through his lips, quickly turning into a heartyugh. ¡ºIf you wish to discuss the sword, then argue with the sword.¡» The first Sword Saint, known for his boisterous and unrestrained nature, always preferred swords over words, advocating that a swordsman should naturally speak through the sword. Essentially, this rule meant: Why bother with words when a sword fight can tell you everything? Instead of weighing pros and cons, just draw your sword and charge. A few exchanges will naturally reveal everything. In other words, it was a call for a sword duel. ¡°That¡¯s quite bold for a young man.¡± A smile formed on Volkman¡¯s lips. Not all priests follow the rules strictly. Volkman himself remembered the rules but wasn¡¯t bound by them. However, Ignoring a swordsman mentioning the Sword Rule in front of him was not something Volkman took lightly. Besides, Volkman himself agreed with the young man¡¯s words. ¡°Certainly, your words are correct.¡± Volkman found the young man intriguing and wanted to assess his abilities. In this regard, sparring was unparalleled. With a swift motion, Volkman drew his sword, sheathed and all, from his waist. Tightly binding the scabbard to his belt, he pointed his sword at the young man. ¡°A priest of the Sword can¡¯t disregard the rule. I¡¯m somewhat interested in your swordsmanship. May I request a spar?¡± The young man silently performed a sword salute and, after firmly securing his sword and scabbard, took a step back. ¡°I would appreciate it.¡± ¡°Alright. Will you answer my questions after the spar?¡± ¡°You will naturally understand as we spar.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not one to give in easily, huh?¡± Muttering to himself, Volkman flicked his sword, signaling he would yield the first move. Observing Volkman¡¯s rxed demeanor, Najin inwardly smiled. He had seeded in piquing interest and invoking the rule to draw Volkman in. All that remained was to push Volkman and extract his yet unseen techniques. To do so, he must first take away thatposure. Najin stepped forward, lowering his stance. Volkman¡¯s eyes narrowed at the sight. It was a stance he had never seen before. Of course, it wasn¡¯t the Order of the Sword¡¯s technique, nor anyone else¡¯s. A sword optimized for initial strikes. A technique Najin developed in the underground city, to decide victory in a sh and seize momentum. It was raw swordsmanship, almost unfit to be called a technique. But, with Najin¡¯s innate senses, It was a devastatingly sharp strike. With a burst of eleration, he charged forward without enhancing his body with mana, yet his strike was incredibly fast. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Volkman¡¯s eyes widened. The young man¡¯s figure darted from the blind spot with an elerated movement. Expecting an upward sh from the low position, he was surprised as Najin leaped forward instead. The trajectory of the sword twisted. Not from below to above, but a diagonal downward sh. Responding quickly, Volkman adopted a stance he had repeated countless times, fending off Najin¡¯s sword. Feeling the heavy impact through his hand, Volkman, without hesitation, countered with his next sword strike, refusing to lose the seized momentum. As the spar continued, Volkman felt a sense of dissonance. The young man in front of him wasn¡¯t using sword aura or mana. Although there was a small amount of mana in his body, the young man¡¯s movements were incredibly fast, as if he was manipting mana. ¡®No, that¡¯s not it.¡¯ Volkman realized what was causing the unease. It was the young man¡¯s eyes, moving faster than his body. Volkman understood then. The young man wasn¡¯t moving faster; he was moving ¡®first.¡¯ Predicting where the sword would swing. Anticipating Volkman¡¯s attacks. The young man was always a step ahead, both advancing and retreating with precise timing, leaving Volkman in awe. ¡®Raw and unrefined, yet¡­¡¯ It had the sharpness of raw talent. The young man¡¯s sword strikes, like a wild beast¡¯s fangs, shed moment by moment. Volkmanfortably deflected them all, but his ease crumbled when Najin adopted a new stance. Boom. Stomping the ground, Najin raised his sword. It was a stance stolen from Volkman. Focusing on defense, having blocked Najin¡¯s sword multiple times, he now countered Volkman¡¯s attacks. Connecting one stance to another. Imitating Volkman¡¯s movements. It was the Order of the Sword¡¯s technique. However, the steps and force distribution used by Najin in connecting the stances were uniquely Volkman¡¯s. Perfected over decades of training, it was like Volkman¡¯s habit. ¡°¡­!¡± Volkman¡¯s gaze wavered. Although he couldn¡¯t be certain from a distance, facing each other in a sword duel made it clear. That was his swordsmanship. ng! As their swords shed, Volkman felt an odd sensation. It was like looking into a mirror. As Volkman disyed a new technique, the mirror shattered, but a new one appeared instantly. The mirror, reflecting the young man, promptly imitated Volkman¡¯s advanced techniques. The first attempt was clumsy. But on the second try, the young man¡¯s sword path was perfect. The trajectory bore the decades of training Volkman had invested. ¡°Ha¡­!¡± Out of disbelief and iprehension, Volkman burst intoughter. Continuing the sword sh, Volkman realized the meaning behind the young man¡¯s words before the duel. When he asked who the young man¡¯s master was, the young man had said that it would be apparent as they sparred. ¡®That¡¯s what he meant!¡¯ Volkman felt chills run down his arms. There was no need to inquire about the master. The man currently crossing swords with the young man was effectively his master. He mimicked the techniques shown to him, not just the moves, but the decades of training Volkman had invested were being stolen by Najin. Volkman was aware of this yet did not stop. Instead, a smile spread across his face. He too was enjoying this sword duel. ¡®I¡¯ve seen countless so-called geniuses.¡¯ Monsters catching up with a lifetime of others in a moment. The young man before him was one of them. Dueling with Najin, Volkman remembered a man. Arade who joined the Order with him. Now unreachable. The youngest Sword Expert, Sword Seeker, Sword Master¡­ A peerless genius who toppled records to reach the pinnacle. ¡®The Sword Saint, Caron of the Order of the Sword.¡¯ Recalling the sensation of shing swords with Caron, still an Expert then, Volkman felt it again. The sensation of his own efforts being negated. But Volkman wasn¡¯t displeased. ¡®Show me more.¡¯ It was beneficial for him too. Responding to Najin¡¯s unpredictable movements with pure swordsmanship was challenging for Volkman. He could have easily countered using sword aura and mana, but that would defy the purpose. Moreover, the young man was mimicking his swordsmanship. The precise imitation made him feel like looking at his reflection. Volkman discovered his own shorings from the young man¡¯s movements. He realized what needed to be improved. It was a valuable experience and a great sparring partner. But even that was nearing its end. Cracks appeared in the scabbard with a snap. Volkman adjusted his stance for thest time, preparing his most powerful strike yet. Swoosh¡­ Volkman¡¯s footsteps scattered across the field. Hisplex footwork was too intricate for even Najin¡¯s quick eyes. Sliding into Najin¡¯s space, Volkman swung his sword. A shing strike leaving afterimages. Crash! At the moment their swords met, Volkman¡¯s scabbard shattered. Barely blocking the strike, Najin was pushed back, tumbling to the ground. When he stood up, there was Volkman, looking satisfied. ¡°That was a good spar, Ivan.¡± He smiled. ¡°When you can handle sword aura¡­ I¡¯d like to cross swords with you again, with sword aura involved.¡± Approaching Najin, Volkman extended his hand. Grasping it, Najin stood up, repeatedly clenching and unclenching his tingling hand. Volkman spoke, ¡°Have you considered joining the Order of the Sword?¡± Chapter 32 Chapter 32 ¨C Mid-Rank Priest Volkman (3) ¡°Have you considered joining the Order of the Sword?¡± Faced with Volkman¡¯s proposal, Najin remained silent. The offer was light-hearted in tone, but he knew it was not made lightly. It was an appealing offer. He couldn¡¯t deny that. Standing before him, the priest named Volkman might be exceptional, but sparring with Volkman gave Najin a positive impression of the Order. He felt a pure desire from the priest before him. Even as Najin mimicked his techniques on the spot, reducing a lifetime of Volkman¡¯s training to a moment, Volkman didn¡¯t hesitate to show more diverse techniques. As if challenging him to copy even those. Receiving all those techniques, Najin couldn¡¯t help but feel grateful to Volkman. He also felt a kind of awe. Volkman¡¯s focus on the Sword, immune to feelings of inferiority, jealousy, or futility, was admirable. Indeed, it was a tempting offer. Of course, not all members of the Order might be like Volkman, but at least it was a ce where only those truly dedicated to the Sword gathered. A ce where background and origin didn¡¯t matter; joining could offer protection and stable growth. -¡­¡­ Najin pondered, while Merlin remained silent. Merlin was a guide, not one to impose a path. The choice of which path to walk was solely up to the walker. An attractive offer. An easy and stable path. As Najin looked at the well-paved road before him, he bitterly smiled, knowing well. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He knew such a path wouldn¡¯t lead him to where he aspired to be. ¡°I cannot ept your offer.¡± Najin bowed to Volkman. Joining the Order of the Sword, practicing against a wall to ascend in skills was an easy and simple path. But that wasn¡¯t what Najin desired. Najin had just stepped into the world. He had much to see, much to experience. Only by experiencing and learning from the world could he aim for a broader horizon. Not an easy and simple path, but a rough and perilous one, would lead him higher. ¡®Like King Arthur did.¡¯ A path akin to Arthur¡¯s. That was the path Najin had vowed to walk. As Najin looked up again, Volkman was smiling at him. ¡°If that¡¯s what you choose, I can¡¯t argue. It¡¯s a shame, but you have your own way, after all.¡± There was no sign of disappointment in refusing the offer. Rather, as if he expected it, Volkman stroked his beard and then let out a short sigh before speaking. ¡°Ivan, you n to stay in this city, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m thinking of staying for at least a year.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite specific. Do you have a particr goal?¡± After a brief hesitation, Najin spoke, unafraid to reveal his ambition. ¡°To reach the White rank.¡± The White rank. The pinnacle of the City of Opportunity, Cambria. A rank belonging to Sword Seeker-level warriors. Hearing Najin¡¯s aspiration, Volkman burst intoughter. The young man before him was just a novice with a newly dyed ck badge. Yet, this novice spoke of reaching the city¡¯s summit in just a year. A delusion, something everyone wouldugh at. But Volkman didn¡¯tugh at Najin. Instead, he heartilyughed and patted Najin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ah, one should dream big.¡± The young man had talent. Of course, reaching White in a year might be a stretch. But, Volkman believed it wouldn¡¯t take long for Najin to reach the city¡¯s summit. ¡®He seems close to a Sword Expert¡­¡¯ He couldn¡¯t be certain without seeing Najin draw sword aura, but how long would it take for him to reach Sword Seeker? Volkman pondered, then shook his head. Applyingmon standards to a genius was foolish. And, above all, there seemed to be much that Najin was hiding. His name, age, even his realm, nothing could be confirmed with certainty. ¡®Suspicious, but¡­¡¯ It didn¡¯t matter. After all, the young man was sincere about the Sword. Volkman knew from their duel. Najin was serious about learning the Sword, relentlessly pushing his limits without settling for his talents. ¡°So then.¡± Volkman took a liking to Najin. Thus, he made an offer. ¡°Let me help you.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°I oftene to this city to test my sword. Not often, but once a month or so. I¡¯ll check on your swordsmanship each time.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Let me be your swordsmanship mentor. Well, it feels like you¡¯ve already picked my brain dry today.¡± Volkman bitterly smiled, shrugging his shoulders. ¡°If you manage to draw sword aura, it¡¯ll be a different story. I haven¡¯t shown you swordsmanship using aura yet.¡± ¡°If you would, that would be great, but¡­¡± Najin hesitated. ¡°Why would you go to such lengths for me?¡± It was too good to be true for Najin. Why would Volkman offer this without any gain for himself? Sensing Najin¡¯s doubt, Volkman smirked. ¡°You know the Order of the Sword¡¯s rules, don¡¯t you? Surely you didn¡¯t just memorize the convenient ones for challenging me to a duel?¡± Chastened, Najin averted his gaze as Volkman chuckled. He knew Najin had lured him into a duel using a shallow tactic. But he had no reason to refuse, so he epted the challenge. ¡°There¡¯s a phrase in the Sword Rules.¡± Volkman fondled his sword hilt. ¡°There is no high or low in seeking teachings.¡± Whether the opponent is an unparalleled genius, a ruffian from the back alleys, or a student they¡¯re teaching¡­ If they wield a sword, there¡¯s always something to learn from them. ¡°The duel with you was beneficial for me too. My sword feels sharper, thanks to it. So really, I¡¯m the one asking for your favor.¡± ¡°In that case.¡± Najin smiled. He grasped the hand Volkman extended. ¡°I look forward to it.¡± ¡°My words exactly, Ivan.¡± ¡°I ended up getting a swordsmanship mentor out of the blue.¡± -The Knights of the Round Table really loved such guys. Bedivere, especially, went crazy over them. Merlin mumbled, somewhat incredulously. -They say it has a certain romance. Seeing someone so engrossed and madly dedicated to one thing, it sets their hearts aze? And with that. Merlin exhaled briefly and continued. -What you did earlier was pretty good. ¡°What do you mean?¡± -That thing. Refusing the priest Volkman¡¯s offer. That was quite good. Najin looked puzzled, not understanding what Merlin meant, to which Merlin replied with a somewhat sheepish expression. -You know, that inner monologue of yours. About how the hard and perilous path is the one worth taking. I liked that part. ¡°You heard that?¡± -I can hear almost everything you mutter to yourself. So don¡¯t even think about badmouthing me. Sneaky old mage, indeed. -I said I can hear you! Are you really asking for it? Amused by Merlin¡¯s threat, Najinughed. Continuing their conversation, Najin entered the guild¡¯s counter. He handed over the bag containing the orc heads and received thepletion fee for the request. Click. When Najin inserted his badge into the magical device at the counter, the numbers increased and his information was updated. Operating the device, a list of quests Najin had undertaken so far appeared. For now, it was full of mundane errands. ¡°It¡¯s time to take on some proper quests.¡± He needed to start climbing the ranks. Higher ranks meant ess to higher-level quests and a wider range of experiences. ck. Purple. Blue. Green. Red. White. Six tiers of ssification. Moving up to the next rank, Purple, wasn¡¯t too hard. He could easily progress with a few more quests like this. But he had no intention of taking it slow. He had acquired basic knowledge of the outside world. He was steadily building his mana cultivation and swordsmanship, and had a fair grasp of how the city operated. That should be enough, Najin thought. He had no intention of hiding his strength forever. Nor did he n to settle for simple tasks. After all, what he needed most was experience. Real-world experience. Even if he kept Excalibur and the tinum sword energy hidden, showing a fragment of his sword energy should be fine. ¡°Would be nice to get a higher-ranked quest.¡± The problem was that Najin was unproven. For simple tasks, sure, but mercenaries and adventurers ultimately relied on trust. A degree of achievement was necessary to be trusted with significant quests. But currently, Najin had no track record. Even if he showed a fragment of his sword energy, without a track record, he wouldn¡¯t be entrusted with important quests. ¡°But there should be at least one if I look¡­¡± As Najin was browsing the quests at the guild¡¯s counter, he felt someone approach from behind. Someone tapped on his shoulder. Najin turned around. There stood a familiar-faced girl. Unlikest time, her auburn hair was neatly tied in a single strand, and her sparkling yellow eyes shone brightly. ¡°We meet again here?¡± The owner of Dieta Commerce. Dieta Arbenea was smiling at Najin. ¡°It seems like you¡¯re looking for a decent quest.¡± She pointed at the badge pinned on her chest. The recognized head of one of the threergest mercantile houses in the city, as certified by the guild. Najin, now aware, understood the power this girl wielded in the city. ¡°Would you like to make a deal with me?¡± She clumsily removed her gloves. Then she extended her bare hand to Najin. ¡°You won¡¯t refuse this time, right?¡± The Order of the Sword¡¯s headquarters. Returning to the Orderte at night, Volkman unpacked and immediately headed to the training hall. He had been reying his duel with Najin in his mind throughout the carriage ride. ¡®I want to swing my sword!¡¯ A fleeting enlightenment. Eager to imprint this revtion into his body, Volkman rushed to the training hall and swung his sword. Late at night, in the deserted hall, Volkman swung his sword for a long time. The young man he met in the City of Opportunity, Cambria. He might have been a chance encounter for the young man, but the young man was also an opportunity for Volkman. He felt his swordy had be more refined thanks to the duel with the young man. ¡°Phew.¡± As he contentedly swung his sword and wiped off sweat, a voice came from behind. ¡°Back and straight to training, that¡¯s like you.¡± ¡°¡­Were you here?¡± Volkman turned around. Unaware of any presence, he found his long-time friend standing there. A swordsman who looked in his twenties despite being in his forties, just like Volkman. He narrowed his eyes, stroking his chin. ¡°Your sword has be sharper? Did you gain some enlightenment?¡± He shook the bottle in his hand. An invitation for a drink. Although the high priests would scold them for drinking in the training hall, Volkmanughed and epted the offered cup. Even the high priests wouldn¡¯t dare say a word to this man. ¡°I seized a good opportunity and gained some insight.¡± ¡°Oh? A good opportunity?¡± ¡°Yes. I met a young man in Cambria¡­¡± Volkman spoke while sipping his drink. He hadn¡¯t nned to tell anyone about the young man he met in Cambria. The young man¡¯s talent was dangerous, and someone might envy it and try to forcibly induct him into the Order. But it was different with the man before him. He knew this man wouldn¡¯t do such things, nor was he petty enough to be jealous of someone¡¯s talent. ¡°I¡¯ll apany you next time you go there. I¡¯d like to see this young man myself.¡± ¡°¡­You will?¡± ¡°Cambria, the City of Opportunity. I¡¯ve been there before. It¡¯d be good to visit again.¡± Outside the wide-open training hall window. Six stars twinkled in the vast night sky, shining solely for the man gazing up at them. The owner of the Order of the Sword. The man who broke all records and ascended to the youngest Sword Master, the pinnacle of the Order of the Sword. ¡°Who knows?¡± The Sword Saint, Karan, smiled. ¡°Maybe that young man will be an opportunity for me too.¡± Chapter 33 Chapter 33 ¨C The Red Eye Mercenaries (1) Dieta Arbenia. She appeared before Najin as if it were a chance encounter, but the reality was somewhat different. She knew that Najin had epted a task from Mid-Rank Priest Volkman, including the details and date of the assignment. Herwork of informants in the guild made this possible. All that was left was to wait for Najin¡¯s return. And when Najin did return¡­ ¡°What a coincidence.¡± Pretending it was just a ¡®coincidence¡¯ that she had business at the guild and ¡®coincidentally¡¯ ran into him during this, Dieta approached Najin. He was a man worth all this effort. ¡°You won¡¯t say no this time, will you?¡± She then removed her gloves and extended her bare hand. She had been refused a handshakest time, but this time she expected it to be different. ¡°It seems you¡¯re interested in quests higher than your current rank? I might be able to help you with that.¡± Having what you need makes me valuable to you. Dieta smiled. Najin looked hesitantly between Dieta¡¯s hand and face, then finally extended his hand to shake hers. In the private meeting room of Dieta Trading Company. Najin sipped the coffee from the cup in front of him and frowned. ¡®This is terribly bitter.¡¯ Come to think of it, Ivan often brewed coffee, didn¡¯t he? In the underground city, it was a tremendous luxury. But what¡¯s the taste in this? With that thought, Najin put down the cup. ¡°What do you mean you can help?¡± ¡°Exactly what I said. I introduced myselfst time, remember?¡± She pointed to her badge. ¡°I¡¯m the head of Dieta Trading Company, and mypany ys a significant role in this city. It¡¯s quiterge too.¡± Najin knew this. In the ten days he¡¯d been in the city, he had learned basic information, including about Dieta Trading Company. ¡®Dieta Trading Company.¡¯ One of the threergestpanies in the city, responsible for external trade. They exported materials from monsters hunted by adventurers. ¡°Ourpany is affiliated with the central guild. And an organization with such credibility can¡­¡± She took out a piece of paper from her bosom. ¡°I can write something like this for you.¡± A paper emzoned with the emblem of Dieta Trading Company. Pointing at it, Dieta said, ¡°When epting quests, the most important factor is the rank assigned by the guild. However, a credible organization can vouch for you, saying ¡®this person is trustworthy¡¯.¡± In simpler terms. ¡°It¡¯s like a guarantee, right?¡± Dieta smiled. Although youck a track record, you have the potential to climb higher. Organizations often lend their names to promising individuals. ¡°In this case, Dieta Trading Company would be vouching for your skills. You could even ept quests of much higher rank than ck.¡± She waved the paper in front of Najin. ¡°Quite an attractive offer, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°It is an attractive offer, but¡­¡± Najin looked at Dieta. ¡°Why are you going to such lengths for me?¡± The same question as before. Last time, Dieta evaded answering Najin¡¯s question, but this time she spoke candidly. ¡°Well, because you seem like you could make me money.¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± ¡°Why else do merchants treat people well? Because they see gold in it. You¡¯re not the type to stay at the ck rank for long, are you?¡± Dieta knew. The boy sitting before her had skills far beyond the ck rank. She hadn¡¯t seen Najin inbat to be certain, but it was clear he was close to the Blue rank. ¡®And more¡­¡¯ He would climb higher soon. The clues were few, but her instincts told her so. This man was worth the investment. ¡°Lending the name of ourpany is a huge gamble for me. Your failure could lead to a loss of trust in ourpany.¡± Yet she offered her guarantee because. ¡°I¡¯m trying to gain your favor. It¡¯s like marking my territory in advance on someone who will rise high.¡± ¡°¡­Is it okay to be so blunt?¡± ¡°Why not? You would know anyway.¡± Dieta shrugged. What¡¯s wrong with exposing desires? Clear intentions and purposes are more trustworthy. There¡¯s nothing more definite than pure desire. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be more suspicious if someone approached you with pure kindness? That seems more dubious.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t argue with that.¡± ¡°Of course, even if I give you all this and youter ignore me, I can¡¯t do anything. But investing in a promising individual like you is still good business. It leaves an impression in the market.¡± Dieta sipped her tea. ¡°Anyway, I am investing in you. The more achievements you make, the more I n to invest.¡± Her yellow eyes narrowed as she nced at Najin. ¡°A rapidly rising adventurer in the city, supported by the Dieta Trading Company. Using our gear, potions, and vaults¡­ That alone is great advertising.¡± Adventurers admire special individuals. Admiration leads to emtion, and emtion leads to consumption of simr items. She knew this could lead to tremendous advertising effects. ¡°You get support, and I get to advertise using you as a model. It¡¯s a win-win, isn¡¯t it?¡± Dietaid all her cards on the table. There was no harm in revealing them. ¡°I¡¯ll use you, and you can use me. Do we need any other reason?¡± As Najin listened to Dieta¡¯s words, he couldn¡¯t help but smile. At his smile, Dieta tilted her head. ¡°Why are youughing?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that it¡¯s refreshing.¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never met someone who¡¯s so straightforward with their intentions.¡± Najin took a deep breath. ¡°Well, fine. I don¡¯t know what you see in me, but if you¡¯re willing to invest¡­ I¡¯m grateful.¡± Najin pointed to the guarantee letter Dieta had brought out. ¡°How high a rank can you vouch for?¡± ¡°I can write up to Blue rank, but I¡¯m still considering. I haven¡¯t confirmed your abilities yet.¡± Hmm, Najin stroked his chin. ¡®Should I show it?¡¯ -You¡¯re pretending to be 28, right? Then it¡¯s fine to show a bit of your sword aura. You were nning to reveal some of your skills anyway, weren¡¯t you? ¡®That¡¯s true.¡¯ Najin made up his mind. The moment heid his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, Dieta¡¯s guard, Pasion, reacted. As if ready to charge the moment the sword was drawn, Najin pre-emptively spoke. ¡°I¡¯m just going to show you.¡± Najin drew his sword, pointing it towards the ground, not at Dieta. He then firmly gripped the hilt. Pshh¡­ He didn¡¯t draw in external mana as usual. Using the mana cultivation technique Merlin taught him, he mobilized the small amount of mana stored inside his body to forge his sword aura. A white radiance flowed down the de. That was a fragment of the sword aura. Being careful not to let it fully form and produce the tinum glow, Najin controlled his power. Since he didn¡¯t draw in arge amount of external mana, it wasn¡¯t too difficult to manage the output. Yet, even so. The white radiance on Najin¡¯s sword was enough to make the onlookers widen their eyes. Pasion and Dieta stared at the sword, their eyes wide. ¡°Does this qualify me for the Blue rank?¡± A short while after Najin, holding the Trading Company¡¯s guarantee for up to Blue-rank quests, left the meeting room, Dieta spoke. ¡°Sir Pasion.¡± ¡°¡­Yes, what is it?¡± ¡°That was a sword aura, right? Definitely.¡± ¡°Precisely, it was a fragment of a sword aura.¡± The white glow. Although it hadn¡¯t fully formed into aplete sword aura, it was a radiance closely akin to it. This meant the boy¡¯s skills were approaching that of a Sword Expert. ¡°His official age is 28, but¡­ it doesn¡¯t seem likely, does it?¡± ¡°At best, he looks like he¡¯s in his early twenties. At a nce, he could even be around your age, Miss Dieta.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I thought too.¡± A fragment of a sword aura in his early twenties. Dieta let out a wryugh. Of course, the man named Ivan might really be ate-twenty-something as he ims. But that¡¯s still quick. The promising ones from good families, even with proper support, managed to draw their sword auras in their early thirties. Pasion himself, a prodigy discovered by the Arbenia family, achieved it at 31. ¡°That man earlier, how long do you think until his sword aura isplete?¡± ¡°¡­With the right opportunity, it could happen. At most, in a month or two, I believe.¡± Dietaughed. ¡°What could it be? Do the rangers of the Techno Mountain Range also draw sword auras? I remember them training in a different area¡­¡± ¡°I don¡¯t really know.¡± Pasion, trying to hide his confusion, answered. He had seen Najin¡¯s sword aura up close. Dieta, not well-versed in swords, might not have noticed, but Pasion could tell. The oddity of the boy¡¯s sword aura. Although it hadn¡¯t fully formed, the density of the white radiance flowing along the de was intensely thick. Pasion had never seen a fragment of sword aura with such concentration. ¡®You have to sh to know for sure¡­¡¯ Even though it was just a fragment, it seemed like it wouldn¡¯t lose against a fully drawn sword aura. Dieta Trading Company¡¯s guarantee letter. Showing it at the counter, Najin could now ess quests up to the Blue rank. Looking at the quests densely pinned on the board, Najin inwardly clicked his tongue. ¡®They definitely get moreplicated at the Blue rank.¡¯ While ck rank quests were mostly simple monster hunts or material collection¡­ [Escort mission.] [Capture the special creature ¡®One-Eyed Orc¡¯ alive.] [Capture the wanted criminal ¡®Wyman¡¯ alive.] Blue rank quests ranged from escort missions to capturing special monsters or hunting wanted criminals. Najin¡¯s gaze stopped at a particr quest. ¡®This one isn¡¯t bad, right?¡¯ -Not bad at all. Good for gaining experience and making a name for yourself. Gaining prominence. Building a solid track record. ¡®Then let¡¯s go with this one.¡¯ Najin and Merlin agreed. Snip, Najin plucked the quest off the board. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°What is it, Barger? Something to report?¡± ¡°The mission you requested is now fully staffed. I¡¯vepiled the list of personnel. Would you like to see it?¡± ¡°Ah, thanks for your work.¡± The documents handed over by her subordinate. Skimming through the stack, the woman¡¯s brows furrowed. She pointed at a specific part of the paper with a frown. ¡°What¡¯s this? Why is there a ckie here?¡± ckie. A derogatory term for themon ck-rank adventurers. She was pointing at the information about a man named Ivan. ¡°Wasn¡¯t the minimum required rank Blue? How did a ckie manage to take on the quest? Did those guild folks mess up their job again?¡± ¡°Please check the special note.¡± ¡°Special note?¡± She scrutinized the document further. ¡°¡­Dieta Trading Company is vouching for him? The Dieta Trading Company I know?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The one with that gold-gobbling crazy woman? What in the world is she doing vouching for someone else?¡± ¡°We were considering removing him, but brought him in due to that detail. What will you do?¡± At her subordinate¡¯s question, the woman crossed her arms, tapping her forearm with her fingers. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like that snake Dieta would vouch for someone without a reason. She must be trusting something. But what?¡± Intriguing, indeed. Muttering, she stood up, her jet-ck hair swaying. Tying her long hair carelessly with a rubber band, she spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s leave it for now. Let¡¯s see what he¡¯s made of.¡± Picking one of the swords hanging on the wall, she strapped it to her waist and slung her arm over her subordinate¡¯s shoulder. ¡°If he seems decent, maybe I¡¯ll snag him. What do you think, Barger?¡± ¡°I doubt the gold-gobbling snake will just sit by idly¡­¡± ¡°So what? It¡¯s normal in this line of work to snag the good ones.¡± The woman¡¯s red eyes sparkled. ¡°Let¡¯s go see him then.¡± The leader of the Red Eye Mercenaries. One of the five White Horns of the city. Sword Seeker, Roselin Ascalo, licked her lips in anticipation. Chapter 34 Chapter 34 ¨C The Red Eye Mercenaries (2) The Red Eye Mercenary Band. Based in Cambria, their activities were not just confined to the City of Opportunity. Their reputation was partly due to the high caliber of their mercenaries, but more so because of their leader, a significant figure. One of the five Whites of Cambria. A Sword Seeker-level swordsman. Roselin Ascalo with red eyes. A legendary figure in the mercenary world, known for owning a masterpiece weapon. A mercenary band led by a Sword Seeker-level fighter was rare even across the ind, so the fame of the Red Eye Mercenary Band extended beyond Cambria. They had an exclusive contract with the Garchea Commerce, one of the top threemerce houses in Cambria, and were renowned both inside and outside the city. Therefore¡­ The Red Eye Mercenary Band was a dream workce for adventurers entering the City of Opportunity. [Red Eye Mercenary Band Commission.] [Clearing operation in Dochzenberg Forest.] [Minimum quest rank: Blue.] They periodically issued a quest: clearing the monsters in Dochzenberg Forest, used by Garchea Commerce as a trade route. A task repeated every few months, it seemed ordinary, but¡­ Amongst adventurers, the ¡®Dochzenberg Forest Clearing¡¯ was known as: The entrance exam for the Red Eye Mercenary Band. Those who proved their worth in this quest caught the eye of Roselin Ascalo and were recruited into the band. This was how Barger, now the vice-captain, joined. ¡®A chance to prove oneself and climb higher.¡¯ An opportunity that drew the attention of many. For some, it was a chance to prove themselves. For others, a chance for advancement. ¡°Shall we go?¡± And for some¡­ ¡°Merlin.¡± It was an opportunity to make a mark. The Dochzenberg Forest Clearing. Many adventurers gathered at the edge of the forest. Most were Blue-rank, with some wearing Green-rank badges. ck, Purple, Blue, Green, Red, White. Among these six ranks, belonging to Blue and Green meant being seasoned adventurers of the city. They had amassed aplishments and proven their worth. Yet, they were also stagnant. Advancing to Green rank was tough, but from Red rank, one needed to be ¡®extraordinary.¡¯ Most who survived in the city for long remained at Blue or Green rank. Thus, this quest was a chance for them. If they caught the attention of the band¡¯s leader, they could break their stagnation and rise higher. A rare opportunity, the atmosphere among the gathered adventurers was tense. Normally they would be wary of each other, but¡­ ¡°¡­¡­¡± Today was different. Their gazes weren¡¯t scattered; they focused on one point. There stood a young man with a ck badge. ck rank. The mostmon rank in the City of Opportunity. They were the novices among novices,cking both aplishments and experience. ¡°¡­Tsk.¡± Someone clicked their tongue. The adventurers murmured, obviously mocking. It was ridicule and reproach. Naturally, no kindness was expected. To participate in this quest. To qualify for it. Everyone had put in grueling effort. They aplished numerous quests, struggling to raise their rank. They brightened their badges to Blue and Green through relentless effort. But what about this young man? Without any aplishments or effort, he brazenly disyed his ck badge here, simply because of Dieta Commerce¡¯s endorsement. His ck badge was like a mockery to the gathered adventurers. ¡°It¡¯s infuriating.¡± ¡°What does this make us?¡± More than enough to stir resentment. The sharp gazes and clicking tongues of the senior adventurers. Their mockery andints. The man himself must have felt it. -This is intense. ¡®Indeed.¡¯ Najin felt it. The hostile atmosphere and the sharp gazes of the senior adventurers. He understood their emotions. ¡®It¡¯s only natural from their perspective.¡¯ Their anger was justified. They must have put in countless efforts to reach their rank. They painstakingly climbed from the bottom. Naturally, Najin wouldn¡¯t seem favorable in their eyes. -So, why not bow your head? ¡®That¡¯s not it.¡¯ Najin smirked. ¡®That¡¯s one thing. This is another.¡¯ He understood their feelings but saw no reason to y along. Najin had no intention of being mindful of them. Nor of apologizing. Or even shrinking back. From the day he left the underground city and swore under the starless sky, Najin was prepared. ¡®To reach the top means¡­¡¯ To trample upon countless others. To dismiss their efforts and life¡¯s work in a moment, soaring higher than them. The resolve one must have to aim for the top. He wouldn¡¯t have started this path without such resolve. Far from bowing under the senior adventurers¡¯ gazes, Najin stood tall, defiant. -Let them stare if they want. Merlin chuckled in satisfaction at Najin¡¯s attitude. As Merlin¡¯sughter echoed, something happened. Kuwoong. The air turned heavy. An oppressive force, as if something gigantic was pressing down from above, enveloped them. Not only Najin felt it but all the adventurers gathered at the forest¡¯s edge felt this crushing force. Some copsed on the spot. Those standing couldn¡¯t lift their heads, only staring at the ground. Najin knew what this was. The aura of a powerful person. He had felt it before from Ivan. But this was far more intense, signifying the source was stronger than him. ¡®But.¡¯ Najin exhaled. He slowly lifted his head. ¡®I¡¯ve experienced this.¡¯ Stronger than Ivan¡¯s, but whenpared to what Najin had recently encountered, it was significantly lighter. Merlin¡¯s first encounter. Najin had withstood the oppressive aura emanating from Merlin with his bare body and shook it off. Merlinter imed he hadn¡¯t been serious, but¡­ Having ovee even a constetion¡¯s aura, this was manageable. Gripping his fist, Najin lifted his head. As he prepared to face the source of this aura, a voice sounded close by. ¡°Hey, quick reaction there.¡± The voice was right in front. A woman with ck hair braided into one strand met Najin¡¯s gaze. Her red eyes curved like crescents. ¡°So you¡¯re that guy?¡± The ckie vouched for by that snake Dieta. She smiled and lifted her arm. The crushing aura that had engulfed all adventurers suddenly vanished, now only directed at Najin. ¡°Wow, still holding your head high. What are you?¡± The woman, curious, stared at him. Najin knew her name. He had seen it at the guild. A ck-haired, red-eyed swordsman¡­ one of the White-ranked mercenaries. Leader of the Red Eye Mercenary Band, Roselin Ascalo. ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like you¡¯ve umted much mana, and by your mana quantity, you¡¯re not a Sword Expert¡­ What is it? You hiding something?¡± Her red eyes sparkled with more interest. Roselin sensed that the young man before her was concealing something. Crackle! Sparks flew. As Roselin¡¯s mana pressed down on Najin, sparks erupted. In that moment, Roselin saw it. Mana from all around being sucked into Najin¡¯s body. An iprehensible flow. Distracted by this flow, Roselin was caught off guard. sp. Najin moved. His hand, quick and precise, grasped Roselin¡¯s wrist as she reached towards him. Roselin, realizing this toote, widened her eyes in shock. ¡°What are you doing, what is this?¡± Najin retorted sharply. He instinctively knew he couldn¡¯t allow her hand to touch him. Though unsure if this was the best course of action¡­ ¡°Wow.¡± Roselin eximed in admiration, realizing that Najin¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t entirely wrong. ¡°Wow!¡± She kept eximing, then quickly turned to Barger, the vice-captain of her mercenary band, showing him her wrist caught by Najin. ¡°See, Barger? He grabbed my wrist!¡± ¡°I see it clearly. Despite my advice against rash actions, why¡­¡± ¡°Hey, what was that just now?¡± Cutting off Barger¡¯s words, Roselin turned back to Najin with a question. Najin didn¡¯t answer, and Roselin smiled. She casually shook her hand, freeing it from Najin¡¯s grasp, and then touched her chin thoughtfully. ¡°Well, that snake wouldn¡¯t have vouched for nothing. Interesting guy¡­ I like this¡­¡± Roselin was intrigued. She flicked a coin towards Najin, who instinctively caught it. In his palmy a tinum coin, a substantial sum even for a Blue-rank adventurer working hard for months. Nonchntly giving such a sum to Najin, Roselin smiled at him. ¡°Sorry about that. Let¡¯s call it even with this.¡± Having withdrawn her mana, Roselin patted Najin¡¯s shoulder a couple of times and turned away, walking towards the stage set up at the forest¡¯s entrance. Najin watched her leave silently, as if a storm had just passed. At the same time, he felt it. The gaze of the other adventurers had changed. They all saw him resisting Roselin¡¯s overwhelming presence. A White-rank adventurer. A Sword Seeker¡¯s aura. Najin had confronted it head-on, even grabbing Roselin¡¯s wrist. The adventurers, previously filled with contempt and anger, now looked at him with astonishment and wonder. A ck-rank adventurer, the lowest of the low, had stood up to a White-rank, one of the city¡¯s pinnacle figures. Shocked by this, the Blue and Green adventurers watched Najin¡¯s retreating figure, while Roselin, turning away from Najin to ascend the stage, licked her lips. Her red eyes glinted. As if she had found new prey. Despite the minor disturbance, no adventurer dared to openly challenge the White-rank¡¯s actions¡­ With Roselin promising an increased reward for the quest, there were noints. ¡°Well, that¡¯s that.¡± After a brief exnation, Roselin stepped back, pushing forward Barger. ¡°The quest details will be exined by him.¡± ¡°¡­I am Barger, vice-captain of the Red Eye Mercenary Band.¡± Pushed forward, Barger sighed and began speaking. ¡°The quest is simple. Our mercenary band will handle the center of the forest, where high-rank monsters gather. You need to hunt the monsters that stray to the forest¡¯s edges.¡± He exined, pointing to a map of the forest. ¡°Each participant must hunt at least ten monsters. The count varies by monster type, so refer to the payment method listed in the quest details. For every monster hunted beyond the minimum, we will pay extra.¡± He outlined several precautions and special conditions. As Barger stepped back, Roselin came forward again. ¡°It¡¯d be boring just like that.¡± She spread three fingers wide. ¡°The top three hunters will receive an additional bonus, and the one who hunts the most will get a special reward. I, Roselin Ascalo, promise you won¡¯t be disappointed with the payment.¡± Roselin smiled. ¡°Oh, and one more thing.¡± She crossed her arms and spoke. ¡°I understand some rivalry forpetition, but don¡¯t cross the line. You know what happens if you get caught, right?¡± Her red eyes gleamed ominously. The adventurers nodded repeatedly. Roselin nced once more at Najin before stepping down from the stage, apanied by Barger, and headed towards the forest¡¯s heart. As the quest began and the adventurers dispersed, Najin started warming up. Regting his breath and securing the sword at his waist. -What¡¯s the goal? Merlin¡¯s voice echoed in his ear. Responding with a shrug, Najin replied. ¡°What kind of question is that?¡± He started walking towards the forest. ¡°Obviously, to be first.¡± Chapter 35 Chapter 35 ¨C The Red Eye Mercenaries (3) ¡°You seem pleased.¡± ¡°Ah, huh? Yeah, I guess.¡± Caught in thought by Vice-Captain Barger¡¯s voice, Roselin nodded. She touched her wrist, where the young man had grabbed her, smiling to herself. ¡°He¡¯s no ordinary guy. That snake woman really has an eye for talent, doesn¡¯t she? Wonder where she dug him up from¡­¡± Roselin mulled over the recent encounter. He must be quite exceptional. Approaching the young man with a light-hearted attitude, Roselin had to quickly revise her assessment. Despite the pressure that made even the Green-rank adventurers bow their heads, the young man kept his head high. ¡®And he didn¡¯t stop there¡­¡¯ Despite her deliberate pressure. The young man not only resisted but also boldly caught her wrist. This meant he had shattered the aura of a Sword Seeker head-on. ¡°I have no idea how he did it.¡± Roselin touched her chin, intrigued. The amount of mana stored in the young man¡¯s body was small. Not even close to a Sword Expert, barely having begun mana cultivation. And yet, with such a meager amount of mana, he had shaken off her pressure. He shouldn¡¯t have been able to, but Roselin saw it. At that moment, when the young man shook off her pressure, she saw her mana being sucked into his body. The aura he disyed in that fleeting moment was no less intense than her own. A mana cultivation technique she had never seen before. In her encounters with numerous strong individuals, Roselin had never seen anyone manipte mana in such a way. ¡°Is he some discarded child of a noble family? Never seen such a cultivation technique. What do you think, Barger?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know. He does seem to have guts.¡± ¡°Yeah, the more I think about it, the more I like him.¡± Roselin licked her lips. Watching her, Barger sighed. Like the snake that never regurgitates the gold it swallows, once their leader set her sights on something, she¡¯d get it by any means necessary. The snake that swallows gold, Dieta Arbenia. And now, the Red Eye, Roselin Ascalo, setting her sights on an adventurer marked by Dieta. ¡®This is going to be troublesome.¡¯ Barger figured they might not be able to avoid conflict with Dieta¡¯s faction. ¡°Hey, you.¡± Just as Najin was about to step into the forest. Someone called him from behind. Najin turned to see who it was. A woman with a Green-rank badge approached him. ¡°Yeah, you. ck-rank.¡± She gestured towards Najin. The other adventurers¡¯ attention returned to Najin. They whispered among themselves. ¡°What does Marsen want?¡± ¡°She must be annoyed.¡± ¡°Normally, Marsen should be the center of attention in this operation¡­¡± Green-rank adventurer Marsen. A veteran of ten years in Cambria, with the most achievements among those participating in the Dochzenberg Forest operation. Marsen was expected to rank first. Among the adventurers, it was said that it wasn¡¯t the ck-rank young man but Marsen who should be in the limelight. ¡°Is this a joke to you?¡± Marsen had been umting achievements for years, aiming to join the Red Eye Mercenary Band. To her, Najin was nothing more than an irritant. ¡°You, acting so rudely to a White rank adventurer, to Lady Roselin¡­¡± ¡°Enough with the talk.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± Najin scowled. Impatiently, he brushed off Marsen¡¯s using finger. ¡°Is that all you have to say? I¡¯d like to get going.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°Why are you wasting my time? You should be hunting more monsters. Aren¡¯t you interested in the rankings?¡± To Najin, it was a casual remark. He wasn¡¯t aware of the adventurer¡¯s name or her status as a top contender. To him, pursuing first ce, this was just a pointless conversation. However, to Marsen. It was a clear provocation. Her expression twisted. ¡°Huh, what an absurd kid.¡± Marsen scoffed. She pointed at Najin. ¡°Remember this. We¡¯ll talk after this is over. If you rank lower than me, you better be ready.¡± Najin indifferently brushed off her words and proceeded towards the forest. The other adventurers just murmured among themselves. Marsen listened to the whispers, but Najin wasn¡¯t interested in their voices. What captured Najin¡¯s interest was one thing: the scoreboard monitored by a member of the mercenary band on the stage. Every time he brought in a monster, the score would be updated in real-time. ¡°I¡¯ll top that board.¡± Mulling over his goal, Najin walked towards the forest. Najin had almost no experience hunting monsters. He had undertaken simple monster extermination quests for the guild, but never tracked a monster¡¯s trail. His experience was limited to hunting monsters in fixed locations, like goblin encampments or caves. ¡®So, this is a first.¡¯ Hunting by tracking a monster¡¯s trail was new to him. But it didn¡¯t seem too problematic. Najin steadied his breathing and narrowed his eyes. After all, tracking a monster is not much different from pursuing a person. He hadn¡¯t tracked monsters, but he had plenty of experience tracking people. As Ivan¡¯s hound and during his escapes from the Order¡¯s shadows, he¡¯d honed these skills. Rustle. Najin fiddled with a hidden weapon tied to his wrist. -You like that tool, huh? Using it quite a bit. ¡®It¡¯s quite handy.¡¯ A throwing technique he stole from the Order¡¯s shadows. Holding a weapon, Najin followed the tracks on the ground. His heightened senses didn¡¯t miss even the smallest noises. Rustle. The moment he heard it, Najin turned and threw the weapon. Simultaneously, a goblin¡¯s cry erupted. Approaching the goblin, Najin swiftly cut its throat and stored it in a bag, then moved on. But then he paused. Najin stopped for a moment. -What¡¯s up, why stop? ¡®Just thinking.¡¯ Najin looked up at the towering trees, murmuring to himself. ¡®Do I really need to stick to the ground?¡¯ -You mean moving through the trees? Isn¡¯t that something elves do? Ordinary bnce won¡¯t cut it for that¡­ Suddenly, Najin climbed up a tree. After tapping a few branches with his toes, he took a deep breath and leaped. His jump was precise, and hisnding was smooth. For Najin, who had navigated the narrow ledges of alleyway walls, tree branches were spacious and well-bnced footholds. -Well¡­ Speechless, Merlin watched as Najin swiftly moved through the trees. His movements were quick, but his eyes were quicker. ¡®Found one.¡¯ Though it seemed he was running aimlessly, Najin¡¯s eyes urately spotted monsters. Leaping down from the tree, he decapitated a monster in a single strike. He stuffed the severed head in his bag and moved on. With each repetition, Najin¡¯s movements became more fluid and concise. Merlin watched him swoop down from the trees to snatch monsters, resembling a predatory bird hunting. Some time after the Dochzenberg Forest cleansing operation began, adventurers gathered at the forest¡¯s entrance as evening approached. The deadline was nearing. Adventurers carrying bags of monster heads arrived one by one. They handed their bags to the Red Eye Mercenary Band¡¯s supervisor at the stage to tally their scores. When most adventurers had arrived, they looked at the scoreboard. As expected, Marsen was in first ce. Having just arrived, Marsen secured the top spot with 31 points, a five-point lead over the second ce. ¡°Of course, Marsen is first.¡± ¡°Yeah, but 31 points? That¡¯s no joke. Just finding them is tough¡­¡± Everyone expected her to win, so the surprise was more about the number of monsters she hunted than her top ranking. ¡°Hey, but that ck-rank guy is pretty impressive too. Look at the ranking. He¡¯s 12th.¡± ¡°ck-rank at 12th? Wow¡­¡± What surprised them more was the ck-rank adventurer, Ivan¡¯s ranking. 12th. Ivan (14 points). 14 points was a significant achievement, even for Green-rank adventurers. Sessfully locating and hunting monsters in this forest required various skills. At this point, they acknowledged his remarkable abilities. ¡°Wait, that¡¯s strange?¡± One adventurer spoke up. He had just returned from the forest. Pointing at Ivan¡¯s name in the ranking, he said, ¡°I saw him hunting hop goblins. Aren¡¯t they three points each? I saw him take down more than four, and that was over an hour ago.¡± ¡°Maybe you saw it wrong?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m sure. I was preparing to hunt a group of them when he suddenly dropped from a tree and snatched them.¡± He had swiftly hunted four and disappeared. Hearing this, the adventurers began to buzz with spection. ¡°Now that I think about it¡­¡± ¡°He hasn¡¯te back yet?¡± It was almost the deadline, but the ck-rank young man was nowhere among the adventurers gathered at the entrance. Could he have turned in one bag and then gone back into the forest? As they wondered, a sound of dragging came from the forest. Emerging from the dusky woods was a blood-soaked young man. The blood on his body and hair wasn¡¯t his own. The dark blue blood of monsters. Najin¡¯s ominous appearance made the adventurers step back. He walked past them and handed his bag to the supervisor on the stage. A rustle. The supervisor emptied the bag, and seven hop goblin heads tumbled out. The adventurers¡¯ eyes widened. He had hunted only the highest-scoring monsters in the forest. They turned their attention to the scoreboard. Originally, Najin had 14 points. But with the addition of 21 points from seven hop goblins¡­ ¡°35 points¡­¡± Someone muttered as Marsen¡¯s name was erased from the first ce. Recing it was Ivan¡¯s name. 1st. Ivan (35 points). 2nd. Marsen (31 points). All eyes turned to Marsen. Her eyes wide, she stared at the scoreboard and then at Najin standing beside it. Against all expectations, the ck-rank adventurer had taken first ce. As Marsen hastily grabbed her bag to re-enter the forest, the supervisor rang a bell. The deadline had ended. Marsen red at Najin, but Najin, seemingly uninterested in her, simply walked down from the stage, indifferent to her existence. Marsen clenched her teeth and approached Najin. But as she did, Najin¡¯s head turned sharply. From deep within the forest, hurried footsteps approached. ¡°Huff!¡± Adventurers burst out of the bushes, gasping for air and copsing at the forest¡¯s entrance. Their faces were pale with terror. ¡°There¡¯s something in the forest!¡± Before their warning could sink in, Thud, Thud! Heavy footsteps resonated. The sound came closer to the forest entrance. Suddenly, a tree, uprooted from its base, flew towards the gathered adventurers. Screams and frantic retreats filled the air. A monster emerged from the dimly lit forest. Chapter 36 Chapter 36 ¨C The Red Eye Mercenaries (4) Emerging from the dusk-engulfed forest was a gargantuan creature. With a stature thrice the size of a human, thick limbs, and a neck seemingly impervious to any de, it exuded an aura far surpassing themon monsters. It was a troll, known amongst adventurers. Typically ssified as a blue-rank monster, it was said that a few blue-rank adventurers could hunt it down when working together. However¡­ ¡°Is that¡­¡± No one dared to move rashly. ¡°That¡¯s a Blood Troll, isn¡¯t it? What¡¯s it doing here¡­?¡± Before them stood not just any troll, but a variant known as the Blood Troll. A few months ago, this particr monster had in fifteen blue-rank adventurers and vanished, leading to a bounty on its head. Unlike ordinary trolls, it was cunning and intelligent. The central guild of Cambria rated the Blood Troll as red-rank. ck, Purple, Blue, Green, Red, White. It sat in the upper echelons of this six-tier system, deemed only manageable by a group of at least eight green-rank adventurers. Knowing this, none of the adventurers present dared to engage. It was a monster beyond their capabilities. Even Marsen, the highest-ranked green-rank adventurer present, wouldn¡¯t have taken the lead if this had been a prearranged hunt specifically for the Blood Troll. ¡®But¡­¡¯ Marsen surveyed the surroundings. Everyone was preparing to flee, a natural response. They were adventurers and mercenaries, prioritizing their own safety above all. Marsen was no different. They don¡¯t engage in risky ventures. They don¡¯t take on losing battles. Their own life is always the priority. That¡¯s the unspoken rule of this city. Some might mock this as selfishness, but the inhabitants of this city, be they adventurers or mercenaries, are not knights or heroes who throw themselves into dangerous battles. ¡°Damn it.¡± Marsen clicked her tongue and stepped back. Seeing even the strongest among them preparing to flee, the other adventurers began to distance themselves from the troll. For now, the Blood Troll only red in their direction, yet to make a move. But then, its behavior changed. As the adventurers started retreating, the Blood Troll, grinning maliciously, began to advance. The ground thundered with its every step, prompting the adventurers to turn and run. ¡°Run away!¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the mercenary group, Red Eye Mercenaries? They should be dealing with this¡­!¡± Panic spreads like wildfire. In the ensuing chaos, an adventurer got pushed and fell to the ground. ¡°Damn it! Who the hell¡­¡± The adventurer¡¯s words were cut short. The Blood Troll, a seasoned hunter, never missed an opportunity to strike a vulnerable prey. It lunged towards the fallen adventurer with a thud. ¡°Aaaaaaaaah!¡± The troll wielded a club, resembling a tree uprooted from its base. Just as it swung the club towards the fallen adventurer, someone rushed in, grabbing them by the nape and flinging them backwards. Boom! The club smashed into the ground, raising a cloud of dust. As the dust settled, a lone figure, standing face-to-face with the Blood Troll, became visible. The fleeing adventurers paused to look back. Who would be so reckless? Who would volunteer to be bait? Standing there was a ck-rank adventurer. A novice to the city, unfamiliar with its unwritten rules, the center of attention in this cleansing operation. A young man of unknown origins. ng! He drew his sword, seemingly ready to confront the Blood Troll. ¡°Supervisor.¡± The young man, Najin, addressed the supervisor on the stage. The supervisor, apparently preparing to signal for help and escape, was now immobilized by Najin¡¯s imposing presence. ¡°How many points is that one worth?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± The supervisor was at a loss for words. Even the adventurers around Najin couldn¡¯t grasp the meaning of his question. Points? Here? ¡°It looks quite bulky.¡± Najin smirked, pointing his sword at the Blood Troll. ¡°How about 30 points?¡± Adding 30 points to Najin¡¯s current score would total 65 points. That would surpass the highest score ever recorded in the Dochzenberg Forest cleansing operation, previously held by Barger, now the Vice-Captain of the Red Eye Mercenaries, at 57 points. ¡­A new record. Before participating in the operation, Najin had inquired not about the number of participants but about the highest score ever achieved in the Dochzenberg Forest cleansing operation. Even though he had already secured first ce. Najin had no interest in a marginal victory. He wasn¡¯t content with a first-ce finish by a narrow margin of points. Najin aimed for an overwhelming victory. A victory that would set a new all-time high, unassable by anyone. ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you added more.¡± Saying so, Najin slid sideways and leaped. The troll swung its club again, sending another cloud of dust into the air. But this time, there was no need to wait for the dust to clear. sh! Najin¡¯s de cut through the dust. Not only the dust but also the skin of the Blood Troll was slightly sliced by his sword. Blood sttered. However, what captured the attention of the onlookers more than the blood was the sword in Najin¡¯s hand. The glow on the de he wielded cut through the dust. A white, shining radiance. Almost akin to Sword Aura, it shone with its own unique color in the twilight-drenched forest. Cambria, the City of Opportunities. Since arriving in this city, Najin had yet to engage in battle with a true formidable opponent. He had sparred with Volkman, but that was merely practice, not a life-or-deathbat. Therefore, Najin longed for it. A battle with an equal or stronger opponent. A fight for survival. Najin knew that this was the fastest way to enhance his skills. Nothing was more valuable than the experience gained from battling a stronger adversary. ¡®Of course, I¡¯ll have to assess the opponent¡­¡¯ Najin nced at the Blood Troll before him. Undoubtedly, a formidable foe. With Excalibur and theplete white Sword Aura concealed, he couldn¡¯t be certain of victory against it. ¡®But¡­¡¯ Even without using those, He didn¡¯t feel like he was going to lose. Sooner orter, the Red Eye Mercenaries stationed at the heart of the forest woulde to aid, so retreating in the worst-case scenario wasn¡¯t a bad option. That¡¯s for when things go south. But right now, Najin was aiming for victory. His eyes, bloodshot with determination, read every move of the Blood Troll. Dodging the club, Najin started sprinting. ¡°Huff¡­¡± He exhaled deeply. As he inhaled again, Najin absorbed the mana scattered around him. The mana stored in his body was minimal, but at this moment, the quantity was irrelevant. After all, it was merely residue. The Mana Cultivation Technique taught by Merlin. This cultivation method does not primarily focus on umting mana. Instead, it strengthens the pathways through which mana flows and fortifies the body itself, creating a physique optimized for mana. Thus, the mana umted in Najin¡¯s body is merely the residue left after strengthening his physique. The amount of mana Najin can handle bes apparent only when he ¡®breathes.¡¯ Boom! Havingpleted his breathing technique, Najin suddenly elerated. With widened pathways and a body adapted to mana, the speed generated by their synergy was on par with that of Sword Experts who had honed their skills for over a decade. Movements surpassing even a seasoned Sword Expert. Najin¡¯s sword shed as he swiftly avoided the Blood Troll¡¯s club and shed its hide. However, he instantly realized the cut was too shallow. ¡®It didn¡¯t cut deeply enough.¡¯ -Of course. Merlin murmured. -Blood Troll hide is tough. Even trying to burn it with magic is difficult due to its high resistance. To slice it with Sword Aura, you¡¯ll need a trick. She suggested. -Should I tell you? ¡®No need.¡¯ Najin declined. His eyes rapidly assessing, Najin predicted the troll¡¯s next move. As the troll raised its club and stepped forward, Najin moved. ¡®I think I know how.¡¯ Najin gripped his sword more firmly. He had seen something simr recently. The mid-rank priest Volkman, effortlessly slicing through orcs without even drawing out his Sword Aura. Although orc hide was less tough than a troll¡¯s, Najin¡¯s sword was d in Sword Aura. If so, he should be able to slice through the troll¡¯s hide. Najin adjusted his stance. Woosh! The moment Najin stepped forward, the momentum shifted. His presence was no longer that of a nimble hunter, but more akin to a Sword Priest who had spent years mastering the sword. Slice. The power of swordsmanship, enhanced by a strengthened body and Sword Aura-wrapped de, was iparable to before. The swift sword strike grazed the side of the troll¡¯s club. Only the troll¡¯s hide had high resistance. The club, merely a blunt weapon of wood, couldn¡¯t withstand the Sword Aura. With a clean slicing sound, the club was split in half. The smoothly cut club fell, creating an opening in the troll¡¯s defense. Najin seized this moment. sh¡­ Najin¡¯s steps were a blur. Gliding and almost dancing, he utilized the swordsmanship of the mid-rank priest Volkman. Techniques only passed on to fully adept mid-rank priests, based on four foundational stances. Using this swordsmanship, Volkman had struck down orcs in a single blow. Recalling Volkman¡¯s movements, Najin sprung up. His sword swung in a fluid motion. The built-up momentum from his umted steps released in a single stroke. sh! This time, he felt the sensation of cutting. The troll¡¯s hide was torn, blood spurting out. A fatal blow that would have crippled any ordinary troll. But the Blood Troll was different from the norm. Roar! The troll roared, swinging its fist. Najin twisted in mid-air, blocking the fist with his sword, unable topletely negate the impact. He was thrown against a tree with a loud crash. Yet, Najin quickly got back up. As if the ordeal was nothing. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Najin wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand. Far from a pained expression, a smile formed on his lips. He had figured it out. How to properly slice through that thick hide. The adventurers, who had initially been nning to use Najin as bait to escape, now stood still, watching him battle the Blood Troll alone. Initially, they considered Najin mere bait for their escape, but now they simply watched his battle in silence, witnessing an unbelievable sight. The Blood Troll, a dangerous red-rank monster. The young man, Najin, was holding his own against it. Najin and the troll were evenly matched, an incredible feat. Was this ck-rank adventurer actually on par with red-rank experts? The adventurers¡¯ gazes wavered. ¡°Should we help him?¡± Someone suggested moving forward, but at that moment, they were halted by Najin¡¯s chilling gaze, turning back to look at them. Do not interfere. This is my prey. His eyes seemed to shout. Taking or meddling with another¡¯s prey was against the unwritten rules of adventurers. Thus, the adventurers remained silent, merely observing Najin¡¯s hunt. Roar! The troll roared, swinging a tree trunk it had ripped from the ground. As the trunk smashed into the earth, kicking up dust, Najin had already moved out of its path. Sliding to the side, he leapt onto the trunk held by the troll. Najin ran up the nted trunk. Climbing onto the troll¡¯s nape, he held his sword in one hand and plunged a dagger deep into the troll¡¯s eye socket with the other. Scream! The troll¡¯s scream echoed. Its eye, unprotected by tough hide, was easily pierced by the sharp dagger. Clinging to the troll¡¯s neck, supported by the dagger, Najin swung his sword. Swish, sh, sh! The iplete Sword Aura shed repeatedly. The de, swung over and over, shredded the troll¡¯s thick neck hide. Blood sttered in all directions. Despite the troll¡¯s violent thrashing, Najin held on, evading its grasping hands. Eventually, the troll screamed and repeatedly mmed its body against the tree. Only then did Najin kick off the troll¡¯s shoulder, leaping away. Thud, thud¡­ The Blood Troll, foaming blood at the mouth, red at Najin. A dagger stuck in one eye, its neck hide shredded and bleeding. Perhaps a few more sword strikes wouldpletely sever it. The onlooking adventurers felt a chill. Sometimes, his movements resembled those of a seasoned swordsman¡­ other times, like a ferocious hound tearing at its prey¡¯s throat. Overwhelming. The adventurers sensed the overwhelming presence of the young man. This ck-rank adventurer was no novice. He was a rising star, destined to reach the heights of this city¡¯s elite, just as those at the top had done. A new star rising in the city. And he wasn¡¯t just being watched by the adventurers. One of Cambria¡¯s five apexes, having just arrived in response to the distress signal, also observed the scene. ¡°Huh.¡± Roselin Ascalo let out a chuckle. ¡°Crazy guy, that one.¡± A smile spread across her lips, the smile of someone who has found a kindred spirit. Roselin watched Najin¡¯s movements with amusement. Najin assumed his stance. Preparing for the final strike. The most powerful blow he had seen. As Najin positioned himself to mimic that strike, Roselin¡¯s eyes widened. She recognized that stance. She had intended to observe a bit longer, but now she couldn¡¯t. Najin, unaware, was about to use a technique that should not be employed, especially not against such a monster. Chapter 37 Chapter 37 ¨C The Red Eye Mercenaries (5) Roselin stretched her gaze long and far. She scrutinized the expressions of the adventurers watching Najin and confirmed something. None of them recognized the technique Najin was about to use. After all, it was not a technique easily witnessed. Even Roselin had seen it only a handful of times ¨C three or maybe four. But even if she had seen it just once, Roselin would have recognized it instantly. Such was the profound impression it had left on her. The most knightly of knights. Godif, the leader of Atanga. She couldn¡¯t forget the swordsmanship he exhibited. It was the very embodiment of Atanga¡¯s creed. A stubborn style that never retreats, only breaks through head-on, and thus, it was the most knightly of swords. Thump. Musing over that day¡¯s memory, Roselin took a step forward. The sword technique Najin was about to unfold should not be used against a mere monster. The technique Najin was about to disy was of Atanga¡¯s swordsmanship. Specifically, a sword bound by principles. As far as Roselin remembered, this technique was only disyed against particr opponents. ¡®Either to punish those who have tarnished the name of a knight, having lost both honor and pride¡­¡¯ Or, when recognizing an opponent as a worthy adversary. A noble adversary worthy of colliding with all their might, only then would this technique be used. Roar! Using such a technique against a mere troll like this was inappropriate. Roselin, though not her ce to interfere, did not want to see such a technique wasted on a troll. Tap. With a light stomp, Roselin closed the distance between her and Najin, who was quite a way off. In a single leap, she stood right behind Najin, just as he sensed her presence and turned around. ¡°Hey, kid.¡± She grabbed Najin¡¯s shoulder and pulled him back. ¡°Atanga¡¯s swordsmanship should not be used against such a monster. Let¡¯s talkter.¡± Murmuring with a smile, Roselin found herself liking this ¡®Ivan¡¯ even more. His tenacity to dive into the fray with the Blood Troll and the stubbornness to clinch victory appealed to her. Swoosh. Pushing Najin back, Roselin stepped forward. The moment she did, the Blood Troll, which had been lunging at Najin, hesitated and retreated. It sensed that its opponent was someone it shouldn¡¯t engage with. Roar! The troll retreated, howling. Its howling shook the forest. Soon, responding to the troll¡¯s call, more monsters started to gather. But Roselin seemed unconcerned with them, instead turning back to look at something else. Her focus was on Najin. Najin, too, was looking at Roselin. With a frown, as if displeased for having his prey snatched or his immersion in the fight disturbed, Najin¡¯s expression made Roselin burst intoughter. That¡¯s how an adventurer should be. ¡®He¡¯s growing on me.¡¯ About to draw her longsword at her waist, Roselin chuckled. Using it would probably earn her another scolding from vice-captain Barger, but that was hardly her concern. ¡°Sigh, I don¡¯t usually show this off¡­¡± She spoke to Najin. ¡°But I guess I owe you one for the show.¡± Roselin reached towards her back. Not the ordinary sword at her waist, but the two sheaths tied horizontally across her lower back. ng! Two swords were drawn. Two short swords, half the length of a longsword, with jet-ck des. The twin swords shimmered ominously. -Masterpiece, that one. Merlin¡¯s voice echoed in Najin¡¯s ears as Roselin drew the twin swords from her waist. ¡®A masterpiece?¡¯ -Yes. Pay attention. It¡¯s not something you see often. Najin watched Roselin approach the oing monsters and the Blood Troll, wielding the ck-ded twin swords. Merlin had referred to them as a masterpiece. ¡®What¡¯s a masterpiece?¡¯ -The 47 relics forged by the legendary cksmith of the primordial era. They are weapons that, without any magic involved, produce effects akin to magic. Merlin exined. -It¡¯splicated to describe in detail, but that¡¯s the gist. Even in my era, those who wielded masterpieces could create unexpected variables. Then, Merlin added: -I¡¯ve seen the masterpiece she¡¯s holding before. It was wielded by a hero from the Alliance centuries ago¡­ The weapon¡¯s name was Echo, wasn¡¯t it? As Najin listened to Merlin, Roselin took a step forward, facing the swarm of monsters and the troll. Lifting the twin swords, she then¡­ ng. shed them together. The resonating ng of the swords didn¡¯t cease with a single impact. The sound echoed,yering upon itself, as if creating echoes. The adventurers frowned at the noise, but Najin¡¯s eyes widened. His senses were alerting him. Watching Roselin intently, he saw¡­ Fizz. Sword Aura surged along the twin swords. This Sword Aura was different from any Najin had seen before. The Sword Aura he knew and could generate was a mere sh of light. But¡­ Zing! The Sword Aura wrapping Roselin¡¯s swords resembled saw des. It took on a bizarre form, like beast ws or mrs ¨C a unique shape imbued with Roselin¡¯s own mind and spirit. Imparting one¡¯s mind into Sword Aura, altering its form. The realm of a Sword Seeker. With Sword Aura trailing, Roselin moved. Stomping the ground, she elerated in an instant. Even Najin, with his wide-open eyes, struggled to track her movement. At that moment, her twin swords traced a perfect trajectory. ng¡­ The echoing sword sh¡­ ng! Suddenly intensified. Amidst the echoing noise, Najin saw the Blood Troll he had been battling, now covered in countless cuts. The monsters drawn by the troll¡¯s howling also bore thin lines across their bodies. As the echo subsided¡­ The lines on the monsters¡¯ bodies turned red. sh! Blood spurted in all directions. The monsters, sliced into small pieces along the lines, copsed. It was a single strike, an unbelievable sight created with just one swing. Najin gaped at Roselin. It was the first time¡­ He had seen a sword strike that defied understanding, even when seen with his own eyes. He might mimic the movement, but how that action caused such an effect was beyond Najin¡¯sprehension. It made sense, as Najin still had much to learn about Sword Aura. What Roselin disyed was her unique technique, utilizing her own Sword Aura and the special properties of the masterpieces. It was a technique only essible at the realm of a Sword Seeker who deeply understood Sword Aura and had awakened the concept of ¡®sword.¡¯ A new concept, encountered for the first time. Najin¡¯s eyes sparkled as he faced his first milestone. ¡®That¡¯s¡­¡¯ That is what a Sword Seeker is. That is the pinnacle of this city. With a twirl of her sword, Roselin turned back. She smiled at Najin, who was staring at her with wide eyes. She mouthed words to him without making a sound. How about that. Awesome, right? Her confident appearance might not have been the coolest, but even Najin couldn¡¯t deny being overwhelmed by Roselin¡¯s sword strike. Despite a bit ofmotion, the Dochzenberg Forest purge waspleted. Under the management of the mercenarypany, adventurers gathered at the forest¡¯s entrance to receive their payment. Roselin added a little extra to the promised reward and exined: ¡°This is for our mercenarypany¡¯s mistake. The appearance of the Blood Troll, a special entity, was an unforeseen variable, and failing to control it was our responsibility. We apologize with this additionalpensation.¡± Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities due to the appearance of the Blood Troll, thanks to one adventurer who stood up to it. ¡°¡­¡± Receiving their payment, the adventurers nced at the scoreboard. While the rankings remained unchanged since before the Blood Troll¡¯s appearance, the scores were different. 1st ce. Ivan. (85 points) The original score of 35 points, with an added 50 points. Roselin argued that since she intervened, the Blood Troll was essentially caught by Ivan¡­ and rated it at 50 points. No one could disagree with her opinion. Initially, it seemed like a fair fight, but as time passed, Najin was clearly overpowering the Blood Troll. Adventurers who witnessed the ordeal agreed with Roselin¡¯s view. The 50 points were befitting for the presumed red-rank Blood Troll. ¡®85 points¡­¡¯ Looking at the scoreboard, adventurers shook their heads in awe. A score that dwarfed the record of Barger, the current vice-captain of the Red-Eyed Mercenaries. An overwhelmingly unmatched record. They nced silently at Najin. Resting, cleaning the blood from his clothes and hair, Najin¡¯s badge hung around his neck, still ck. But no one, like before, mocked him or derogatorily called him a brat. He proved his skill in front of everyone. And showed his worth through his achievements. Despite witnessing Najin¡¯s courage against the Blood Troll, no adventurer dared question his credentials. Their looks were devoid of contempt or irritation, reced only by awe. ¡°Thanks for saving me. I owe you a drink.¡± An adventurer whose life was saved by Najin earlier handed him his card and left. Other adventurers also passed by Najin with brief greetings. An adventurer who proved his worth, recognized by his peers. As everyone expressed their awe and left, only one adventurer couldn¡¯t do the same. ¡°¡­¡± The green-ranked adventurer. Marsen, who ced second after Najin, clenched her teeth as she passed him. -Look at her eyes. So rude. ¡®Who is she?¡¯ -That¡¯s the one who picked a fight with you before the start. Najin tilted his head. He hadn¡¯t bothered to check who was in second ce or their name. It didn¡¯t seem necessary. At Najin¡¯s reaction, Merlin chuckled. ¡°Ivan.¡± While Najin was resting, his name was called for thest time. Climbing onto the stage, Najin received the reward money handed by Roselin. The pouch felt substantially heavy. ¡°I¡¯ve settled the score ording to the points, and added a little extra for your trouble. Thanks. Your intervention saved our mercenarypany¡¯s reputation.¡± Roselin patted Najin¡¯s shoulder. The appearance of the Blood Troll was an unexpected variable that the mercenarypany failed to anticipate. There could have been casualties, but Najin¡¯s intervention prevented any harm. That allowed for a smooth resolution of the situation, for which Roselin was grateful. ¡°That¡¯s that.¡± Roselin handed Najin a wooden box. Inside, folded neatly, was dark red leather. ¡°This is the hide of the Blood Troll you hunted. Troll hide is a luxury item. Especially a variant like the Blood Troll¡­ it¡¯s priceless.¡± The durable and resistant hide of trolls. Already a valuable material for armor, the hide of a variant Blood Troll was iparably more valuable. ¡°Normally, the rights to the materials from monsters hunted in Dochzenberg Forest belong to our mercenarypany¡­¡± That was the original condition of themission. ¡°But this is different. It was an unlisted monster, and the guild had a bounty on it. It¡¯s entirely your catch, so it¡¯s yours.¡± In other words¡­ Najin understood what Roselin was implying. ¡°You¡¯vepleted the Dochzenberg Forest purge and simultaneously a red-rank bounty quest. I¡¯ll apany you to our mercenarypany and the guild. I¡¯ll testify that you subdued the Blood Troll.¡± Roselin grinned slyly. ¡°That¡¯s all the messages.¡± Suddenly standing beside Najin, she looped her arm around his shoulder. As Najin tried to resist: ¡°Let¡¯s have a drink and talk.¡± Roselin whispered in his ear. ¡°About Atanga¡¯s swordsmanship. There¡¯s some stuff we need to discuss. And I owe you for the first ce reward too.¡± So, no more talk, juste along, kid. Looping her arm around Najin, Roselin yfully jabbed his side. Watching from behind, Barger and the mercenaries sighed. She really took a liking to him. They shrugged and followed their leader, walking ahead. Chapter 38 Chapter 38 ¨C The Red Eye Mercenaries (6) When Najin arrived in Cambria, the sun had already set. Since the central guild was closed, the Red-Eyed Mercenaries, including Najin, headed straight to the tavern, adhering to the mercenaries¡¯ tradition of grabbing a drink after a job. Roselin Ascalo, the leader of the Red-Eyed Mercenaries, seemed to have no intention of letting Najin go, her arm hung around his neck. ¡°This tavern has the best drinks, you know. I¡¯m a regr here,¡± Roselin hummed, pushing open the tavern door. The ce was empty, reserved in advance by Roselin. The mercenaries began to take their seats. At the center of the numerous tables, Roselin plopped down, making Najin sit beside her. Surrounded by the gaze of dozens of members, Najin felt somewhat suffocated. ¡°Ha, boss, you seem quite taken with him,¡± one mercenary chuckled. ¡°Fighting a blood troll in a duel? Man, that¡¯s some romance right there. What¡¯s your name again?¡± ¡°I heard he even manifested his sword aura.¡± ¡°This guy¡¯s too good for a newbie.¡± Whispers filled the air as mercenaries circled around Najin, who nced at their nametes ¨C the lowest rank among them was green. ¡®The Red-Eyed Mercenaries really do have the strength of a formidable knight order.¡¯ -Most of them are impressive, especially their leader, Roselin, Merlinmented. Roselin Ascalo. The standard of the mercenaries, centered around her, was unmistakably high. ¡°Back off, you lot!¡± Roselin waved the gathering mercenaries away. As they returned to their ces, she fixed her gaze on Najin. ¡°So, your name is Ivan?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°And you¡¯re twenty-eight?¡± Najin nodded, and Roselinughed. ¡°With that face, you look barely twenty, not twenty-eight.¡± ¡°¡­I am twenty-eight.¡± ¡°Sure, that exins your skill level.¡± Roselin scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re a Sword Expert, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°You can fully manifest your sword aura, can¡¯t you? You¡¯re just holding back. It makes no sense to have such a high degree of sword aura fragments and not be able to manifest the full aura.¡± Her eyes narrowed. To others, Najin might seem inexperienced, but not to Roselin. She was a true Sword Seeker. ¡°A barely twenty-year-old Sword Expert, and you handle both the swordsmanship of the Order of the Sword and Atanga¡¯s techniques?¡± Najin felt like he was being stripped bare. He braced himself and met Roselin¡¯s gaze, her eyes glittering red. ¡°Ha.¡± Roselin chuckled at Najin¡¯s guarded posture and took a long sip of her drink. She then pped his back heartily. ¡°Why so tense? I¡¯m not going to eat you.¡± Najin rubbed his back where Roselin¡¯s hefty handnded. ¡°I just brought you here for a drink and a chat. No need to be so guarded. Want a drink?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never had alcohol before.¡± ¡°What kind of twenty-eight-year-old are you, not knowing the taste of alcohol?¡± Roselin sighed. ¡°If you¡¯re going to pretend to be twenty-eight, you should at least know how to drink. Come on, have a drink.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve never¡­¡± ¡°When an adult offers, you take it, kid.¡± With some coercion, Najin clinked sses with Roselin and took a sip. It was refreshing but not particrly tasty, just a sensation of coolness. ¡°There you go. You drink well.¡± Roselin smiled, refilling Najin¡¯s ss. Najin drank casually, and while the other members and Roselin showed signs of inebriation, he remained unaffected. ¡°Damn, this kid doesn¡¯t get drunk¡­¡± Roselin looked at him incredulously, her n to get him tipsy and talk falling through. Najin was puzzled himself. He¡¯d heard alcohol brings a buzz, but he felt nothing. -Ah, right. Merlin whispered in Najin¡¯s ear. -You won¡¯t ever get drunk, you know? ¡®Why¡¯s that?¡¯ -Excalibur¡¯s basic blessing includes purification and healing. It seems to work on drunkenness too. Arthur never got drunk either. Najin chuckled, recalling a simr tale from the fairy tales. ¡°Hmph, h.¡± Roselin, chin propped, watched Najin with amusement. ¡°So, where did you learn Atanga¡¯s swordsmanship?¡± ¡°I knew a knight from Atanga.¡± ¡°And he taught you the sword?¡± ¡°Not exactly.¡± Najin smirked. ¡°He taught me many other things. I owe him a lot.¡± Ivan and Offen. It was because of them that he was here. Najin exhaled deeply. ¡°That Atanga knight must have really liked you, huh?¡° ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°The technique you were about to use on the troll, it¡¯s known in Atanga as ¡®the bound sword.¡¯ That¡¯s why I stopped you. It¡¯s not meant for such use.¡± Roselin muttered. ¡°It¡¯s a technique reserved for punishing those who tarnish the knight¡¯s name or worthy opponents who deserve full effort.¡± In other words, ¡°It¡¯s a technique shown only to worthy adversaries. Didn¡¯t get that far in the exnation, did you?¡± ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± ¡°Yep. It¡¯s rarely shown. I¡¯ve only seen it a few times myself.¡± Najin fell silent for a moment. The technique he intended to use against the troll was the same one that Ivan, in his final moment, had shattered with his frontal assault. ¡®The technique for an acknowledged rival.¡¯ Najin couldn¡¯t help but smile bitterly. In the end, it meant Ivan had acknowledged him. ¡°Enough chit-chat.¡± Roselin stretched out. ¡°Ivan.¡± She called Najin¡¯s name after a long sigh. ¡°Ever thought about joining the Red-Eyed Mercenaries?¡± The moment Roselin made her offer, the tavern fell silent. Mercenaries, previously busy with their drinks, silently turned their eyes toward Najin. In the suddenly quiet atmosphere, Najin met Roselin¡¯s glittering eyes head-on. The Red-Eyed Mercenaries. It wasn¡¯t a bad option, but unsurprisingly, Najin¡¯s response was the same. Ignoring the surrounding stares, he briefly replied, ¡°I don¡¯t n on joining anywhere yet.¡± ¡°Wow, that¡¯s a quick rejection. Most people at least pretend to consider it,¡± Roselin chuckled. The watching membersughed, saying, ¡°The boss got turned down.¡± It seemed they had somewhat expected this response. To the Red-Eyed Mercenaries, an attractive group to the city¡¯s adventurers, a figure aiming for the top like Najin wouldn¡¯t find them as appealing. The members sensed the ambition in the young man who had dominated the battle against the blood troll. ¡°Well, if you ever change your mind,e find us,¡± Roselin muttered nonchntly, indicating the offer still stood. ¡°Now about your first-ce reward. Since it was supposed to be a chance to join the Red-Eyed Mercenaries¡­ I guess we need to change it. Barter,e here for a second.¡± ¡°What now?¡± ¡°That thing, you know. The one with my name on it.¡± Vice-captain Barter sighed and handed Roselin a piece of paper ¨C a certificate with her name on it. Roselin then passed it to Najin. ¡°It¡¯s a chance to use my name once. Think of it as a chance to ask me for a favor.¡± Simr yet different from what Dieta had given him. It was a chance to use Roselin¡¯s name, one of the city¡¯s top figures, in any situation. ¡°Use it when you really need it. It¡¯s a big opportunity to borrow the name of someone like me.¡± Having said what she intended, Roselin exhaled briefly. ¡°Now that I think about it, I¡¯ve been asking all the questions. Got anything you want to know? Ask me anything, I¡¯ll answer a thing or two.¡± ¡°There is one thing.¡± Najin looked down, his gaze falling on Roselin¡¯s waist. The handles of two swords protruded awkwardly from her back. ¡°What exactly are those weapons?¡± ¡°Oh, these guys?¡± Roselin lightly tapped the sword handles, then pulled them out with a ng. Then, thump. She nted the two swords shallowly into the table. The des smoothly cut into the wood. The innkeeper¡¯s frown met with Roselin¡¯s apologetic ¡®sorry, sorry¡¯ as she turned back to Najin. ¡°Curious about these weapons?¡± ¡°¡­Commander.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine, Barter. My artifact is well-known, and it¡¯s all about how you use it.¡± Ignoring her deputy¡¯s protest, Roselin began to exin. ¡°Kid, you know what an artifact is?¡± ¡°I know they¡¯re weapons with mysteries.¡± ¡°Right. Normally, it¡¯s best to keep an artifact¡¯s mystery hidden, but mine is a bit different. Its previous user was too famous, and all its secrets got exposed.¡± Originally, the artifact Echo was used by a hero of the Union hundreds of years ago. ¡°So, yeah. I¡¯ll tell you.¡± Roselin chuckled. ¡°The 21st artifact, Echo.¡± She flicked the back of the twin swords. A crisp ring echoed through the tavern, the soundyering and echoing like in the forest. ¡°Echo makes everything echo. Sound, impact, even mana.¡± ¡°So, the technique in the forest¡­¡± ¡°Yes. I resonated my sword aura with the echoing Echo. It¡¯s a technique that uses sound to spread the sword aura¡­ The details are my secret. You get the idea?¡± Najin nodded, though his eyes remained fixed on the ck des embedded in the table. Fascinated. ¡°Interested in artifacts?¡± ¡°They¡¯re intriguing. It¡¯s my first time seeing something like this.¡± ¡°Indeed, they¡¯re not something you see every day. Since you¡¯re interested, I¡¯ll tell you more about artifacts¡­¡± Roselin pointed to the des. ¡°Despite being thousands, maybe tens of thousands of years old, there¡¯s not a single scratch on the de. That¡¯s one of an artifact¡¯s traits.¡± ¡°A trait?¡± ¡°They hardly break. Even a Sword Master¡¯s aura couldn¡¯t damage it. Almost indestructible.¡± Almost indestructible ¨C meaning, notpletely so. ¡°Do they break?¡± ¡°Very rarely, but it happens.¡± Roselin nodded. ¡°Artifacts can break if they keep shing with other artifacts. But historically, most are broken by ¡®higher concept¡¯ weapons.¡± ¡­Higher concept weapons? Najin tilted his head, hearing Merlin¡¯sughter in his ears. ¡°What are higher concept weapons?¡± ¡°You¡¯d be surprised. There are a couple of famous ones.¡± Roselin smiled. ¡°One is Gram, the cursed and holy sword of the first Sword Saint. The other is¡­ well, the most famous.¡± The most famous sword in history. ¡°The Star¡¯s Sword, Excalibur.¡± The peak of all weapons, which brought eternal death to immortal demons. At the mention of Excalibur, Najin gasped. ¡°Even artifacts or constetions¡¯ relics are mere metal in front of Excalibur. There must have been five artifacts it¡¯s destroyed in history?¡± Najin questioned Merlin internally. Was that true? -Not five, but seven, and it¡¯s true. Demons or fallen constetions wielding artifacts were somewhatmon. ¡®I couldn¡¯t even cut a longsword with it.¡¯ -Well, you don¡¯t have a star yet. Merlin¡¯s response was as if it was the most obvious thing. -You need a star to fully unleash Excalibur¡¯s power. Right now, it¡¯s just a holy sword with ¡®demon ying,¡¯ healing, and purification effects. It sounded impressive enough. ¡°By the way.¡± Remembering something, Roselin snapped her fingers. ¡°Barter, didn¡¯t you say someone pulled Excalibur recently? Any idea who?¡± ¡°No one knows yet. If it were known, the whole continent would be in an uproar.¡± ¡°True. But I bet one of the Sword Masters did it. They seem to be hiding it.¡± ¡°My guess is Gerd, the Empire¡¯s Sword Master.¡± As Barter and Roselin discussed, Najin yed with his wristband. The constetion on his wrist was visible only to him, but he instinctively covered it with his palm. Early morning. Woken by chirping birds, Najin blinked his groggy eyes. He was the only one sober after the mercenaries¡¯ night of drinking. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Groaning with a hangover, Roselin clung to Najin¡¯s back. It was the price for her relentless attempt to get Najin drunk. ¡°Wake up, please.¡± ¡°Just to the guild¡­ I need to stamp thepletion of the quest.¡± Sighing, Najin carried Roselin towards the central guild. Suddenly, he heard retching sounds from behind. ¡°Ugh¡­ Hey, let me down. Ugh.¡± After setting Roselin down, she squatted in an alley corner and started dry heaving. ¡°Pat my back, will you? Ugh¡­¡± Najin sighed and patted her back. Crouched in the alley, holding her flowing hair, Roselin looked pitiful. ¡®This¡­ is a peak of the adventurers¡¯ city?¡¯ Najin felt an unexpected emptiness. He thought the White tier he aimed for was more magnificent. As he mulled over this, a voice called from behind. ¡°Oh?¡± Turning, Najin saw a familiar face. The snake who swallows gold, Dieta, dressed differently than usual, was headed to the central guild. Recognizing Najin, she waved. ¡°Nice to see you again¡­?¡± Her enthusiasm waned upon seeing Roselin, seemingly in her mid-twenties but actually twice that, with her notorious red eyes. ck hair down to her waist. Casual, carefree attire. Pristine pale skin, despite her age. And those unsettling red eyes. Dieta, realizing she was looking at ¡®that woman,¡¯ narrowed her eyes. ¡°¡­Roselin Ascalo?¡± Just then, Roselin spoke. ¡°What, who¡¯s calling¡­ Ugh!¡± Chapter 39 Chapter 39 ¨C Merchant¡¯s District (1) ¡°Ugh!¡± As Najin patted Roselin¡¯s back, he quickly stepped back a few paces. Dieta, who had called out Roselin¡¯s name, grimaced as if she had swallowed a bug. The pinnacle of the City of Opportunity, Cambria. One of the five White-tier adventurers in the city. A few seconds passed that could severely damage her glittering reputation, evidenced by the aftermath ofst night¡¯s drunken frenzy. When the sounds ceased, Roselin wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and rinsed her mouth with water from a bottle. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s better.¡± Lifting her head, Roselin¡¯s face seemed refreshingly cool. She patted her chest and repeatedly exhaled deeply. ¡°Hey, what¡¯s this? The snake woman?¡± Roselin tilted her head as she recognized Dieta, the girl who had called her name. Normally, they would pass each other without even a greeting, only clicking their tongues in disdain. It was, in a way, mutual loathing, influenced by their different affiliations. Roselin¡¯s mercenary group was supported by the ¡®Garchea¡¯pany, a top contender in Cambria alongside Dieta¡¯spany. Naturally, the rtions between the twopanys weren¡¯t amicable. Roselin, supported by Garchea, understandably didn¡¯t get along with Dieta, the head of Dieta¡¯spany. ¡°Calling someone ¡®snake woman¡¯ to their face, which household¡¯s manners are those? Didn¡¯t receive proper etiquette education, red eyes?¡± ¡°Casually using a hate speech as if it¡¯s nothing, you¡¯re no better, missy.¡± Dieta smiled behind her hand, while Roselin¡¯s lips curled in a sneer. Then, Roselin noticed where Dieta¡¯s gaze was directed. ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Roselin chuckled. Dieta¡¯s gaze was fixed on Najin, standing a step away. The young man she had vouched for. It must have been strange for her to see him so close to Roselin. ¡°Hey, Ivan.¡± As if to show off, Roselin stretched out her arm and put it around Najin¡¯s shoulder. Najin¡¯s expression crumpled rapidly, but he sighed and remained silent. He needed Roselin for reporting to the central guild. ¡°We had funst night. How about another drink next time?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pass.¡± Najin tly refused. He had learnedst night that ¡®one drink¡¯ in Roselin¡¯s terms wasn¡¯t quite literal. ¡°Let¡¯s get going. I want to report quickly and find a ce for a hangover cure. I know a good restaurant nearby, want to join?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± ¡°The meat soup there is really tasty.¡± Roselin, loudly enough for Dieta to hear, hastened her steps, heading into the central guild building with Najin. As they walked away, Roselin nced back to see Dieta standing there, her eyes wide with fury. Her yellow eyes seething with rage. Roselin sneered, looking at those eyes. Although she didn¡¯t say anything, Dieta could almost hear Roselin¡¯s voice in her ears. The adventurer you sponsored is awesome. ¡°Ah-ha.¡± Dieta burst intoughter. Her mouth smiled, but her eyes were far from amused. Watching Roselin, arm in arm with Najin, walking away, Dieta muttered to herself. ¡°Is this a challenge¡­?¡± The moment they stepped into the guild. ¡°¡­¡± The guild, bustling with adventurers and merchants, suddenly fell silent, as if cold water had been poured over it. Najin could feel the weight of numerous gazes on him. Many eyes were fixed on him. At first, he thought it was because he entered with Roselin, a White-tier mercenary. But soon, Najin realized that wasn¡¯t the case. The stares were directed at him, not Roselin. ¡°That adventurer¡­¡± ¡°ck-tier badge, it seems right.¡± ¡°Dochzenberg Forest cleanup, the highest score ever¡­¡± Whispers broke the silence. The guild hall filled with murmurs of adventurers. ¡°The ck-tier that took down the blood troll¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, I saw it with my own eyes.¡± ¡°That troll? He¡¯s set for promotion then.¡± Rumors of Najin¡¯s feats in the Dochzenberg Forest cleanup had already spread throughout the guild. Naturally, the cleanup had earlier returnees whose tales likely fueled these rumors. Typically, the Dochzenberg Forest cleanup is a significant quest for adventurers seeking to leap from Blue-tier and above. It was natural for adventurers to focus their attention on him. Especially when the highest score in Dochzenberg cleanup history was broken by a ck-tier adventurer. ¡°The stares are quite piercing.¡± -That¡¯s what it means to attract attention. Merlin spoke calmly. -That¡¯s the weight you¡¯ll have to bear as you aim for the top. If he was prepared to stand at the pinnacle, the weight of these stares was something he had to endure. ¡°Is it really true?¡± Naturally, not all voices were kind. Those who hadn¡¯t witnessed Najin¡¯s feats doubted his achievements, trying to downy and question his starting point. Despite the murmuring, Najin¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He had heard such words too often. In the Underground City, Artman, not here. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Najin exhaled briefly and squared his shoulders. There was no need to shrink away. ¡°That¡¯s right, that¡¯s it.¡± Roselin, arm in arm with Najin, muttered softly, audible only to him. ¡°You don¡¯t need to care or keep those voices in mind. There¡¯s no need to look down, right?¡± Roselin¡¯s lips twisted into a smile. Pleased with Najin¡¯s confident demeanor, she patted his shoulder and led him to the guild¡¯s VIP counter, reserved only for White-tier adventurers. A counter where one can report directly to the highest levels of the central guild without waiting or taking a number. ¡°I¡¯m Roselin, leader of the Red-Eyed Mercenaries.¡± Her demeanor and attitude changed dramatically upon entering. No longer the drunkendy from the neighborhood, but Roselin Ascalo, leader of one of Cambria¡¯srgest mercenary groups. Najin observed her closely from the nearest position. The report on the quest was quicklypleted. What took time was the discussion about Najin¡¯s aplishments in the Dochzenberg Forest cleanup and his role in subduing the blood troll. With the materials from the monsters brought in by the mercenaries early in the morning, the subjugation of the blood troll was epted, but¡­ The adventurer who contributed the most. The fact that Najin, essentially a solo contributor, was a ¡°ck-tier¡± posed a problem. If true, his promotion was inevitable. ¡°If you can¡¯t believe it, ask the other participating adventurers. They¡¯ll all give simr answers.¡± However, the supervisor¡¯s hesitation didn¡¯tst long. ¡°I vouch for him. I, Roselin Ascalo, acknowledge this guy¡¯s abilities. What more do you need?¡± Roselin, one of the city¡¯s pinnacles, was vouching for Najin. Moreover, Najin had demonstrated his sword aura in front of the guild¡¯s supervisor. Najin¡¯s sword aura was still iplete. However, even that was enough for the experienced guild supervisor to recognize Najin¡¯s proximity to the Sword Expert realm. ¡°No need for a promotion test.¡± The supervisor stated briefly. Usually, promotions above Blue-tier were based on various factors, including past quests, satisfaction and ratings from clients, etc., decided by the supervisor. But Najin¡¯s case was exceptional. A ck-tier adventurer scoring the highest in the Dochzenberg cleanup and subduing a Red-tier blood troll. It was an extraordinary case, so making an exception seemed right. ¡°Your badge.¡± Najin handed his badge to the supervisor. Returning with a Green-tier badge, the supervisor handed it to Najin. ck, Purple, Blue, Green. A three-tier jump from ck to Green. This was the first such case since the three-tier promotion of ¡®Kapman Theosis,¡¯ a White-tier adventurer from the Techo Mountain Rangers. A truly exceptional promotion. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to be promoted so quickly.¡± Najin looked bewilderedly at the badge in his hand. A Green-tier badge. A rank that truly made him an ¡®upper-ss adventurer¡¯ in the city. ¡°Congrattions, young one.¡± Roselin draped her arm around Najin¡¯s neck. ¡°Looking at this rate, you¡¯ll reach Red-tier soon enough, right? Considering your age, that would make you the youngest.¡± Even with the false identity of being 28, bing a Red-tier adventurer would set a record for the youngest. Roselin expressed this thought. ¡°It might take a while to reach White-tier¡­ Well, even if you make it within ten years, you¡¯d almost be the youngest. I reached White-tier when I was thirty-nine.¡± Roselin was thirty-nine when she achieved Sword Seeker status and ascended to White-tier. Hearing this, Najin responded briefly. ¡°I don¡¯t think it will take that long.¡± ¡°Look at this cheeky young one.¡± Roselin chuckled. ¡°Well, good luck.¡± Patted on the back by Roselin, Najin left the counter with her. He had entered the guild as a ck-tier, but now he was wearing a Green-tier badge around his neck. The moment Najin stepped outside, and his badge was noticed, the adventurers¡¯ eyes widened. The ck-tier adventurer had bypassed Purple and Blue, directly ascending to Green-tier. Najin, just a few days ago an unnoticed adventurer, was now a name known by all. Through rumors, newspapers, and countless other means, the name of the Green-tier adventurer, Ivan, would spread throughout the city. Najin¡¯s goal of distinguishing himself had been practically achieved. Several days had passed since Najin became a Green-tier adventurer, and he had been quite busy. He moved out of his cost-effective inn and relocated closer to the central guild. The rent was several times more expensive, but it was well within his means. After all, he had more than enough money. The funds from the quest given by Dieta were still substantial, plus thepensation from the Dochzenberg Forest cleanup and the bounty for subduing the blood troll. He wouldn¡¯t have to worry about money for a while. ¡°Since I¡¯ve earned some money¡­¡± Afterpleting his usual morning training, Najin thought as he showered with cold water. ¡°Should I go get some equipment?¡± -Definitely a good idea to get some armor and a spare sword. Having potions and such wouldn¡¯t hurt either. Merlin agreed. Busy as he had been, Najin hadn¡¯t had the chance to leisurely shop for gear. But now he had the time and had raised his rank sufficiently. Green-tier ssified him as an upper-ss adventurer. He could now confidently enter the district of skilled artisans, previously inessible to a ck-tier adventurer. Dressed casually, Najin headed towards the artisans¡¯ street. ¡°Alchemy shops, renowned cksmiths, stores dealing in magical artifacts¡­¡± Najin considered equipping himself on this visit. Not necessarily top-tier gear, but basic equipment was necessary. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to have a weapon or two for emergencies. ¡°Come to think of it¡­¡± Najin nced at the sword at his waist. Forged by Master Hogel, it had been hispanion since his battles in the Underground City, through his duel with Ivan, and even against the blood troll. He was aware he had been quite rough with it. It could break at any time, though it showed no noticeable ws, as he oiled and checked it daily. But there could still be unseen defects. If there were, he would need to get it repaired or buy a spare sword. With that in mind, Najin first visited a renowned cksmith¡¯s forge in Cambria. Supported by Dieta¡¯spany, his visit was facilitated by her rmendation. Upon arriving and showing his sword, the cksmith examined it closely, then called for someone else. ¡°I need to get Master Hughes for this.¡± After a few minutes, an old man, known as Master Hughes, the city¡¯s most skilled cksmith, came with the cksmith. Holding Najin¡¯s longsword, he asked, ¡°Where did you get this sword?¡± ¡°A cksmith I know made it for me.¡± ¡°Nonsense. You must have found or stolen it.¡± Hughes frowned deeply. ¡°Who would make a sword supplied to the Atanga Knights for a youngd like you?¡± As he ran his finger along the de of the longsword, he continued, ¡°You can fool others, but not me. This is a master¡¯s work. The work of a cksmith skilled enough to forge swords for the Atanga Knights. Not just anyone can make this.¡± Master. A title given to only a few cksmiths. ¡°If someone made it for you, tell me their name. Let¡¯s see whose work this is.¡± Chapter 40 Chapter 40 ¨C Merchant¡¯s District (2) Master Hughes. This esteemed elderly cksmith, known as Master Hughes, owned thergest forge in Cambria and was revered as the leader of the Artisans¡¯ District. His stubbornness was even considered a virtue befitting a craftsman of his standing. Despite his gruff manner and prickly attitude, which often became the talk among adventurers, his skills were unquestionably genuine. Decades had been spent hammering steel. A master cksmith whose skills could secure a prominent ce even in the Empire¡¯s capital, Hughes could have earned the title of a master craftsman had he sought it. However, preferring not to be bound by anything, he chose to settle and live in this city. ¡°I couldn¡¯t have mistaken it.¡± It was this very recognition by Master Hughes that the sword in his hands was the work of a true master. He examined the sword brought in by the young man once more. The method of finishing the de. The channels carved into the de allowing the flow of mana. The perfectly bnced and seemingly custom-fitted handle. A in longsword, devoid of any mboyance, yet its craftsmanship spoke volumes of the cksmith¡¯s experience. The simplicity of the sword held its own beauty, a work faithful to the essence of cksmithing, iparable to the mboyant creations of contemporary artisans. ¡°However¡­¡± The problemy elsewhere. If it were merely a well-crafted sword, Master Hughes would have simply admired it. But the old man had noticed something. Traces of Atanga embedded in the sword. Back when he was a young apprentice. During his time in a forge contracted with the Knights of Atanga. He learned forging under a renowned master smith. Back then, Hughes had observed the master cksmiths forging swords for the honorable and dignified Knights of Atanga, defenders of ancient codes. The swords seemed to breathe life under their hammering, and the resulting weapons were incredibly beautiful. ¡°¡­I remember it because I¡¯ve seen it.¡± Scenes unforgettable even after decades. Recalling those days, Master Hughes ran his index and middle finger along the de. This unique finishing method was used for the swords of the Knights of Atanga. However, something felt off. This was the exact same method used decades ago, but the current Knights of Atanga were known to use a slightly different finishing technique. A sword finished with old-generation techniques, but the one in his hands didn¡¯t seem to have been forged long ago. ¡°Ah, Master Hughes.¡± While he was lost in thought, the cksmith beside him whispered into Hughes¡¯ ear. ¡°That adventurer there, isn¡¯t he the one? You know, the one who recently¡­ jumped three ranks at once¡­¡± ¡°¡­The one who single-handedly took down the Blood Troll?¡± ¡°Yes, it seems to be that adventurer.¡± The adventurer who recently stirred up Cambria. Master Hughes¡¯ eyes narrowed as he looked at Najin, who stood innocuously before him. Initially thought to be just a naive youth, on closer inspection, Najin¡¯s posture was well-formed. ¡°Calluses.¡± The calluses on the young man¡¯s fingers and his slightly skewed stance. Hughes sensed the aura of an experienced swordsman, always ready to draw his sword. ¡°Here, you.¡± The old man handed the sword back to Najin. ¡°Give this sword a hold.¡± ¡°Why all of a sudden?¡± Najin grasped the hilt without a word. What other cksmiths failed to notice, Master Hughes saw clearly. The young man¡¯s physique, the length of the hilt, the bnce when holding the sword¡­ everything fit perfectly. A sword as if custom-made for this young man. A weapon meant solely for him. ¡°That¡¯s enough. You can stop showing me now.¡± ¡°But why do you keep asking?¡± Najin sighed deeply. Recing the sword at his waist, he looked straight at Master Hughes. ¡°I came here to get my sword repaired. Why all these questions?¡± ¡°It¡¯s important. Will you tell me who made it?¡± Najin remained silent. It was a response as if he had no intention of revealing it. Master Hughes shrugged. Probably some extraordinary encounter. Though the sword seemed too fine for the young man before him¡­ ¡°Such a craftsman who forged this sword wouldn¡¯t have blind eyes.¡± There must be something special about it. Why ,a sword of old-generation Atanga style made for him. Why such a sword was crafted for him. Many unknowns, but Hughes didn¡¯t probe further. He always remembered what his senior used to say. ¡°A cksmith just needs to hammer metal well.¡± ¡°Whether the one holding the sword is a once-in-a-lifetime genius or a fallen noble who¡¯s been rolling in the dirt, what does it matter to us?¡± ¡°We are cksmiths. Stay true to our craft.¡± Hughes clicked his tongue. ¡°So, can you repair it or not?¡± ¡°No need for repairs. It¡¯s going to be just fine for another decade or so.¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it was made. Whoever the cksmith was, they seemed to have put a lot of effort into its durability. It¡¯s forged in a way that it won¡¯t break easily.¡± Slightly heavier than swords of simr size. Hughes sighed and gave Najin another look. ¡°Your name is Ivan, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°So you¡¯re the one the guild leader mentioned. I was thinking of sending you off with a sword¡­¡± Hughes nced at the longsword at Najin¡¯s waist. ¡°Looks like you don¡¯t need a sword. Come inside.¡± I¡¯ll show you something else. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have these items delivered to this address.¡± After arranging for the items he purchased at the forge to be delivered to his residence, Najin continued through the streets. His visit to the forge was unexpectedly fruitful, acquiring various items at nearly half their original prices. Thanks to the Dieta Company. The introduction from the guild leader made it all possible. He managed to obtain simple armor and auxiliary weapons beneficial in emergencies. Initially standoffish, Master Hughes eventually warmed up, taking an interest in helping Najin choose his armor. ¡°You have an eye for quality.¡± Remembering Hughes¡¯ pleased smile, Najin moved on. He stopped by alchemists¡¯ stalls to buy some potions, and while picking up some useful items, he paused. Rustling. A disy of test tubes filled with a blood-red substance. A variety of doping agents lined up, their distinctive foul smell familiar to Najin. -Blood Sect. Merlin murmured in Najin¡¯s ear. -Don¡¯t touch those. You¡¯ll get addicted if you¡¯re not careful. They¡¯re effective but have severe repercussions after use. I wasn¡¯t nning on buying them anyway. Mulling over the name ¡®Blood Sect,¡¯ Najin wondered if the alchemist Hakan, who helped him draw Excalibur in the underground city, was also from the Blood Sect. Time had flown by; it had been more than a month since he left the underground city. The passage of time felt both fast and slow. ¡°¡­¡± Suddenly, Najin gazed up at the sky. The blue sky and the bright sunlight. What once felt foreign and ufortable outside was now familiar. It had been a long time since he sought shadowy and damp ces to rest. The familiar things. The ordinary things taken for granted. Feeling a surge of unexpected emotions, Najin continued walking. People in the Artisans¡¯ District recognized him from time to time, ncing at him as they would a celebrity and passing by. An alchemist approached him, asking if he was interested in trying their creations. Another cksmith suggested wearing armor engraved with his mark. In the City of Opportunities, Cambria, many coveted Najin¡¯s growing fame. The gear of the city¡¯s most talked-about adventurer would naturally attract the attention of many adventurers. ¡°¡­¡± He appreciated the offers, but Najin declined them. There was no need to ept. He made his way through the Artisans¡¯ District, heading towards its heart. The area where craftsmen and merchants mingled. Heading to thergest trading house in the district bustling with Cambria¡¯s guilds, Najin was not stopped by the guards as before. Thump. Najin ascended the steps of the trading house. He had turned down numerous offers from cksmiths and alchemists for a reason. A far more enticing proposition had been made by someone else. At the top floor of the Dieta Trading Company, someone was waiting to wee Najin. ¡°Wee.¡± The guild leader of the Dieta Trading Company. The Snake that Swallows Gold, Dieta Arbenia, greeted Najin with a smile. In the top floor office of the Dieta Trading Company. ¡°I always had a good eye for people. I didn¡¯t expect you to jump three ranks at once, though.¡± Dieta, her face blooming with smiles, was conversing with Najin. Naturally, her mood was exceptionally good, thanks to the young man sitting before her. The adventurer endorsed by the Dieta Trading Company, Ivan. His meteoric rise to a three-tier promotion had made headlines, elevating the guild¡¯s reputation. Dieta had no intention of letting this momentum slip away. ¡°About what we discussedst time.¡± She snapped her fingers. A secretary handed Najin a wooden box. ¡°Take a look inside.¡± Inside the boxy neatly folded leather armor. ck as the primary color with a hint of crimson. Its make was not hard to guess. The armor was made from the hide of the Blood Troll. About a week ago, Najin had sold the troll¡¯s hide to Dieta. He could have taken money for it, but instead, he asked Dieta to have armor made from it, a proposal she readily epted. ¡°It¡¯s a good deal for you,¡± Dieta had said. ¡°I used about 60% of the hide for your armor, and the rest will be used elsewhere. The artisans sponsored by our tradingpany are skilled, so you can trust the quality.¡± ¡°Try it on.¡± Dieta pointed to a room in the corner of the office. After a short while, Najin reappeared, having changed into the armor. It was custom-made to fit Najin¡¯s build, resembling more a knight¡¯s uniform than traditional armor. Made from leather, it offered ease of movement, and being crafted from the hide of the Blood Troll, it was tough enough to resist ordinary des. Najin fidgeted with his sleeves, unustomed to this type of attire, but found the fitfortable. ¡°Looks good on you. Thank you.¡± He expressed his thanks, but Dieta was lost in thought, staring at Najin with wide eyes. She had only seen him in loose, casual clothing before. Though good-looking, he had never dressed up properly. Now, in this properly fitted attire¡­ He looked striking. Indeed, clothes make the man. Dieta, returning to her senses, nodded slowly. Her gaze fell on the emblem sewn into Najin¡¯s outfit, symbolizing the Dieta Trading Company. This was why she had epted Najin¡¯s proposal. ¡°You wear it well.¡± This adventurer is sponsored by the Dieta Trading Company. So, keep your hands off him. Nothing could express this better than top-tier equipment. It might even make that damned ¡°Red Eyes¡± think twice before messing around. ¡®Where else could you find such sponsorship?¡¯ Only a powerhouse like the Dieta Trading Company could afford to monopolize several artisans. Dieta stood up with a bright smile and approached Najin. The height difference made Najin look down on her naturally. Rustling her hair, she suggested, ¡°How about a walk together?¡± This was also part of the agreement. In exchange for making the armor at a low cost, Najin would spend a day apanying her. Dieta had a reason for this condition. She needed to show it. By walking around with Najin, she would demonstrate that the rising adventurer had a close rtionship with her tradingpany. This was to show that the Dieta Trading Company was engaging in long-term interactions with the city¡¯s most prominent adventurer. ¡®It makes quite a picture.¡¯ Dieta extended her hand to Najin as if asking for an escort. Unustomed to such social graces, Najin grasped her hand as if shaking it. Pasion, the bodyguard standing nearby, sighed and taught Najin how to properly escort. Expecting a challenging day ahead, Pasion had a sense of foreboding as he briefed Najin, who was set to be Dieta¡¯s guard for the day. But his intuition was proven right just 30 minutes after Najin and Dieta had left. ¡°This insolent brat¡­!¡± A noble¡¯s guard, drawing his sword. ¡°Why the long tongue?¡± Najin tapped his sword¡¯s hilt, expressionless. ¡°If you¡¯re so confident,e at me.¡± An insult settled by a duel. Isn¡¯t that the code of the knights? Najin muttered to himself as the guard¡¯s rationality snapped. Throwing down his glove at Najin¡¯s face signified a challenge to a duel. Of course, the glove never hit Najin¡¯s face. He caught it mid-air and tossed it to the ground. ¡°Why throw it at my face when it belongs on the ground?¡± ¡°How dare you speak like that in front of me¡­!¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s duel.¡± Najin drew his sword with a ¡®ng.¡¯ ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to draw your sword?¡± The dumbstruck guard and his red-faced noble master, Dieta barely holding backughter, and Najin, nonchntly letting his sword tip hang. The scene was more than enough to attract the attention of the city¡¯s adventurers. Chapter 41 Chapter 41 ¨C Merchant¡¯s District (3) The Snake that Swallows Gold, Dieta. She is a well-known merchant in Cambria. Although entric and often acting on whim¡­ her sole focus is always on gold. A life for gold only. Her interest, hobbies, concerns, everything ultimately aims to earn more gold. A girl seemingly born only for gold. Some say she has the makings of a great merchant, while others point fingers at her as a money-grubber. Many have their own opinions about Dieta, but there¡¯s amon consensus. Dieta Arbenia is a natural-born merchant. Her talent as a merchant is genuine. No one can deny that fact. Dieta has proven it with her life. Five years. That¡¯s how long it took Dieta to be the head of a leading merchant guild in the city. From an abandoned girl of the family, she achieved this feat without relying on her family¡¯s power. An undeniable sess story, unbreakable by any means. However. The path she took to establish such a feat was anything but beautiful. She did not hesitate to employ any means necessary to earn gold. Hence, she earned the derogatory nickname, The Snake that Swallows Gold. A girl living only for gold. A swindler in a girl¡¯s guise. At least in this merchant¡¯s district, no one is unaware of Dieta Arbenia being such a figure. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Following Dieta, Najin felt a sense of difort. The fact that no one approached him was not strange, given the presence of his benefactor¡­ ¡®But their gazes are too sharp.¡¯ The stares felt chillingly hostile. Not just wary, but often contemptuous. Najin was familiar with such looks. It was the same look given by the ¡®upper world¡¯ people who visited the Underground City, Artman. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Najin silently watched Dieta. Today, as he was Dieta¡¯s escort, she walked a step ahead of him. Her back was lively and spirited. Humming. Humming a tune, Dieta walked lightly through the merchant streets. asionally looking back, she smiled at Najin as if the piercing stares didn¡¯t bother her. ¡­¡­Somehow. Najin found her smile eerily familiar. Where had he seen such a smile? Contemting this, Najin silently followed Dieta. ¡°Tsks.¡± A clicking sound. It wasn¡¯t made by Dieta. Both Dieta and Najin stopped walking. Looking towards the source of the sound, there was a man approaching from the opposite side. Dressed in clothes reserved for nobility. Apanied by a knight bearing the family crest. Najin recognized the man as a noble. He had often encountered such figures in the city. Although Cambria was rtively loose in social distinctions, and nobility held less sway, basic recognitions were still made. There was no need to bow to a noble, but Najin knew it wasn¡¯t wise to cross them or provoke their displeasure. ¡®Best to keep a distance from nobility.¡¯ That was themon talk among adventurers. Interactions with nobility, requiring formalities, were generally unwee for an adventurer. While ambitious ones might seek associations with nobility for significant quests, more often than not, it ends badly. After all, to the inherently noble, adventurers are just disposable tools. Hence, when a noble appears, adventurers usually wait for them to pass by. But Dieta was different. Even though she was a noble¡¯s offspring, she had been abandoned by her family. She didn¡¯t wait for the noble to pass but continued walking. Thud. As Dieta and the noble were about to cross paths, the approaching noble clicked his tongue again. ¡°Cambria must be pleasant indeed.¡± Looking at Dieta with disdain. The noble muttered as he nced at her. ¡°A whore abandoned by her family, standing tall in front of nobility. That¡¯s unimaginable in the capital.¡± A clear insult to Dieta. A vulgarity unimaginable among nobility, but Dieta¡¯s face, turning to meet the noble¡¯s eyes, was utterly serene. ¡°Do you know me, son of Count Fraunkel?¡± Dieta spoke in a soft voice. She knew every noble who entered the city, their family, and background. The young noble before her was Danor Fraunkel, the son of Count Fraunkel. A noble from a family insignificantpared to the Arbenia ducal family. But as Dieta was a ¡®foreigner¡¯ discarded by her family, Danor provoked her. Yet, Dieta only smiled in response to his cheap provocation. She had heard it all before. ¡°Why, am I wrong?¡± Danor sneered with a twisted smile. ¡°Despite using your looks to win the favor of Duke Arbenia¡­ you were ultimately discarded. Everyone knows you¡¯re no different from a whore, aren¡¯t they?¡± Danor scoffed, and his apanying knight also let out augh. Dieta just smiled in the face of their insults. Danor clicked his tongue and turned away, not getting the reaction he wanted. ¡°Shameless wench without honor or dignity.¡± As Danor was about to leave, Najin spoke up. ¡°Ah, I remember now.¡± The guard beside Dieta. Najin eximed, surprising her. Dieta turned her head to look at Najin. He had been watching Dieta¡¯s face all along, seemingly oblivious to Danor and his knight. Najin now smiled in a peculiar way. Mimicking or remembering something. Dieta¡¯s eyes widened as she saw his smile. Though physically different, Najin¡¯s smile resembled hers. It was the same smile Najin always had in the Underground City, Artman. ¡®Familiar, indeed.¡¯ A reflection he had seen in mirrors, spilled blood, and ss cups. A resigned, contemptuous smile, unusual for the top merchant of the city¡­ which is why Najin hadn¡¯t recognized it immediately. ¡°You¡­?¡± Dieta, with wide eyes, was about to speak when¡­ ¡°Such frivolous men. Birds of a feather flock together. Just because you carry a sword doesn¡¯t make you a knight¡­¡± Najin¡¯s voice stopped Danor and his knight. They halted and turned to look at Najin. ¡°What did you say?¡± Danor questioned, but Najin didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he looked at the knight and muttered, ¡°Respect your opponent. Avoid mockery. Shun insults and embrace humility.¡± The virtues of a knight. ¡°Aren¡¯t these the virtues a knight should uphold?¡± Najin spoke emotionlessly. ¡°You¡¯ve just vited at least four of them. Are you sure you¡¯re a knight?¡± The knight, incredulous, opened his mouth, ¡°You dare discuss knightly virtues before me?¡± ¡°Well, do you need to be someone special to recite virtues?¡± ¡°Such an insult! A non-knight discussing knighthood before a knight is¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t seem to have be a knight by skillful swordsmanship. What kind of knight are you?¡± ¡°¡­¡­What?¡± Najin¡¯s eyes half-closed as he pointed at the knight¡¯s waist. The sword tied there showed no signs of use. A sword untouched. Provocation, and insult. The knight¡¯s brows furrowed, and his master¡¯s expression crumpled. Realizing the situation had escted, Najin pressed on. ¡°Why is your tongue so loose?¡± Najin tapped the hilt of his sword, speaking tly. ¡°If you¡¯re so confident,e at me.¡± And so, the situation reached this point. The knight, sword drawn in the middle of the main road. And Najin, nonchntly flicking the tip of his sword at him. Watching this were Dieta and Danor, the knight¡¯s master, with contrasting expressions. Danor¡¯s face was twisted in displeasure, while Dieta, though taken aback by Najin¡¯s sudden action, couldn¡¯t help but let a smile slip through. The situation was peculiar. It was an insult that could have been ignored as usual. An insult always heard and could have been brushed off as always. But Najin¡¯s response to such an insult was refreshingly new to Dieta. There wasn¡¯t much to gain from acting this way. Why was Najin behaving so erratically? Dieta couldn¡¯t understand. It didn¡¯t seem like he stepped in just because his master was insulted¡­ ¡°Come at me, boy.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pass this time.¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± Amidst Dieta¡¯s confusion. ¡°I believe I handle a sword better than you.¡± ¡°You insolent¡­!¡± The duel began. The infuriated knight lunged at Najin. ¡°No matter his confidence, he¡¯ll soon be humiliated. With a master like that, her subordinates can¡¯t be any better.¡± Confident of victory, Danor sneered. Ignoring his smug voice, Dieta watched Najin. ¡®Was he always like this?¡¯ Wasn¡¯t he more reticent and reserved? Dieta had thought of Najin as a rigid and emotionally restrained individual. But the Najin before her was different. Lighter, more provocative, with a livelier smile. As if something had triggered his true nature to unfold. The trigger wasn¡¯t hard to guess. The smile he had shown her earlier. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Dieta silently recalled that smile. Surprisingly simr to her own. A smile of shared sentiment. It was hard to believe it was merely an imitation. ¡®What exactly¡­¡¯ Dieta looked at Najin. A youth with likely a false name and age, but the smile he showed at that moment was real. ng! Najin¡¯s and the knight¡¯s swords shed. Obviously, the knight, though having reached the level of a Sword Expert, didn¡¯t draw his sword aura. His pride wouldn¡¯t allow it. He intended to bring down this audacious boy purely with swordsmanship. To show the difference to this impudent youngster. With that thought, the knight swung his sword. But Najin easily parried it. As he did, his expression grew colder. ¡®The knights I know.¡¯ Are not like this. Their swords are not this light, nor this frivolous. The knights Najin knew and saw were not like this. Aren¡¯t knights supposed to be noble beings with honor and pride? The knight before him showed no honor. Nor pride. Only stubbornness was evident. As Najin stopped merely parrying and stepped forward, the knight was pushed back. Najin continued to advance, and the knight, sweating, began to retreat. Watching this, Danor¡¯scent expression vanished. The knight¡¯s face too contorted. ng, ng! Najin¡¯s swordsmanship was already in full swing. His eyes easily read the trajectory of the knight¡¯s sword. To bring down Najin with pure swordsmanship would only be possible for priests dedicated to swordsmanship from the Order of the Sword. Not for a knight who neglected his training. Najin¡¯s sword was neither light nor sloppy. ¡°Ugh!¡± The cornered knight¡¯s sword flickered. A gleaming radiance. Seeing the knight break his stubbornness to draw out his sword aura, Najin clicked his tongue. Just as the sword aura was about to form, Najin reached out. Grab. And grabbed the knight¡¯s wrist. Then, in a single breath, the budding sword aura scattered. The spectators, even the knight himself, didn¡¯t understand what happened at that moment. -Wow. Only Merlin realized. What Najin had just done. -This guy is insane, isn¡¯t he? Merlin chuckled. Using his mana cultivation technique that absorbs external mana, Najin intercepted the mana surging from the knight¡¯s body towards his sword. Confused by the failure of his sword aura, the knight¡¯s wrist was twisted by Najin. Then, using the pommel of his sword, Najin struck down on the knight¡¯s hand. ¡°Argh!¡± The knight dropped his sword. Najin, still holding his sword, and the disarmed knight. The oue was overwhelmingly clear, even without anyone dering it. The murmuring of the spectators grew louder. ¡°What is this¡­!¡± Danor¡¯s face turned red. The wide-eyed knight. Amidst the determined winner and loser, Najin walked towards Dieta, who was watching him. He looked at her quietly. Her expression was a mix of bewilderment, exhration, and disbelief. Looking at Dieta¡¯s natural expression, unmasked, Najin spoke briefly. ¡°It¡¯s quite alright.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°I said it¡¯s better than your face earlier.¡± Dieta blinked nkly. Even after his victory in the duel, Najin had remained expressionless. But seeing Dieta¡¯s changed face, he smiled. Najin¡¯s reason for causing this trouble was simple. He just didn¡¯t like it. He didn¡¯t like seeing Dieta, who shared the same smile as his former self in the Underground City. Only after seeing her changed expression did Najin feel genuinely relieved. He extended his hand to the seated Dieta in a casual escort gesture, as taught by Pasion. Deita was always the one to extend her hand first, but this time it was Najin. Dieta blinked in surprise, then burst intoughter. ¡°Truly an interesting person.¡± Chapter 42 Chapter 42 ¨C Merchant¡¯s District (3) The merchant street turned chaotic. Defeated, the knight and his noble master, Danor, turned red-faced, pointing fingers at Najin. A worthless tale, buoyed by pretense and status. Even the crowd gathered in the street knew this was the iling of a loser. A noise unworthy of attention. ¡°It¡¯s gotten noisy.¡± Dieta had no desire to listen to such noise, nor did she want it to interrupt this moment. Having stood up with Najin¡¯s escort, she whispered to him. ¡°Shall we run away?¡± ¡°Is it okay to run?¡± ¡°We can deal with the aftermathter. I¡¯m enjoying myself right now and don¡¯t want that spoiled.¡± I don¡¯t want to think about that right now. Najin nodded at Dieta, who seemed to say just that. He scanned the street and then nced at Dieta¡¯s shoes. They were not suitable for running. Najin crouched down and showed his back to Dieta. ¡°¡­Will you carry me?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say we¡¯re running away?¡± It¡¯s hard to run in those shoes. Najin¡¯s tone was indifferent, devoid of any personal sentiment. Hesitating for a moment, Dieta carefully climbed onto his back. Startled. Dieta trembled slightly as she ced her palms on Najin¡¯s back. She hadn¡¯t realized it before, but his back was surprisingly firm. Muscles, cracked and hardened, could be felt through his thin leather garment. ¡°Hold onto my shoulders, not the clothes.¡± Najin muttered this as he stood up. Voices of the noisy crowd. The noble and the defeated knight pointing fingers and growling. Najin took a step forward, leaving all that noise behind. And then, with a thud. ¡°Ahh¡­!¡± Dieta¡¯s body lurched forward suddenly. Najin had started running in a crouched position. Holding onto his clothes felt like she might fall off, so Dieta wrapped her arms around Najin¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Have you thought about where to go?¡± ¡°Anywhere, somewhere with no people¡­!¡± Dieta shouted from atop the shaking back. The sound of the wind whistling past her ears, thendscape flying by. Dieta pressed herself closer to Najin¡¯s back. ¡®This isn¡¯t so bad¡­?¡¯ It felt like she was the heroine in a fairy tale. That thought was brief, as Dieta soon realized. Fairy tales were just that ¨C tales. In reality, fleeing wasn¡¯t so romantic. ¡°Hic!¡± The continuously shaking back. The rapidly changing scenery. The up and down bobbing view. The sprint of a Sword Expert-level warrior was too much for Dieta to handle. ¡®I feel like vomiting¡­!¡¯ To avoid the disaster of throwing up on Najin¡¯s back, Dieta had no choice but to bite her lip. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± Najin stopped. From midway, Dieta, unable to endure the motion sickness, had closed her eyes and buried her head into Najin¡¯s neck. She slowly lifted her head. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Dieta wiped away the saliva on Najin¡¯s neck with her sleeve and patted his shoulder. ¡°Let me down, please.¡± With shaky legs, Dieta stood on the ground. Taking deep breaths, she patted her chest. Her stomach was still churning, but taking deep breaths seemed to help. Dieta looked around. An open view. They were on a small hill overlooking the City of Opportunities, Cambria. The open view and the cool breeze were quite pleasant. ¡®Was there such a ce in the city?¡¯ To Dieta, who always lived near the bustling merchant street and central guild, this was a rather unfamiliar ce. It seemed to be a hill on the outskirts of the city. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Dieta silently nced at Najin. Najin, too, was silently looking down at the city. It was a familiar sight. After all, Najin was essentially a taciturn man, with little change in expression. But because of that¡­ The smile Najin had shown earlier was unforgettable. It was like looking in a mirror. Dieta, flicking her lips, spoke up. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± At Dieta¡¯s question, Najin tilted his head. Looking at her as if it was obvious, he replied. ¡°I told you. I just didn¡¯t like it.¡± ¡°Myughter?¡± ¡°More precisely, I disliked your resigned attitude. It was all too familiar.¡± Najin said. ¡°I¡¯m used to being treated this way. I¡¯ve had enough of it, it doesn¡¯t bother me anymore. They expect me to get angry, but I never will. I¡¯ll keep smiling¡­¡­¡± The boy who always faked a smile in the underground city, murmured. ¡°That kind of smile. That¡¯s what it was.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Dieta was silent. ¡°I¡¯m not bothered by it¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s a misconception. You think you¡¯re not bothered because you¡¯re used to it.¡± Najin cut her off. Looking straight at Dieta, he said. ¡°Strangers say it. If you ignore them, it¡¯s over, isn¡¯t it? Just move on. That¡¯s all bullshit. What can¡¯t be said with words?¡± Najin scoffed. ¡°That works once or twice. But keep doing it, and it builds up. Continuously.¡± From the age when he could read expressions and thoughts, Najin had always lived like that. Humbly bowing his head, living in resignation. ¡°There¡¯s no one who isn¡¯t affected. You just leave it be until it eats away at you. So, I just didn¡¯t like that.¡± Najin sighed. ¡°It might have been needless meddling, but it was just suffocating to me. Watching it just annoyed me.¡± ¡°Is that all?¡± ¡°Do I need more of a reason?¡± It was a trivial reason. And yet, it was significant. Dieta looked at the young man standing in front of her, her eyes half-closed. A faint smile formed on her lips. ¡°Is this who you are? This kind of person?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°I thought you were silent, thorough, unemotional, and calctive.¡± Dieta wasn¡¯t wrong in her judgment. The side of Najin that Dieta had seen was a fragment of his time as a hunting dog in the underground city. A time when he suppressed his emotions and lived in resignation. Even if he shook it off after leaving the underground city. That fragment still remained in Najin. However, it couldn¡¯t be said that it was his true nature. That was just a mask Najin wore; the real Najin was impulsive and emotional. ¡°I didn¡¯t realize you were this impulsive.¡± ¡°My true nature is closer to this side.¡± Najin let out a faintugh. ¡°Just like you wear a mask, I too am just wearing one.¡± Everyone wears a mask. It¡¯s just that the masks of these two were particrly thick. Masks to hide their unfortunate childhoods. Therefore. ¡°We¡¯re simr. You and I.¡± Dieta and Najin felt a sense of kinship with each other. Dieta exhaled a long breath as she gazed down at the cityscape of Cambria, the City of Opportunities. Masks, huh. It was the perfect description. Dieta smiled wryly. She had run away from her family, bearing the stigma of being the abandoned child, constantly on the move. ¡®20 years.¡¯ The mask created over her 20-year life was thick and sturdy. In front of the family head, her sisters, the servants, even her own mother, Dieta had always lived with a fake smile. A mask forged over 20 years. It wouldn¡¯t break easily. However, just moments ago, the young man in front of her had pried into the cracks of her mask, glimpsing whaty beyond. Dieta¡¯s face, awkward yet refreshingly honest, revealed her true self. Dieta took a deep breath and looked at Najin. He seemed a bit more rxed than usual, wearing a light expression. That must be the ¡®real¡¯ him. ¡°¡­The abandoned whore of Arbenia.¡± The gap in the stripped mask. As she faced Najin through that gap, the noble¡¯s words from earlier echoed in Dieta¡¯s ears. ¡°¡­Excuse me.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious why I¡¯m the abandoned child?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°That was a quick response.¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t seem necessary to dig into that.¡± Najin replied nonchntly. ¡°If you want to keep it hidden, why should I pry?¡± The namete he saw when they first met. Seeing the scratched word ¡®Arbennia¡¯ on it, Najin guessed. To Dieta, her family was a past she wanted to shake off. Was there really a need to know? It was perhaps a form of consideration, indifference, or a defense mechanism. Like Dieta, Najin had many pasts he wanted to hide. However, his indifferent attitude was refreshing to Dieta. ¡°It¡¯s intriguing, somehow.¡± ¡°So it seems.¡± The sunset was approaching. The end of the day. The time Najin had promised to escort her was until sunset. With the descending twilight, their noisy stroll wasing to an end. ¡°I had fun today.¡± Dieta said. ¡°It was different than what I expected¡­ but it was refreshing. Like you said, sometimes it¡¯s good to just go with the flow.¡± Dieta¡¯s hair shimmered in the sunset light. She looked at Najin against the backdrop of the sunset. ¡°Hmm.¡± She pondered, then let out a long breath. Along with a sigh, the fake smile and sly snake-like impression dropped from her face, revealing Dieta¡¯s true self. The unmasked Dieta looked at Najin. ¡°I hope we can maintain a good rtionship. 28-year-old adventurer, Mr. Ivan.¡± Perhaps a false identity. Yet, theughter and actions Najin showed now were not false. Najin, revealing his true nature, smiled faintly and extended his hand towards Dieta. Not a hand for escort. Simply a hand for a handshake. Najin offered a handshake to the real-faced Dieta. She cautiously sped his hand. Her fingers, smelling of gold coins, met his calloused hand, hardened from wielding a sword. ¡°There¡¯s something I wanted to say but couldn¡¯tst time.¡± Holding hands, Najin spoke. ¡°Sinceing to the city, I¡¯ve received a lot of help from you. You said it was mutually beneficial, but¡­¡± Najin knew. That everything was in his favor. He was aware of the ulterior motives but still, it was a fact that Dieta had helped him. ¡°Thanks to you, I could settle quickly and rise in ranks.¡± ¡°That¡¯s due to your skills¡­¡± ¡°Even with skills, the opportunity came thanks to you.¡± Rising quickly. Participating in the Red-Eyed Mercenaries¡¯ mission. All were possible because of Dieta¡¯s help. ¡°I owe you.¡± So. ¡°Just once, anytime.¡± Najin said. ¡°I will help without question or judgement, as long as it doesn¡¯t stray too far from my principles.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a vague promise.¡± Dieta chuckled. She disliked these kinds of verbal promises. Often, people would twist their words or fail to keep them, as she had witnessed countless times. Preferably, they should write a contract. To leave legal evidence with precise conditions. Typically, Dieta would have said that. But today, she didn¡¯t want to. She liked the view from the hill, the cool air, and more than anything, the refreshing smile of the young man before her. ¡°Don¡¯t go back on your wordter.¡± ¡°I tend to keep my promises.¡± ¡°Knight of the Schulhauser family, Verheigen.¡± The legend of King Arthur¡¯s Round Table. The voice echoed in a square that seemed modeled after that legendary table. ¡°He has murdered my master.¡± He had broken the code of loyalty to his master. ¡°He has in myrades.¡± By betraying hisrades, he had broken the code. ¡°All his methods were dishonorable ambushes, and the sword he wielded held no pride.¡± A sword without pride or honor. A sword wielded in vition of the code. ¡°Lastly, he conspired with a demon. He stole a sealed artifact from the demon and gained power through a pact with it.¡± The voice grew louder. Anger resonated in the voice echoing across the square. ¡°Verheigen has lost his honor. He has discarded his pride. By conspiring with a demon, he has trampled upon the testament of the Knight King. Can such a being truly be called a knight?¡± The answer came swiftly. The knights gathered in the square unanimously dered. Absolutely not. He could no longer call himself a knight, nor should he be addressed as one. ¡°Verheigen has tarnished the honor and pride of a knight.¡± The verdict was delivered. ¡°Therefore, we shall judge Verheigen.¡± The one standing in the center of the square. The most knightly of knights. The leader of Atanga, Gotif, proimed. ¡°The tainted name of a knight can only be cleansed by a knight¡¯s sword.¡± Those who abide by the old knightly code. The knights who judge other knights. The knights of Atanga gathered in the square pounded the emblem of Atanga engraved in their respective ces. Some on armor, others on swords, some on spears, and some on shields. ¡°Pursue and execute Verheigen.¡± The judgment was passed and Atanga moved into action. To uphold honor and pride. In an age where the weight of the word ¡®knight¡¯ had seemingly lessened, it was still important to signal that there were lines that should not be crossed. Chapter 43 Chapter 43 ¨C The Demon Knight Verheigen (1) It was noisy. That was Najin¡¯s first thought as he entered the Central Guild. Usually, he would visit the Central Guild to undertake quests, but today, he noticed an unusualmotion. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± Najin asked a nearby adventurer. This was an adventurer who had participated in the Dochzenberg Forest clearing operation, someone he knew. Back then, this adventurer had viewed Najin with hostility, but now things were different. They recognized him as a fellow professional. Ever since the day he fought the Blood Troll, and the rumors about it spread throughout the city, nobody doubted Najin¡¯s capabilities anymore. He had proven his skills through his achievements. ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t that Ivan?¡± As expected, the adventurer greeted Najin warmly. After exchanging brief greetings, Najin pointed towards the crowd and continued. ¡°What¡¯s all themotion about?¡± ¡°Oh, a major quest came in from outside.¡± ¡°A major quest?¡± ¡°Yeah. What was it? Something about the escape route of a criminal passing near Cambria?¡± The adventurer exined. ¡°A bunch of quests poured in from the next head of the Schulhauser family and the nobles from the territories around the Schulhauser family¡­ The bounty¡¯s no joke.¡± ¡°What kind of quest is it that¡¯s causing all this fuss?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the problem. Look at those guys gathered there. They all rushed over for the bounty but shook their heads when they saw the details.¡± He said with a wry smile, shrugging his shoulders. ¡°This quest is beyond our capabilities. Even the ¡®Knights of Atanga¡¯ have issued the quest¡­ that says it all.¡± ¡­Knights of Atanga? Najin narrowed his eyes. That name was not something he could just ignore. After escaping the Underground City, the first information Najin sought was about Atanga. The knight order Ivan belonged to. The ce Ivan always longed for. A group formed by those who uphold honor and pride, adhering to the ancient knightly codes. The mention of their name allowed Najin to guess the nature of the quest. The Knights of Atanga usually moved for one reason. ¡°¡­Is the wanted criminal a knight?¡± ¡°Yeah. His charges are no joke. Why don¡¯t you check it out?¡± Najin nodded and walked towards the crowd. There, among the numerous quests from the nobles, was the quest from Atanga. Najin, blending in with the adventurers, checked the contents. [Wanted: Verheigen] It was a wanted poster. Under the portrait that captured his appearance, his crimes and distinguishing features were densely listed. Formermander of the Schulhauser family¡¯s knight order. Armed with a sword. Close to the skill level of a Sword Seeker. Charges ¨C Murder of the head of the Schulhauser family. Murder of servants, private soldiers, and knights belonging to the Schulhauser family. Turned the mansion into a sea of blood overnight and fled¡­ Just reading this far, the gravity of his crimes was evident. However, the line that followed made the previous charges pale inparison. [Special note: Suspected of having contracted with a demon.] A contract with a demon. Evil, secretive, and humanity¡¯s sworn enemy ¨C that was what demons were. In imperialw, contracting with a demon was a grave crime, and demon contractors were to be killed immediately, without exception. But¡­ a knight contracting with a demon? It was clear why the Knights of Atanga had stepped in. It was an act that tainted a knight¡¯s honor and trampled upon their pride. -A knight¡­ contracted with a demon? Merlin¡¯s voice echoed in Najin¡¯s ears, trembling with faint anger. -What kind of madman does that? A knight making a pact with a demon? Joining hands with a demon? A knight? A knight¡­? Merlin repeated the same words several times. As if she couldn¡¯t believe it. Then, she screamed in frustration. Najin¡¯s shoulders jerked in response. -A knight! One who swore to y demons! -For centuries under the name of Knight King Arthur, knights have in demons. And now a knight makes a pact with a demon? This damn nonsense of Cann¡­! Merlin took deep, heavy breaths. The weight of the name ¡®knight¡¯ might have changed over the past few centuries, but there were lines that should never be crossed. For Merlin, this was an uneptable situation. ¡®Try to calm down for now.¡¯ -Hoo, hooo¡­ Merlin slowly regted her breathing in response to Najin¡¯s calming words. While Merlin was catching her breath, Najin gauged the atmosphere among the surrounding adventurers. As he had heard earlier, those blinded by the reward had gathered, only to click their tongues in disapproval upon learning the details. A quest beyond their abilities. One that should not be touched, it seemed. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess the reason. The target was close to the level of a Sword Seeker and, moreover, was suspected of having made a pact with a demon. A quest too daunting for anyone of average skill. ¡°This needs a White rank to take it on¡­¡± The adventurers murmured among themselves. Their opinion was logical. To confront such a formidable adversary, the top tier of adventurers in the city, the White rank, would be needed. But even they would likely not step forward. That¡¯s what the adventurers thought. The risk involved in this quest was too high, and there was nothing to gain from being entangled with a demon. The demonic energy emitted by those affiliated with demons erodes the human mind, consuming souls, and often engraves curses. And that wasn¡¯t all. Those affiliated with demons often wield unknown sorcery. Powers referred to as the might of demons. In other words, unpredictable variables inbat. The risk,pounded by these variables. For those who valued their lives, it was a quest best left untouched. Of course, the quest was not solely about extermination. The task of killing a knight who had conspired with a demon fell to the Knights of Atanga. Most of the quest involved stalling for time or¡­ finding traces for investigation. ¡®Just that even that is too dangerous, so they¡¯re avoiding it.¡¯ Najin contemted the adventurers¡¯ mood as he stroked his chin. He didn¡¯t yet have the sense of mission to y demons, nor the responsibility as a descendant of Arthur to punish a knight who conspired with a demon. For such heavy burdens, Najin had only just started his journey. However, apart from such considerations, Najin felt intrigued by this quest. He was interested in the Knights of Atanga, to which Ivan belonged, and the existence known as demons. ¡®Merlin.¡¯ Najin muttered inwardly. ¡®You said that once I reach the pinnacle of Cambria¡­ the next ce I should go is surely the Demon Realm?¡¯ The Demon Realm, thend of demons. Adjacent to the Battlefield of the Stars, the ce where Arthur headed after leaving Cambria¡­ the stage where Arthur began to be called a hero in earnest. -Right. ¡®And what I will have to confront there will be demons.¡¯ -That¡¯s likely. A moment of contemtion. It didn¡¯t take long to reach a conclusion. ¡®It wouldn¡¯t hurt to gain some experience beforehand.¡¯ Najin made his choice. He took a big step forward. Merlin affirmed Najin¡¯s decision. With Merlin¡¯s voice cheering him on, Najin made his way through the crowd of adventurers to the front of the bulletin board. ¡°¡­¡­¡± All eyes were on Najin. Receiving the stares of the adventurers, Najin reached out his hand. Toward the quest that everyone else was just watching, too intimidated to touch. And then, snatch. Najin tore off the quest paper with the emblem of the Knights of Atanga from the bulletin board. This action signified one thing: he was taking on the quest. As Najin did this, someone let out a hollowugh, another muttered about him not valuing his life, and yet another clicked their tongue. However, none of them mocked him. The act of confidently seizing such a perilous quest. It was reminiscent of their own past selves when they first stepped into the City of Opportunities, Cambria, overflowing with confidence and ambition. It was indeed the mark of a true adventurer. ¡°Aren¡¯t you ashamed, Verheigen!¡± It was someone¡¯s outcry. Hearing the resounding voice, Verheigen slowly opened his eyes. His vision was blurred due to the contract with the demon, and he could properly see only out of one eye. The fusion with the demon was not yetplete. His darkening eyes were blurry. Verheigen blinked several times, trying to focus on whaty ahead. ¡°So many havee.¡± There were his pursuers. They were knights from the Schulhauser family he once belonged to and from neighboring territories, as well as mercenaries. Verheigen narrowed his eyes. He did not see the emblem of Atanga. They probably hadn¡¯t caught up yet, considering he chose the farthest route from the Knights of Atanga¡¯s stronghold. Verheigen exhaled deeply. ¡°Ashamed? Why should I be ashamed?¡± ¡°You have vited the pride of a knight.¡± The pursuing knights shouted. The mercenaries aimed their bows and crossbows at him, while the knights¡¯ swords gleamed with sword aura. Verheigen smirked in front of the shining sword auras. Bang! The knights charged forward. The mercenaries released their bowstrings and pulled their crossbows. Arrows and sword strikes surrounded by sword auras flew from all directions. Verheigen did not move an inch. Thud, an arrow lodged into his body. Swoosh, the sword auras grazed his skin. But the moment they swung their swords, the knights realized something. Despite their sword auras, they couldn¡¯t inflict a fatal wound on Verheigen. The sword strikes were shallow. Why? His body was no longer human. Bing a physical embodiment of a demon, merging with the demon, Verheigen¡¯s body had acquired resistance. Verheigen¡¯s lips split into a wide grin as he caught a sword with his body. ¡°Honor, pride, that damn code.¡± The demon-contracted knight sneered. Crack! Crushing the sword with his bare hand, he reached out. He grabbed the face of the knight in front of him. Human skulls couldn¡¯t withstand the grip strength that shattered swords. The knight¡¯s helmet crumpled. Unable to bear the pain, the knight screamed. The mercenaries shot their arrows, and the surrounding knights swung their swords, but Verheigen paid no attention to them, exerting more strength in his hand. Crack! The helmet crumpled. Blood and other matter spilled out from the gaps in the helmet. No more screams were heard. The knights¡¯ eyes widened as they witnessed theirrade¡¯s head explode. He was much stronger than they had anticipated. They realized Verheigen was no ordinary demon contractor. The rank of the demon he was rumored to have contracted with was undoubtedly underestimated. In this desperate situation, the knights clenched their teeth. Some were enraged, and others felt fear. But still, they were knights. They might not have always lived with honor and pride, sometimes indulging in debauchery¡­ but at least they took pride in being knights. Different from a knight who conspired with a demon. The option to flee did not exist for them. They charged with their swords, repeatedly widening the wounds left by their fallenrade¡¯s sword auras, thrusting their des into them. ¡°Such foolishness.¡± Persistent attacks. Realizing the situation had gone awry, the mercenaries had already fled, but the knights swung their swords until the end. Unemotionally, Verheigen crushed their heads, tore off their arms, and pierced their hearts. No need for a sword in all this. Verheigen felt exhration in this fact. Sword auras from seven knights and ten well-trained mercenaries. A battle that would have been difficult not long ago, with slim chances of survival. But now? He overpowered them all without drawing his sword. Overwhelming everyone with bare hands. ¡°What does pride and honor give? What do you gain by keeping them? Mere pretense, utterly useless¡­¡± Soaked in exhration, Verheigen muttered. He looked at a knight whose arm had been torn off. Blood gushing out. The knight¡¯s face turned pale from blood loss. But still, the knight clutched his sword. Thest remaining knight. He charged over hisrades¡¯ bodies and drove his sword into Verheigen¡¯s shoulder. The sword deeply embedded in the wound opened by the seven knights. However, this did not signify victory. Verheigen was unaffected. Even this wound would heal overnight. He ripped off the knight¡¯s remaining arm. He kicked and shattered the knight¡¯s knee. The knight, now armless, copsed. Grabbing the knight¡¯s hair, Verheigen brought his face close. ¡°Why cling to something that gains you nothing, you foolish friend?¡± Verheigen smirked. He expected the knight¡¯s face to be filled with fear and despair, but the knight only grimaced in pain, not in despair. The knight sneered at Verheigen amidst groans. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to gain.¡± The knight¡¯sughter echoed through the blood foam. ¡°It has value. A demon-conspirer like you wouldn¡¯t understand.¡± That was the knight¡¯sst testament. Crack, Verheigen crushed his head. Shaking off the blood on his hand, Verheigen looked indifferently at the knight¡¯s corpse and kicked it away. ¡°Boring.¡± Verheigen pulled the sword from his shoulder and sighed. He moved on, heading towards the Demon Realm. He needed to be quick before reaching his destination. Ordinary pursuers didn¡¯t scare him. But the Knights of Atanga did. They specialized in ying demons. Facing them in his iplete fusion state could mean he couldn¡¯t guarantee victory. Verheigen hastened his steps. Chapter 44 Chapter 44 ¨C The Demon Knight Verheigen (2) What are demons? Hundreds of years ago, when demons ckened half of this continent and reigned supreme, a certain mage who experienced that era described demons like this: -What kind of beings are they? They¡¯re the kind to be killed without question or hesitation. Ah, burning them to death is better. It¡¯s cleaner that way. To kill without question or hesitation. Indeed, this statement is at the very top of the knight¡¯s code, imperialw, and the doctrine of the Holy Church. And for good reason. Demons are humanity¡¯s arch-enemy. -But aren¡¯t there good demons, too? -If there were such things, would they be called evil and demon? Merlin, who burned countless demons alongside Arthur, the hero who ushered in the era of humans after defeating numerous demons that ckened the continent, let out a hollowugh. -I¡¯ve burned demons numbering in the five digits, and not one of them ever made sense. They¡¯re just created that way from the beginning. Merlin said. -They are beings who respond to mercy with betrayal. It was advice and a tale of experience. Najin nodded. He had no intention of doubting that demons were malevolent beings. What mattered was how to deal with such demons. The Demon Knight, Verheigen. Before pursuing him, Najin nned to thoroughly prepare. Facing a stronger opponent required meticulous preparation. ¡®ording to the information from the books¡­¡¯ From the books and Merlin¡¯s stories, Najin began to jot down on paper the necessary items. Holy water blessed by the Church, silver daggers, antidotes, and items that could increase resistance to demonic energy¡­ Alright, the list wasplete. Now, all that was left was to gather these items. -Well, well. Merlin¡¯s voice echoed in Najin¡¯s ears. -Do you think you¡¯ll find that stuff here? You¡¯d have to go to the Church to get those. They aren¡¯t easily avable anywhere. ¡°Sigh, I figured as much.¡± -Yeah. And you know¡­ Merlin spoke indifferently. -You don¡¯t really need those things, do you? ¡°¡­What do you mean by that?¡± -What¡¯s the most troublesome aspect of dealing with demons? It¡¯s their demonic energy. The evil aura emitted by demons or things rted to them. It pollutes the air and mana around it, eventually ckening the environment. Demonic energy is like poison to ordinary living beings. This applies to both criminals and warriors alike. Even a high-ranking warrior might fully resist demonic energy, but that¡¯s something only a Swordmaster level or higher could achieve. Demonic energy continuously umtes in the body, corrupting both flesh and soul. -At first, you won¡¯t notice anything. -But as it keeps umting and reaches a critical point, it¡¯s toote to turn back. Unless you regrly receive baptism from the Church, there¡¯s no way to resist demonic energy. Even that¡¯s not perfect. That was why humans and demons couldn¡¯t coexist, and why the Empire abhors demons. However, as Najin listened to Merlin, he tilted his head in confusion. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, don¡¯t I need these items even more?¡± -Oh, kid. Have you forgotten what you possess? Merlin chuckled. Najin already had something much more powerful than church blessings, holy water, or silver weapons. -Excalibur bestows blessings of purification and healing upon its owner. It¡¯s sensitive enough to react even to alcohol¡­ wouldn¡¯t it react to demonic energy? ¡°Then that means¡­¡± Najin muttered doubtfully, and Merlin nodded, affirming his guess. -You¡¯repletely immune to demonic energy. -And as long as you possess Excalibur¡­ You¡¯re a natural enemy to demons. Merlin murmured. Najin didn¡¯t immediately grasp the full meaning of her words. Certainly, King Arthur in the tales had in many demons, but wasn¡¯t that just because he was exceptionally great? To Najin¡¯s musings, Merlin could only respond with a bitterugh. It seemed the boy didn¡¯t fully understand the essence of the artifact ¡®Excalibur¡¯. The twilight just before dawn. Najin began his pursuit. Although the expected route of the Demon Knight was somewhat outlined in the quest, it was too vague to be of much help. It only gave a rough direction. But for Najin, that was enough. As he tracked the trail, Najin suddenly felt a churn in his stomach. His heart beat violently, and a sharp instinct moved his body autonomously, as if responding to the malevolent energy. Thus, he instinctively turned his head towards where his steps led him and found traces of the Demon Knight. -Bing the owner of Excalibur means¡­ While Najin was feeling uneasy about this fact, Merlin whispered in his ear. -You be the she ath of Excalibur. Merging with Excalibur. Sharing its nature. Merlin said this and took a long breath. -That includes sharply reacting to evil things. It might be weak now, but¡­ pursuing someone who tantly spreads such energy shouldn¡¯t be hard, right? Just trust your senses as always. Merlin advised, and Najin slowly nodded. Taking a deep breath, Najin quickly moved towards the direction where the traces led. He ran through the forest before dawn. The blowing wind was chilly, and the air tickling his nose was mixed with the smell of blood. Najin frowned. It was a terrible stench, one he was all too familiar with. Thud. Najin¡¯s pace slowed as he ran through the forest. Although it was still dark before sunrise, Najin¡¯s eyes, ustomed to night vision, could clearly see the forest scene. Uprooted trees. Broken and snapped branches. Bloodstains scattered all around. Following these signs would inevitably lead to one thing: the result of a battle that had taken ce here. Najin¡¯s pace eventually came to a halt amid the vibrating stench of blood. He silently observed the surroundings. A knight with a burst head. A knight with arms and legs torn off. A knight with a hole in his heart. Knight, knight, and knight. The corpses of beings who would be called powerful littered the forest. Najin swung his sword to drive away the beasts feasting on the bodies. ¡°¡­¡­¡± He was walking silently among the corpses, broken swords and puddles of blood. Helmets and armor were crushed without their owners. As he walked past the corpses that met a pitiful death¡­ breathing could be heard. Rough,bored breathing. Breaths that seemed about to cease at any moment. Passing pine trees drenched in blood, Najin soon reached the source of the breathing. There, leaning against a tree and clutching his abdomen, was a knight. ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡± At a nce, it was a fatal wound. The knight¡¯s breath was ragged, and around him pooled dark red blood, hisplexion deathly pale. Najin stopped in front of him. As his shadow fell over the knight, he slowly tried to lift his head. But it seemed too difficult, and he coughed up blood foam. Najin silently bent down to meet the knight¡¯s eye level so he didn¡¯t need to lift his head. Thus, eye to eye, Najin spoke. ¡°Let me help you. I will take you to a nearby church.¡± ¡°Appreciate the offer, but¡­¡± The knight smiled bitterly. ¡°I refuse. I know my body well. I¡¯m not in a state to survive, even with treatment.¡± He slightly lifted his hand, which was pressing on his abdomen, revealing arge hole and flesh rotten from demonic corruption. It was toote for any recovery. ¡°That damned Verheigen. An oldrade, but without any righteousness. He pierced a hole in my stomach, saying I should die in agony, and then left. How despicable.¡± The knight chuckled weakly. His light-hearted demeanor contrasted with his pale face and cold sweat, making it sound anything but a joke. ¡°Huff¡­¡± The knight took a moment to catch his breath and nced at Najin¡¯s attire. He didn¡¯t look like a knight. More like a mercenary or adventurer, but his equipment seemed top-notch, probably a well-known adventurer in Cambria. ¡°Did you take on the quest?¡± Najin nodded and pulled out the quest paper from the Knights of Atanga to show the knight. ¡°I see, you took Atanga¡¯s quest. An honorable man. I admire your courage and spirit, but¡­¡± Coughing up blood-tinged saliva, the knight continued. ¡°You¡¯re not his match. Inform them his level has been misjudged. He¡¯s surely contracted with at least a mid-tier demon¡­ and is undergoing demonization.¡± He warned about the incorrect information and advised. ¡°Keep your distance in pursuit and regrly send messages to the Knights of Atanga. That would be the best course of action.¡± Not content with just that, he barely lifted his hand to point in the direction of the dawn. His fingertips trembled. ¡°He went that way.¡± Take this. Murmuring so, the knight handed something to Najin. Probably a means tomunicate with Atanga. Silently, Najin epted what the knight offered. Only then did the knight rx his shoulders and exhale. As if he had done all he could. As if he hadid down the burden he was carrying. ¡°Do you have anyst words?¡± Noticing the weakening breaths of the knight, Najin asked. The knight only managed a bitter smile at that question. A sharp kid, he murmured, then struggled to open his mouth. ¡°Knight of the Trebache family, Gilbert.¡± He slowly removed his hand from his abdomen. Gilbert had been enduring the pain to pass on information to any pursuer like him who mighte along. ¡­The pain of flesh rotting from demonic energy is unbearable for a mere mortal. Despite his mental discipline as a knight, there¡¯s a limit. Considering his slim chances of survival, it might have been better to slit his own throat with the dagger he carried. But Gilbert struggled until the end. To pass on information for the sake of his fallenrades. ¡°Though I regret not being able to deliver good news to my lord, I am only sorry for the dishonor of delivering bad news.¡± Gilbertughed. ¡°Please convey my regards to my lord. If possible, add that I remained a proud knight until the end. Maybe that will give some worth to my name.¡± A frivolous joke. Chuckling, Gilbert coughed up dark red blood. With a short convulsion, Gilbert¡¯s body slumped, lifeless. He might not have always lived as a proud knight. But in the end, he chose to die as one. Najin silently reached out to close Gilbert¡¯s staring eyes. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Najin stood up. He looked in the direction Gilbert had pointed. Dawn was breaking, signaling the end of the twilight. Looking at the light spreading through the forest, Najin started walking. A knight who faced death as a knight. Many live as knights, but few choose to be knights until theirst moment. It¡¯s not easy to remain honorable when cornered. Especially in an era where the weight of the title ¡®knight¡¯ has lessened significantly. Debauched knights. Knights who betray their lords for money. Knights who are mere swordsmen drunk on their power. Knights without honor or pride. It¡¯s an era full of such knights. Most prioritize tangible goals like power and money over vague concepts like honor or pride. -Because of such an era. Najin thought, and Merlin spoke. -Such knights shine. Those who choose to be knights despite gaining nothing. Those who wish to be knights even in theirst moments. Najin had seen such a person somewhere. ¡¸Go, Najin.¡¹ ¡¸Stand at the highest point and shout.¡¹ ¡¸That the Knight of the Stars, Ivan, was at your starting point.¡¹ In the image of the knight just passed, Najin saw a glimpse of his benefactor. He still didn¡¯t understand the concepts of honor and pride, but he knew they deserved respect. Because he understood. ¡°Merlin.¡± Najin spoke. ¡°My n has changed.¡± He firmly gripped the sword at his waist. The original n was to keep a distance and observe the Demon Knight, then hold him at bay when the Knights of Atanga arrived. He was a formidable opponent beyond him. He had no reason to risk his life. He intended to use the battle as a learning experience. But his thoughts changed. He realized he shouldn¡¯t approach this matter so lightly. ¡°I guess I have to catch him myself.¡± Najin¡¯s eyes were cold and resolute. The deration wasn¡¯t born from the arrogance of a talented genius, but a resolve and a sense of determination. ¡°To grasp what honor and pride are.¡± Honor and pride. Those cherished by a knight. The boy admired knights. The first knight he saw had instilled that dream in him. ¡¸I am Ivan.¡¹ ¡¸The Knight of Atanga, Ivan.¡¹ The boy does not forget the pride shown by the one-eyed knight. He does not forget the honor that Ivan longed for until the end. That was the first star the boy ever saw. The pride in Ivan¡¯s eyes was the brightest star. Najin wanted to understand why Ivan risked his life for such superficial values. ¡°I don¡¯t know why.¡± Najin exhaled deeply. His intuition was shouting. ¡°By confronting the Demon Knight with all my might, I think I¡¯ll understand.¡± What kind of knight I want to be. What honor and pride mean. Ironically, by confronting someone who has forsaken it all, he felt he could understand. -You¡¯re impulsive. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Are you going to stop me? Najin asked. To that, Merlin burst intoughter. -What nonsense are you talking? Merlin eximed. -What are you waiting for? Go now! ¡°I thought you¡¯d say that.¡± Najin began to move. He started running, following the trail of the Demon Knight. The Demon Knight, Verheigen. He turned around at the sound of footsteps. There was someone walking straight towards him, not even bothering to hide his presence. How foolish. Revealing himself instead of hiding and ambushing? Another knight? That¡¯s what Verheigen thought as he turned his head. However, there was no knight. Instead, a young man dressed in what seemed to be stitched together from monster hide stood there. ¡®A mercenary?¡¯ It seemed a quest had been posted in the city as he passed near Cambria. It was a pointless endeavor. Verheigen sighed and began to speak. ¡°Hey, mercenary scum, mind your own bu¡­¡± ¡°Your name.¡± The young man cut off Verheigen¡¯s words. ng, he drew his sword and pointed it at Verheigen. With the sword tip aimed, he asked. His name. As if asking for the name of his opponent before a duel, Verheigen let out a scoff. ¡°Verheigen.¡± The Demon Knight revealed his name. Then, the young man with the sword should also reveal his name. Soon, the young man¡¯s lips parted. ¡°Najin.¡± His real name, not a false identity, was pronounced. ¡°The Squire of Ivan, the Knight of Atanga.¡± Sword aura blossomed from Najin¡¯s sword. Chapter 45 Chapter 45 ¨C The Demon Knight Verheigen (3) At the very mention of ¡°Knight of Atanga¡± from Najin¡¯s lips, Verheigen¡¯s eyes wavered. Had the Knights of Atanga already pursued him this far? That seemed impossible. Anxiety and unease shook Verheigen¡¯s mind. But even a rotten tree may bear fruit. Verheigen was also a knight, having held the position of a knightmander. It didn¡¯t take long for him to organize his thoughts and regainposure. ¡®He said he¡¯s a squire.¡¯ A vanguard of the knight order, or just mere bravado. It didn¡¯t matter. The young man before him seemed insignificant. The right thing would be to quickly dispose of this interloper and escape. Judgment and conclusion. The time taken to reach this decision was barely two seconds. It was a quick decision and response. However, time is always rtive. Najin¡¯s deration wasn¡¯t a bluff to test Verheigen but a straightforward statement of his identity before the battle. In other words, the moment he uttered that sentence, Najin was ready for battle. Bang! Two seconds. It was more than enough time to close the distance. Najin had covered over ten steps in a single moment. By the time Verheigen made his decision, Najin was already swinging his sword right in front of him. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± It was fast. Faster than expected. Verheigen¡¯s eyes widened. There wasn¡¯t enough time to counter. Pulling his arms inwards, Verheigen protected his neck and heart. As long as those weren¡¯t hit, he could regenerate indefinitely. Swoosh! Najin¡¯s sword, charged with sword aura, grazed Verheigen¡¯s forearm lightly. As expected, it was shallow. Realizing his arm wasn¡¯t severed, a smile formed on Verheigen¡¯s lips. The speed was impressive, but he realized the sword aura wasn¡¯t a threat. However, his thoughts were short-lived. ¡°Gggrrr!¡± Verheigen¡¯s eyes bulged in pain. The cut from the sword aura burned as if on fire. Sparks flew in his brain. ustomed to pain and with a body numbed by demonization, this was a type of pain Verheigen had never felt in his life. Pain as if the soul itself was burning. The demonic energy within him churned violently. Poised to counterattack, Verheigen¡¯s stance was disrupted by pain. Najin wouldn¡¯t miss this opening. He struck Verheigen¡¯s knee with a kick, and Verheigen¡¯s stance crumbledpletely. sp. Najin, gripping his sword firmly, brought it down towards Verheigen¡¯s head. A guillotine-like sword strike. A bright white sword aura drew a single line. ¡°This, damned brat¡­¡± However, the sword didn¡¯t split Verheigen¡¯s head. He had raised his arm in time to block Najin¡¯s sword with his forearm. The sword, halfway into his arm, was pushed out by swelling flesh. With his face twisted in pain, Verheigen reached behind his back. Sensing danger, Najin¡¯s instincts warned him. Retreat and create distance. That decision proved right. As Najin retreated, Verheigen grabbed a sword hilt protruding over his shoulder. Then, unsheathing it. The sword, breaking free from its scabbard, left a dark trace in its wake. Whoosh! The sword aura split trees in its path. Wind howled. From a distance, Najin observed the sword in Verheigen¡¯s grasp. A de, two to three times thicker than a normal longsword, resembling a greatsword. To wield such a sword. At such a speed. It was a threatening strength, and the dark sword aura wrapped around the greatsword was equally menacing. The dark, murky sword aura seemed ominous. Crack, crackle. Verheigen loosened his shoulders. Initially, he hadn¡¯t intended to draw his sword, but his thoughts changed the moment he received Najin¡¯s attack. The sword aura emitted by the young man was unusual, Verheigen concluded. The power of the sword aura itself wasn¡¯t threatening. The issue was the soul-burning pain felt when cut by the sword aura. ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem to carry any special properties.¡¯ A sword aura with unique properties and forms is a symbol of a Sword Seeker. In Verheigen¡¯s eyes, Najin didn¡¯t seem to be at the level of a Sword Seeker. However, it was certain that the sword aura he wielded was special. Dragging the fight out wouldn¡¯t be beneficial. That is what Verheigen had decided. ng, positioning his greatsword on his shoulder, Verheigen adopted a new stance. His presence shifted in an instant. Verheigen, former knightmander of the Trebache Family. Even before contracting with a demon, he was at the very top of the Sword Experts. Now, with exponentially enhanced physical abilities due to the demon contract, he was as strong as a Sword Seeker in the early stages. Thus, Verheigen was confident in his victory. At best, his opponent was only a Sword Expert. He was agile, but that¡¯s all. He believed that the level ofbat skill was absolute. ¡­That¡¯s generally a correct judgment. But not always does a disparity in skill determine victory or defeat. Sometimes, subtle nuances, not categorized by skill level, be the deciding factor. ¡°Huff¡­¡± And Najin, The boy who had survived in the underground city, Always created those nuances with his own hands, seizing victory. This time was no different. Najin exhaled deeply and widened his eyes. Eyes filled with determination. In those eyes reflected a momentary future. Since arriving in the City of Opportunities, Najin had grown. His growth was steep and unimpeded, but he was still a Sword Expert. Naturally, he was weaker than Verheigen, who was close to a Seeker, andcked in absolute strength. Technique, physical strength, and various other aspects. Most likely, he was inferior in all those respects. But if there was one area where Najin didn¡¯t fall short, it was his senses and vision. Sharply honed senses and chilling eyes that captured everything. The boy, always unparalleled in ¡®seeing¡¯, had realized his talent several months ago. Najin¡¯s eyes existed beyond ordinary understanding¡­ almost mystical. The world seen through those eyes was iprehensible to mere mortals. Only Najin could understand thatndscape. Rustling grass. Breathing. The moving eyes of Verheigen. The grip on the sword. Dark particles rising from the sword aura. And, the twitching muscles. The moment Verheigen stepped forward, Najin had already sprung off the ground. When Verheigen swung his sword, Najin had already infiltrated his side. Swoosh! As Verheigen¡¯s greatsword tore the ground, Najin¡¯s sword sliced Verheigen¡¯s flesh as he moved past. The wounds were shallow, but Najin didn¡¯t stop there. With bulging eyes, he read Verheigen¡¯s movements and inhaled deeply. Mana surged. Mana Cultivation Technique that absorbs the surrounding mana. Normally, in a battle against a demon, Najin¡¯s mana cultivation would be akin to self-harm. If he absorbed mana filled with demonic energy, his body would break down. But Najin was the owner of Excalibur. The moment mana entered his body, the demonic energy waspletely purified. He then channeled all the absorbed mana, along with his body¡¯s existing mana, into physical enhancement. An amount of mana that would have been unbearable in the past. But now, he could withstand it. Crackling! eleration. The sword, scattering afterimages, shed Verheigen¡¯s body. One opening led to three cuts on Verheigen¡¯s body. With his teeth gritted, Verheigen stomped on the ground. Dust flew up. He knew these superficial wounds posed no real threat to his life. Acknowledging this, he chose a strategy of sacrificing flesh for bone. His greatsword sliced through the air. Najin hastily leaned back as the greatsword narrowly missed his head. Despite the broad swings, Verheigen¡¯s movements were wlessly tight. Beforepleting a full arc with his sword, he twisted his waist. The trajectory shifted. The greatsword halted unnaturally and lunged at Najin. Having read the move in advance, Najin threw himself backward to dodge. However, he couldn¡¯t fully escape the sword wind generated by the greatsword. Dust and shattered stone fragments enveloped Najin. Ouch. His troll leather armor protected his body, but not his face. Blood sttered from a cut on his skin. His vision blurred momentarily by dust. From within the dust cloud, Verheigen¡¯s knee emerged, aimed at Najin¡¯s abdomen. Bang! Najin hastily pulled his sword for defense, but the force cracked his forearm, holding the de. The superhuman strength was evident. Najin frowned. Sliding backward, Najin caught his breath. Reading movements is one thing, but being able to counter them is another. His forearm throbbed, and he struggled to grip with one hand. ¡°You¡¯re damn slippery.¡± Creak, crack. Gritting his teeth and contorting his face in an effort to endure the pain from the sword aura, Verheigen brushed off the dust. Swinging his greatsword to clear his view, he smirked at Najin. ¡°What guts do you have to challenge me? Did you not see the corpses of those knights on your way here? Didn¡¯t their pathetic deaths give you a clue?¡± Sneering, Verheigen stomped the ground. His inhuman strength allowed him to close the distance to Najin in an instant. He swung his greatsword,ughing mockingly. ¡°You¡¯re not a match for me.¡± The greatsword was wrapped in ck sword aura. In front of the imposing de, Najin raised his sword expressionlessly. ¡°I know.¡± Sword auras shed. Despite buckling under the weight of the greatsword, Najin¡¯s sword didn¡¯t give in. Feeling something amiss, Verheigen sensed unease. ng! Najin countered Verheigen¡¯s sword. Straining to maintain his stance under the weight, Najin parried the blows. ng, ng, bang! The weight of the greatsword cried out against Najin¡¯s body. Yet, Najin faced it head-on, sometimes using the Empire¡¯s swordsmanship, other times using the deflecting techniques shown by Ivan. ¡°I know that, but still.¡± Najin lifted his head. In that moment of eye contact, Verheigen felt a chill. Najin¡¯s eyes, filled with determination, resembled those of a predator, shining sinisterly, ready to bite at the slightestpse. Overwhelmed by those eyes for a moment, Verheigen swung his sword fiercely to push Najin back. Then, with a heavy thud, he gripped the sword hilt tightly. Crunch, crunch! He appeared to bepressing his strength. Pulling the greatsword back, Verheigen unleashed it horizontally with a shout. A technique symbolic of his days as themander of the Trebache Family¡¯s knight order. A sword technique that bisected trolls with a single stroke. The greatsword, wrapped in ck sword aura, carved a crescent trajectory. As the sweeping sword met Najin¡¯s, a st of wind followed. Trees on either side of Najin split with a loud crack. Najin, unable to fully withstand the force, slid backward. He was pushed back over ten steps, stopping only when he hit a tree. ¡®¡­He withstood that?¡¯ Verheigen¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. How could he have withstood a blow that could bisect trolls, especially with enhanced strength? Verheigen had no way of knowing the peculiar movements Najin used against the swinging greatsword. ¡°¡­I had something to ask.¡± Catching his breath away from the tree, Najin spoke. His breathing was rough. With his right arm broken from thest strike, Najin lifted his sword with one hand. Pointing his sword at Verheigen, Najin asked. ¡°What is a knight to you?¡± Perhaps it was a question Najin posed to himself. What is a knight? Hearing the question, Verheigen let out a hollowugh. Was he trying to buy time? Verheigen saw no point in answering. He took another step towards Najin. ¡°What is honor and pride to you?¡± Najin asked, assuming a stance. Bang, the greatsword dug into the ground. Unwilling to y along if Najin was stalling, Verheigen relentlessly pressured him. As Najin was pushed back, he lowered his posture. ¡°Answer me.¡± With sudden eleration, Najin moved faster than Verheigen, slicing his wrist. The cut didn¡¯t sever the wrist, but it was deep enough to draw blood. Ssh! Blood sttered, and Verheigen grimaced. The wound quickly closed, but it hindered his ability to wield the greatsword effectively. He kicked Najin away. Najin didn¡¯t immediately rush in. He just kept asking. What is a knight to you, what is honor, what is pride? I need to hear your answer. Laughing bitterly, Verheigen exhaled deeply. Pretending to engage in this meaningless conversation until his wrist healed, he began to speak. ¡°You asked what a knight is?¡± Verheigen responded. ¡°A knight is a means to climb the socialdder. It¡¯s nothing more than a tool to gain money, power, and strength.¡± That was his view of a knight. As amoner, it was his way up, allowing him ess to wealth and power unattainable otherwise. ¡°And honor and pride are the same.¡± Verheigen smirked. ¡°They gain immense value when sold or discarded. They¡¯re worthless otherwise. You¡¯d be surprised how much a ¡®knight¡¯s pride¡¯ sells for. You wouldn¡¯t understand, kid.¡± When betraying his lord. Selling his lord¡¯s weaknesses to nobles of other territories. Or turning a blind eye to the disloyalty of the family¡¯s retainers. Each time, he was paid handsomely under the guise of sacrificing his knightly pride. Nothing is gained by preserving them. But betraying them brings sweet gold. ¡°Pride, honor, rules¡­ You must have seen on your way here, right? How those fools clinging to worthless things ended up. Look at me. By abandoning all of them, I gained this much power, didn¡¯t I?¡± As a knight, he sneaked into the depths of the family, stealing an artifact where a demon was sealed. Under the pretense of knightly pride, he lured his colleagues and killed them. Fools clinging to honor and pride. He knew there was nothing more enjoyable and easier than deceiving such people. A smile spread across his face. The young man before him wasn¡¯t a knight, but he shared the same foolishness. ¡°Like you.¡± When Najin sliced his wrist, If he had kept attacking, he could have wounded him more. But instead, he chose to listen to his musings about honor and pride, giving him time. ¡°Such foolishness.¡± Verheigen sincerely thought so. Listening to him, Najin bowed his head. Was he angry? Or despairing at being overpowered by someone who disregarded honor and pride? Neither. Najin lifted his head, smiling. ¡°¡­Why are you smiling?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just realizing how lucky I was.¡± Najin spoke with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m d the first knight I met wasn¡¯t someone like you.¡± A knight who knows honor and pride. Even when fallen to the bottom, who didn¡¯t lose his dignity, choosing to be a knight until the end ¡ª a knight of Atanga. The first knight he met. The knight who nted a dream in him. It was fortunate for Najin that his first encounter was with Ivan, not someone like Verheigen. Hearing Verheigen¡¯s tale, Najin finally understood what kind of knight he aspired to be. What Najin envisioned was¡­ The first knight he ever met, a star. In the starless underground city, that knight¡¯s eyes held stars. Najin remembered that knight. ¡®No matter where I fall.¡¯ Even if plummeting endlessly. Even if falling to a ce where no stars shine. ¡®Longing to reim what I¡¯ve lost, preserving my remaining pride¡­¡¯ Remaining a knight, never forgetting my essence. ¡®A knight chasing stars.¡¯ A knight pursuing the stars in the night sky. That¡¯s the kind of knight Najin wanted to be. ¡®A knight, bearing honor and pride, chasing stars.¡¯ Honor. Pride. And stars. The concept of a knight, iplete in Najin¡¯s mind, paradoxically becameplete upon encountering someone farthest from a knight. A goal forms. Aplete picture. That moment. Najin¡¯s sword aura surged brilliantly white. His sword aura¡¯s output spiked suddenly. An operating method he had unconsciously mastered during his decisive battle with Ivan but had never used since then. But now, differently from that time¡­ There were no tinum particles in the fiercely surging sword aura. Because right now, Najin was thinking not of a star but of a certain knight. Chapter 46 Chapter 46 ¨C The Demon Knight Verheigen (4) The longsword was wrapped in a pure white sword aura. Such a powerful sword aura seemed too mighty to be drawn by a mere Sword Expert. It was not just enveloped in light but as if the de itself was made of light. An unbelievable output of sword aura. However, it didn¡¯t possess any special form or properties. Of course, it didn¡¯t. Najin was still a Sword Expert, not yet at the level of a Sword Seeker. What Najin had done was simply push the output of his sword aura beyond its limits in a way only he could. ¡­Najin¡¯s mana cultivation technique was unique. The mana stored in his body was minimal, and most of the cultivated mana was used to strengthen his body and the pathways through which mana flowed. There was no need to store mana inside the body. After all, Najin could immediately utilize the mana floating in the air around him. He could draw the mana floating in the air and instantly weave it into his sword aura. His sense of handling mana was different from others who had to manage only the mana stored within them. ¡®That¡¯s why.¡¯ Najin knew. ¡®There¡¯s no limit to mana itself.¡¯ Mana floating outside. The raw flow circting the world. Najin, who maniptes this flow, is like standing in the middle of a vast ocean with a cup. He only had a small vessel to scoop the water, but he knew that if he erged the vessel, he could scoop as much as he wanted. Here¡¯s one thing. Just before leaving the underground city, during his decisive battle with Ivan, Najin unconsciously stumbled upon a special method of usage unique only to him. It wasn¡¯t about scooping water with a vessel. It was about jumping into the ocean. Even at the risk of drowning, he would throw his body in just to snatch a victory. That was the gamble Najin discovered. At this moment, he was making the same bet. -You, that¡­ Merlin was startled by Najin¡¯s method of using mana. The paths etched in Najin¡¯s body, the channels where mana flowed, began to creak. Mana, in quantities too vast to be contained, was filling up inside Najin. Operation of mana beyond its limit. The circuits creaked. Broke. Cracked. Mana that couldn¡¯t be contained in the circuits began to leak. The raw mana that leaked started tosh out inside Najin¡¯s body. Drawing in more mana than he could handle. Stepping beyond the allowed limits. Damaging his body and circuits in exchange for overwhelming output, a reckless method without regard for the future. Even with the recovery powers of Excalibur¡­ ¡°Cough. Cough¡­¡± The pain of being torn apart from the inside by rampant mana was something only Najin had to endure. He spat out a mouthful of blood. Despite the excruciating pain tearing him from within, his grip on the sword tightened. With bloodshot eyes, Najin red at Verheigen. His eyes, glowing with the hue of sunset, held a yearning for victory. Clenching his teeth, Najin mmed his foot down. -¡­¡­ Merlin remained silent. The method of operation born from Najin¡¯s desire for victory. Incidentally, it was also something Arthur had used. A technique that no one had ever taught him, and nowhere recorded. Arthur, who fought countless strong adversaries, yearned for it. A strike to tear the throats of the powerful. A strike to break his own limits. Always challenging those stronger than himself, risking his life for victory¡­ Arthur, who struggled even in dire situations to snatch victory, had developed this method during his journey. Despite the mana churning inside, tearing his body apart. Despite the excruciating pain from the twisting circuits. He would never back down, vomiting blood while charging at his enemies to cut their throats. Merlin saw a resemnce between Arthur¡¯s image and Najin. Without anyone¡¯s guidance, Najin had independently discovered the same method as Arthur. Solely driven by his determination to win. -Really. Merlin burst outughing. -You¡¯re crazier than I thought. Najin dashed towards Verheigen, his white sword aura zing brilliantly. Verheigen¡¯s eyes wavered. The man who seemed almost dead had suddenlye back to life. Not only did he revive, but his speed increased, and the sword aura wrapping his de surged more fiercely. It was as if he had been hiding his strength all along. Kaang! At the moment of the swords¡¯ sh, Verheigen was pushed back. Despite having the upper hand in terms of the weight of the sword and physical strength, he was overpowered in terms of output. The rebound from the violently surging sword aura pushed Verheigen¡¯s greatsword back. ¡®What is this¡­!¡¯ Verheigen¡¯s eyes widened in shock. His grip on the sword ached, and Najin¡¯s sword struck, continuously shing it. Previously, Verheigen had protected his neck by raising his forearms, but this time, he shuddered. No, it won¡¯t work. He can¡¯t take it with his bare body. Btedly, Verheigen twisted his body. Najin¡¯s sword, aiming for his neck, grazed Verheigen¡¯s shoulder. At that moment, Verheigen confirmed his decision to dodge was right. The shoulder wound was deep. If it had hit his neck, it would have almost severed half of it. Amidst the burning pain from the wound, Verheigen locked eyes with Najin. Those eyes were shining with bloodlust and sunset hue. Eerily intense eyes. Verheigen had a feeling. The situation hadpletely changed. Najin¡¯s sword aura was strong enough to slice through his demonized body. He could no longer block with his body. ¡®What are you?¡¯ He wasn¡¯t just a Sword Expert. It¡¯s impossible for a Sword Expert to unleash such a powerful sword aura. It was unthinkable for him to move like that. ¡®What are you, really?¡¯ Cold sweat ran down Verheigen¡¯s spine. With each sh of swords, with every charge of Najin¡¯s sword aiming for his throat¡­ Verheigen clenched his teeth and had to fend off the attacks. Previously, he had toyed with Najin. But now, he had to confront him as an equal. If he couldn¡¯t block, he would die. The difference in level was no longer meaningful. Victory and defeat were decided by skill and momentary judgment. Each swing of Najin¡¯s sword was imposed upon Verheigen. Death. Blood. Flesh. Blood sttered. Flesh was scattered. It wasn¡¯t just Najin bleeding anymore. Blood began to spurt from Verheigen¡¯s body as well. The pursuit team of the demon knight Verheigen. Argo, the leading knight of the Knights of Atanga¡¯ pursuit team, pulled the reins of his horse. Thest location where the signal was detected. Argo stopped there and looked around, then heard the shing of swords ¡®kang, kaang¡¯. He signaled the following knights and moved towards the source of the sound. Pushing through the bushes and passing the dense trees, he reached an artificially cleared area in the middle of the forest. Trees uprooted and splity scattered around the clearing. Likely created by cutting and uprooting trees that hindered the duel. At first nce, it seemed like a dueling arena in the midst of the forest. Kaang! In that arena, two swordsmen shed. One was Verheigen, the demon knight chased by the Knights of Atanga, and the other, a young adventurer. ¡®Wasn¡¯t there talk of an adventurer in Cambria taking on the mission?¡¯ Presumably, that young man was the adventurer. Intending to express gratitude to the young man for excellently carrying out the mission, Argo drew his sword. To ease the young man¡¯s burden and to subdue the demon knight. As he was about to step forward, Argo frowned, sensing something off. Verheigen¡¯s movements, the sword aura he wielded, and the intense demonic energy. In Argo¡¯s eyes, Verheigen¡¯s level seemed much higher than reported. Was the assessment of his strength wrong? Surprising, but not a problem. ¡®I moved, anticipating such possibilities.¡¯ Argo was a warrior who had reached the level of a Sword Seeker. Furthermore, behind him were his proud colleagues from the Knights of Atanga. He was confident that they could handle any unexpected situations that might arise. Thus, Verheigen¡¯s unexpected strength wasn¡¯t a concern, but something else caught Argo¡¯s attention. It was the movements of the young man shing swords with Verheigen. The young man, wielding a sword wreathed in a pure white sword aura, disyed an astonishing level of swordy. Cha-cha-cha-cha-chaak! The untainted, pristine white sword aura repelled Verheigen¡¯s dark-tainted sword multiple times. Sometimes smoothly, sometimes boldly. The young man¡¯s steps were light yet precise. His sword strikes didn¡¯t miss any openings. His stance seamlessly transitioned between movements. Based on the Order of the Sword¡¯s techniques, the young man¡¯s style seemed to blend various sword techniques. While the swordy itself was admirable, what was most astonishing was the young man¡¯s instantaneous decision-making. ¡®Bold.¡¯ Not just parrying but boldly piercing to inflict wounds, and never missing any openings revealed by the opponent. Like a fierce beast. Thus, the young man matched Verheigen. Engaging in a duel with Verheigen, who was presumed to be at the level of a Sword Seeker. Despite the young man¡¯s impressive skills, Argo had never seen him before. As Argo looked at the young man¡¯s face, he gasped. It was because he saw the young man¡¯s eyes. Eyes that only focused on Verheigen, burning intensely with a strong desire for victory. Eyes that seemed to draw one in, eerily captivating. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Upon seeing those eyes, Argo silently sheathed his sword and signaled the Knights of Atanga to halt. The young man had a firm resolve to deny his opponent. With an intense desire for victory. He was fullymitted to the duel. It was something that should never be interrupted or disturbed by others. Argo, ready to intervene at any moment, watched ¨C no, was captivated by ¨C the duel between Najin and Verheigen. It was not just a watchful gaze, but one that was snatched away. The young man wielded a raw sword. An unrefined, iplete sword technique and sword aura. Yet, it was precisely because of this rawness that it was captivating. There was an intensity only found in something unrefined. Ka, ga-ga-ga-ga-ga-gak! Sword auras shed, sparks flew, and the tip of the sword grazed, causing blood to burst and evaporate upon touching the zing sword aura. Rising blood. The sound of shing swords. Chaotically intertwined footsteps. The perfectly bnced scale began to tilt in Najin¡¯s favor. Unlike Verheigen, who was merely treading water, Najin continued to grow even amidst the battle. Quajik! Verheigen¡¯s greatsword tore into the ground. As the heavy impact shook the ground, Najin was already not on the ground. With a light leap, Najin spun in the air and, uponnding, struck down towards Verheigen¡¯s sword. Kaang! Najin¡¯s longsword struck the greatsword, driving it deeper into the ground. Then, following the nted de of the greatsword, Najin swung his sword. Ga-ga-ga-gak, the sound rang as his de aimed for Verheigen¡¯s neck. ¡°¡­Ck!¡± Verheigen hastily let go of his greatsword and reached out to grab Najin¡¯s sword¡­ But Najin¡¯s sword aura was beyond any resistance. Verheigen¡¯s palm, stretched forward, was severed by the sword aura. From the little finger to the index finger, the flesh and bone were sliced as Najin¡¯s sword continued unimpeded. The blood that erupted evaporated, and Najin¡¯s sword neared Verheigen¡¯s neck. At that moment, Verheigen sensed his imminent defeat. He felt an unavoidable death approaching. Therefore, he resorted to hisst hidden move. ¡°¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!¡± Verheigen let out a monstrous yell. His eyes flipped, and a momentary burst of ck smoke erupted from his body, engulfing both him and Najin. A scene that unfolded in an instant, too fast for even the Knights of Atanga to react. Verheigen¡¯sst resort. It was a move he had saved for the battle against the Knights of Atanga, something he could use only once. A power obtained through a contract with a demon. A one-time opportunity lent by that power. Verheigen used it to kill Najin, convinced that he would die otherwise. His face contorted with rage. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have used it on someone like you.¡± The artifact managed by the Schulhauser family for generations. Though it was known to contain a mid-level demon, Verheigen knew it was not just any ordinary being. From centuries ago, the ancient era. The entity in the artifact was an ancient demon active in that era. Having stolen the Schulhauser family¡¯s secret texts, Verheigen knew this and contracted with the demon inside the artifact. Darkness and fear. The demon symbolizing blindness. The ancient demon, Arkand. That power was manifested through Verheigen¡¯s hands. The rising ck mist quickly transformed into a dome-shaped barrier, enclosing both Najin and Verheigen. Although the original Arkand could engulf a small territory, Verheigen¡¯s extent was limited to this. However, he knew this was sufficient. While the barrier¡¯s range was limited. Its properties remained the same. ¡®Aplete disconnect from the outside world. Creating apletely sealed space, unreachable even by starlight¡­¡¯ And the amplification of demonic energy. Verheigen¡¯s wounds instantly healed. Flesh regrew, and fingers sliced off regrew tainted ck. His body overflowed with strength, iparable to moments before. The greatsword, now wreathed in ck sword aura. In this space, Verheigen held an overwhelming advantage. Even if it were the Knights of Atanga, he was confident they couldn¡¯t match him. In fact, he was sure they couldn¡¯t stand against him. The sensation of omnipotence. The overwhelming power felt. Verheigen smirked, looking at Najin. The pure white sword aura that had been shining was now dimmed by the darkness of the barrier. It seemed unlikely to ze again, as the barrier not only strengthened Verheigen but also weakened his opponent. ¡°This is the end, boy.¡± Verheigen smirked, looking at Najin. In the darkness created by the demon, the light produced by a mere human seemed pitiful. The white sword aura, now seemingly on the verge of extinction, made Najin¡¯s figure look pathetic. Verheigen was sure of his victory. He pondered how to crush Najin, how to give this insolent man a miserably fitting end. As he moved towards Najin¡­ ¡°¡­¡­¡± Verheigen locked eyes with Najin. There was no fear in those eyes, no wavering. They were eerily calm. Feeling a dissonance, Verheigen frowned. ¡­Was that color there before? Najin¡¯s eyes, which were sunset-colored moments ago, were now shining tinum. Like the stars in the night sky. -You finally used it. Merlin¡¯s voice echoed in Najin¡¯s ears. The voice was full ofughter. Chapter 47 Chapter 47 ¨C The Demon Knight Verheigen (5) Demon Knight Verheigen. He belonged to the Schulhauser family, and the demon-containing artifact he was known to have stolen was also managed by the Schulhauser family for hundreds of years. Information on the request form. From the moment that information was confirmed, Merlin understood everything about the demon Verheigen had contracted with. Its true name, the concept it governed. It was impossible not to know. The Schulhauser family existed even in the era when Merlin was active. -A high-ranking demon. -Governs the concepts of darkness, fear, and blindness. -True name: Arkand. A demon from ancient times, existing hundreds of years ago during the era when Merlin and Arthur were active. Sealed by a bordend hero known as Schulhauser at that time. Remembering this information about the demon, Merlin smiled. Arkand is a powerful demon. There¡¯s no denying that fact. Even if it weakened over the centuries of being sealed, Arkand¡¯s power is not to be underestimated. From the moment he used his power, Najin had no chance of defeating Verheigen. Any attempt would only lead to a brutal death. Within the barrier, Verheigen possesses a strength overwhelming even the upper echelons of Sword Seekers. In contrast, Najin¡¯s body weakens, and his mana output decreases. A barrier that weakens the opponent and strengthens oneself. Within this barrier, Najin could never defeat Verheigen. It¡¯s an absolute disparity, a rule. Yet, Merlin didn¡¯t stop Najin because he chose to confront Verheigen alone¡­ -Arkand¡¯s power isplete istion from the outside. That¡¯s the nature of Arkand¡¯s power. -Creating a space that no one else can see into, that¡¯s the ability of Arkand. A spacepletely isted from the outside. No starlight, no sunlight, nothing can reach inside. In such a space, Pdins who swing swords with the blessing of stars lose their light, and magess who cast magic with the support of the mage tower be utterly powerless. That¡¯s why Arkand was infamous. But for Najin, this barrier has apletely different meaning. Istion means: -No eyes are watching you. -There¡¯s a demon to be in. There was no need to hide his power anymore. -Let that ancient demon know. Merlinughed. Najin slowly sheathed his longsword. -That their nemesis has returned. Click, Najin sheathed his longsword. Then, he reached out towards the sky. -After a thousand years, your nemesis, the one who brings eternal death to you, has returned. His hand raised to the sky. The constetion on his wrist shone. ¡­¡­Again, it must be said. Inside the barrier, Najin can¡¯t defeat Verheigen. It¡¯s an absolute gap, a rule of the barrier. But Najin possesses something. Something that exists above all rules. A tremendous variable that can overturn all disparities. A brilliant light that won¡¯t be obscured by any darkness conjured by demons. Clutch. Najin clenched his raised hand. Thirteen constetions floating in thin air. Immediately after, starlight flooded the darkness. Demon Knight Verheigen saw it. Najin suddenly sheathing his sword. Sheathing his sword while the enemy approaches? Has he given up on resisting? No, looking at his eyes, it didn¡¯t seem like giving up. His eyes still yearned for victory. Obsession with victory visible in his eyes. Even in the darkness, the tinum-colored eyes didn¡¯t lose their light. Feeling uneasy the moment he saw Najin¡¯s eyes change from sunset to tinum color, Verheigen was troubled. Najin extended his hand towards the sky. The moment thirteen stars on his wrist lit up, starlight flooded the darkness in an instant. Whoosh! Even the darkness devouring light couldn¡¯t obscure the starlight created by Najin. At this moment, the light Najin grasped couldn¡¯t be obscured by anything. The light shone even in the deepest depths below the earth untouched by starlight. Even in the demon-infested realm. Even in thend of Cann, where stars fall. In any ce, it never lost its light, symbolizing a hero, illuminating humanity¡¯s path, and symbolizing victory, it was that sword after all. Clutch. The moment Najin clenched his hand towards the sky, the overflowing starlight transformed into a sword. Burning away the surrounding darkness, the shining sword alone. It was impossible for Verheigen not to recognize it. The Sword of the Stars, Excalibur. A holy sword forgotten for hundreds of years, now brought into reality by the hand of a boy. Verheigen¡¯s eyes trembled. The light created by the Sword of the Stars burned away all darkness. The barrier, trying to engulf the star risen from the darkness, rippled, but the light of Excalibur could not be obscured by anything. Not even the witch of Cann could obscure this light. Nor could the dragons of the abyss swallow it. A mere demon¡¯s darkness couldn¡¯t veil the light of Excalibur. The sight shook Verheigen¡¯s vision wildly. ¡®Ex¡­calibur¡­?¡¯ Unbelievable. Why was that holy sword in his hands? Wasn¡¯t Excalibur drawn by one of the three Swordmasters? Imitation, fake, illusion, lie. It was impossible to even consider such a possibility. Burning away the darkness created by a demon in this way was impossible even for the sanctified artifacts of the order. Cold sweat ran down Verheigen¡¯s spine. His fingers gripping the sword trembled uncontrobly. It was a fundamental fear. The fear Verheigen feels is not his own, but that of the demon fused with his body. The ancient demon Arkand feels fear. It¡¯s the fear etched into the very race of demons, a fear of their natural predator. The Sword of the Stars, Excalibur. This holy sword fractures the minds of demons. It burns the souls of demons. It makes the paradox of killing the immortal beings, the demons, possible. ¡°As long as I live.¡± ¡°There is no ce for you on thisnd.¡± Holding the sword that exists above allws, Arthur, who swept away hundreds, thousands of demons, is remembered by Arkand. ¡°Fear this light.¡± ¡°Remember, thisnd is not yours.¡± After centuries, Arthur has reappeared in this world. Arkand, trembling with fear, seeks to flee, but there is nowhere to run. Sealed in the artifact, Arkand can only escape through his contractor, Verheigen. Arkand felt fear. A demon, an immortal being, experienced the fear of death. In this paradoxical situation, Verheigen faces Najin. In front of the brilliantly shining Sword of the Stars, the ck sword aura enveloping Verheigen¡¯s sword burns away. The omnipotence flooding his body also fades. Creeeeak¡­ The darkness that weakened Najin¡¯s body and bound his mana also burned away in the starlight. Exhaling deeply, Najin felt the blessing of the holy sword strengthening from the moment he summoned Excalibur. The injuries sustained in the battle with Verheigen begin to heal instantaneously. Wounds closed and new flesh grew. The upset stomach from overusing mana beyond its limit began to normalize. It¡¯s a miraculous recovery power. The blessing now was iparable to what it was in the underground city, astonishing even Najin. -It¡¯s because you¡¯ve grown stronger since then. Merlin smiled. Since arriving in Cambria, Najin has grown. His body had developed, and his soul had matured. Excalibur testified to this growth. -There¡¯s no need to prolong the fight. -How long this barrier can withstand Excalibur¡¯s light is uncertain. So, Merlin says, -You know what I¡¯m trying to say, right? I understand. Najin steadied his breath and takes his stance. ¡°End it with one strike, isn¡¯t it?¡± -Exactly that. Ending a being who has contracted with an ancient demon and even wields its power with a single strike is something not even a Sword Seeker can achieve. But Najin calmly took his stance. Fwoosh! Excalibur was enveloped in sword aura. Amplified several times, the pure white sword aura was crowned with tinum particles. The resulting tinum sword aura was something only Arthur in history could wield. ¡°You¡­ who exactly are you?¡± Verheigen stumbled backward. Facing the fearful Verheigen, Najin exhaled. What came to mind now was the most powerful strike he could deliver. There¡¯s only one technique that came to mind. ¡°Verheigen.¡± Najin bends his knees and raises his sword. He speaks out because he now understands the significance of the technique he¡¯s about to unleash. ¡°You have forsaken your honor. You have lost your pride.¡± The sword technique of Atanga. The sword shown by Ivan, the Knight Pursuing Stars. ¡°Therefore, you have sullied the name of a knight.¡± A sword to punish those who have lost honor and pride. Najin dered against Verheigen, who stood in stark contrast to the knight Najin envisioned in his mind. ¡°I am Najin. The squire of Ivan, a Knight of Atanga.¡± Though not yet a knight. Lacking in honor. But now understanding what pride is. ¡°I will strike you down.¡± That was enough. Enough reason and justification to wield the sword of Atanga. A deration to strike down the false knight. Najin, holding the Sword of the Stars, took the stance of Atanga, reciting its creed. It was the oldest rule, proimed by Arthur, once known as the King of Knights. Cut down the demon. Punish those who tarnish the name of a knight. The rule dered by Arthur centuries ago was now spoken again by his sessor. In front of that deration, Verheigen realized that he could not escape. There was no turning back. Verheigen made his choice. Screaming, he charged at Najin. The demon-empowered body remained strong. With each step, the ground shook and the darkness rippled. Kwoong! mming the ground, Verheigen swung his greatsword horizontally. His proudest and most symbolic technique. The most powerful strike he could deliver, capable of splitting even giant trolls in one blow. The sword, wrapped in darkness, elerated with the wind pressure. Verheigen¡¯s ultimate strike, encapsting all his being. Najin doesn¡¯t think of deflecting, avoiding, or interrupting it halfway. He would break everything head-on. Because it was Atanga¡¯s sword, Ivan¡¯s sword. As Verheigen¡¯s greatsword reached top speed, Najin moved. Verheigen couldn¡¯tprehend the movement. Najin¡¯s sword, trailing starlight, made a swift advance. Swoosh. The sound that resonated was a serene slicing. Verheigen¡¯s greatsword, reaching top speed, was easily split by Najin. The sword didn¡¯t stop there, plunging into Verheigen¡¯s nk. The Star Sword cut through the darkness. The Holy Sword shed the demon. The sword that pierced Verheigen¡¯s left side cut across to his right shoulder and surged upward. The sword strike had no hesitation. The resistance of a demon¡¯s body was meaningless before Excalibur. A perfect Atanga sword technique that crushes the opponent¡¯s technique and overwhelms them. Najin cleaves the demon in a single strike. The trajectory of Excalibur¡¯s cut released a burst of starlight. The light incinerated the soul and mind of the demon, eradicating its existence. The ancient demon Arkand, housed in Verheigen¡¯s body, disintegrated into ashes. Kwoong. Verheigen¡¯s upper body tilted along the severed line. He met his death without a scream. Kwoong, his body fell to the ground. Beyond that, Najin saw. The long sword scar on the ground. The sword that split the greatsword and cut Verheigen didn¡¯t stop there; it etched a lengthy mark on thend. Observing the trace, Najin sheathed his sword. With Verheigen¡¯s death, the power-wielding barrier blurred and darkness began to fade. Najin, feeling a bit of regret, stored Excalibur. The starlight-turned Excalibur was sucked into the constetion on his wrist. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± As Najin steadied his breath and collected the thrill of battle, ¡°Enter¡­! Enter!¡± A morous voice is heard from outside the barrier. The barrier, dissipating with Verheigen¡¯s death, crashes open from the outside. Someone breaks through the barrier and steps inside. They were knights in armor. Emzoned on their armor was the emblem of Atanga. To save the brave young man battling the demon knight, they had leaped into the demon¡¯s barrier. ¡°Protect the young man! Form ranks to pressure Verheigen¡­?¡± The words of Argo, the Knight of Atanga leading the charge, remained unfinished. The sight of Verheigen¡¯s bisected corpse and the unharmed Najin silenced him. Fwoosh. The barrier copsed entirely, and sunlight poured through. Under the ring sun, an awkward silence lingered. Chapter 48 Chapter 48 -The Demon Knight Verheigen (6) The Knight of Atanga, Argo. A knight renowned within the Atanga for his strength and ability to make quick decisions without panic in any situation. However, at this moment, Argo was feeling perplexed. The situation before his eyes was that absurd. Argo was considerably startled when the Demon Knight Verheigen used his power. It was a surge of demonic energy far beyond his expectations and a type of power he had never encountered before. A power that created a barrier andpletely isted it from the outside world. Still, he could quickly adapt to that. Gritting his teeth, Argo made his decision. The young man fighting the demon was in danger. Although they had been evenly matched until now, it was unlikely to remain so inside the barrier. He needed to help. ¡°Break the barrier!¡± A method to counter and attack the demon¡¯s power. Atanga, being primarily responsible for managing knights and demon subjugation, possessed extensive knowledge about demons. Yet, interpreting and countering the barrier required a significant amount of time. Crack! At some point, the barrier weakened, and they shattered it, entering the interior. Even as he entered, Argo couldn¡¯t hide his bitterness. If so much time had passed, it was highly likely that the young man had already met his demise. Yet, Argo shouted. ¡°Protect the young man!¡± Protect the young man and kill the Demon Knight. Even if the young man had already passed, protect his body from desecration. With this thought, Argo raised his voice, but¡­ ¡°Form ranks and pressure Verheigen¡­?¡± What they encountered inside the barrier wasn¡¯t the Demon Knight, nor was it the corpse of the young man. What weed them was the bisected corpse of the Demon Knight Verheigen and¡­ ¡°¡­What?¡± With eyes wide open. A young man, looking at him in surprise. Crack! Eventually, thepletely shattered barrier gave way to sunlight. The warm sunlight shone down. On the floor, face-down,y the bisected corpse of Verheigen, and standing unscathed was Najin. A situation that defied all expectations. To maintainposure and make a rational decision even in such a situation¡­ ¡®What on earth is this situation?¡¯ Indeed, even for someone like Argo, it was an unreasonable demand. And so. The situation had led to this moment. Najin saw the ones who had broken into the barrier. He reflexively reached for the hilt of his sword at his waist, but soon rxed his guard. He recognized the emblem on their armor. The emblem of two crossed swords and a shield drawn above them. Najin knew this emblem. Ivan had once told him about it, and he had looked it up in books when he came outside. ¡®The Knights of Atanga¡­¡¯ Beings who uphold the ancient code of knights. And the knight order Ivan once belonged to. With wide eyes, Najin watched the knights. They, too, were looking at him. Each carried a different meaning in their gaze, but regardless, the knights and Najin faced each other. Najin was the first to move. Lowering the hand that was about to draw his sword, he asked them a question. ¡°By any chance, are you the Knights of Atanga?¡± ¡°¡­I am Argo, a Knight of Atanga.¡± The knight at the forefront. Argo, the leader of this mission, stepped forward. He raised his hand and pointed behind Najin. Therey the bisected body of Verheigen. ¡°I am themander of the pursuit team dispatched to eliminate that man. It seems there¡¯s no need for further pursuit, though¡­¡± Feeling bewildered, Argo lowered his hand. He nced at Najin standing before him. To think a youth of such tender age had achieved this level of prowess. ¡®The output of sword aura I saw earlier¡­¡¯ He shouldn¡¯t be able to achieve that at his age. Argo¡¯s eyes narrowed. It was truly regrettable for the young man, but those who achieve such abnormal feats were likely associated with demons. Argo is a ranked Sword Seeker. His eyes could see through the mana flow within someone¡¯s body. Even if the mana was not clotted with demonic energy but mixed with impurity, it might indicate a connection with demons¡­ ¡®But it¡¯s clear. Extremely so.¡¯ The purity of the mana was unparalleled. There was no hint of impurity, clear like the water in a deep mountain stream. This meant he was definitely not rted to demons. Moreover, there was no sign of contamination by demonic energy. ¡®Astonishing. Truly.¡¯ Argo marveled inwardly. Such pure mana was a rarity. The absence of clotted demonic energy suggested he might have a means to resist demonic energy itself. He had many questions. But Argo knew what should take precedence. ng! Sheathing the sword he had drawn, he pounded his chest with his fist. Pounding the emblem of Atanga on his armor with his fist, Argo spoke. ¡°I express my gratitude to you.¡± A proper thing to do. That was none other than to offer thanks. ¡°In ce of Atanga, I respect you for punishing one who tarnished the name of a knight.¡± Following him, the sound of ng echoed. The Knights of Atanga behind him saluted Najin. The sound of armor and gauntlets rubbing together resounded. Receiving their salute, Najin felt his heart leap for some reason. In fairy tales, through his master¡¯s stories, he had heard of the knights of this era, and now they stood before him. ¡°It is an honor.¡± Awkwardly, Najin also saluted. As Najin finished his salute, Argo nodded. ¡°May I ask for an exnation of the situation?¡± ¡°Yes, dly.¡± Najin exhaled deeply and began his story. He had already decided how to exin it. The story wasn¡¯t long. He was pursuing Verheigen. During the pursuit, he encountered a knight who had previously encountered Verheigen¡­ and heard his story. ¡°The knight of the Trevache house, Gilbert.¡± It was with his help that he could follow the trail. Verheigen had been exhausted and injured from his earlier engagement with the knights. He exploited this to gain the upper hand. He did not lie. But he also did not tell the whole truth. It was still too early to fully reveal his identity. ¡°¡­So.¡± After hearing the story, Argo summed it up. ¡°You pursued Verheigen, who was critically wounded, and defeated him here. Is that right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°You exploited his weakness even inside the barrier?¡± ¡°Yes, the wound on his shoulder¡­¡± Najin pointed at Verheigen¡¯s bisected body. Indeed, there was a scar on that shoulder. ¡°Indeed.¡± Argo stroked his chin. It made sense, but there were several dubious aspects. Above all, Argo had seen it. The overwhelming output of sword aura Najin had shown before the barrier was erected. Suspicious, but. He had no grounds to pry further. Even if the other party was concealing their strength, he had neither the right to investigate nor the right to reprimand. If the young man before him had rtions with demons or was hiding some evil scheme, then questioning him would be justified, but¡­ he did not appear so. Then. There was only one question Argo needed to ask the young man before him. ¡°May I ask you one question?¡± Argo spoke, and Najin nodded. Argo looked straight at Najin and asked. ¡°Why did you y Verheigen?¡± You¡¯re free to answer. Whether you say it was just fulfilling amission, for a reward, or anything else. As he spoke, Argo added. ¡°Whatever answer you give to my question here, I swear I will not harm you. This is purely out of curiosity.¡± The oath of a Knight of Atanga. Najin was not ignorant of its weight. Therefore, at least for this question, he could answer honestly. Najin slowly opened his mouth to speak. ¡°I did not like him.¡± ¡°¡­Did not like him?¡± ¡°During the battle with Verheigen, I asked him a question. What does being a knight mean to you?¡± Najin said. ¡°Verheigen answered. A knight is just a position for advancement. Honor and pride, he said, are things that gain value only when discarded.¡± The values of knighthood as held by Verheigen, as spoken by Najin. At this, Argo¡¯s expression wrinkled. The Knights of Atanga behind him clicked their tongues and contorted their faces. ¡°I did not like that.¡± Najin continued. ¡°That¡¯s not what a knight is to me.¡± ¡°What do you think a knight is?¡± Though he had said he would ask only one question, Argo found himselfpelled to ask a second. He wanted to hear what the young man who had in a Demon Knight thought about knighthood. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s a story fitting for the Knights of Atanga. I am not a knight.¡± ¡°Normally it would beughable for one who is not a knight to discuss knighthood, but you are an exception. Whatever the reason, by defeating the Demon Knight, you have proven your worth.¡± Speak freely. The Knights of Atanga, who uphold the long-standing traditions of knighthood and swear only to be knightly. They all looked at Najin, listening intently to what he would say. And Najin spoke. ¡°One who does not lose their pride.¡± Najin spoke his answer to ¡®what is a knight¡¯ gained during the duel with the Demon Knight. ¡°One who struggles to protect what has not been lost and to regain what has been lost¡­¡± What is a knight. In front of the Knights of Atanga, the knights among knights, Najin was stating his answer. ¡°A seeker of high ideals.¡± Najin said. ¡°One who embraces pride and honor, chasing the stars in the lofty sky. That is the knight I think of. No, that is the knight I aspire to be.¡± There was a moment of silence. Then,ughter broke from behind Argo. The Knights of Atanga burst intoughter. Though notughing aloud, a smile also appeared on Argo¡¯s lips. It wasn¡¯t augh of ridicule. Quite the opposite, it was far from ridicule. Argo raised his hand. At his signal, the knights stoppedughing. They looked quietly at Najin. Their eyes were softer than before, and their gazes towards Najin were friendly. Speaking for them, Argo asked Najin. ¡°Is that a sincere belief, without any falsehood?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I believe you.¡± Argo smiled pleasingly. Najin¡¯s eyes did not hold the look of one who lies. ¡°No matter where you fall, no matter if you lose your honor, and even if you have fallen, to struggle to regain them¡­ Some may mock it as ugly.¡± Argo smiled. ¡°But I, we, think it is beautiful. It means you still aspire to be a knight.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°You seem to have in mind an image of a knight as you say those words. I don¡¯t know who the knight in your mind is, but he is certainly worthy of emtion.¡± A knight worthy of emtion, as spoken by a Knight of Atanga. Najin felt a stirring in his heart. He thought about how he wanted to tell this story to Ivan, how nice it would have been if Ivan had been here. ¡°Chasing the stars with honor and pride. It resonates well. Indeed¡­¡± Argo removed his helmet. With the helmet off, facing Najin, he scratched the back of his neck. Revealed was the face of a young man. For a Sword Seeker, physical age was just a number. ¡°Though I said I¡¯d ask only one question, I find myself asking more.¡± Facing Najin bare-faced, Argoughed sheepishly. ¡°What is your name?¡± It was probably written on themission. However, Argo wanted to hear the name directly from the young man himself. At this question, Najin was silent for a moment. ¡°I hope that the conversation we had here was, and remains to be entirely truthful.¡± After the silence, Najin spoke. ¡°Therefore, I cannot tell you my name.¡± To say his name would be to tell a lie. ¡°I see.¡± Najin spoke indirectly, and Argo understood. He didn¡¯t ask Najin¡¯s name again. ¡°Then, the answer to today¡¯s question,¡± Argo tapped his armor. ¡°I¡¯ll hear it when you have be a knight. When you have be a knight full of honor and pride, then you can tell me your name, can¡¯t you?¡± Najin nodded. Argo, with a broad grin, patted Najin¡¯s shoulder. It was a very satisfied smile. ¡°I look forward to the day thates soon.¡± You may go. We will take care of things here. ¡°I will visit again soon.¡± Najin bowed his head and then moved on. He didn¡¯t add more words, but Argo knew what Najin would have added. Next time, I will meet you as a knight like you. After Najin left. The Knights of Atanga dealt with the Demon Knight¡¯s corpse, recovered the relics he had likely stolen, and gathered the bodies of the knights he had in. They felt sorrow for the bad news that would reach each family as they finished the cleanup. ¡°Lord Argo.¡± Argo¡¯s squire asked him a question. ¡°Why did you not ask more? It seemed he was hiding a lot.¡± The squire, not yet a knight. Talented but young, with a limited view of the world. To the girl¡¯s question, Argo stroked his chin. ¡°There was no need to ask more.¡± ¡°May I ask why?¡± ¡°Of course. You are my squire, and it is my duty to answer your questions as your master.¡± Argo opened his mouth. ¡°It¡¯s because that young man¡¯s intentions were pure. They were pure, so there was no falsehood in his words.¡± ¡°Pure¡­?¡± ¡°Yes. That young man preferred to downy rather than emphasize his achievements. He said it was possible because of the injuries the knights had inflicted earlier, because of advice from a knight, because of good luck, and so on¡­¡± If he had desired money or fame. He would have exaggerated his contribution and not mentioned the knights. But that young man deliberately mentioned the knights who had fallen before him, downying his own achievement. ¡°It¡¯s an unbelievable story.¡± Argoughed bitterly. Not lying doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s the truth. He¡¯s a being who made a contract with a demon capable of wielding such power. Even if those injuries helped, they couldn¡¯t have been decisive. In other words, that young man had fought and won against a fully capable Verheigen. Yet he downyed his achievement and wished to hide his power, so Argo didn¡¯t probe further. There was no need to. ¡°He did not like the words of one who was un-knightly. That was the young man¡¯s answer.¡± I did not like him. Therefore, I slew him. It was a straightforward answer, genuine, and refreshingly clear. Argo smiled. The young man¡¯s level of ability and the means by which he defeated the demon remained enigmas, but that was alright. The knightliness the young man spoke of. The kind of knight he aspired to be. These were, for Argo, a Knight of Atanga, more important than anything else. Having heard that answer, Argo was satisfied. ¡°Do not forget the knightliness that he spoke of, nsh. It¡¯s a tale worth remembering and pondering.¡± ¡°Yes, Lord Argo.¡± Argo¡¯s squire, nsh, nodded. Argo, looking back at the girl returning to help with the bodies, sighed deeply. The image of the young man he had just encountered lingered in his mind. He wanted to recruit him into the Knights of Atanga. But Argo felt it was not yet time. At the same time, Argo had a premonition. Someday, that man woulde to the Knights of Atanga of his own ord. Even if he didn¡¯t join the order, Argo was certain he would be arade in spirit. ¡°Chasing the stars with honor and pride.¡± ¡°How magnificent a dream is it to hang my star in the highest sky? If one is a man, if one ims to be a knight, shouldn¡¯t one dream big?¡± Argo chuckled ruefully. Listening to the young man¡¯s words reminded him of arade and promising member of Atanga, a man who would have surely be a Sword Seeker if he were still on earth. ¡°Ivan.¡± Argo murmured the name of his old friend. ¡®You seem to have trained a disciple.¡¯ In Argo¡¯s hand was themission. The name of the young man who had taken themission was Ivan. Amon name, but it couldn¡¯t just be a coincidence. Argo exhaled deeply. No matter where you fall. No matter if you lose your honor and everything. To struggle to regain what you¡¯ve lost. The knightliness that the young man had spoken of, surely recalling someone as he spoke, Argo realized who that story pointed to. At the same time, he understood that his old friend Ivan had not abandoned being a knight, even there. ¡°So typical of you.¡± Muttering to himself, Argo stood up. It wasn¡¯t a story to share with others, so he would keep it to himself. Ivan, a former Knight of Atanga, was a convicted man. What circumstances allowed the young man to meet Ivan, and what rtionship they had¡­ Someday, he would hear it along with the young man¡¯s name. Hoping that day woulde soon, Argo fondled the hilt of his sword. Chapter 49 Chapter 49 ¨C Sword Master Karan (1) The Demon Knight, Verheigen. Several days had passed since Najin had in him. During these days, Najin had been incredibly busy, a development he hadn¡¯t anticipated. ¡®I thought it would be over once themission waspleted.¡¯ As usual, after receiving his payment at the Central Guild, he thought he would fill his stomach with delicious food and then proceed to train. Considering the insights gained from the battle with Verheigen, he expected progress in his training¡­ With such a light-hearted mindset, Najin headed to the Central Guild only to face an unexpected reality. He was greeted by countless gazes and¡­ Knights from noble families waiting at the Central Guild. What Najin had overlooked was that thismission was entangled with nobility. Of course, themission Najin had epted was only issued by the Knights of Atanga¡­ However, it was Najin who had in the Demon Knight. ¡°You are the one.¡± ¡°I am a knight of the Azbelly House. Lord Triam wishes to express his gratitude to you¡­¡± The bounty ced on the Demon Knight by the nobles. Najin was to receive it, and in the process, naturally, he attracted the attention of numerous nobles and adventurers. Being called here and there. Promising future meetings with nobles. Receiving invitations to balls and such. After a few days of bothersome, cumbersome, and formal activities, Najin felt utterly drained. Only today could he finally enjoy a leisurely morning. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± On a bench outside his lodging, Najin leaned back and gazed at the blue sky. Exhaling deeply in the increasingly chilly weather. -It¡¯s been a while since I had a leisurely morning, hasn¡¯t it? ¡®Indeed. I didn¡¯t expect it to be this bothersome.¡¯ -Well, isn¡¯t it better than you thought? Merlin chuckled. -The Knight of Atanga, Argo. Thanks to that knight understanding your intentions, it didn¡¯t be more troublesome, right? Najinughed wryly. Merlin¡¯s words were true. Najin had subtly indicated to Argo that he wanted to keep his achievements and power hidden. Argo, appearing to be quite skilled, must have roughly gauged his abilities¡­ Argo turned a blind eye to Najin hiding his strength as if it wasn¡¯t his concern. He just publicly dered, ¡®Verheigen was weakened by injuries inflicted by the knights pursuing him, and the adventurer Ivan finished him off¡­¡¯ ¡®Thanks to that, it ended there.¡¯ Najin muttered to himself as he pulled out a letter from his pocket. While other nobles¡¯ names didn¡¯t impress him much, this letter was different. The Trevache House. A letter from Count Edelmar. It was from the house to which Gilbert, the dying knight Najin had encountered while pursuing Verheigen, belonged. A few days earlier, a knight from that house had visited Najin, to whom Najin had conveyed Gilbert¡¯sst words, stating that Gilbert had remained a knight until the end and that his help was instrumental in hunting Verheigen. The knight from the Trevache House thanked Najin and promised to convey Gilbert¡¯sst words and Najin¡¯s message to his lord. This letter arrived a few dayster. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± It was an extremely elegant letter. As Najin unfolded the letter bearing the Trevache House¡¯s seal, there was a personal message from Count Edelmar. The content was lengthy but straightforward. You have my gratitude. I thank you for conveying my knight¡¯sst words. Whenever you visit the Trevache House, I will wee you as an esteemed guest. Count Edelmar did not force Najin to visit using his authority. He simply sent an invitation to visit whenever possible. With a faint smile, Najin carefully tucked the letter away. I haven¡¯t met him, so I can¡¯t be sure. But it seems the knight reflects his lord. ¡®I must visit there.¡¯ Murmuring to himself, Najin stood up from the bench. While a leisurely morning was nice, his body was getting restless. He hadn¡¯t had proper training for days due to being busily summoned around. Crack. Crack. Najin stretched his body roughly and took a deep breath. He nned to start training lightly with mana cultivation. When Merlin first taught him this cultivation method, he screamed in pain, but not anymore. He even felt the wild mana bouncing inside as ticklish. -Well, you¡¯ve experienced the agony of twisted Qi and internal tearing, so this must be nothing. Merlin muttered incredulously. The mana operation that Najin had shown in the battle with the Demon Knight. epting mana beyond his limits brought excruciating pain of twisted, impure Qi and internal tearing. Najin endured that pain soberly and even continued fighting. His formidable mental strength left even Merlin in awe. -So, did you gain some insight? Merlin noticed the unusual intensity of Najin¡¯s mana cultivation and asked. Najin smiled. ¡®I didn¡¯t understand what it meant to infuse sword aura with sentiments, what it meant to reach the level of a Sword Seeker¡­¡¯ Najin said. ¡°Now I think I¡¯m starting to get it.¡± Najin infused mana into his drawn sword. Thinking of a knight¡¯s sword, a pure white sword aura, devoid of tinum-colored particles, swirled around Najin¡¯s sword. It was aplete sword aura, not just fragments. Normally, aplete sword aura appears tinum-colored, so Najin had been limiting his to control it. But not anymore. tinum-colored sword aura and pure white sword aura. He could now distinguish and handle both. This meant he could freely unleash his sword aura without restraint. Pleased with this, Najin yfully waved his sword aura around. The tinum-colored aura was drawn by thinking of stars. And the pure white aura by thinking of a knight. ¡®Is this what it feels like to imbue sword aura with sentiments?¡¯ He felt that with a bit more progress, he could even change the form of the sword aura. Merlin sighed, for what felt like the umpteenth time, as she watched. -Now it¡¯s getting somonce it¡¯s not even surprising¡­ Using distinct sword auras. Changing the color of the aura based on sentiments. Really, these were not feats a mere Sword Expert should be able to perform. They were challenges even for a Sword Seeker, difficult even for them. Handling distinct sword auras. Projecting a single sentiment is difficult enough, requiring tremendous effort to form it. Managing two different sentiments, let alone distinguishing between them, is no easy task. To do the difficult with ease. Watching Najin perform these feats almost naturally evokedughter. Merlin chuckled as she watched Najin swinging the pure white sword aura through the air. Whoom, whoosh¡­ As Najin practiced his swordy in the open air, someone suddenly leaped over the wall andnded in the training area before his lodging. ¡°Who¡­¡± The figure who stepped into the training ground. As Najin turned to see who it was, he tilted his head in surprise. It was an entirely unexpected guest. ¡°Roselin?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Long time no see, Najin¡­¡± The leader of the Red-Eyed Mercenaries. The pinnacle of the city, Roselin Ascalo. She responded with a trembling voice. Not just her voice was trembling. Her eyes were also shaking wildly, as if struck with fear. Tap, tap, tap, tap. She hurriedly approached Najin and gripped his shoulders tightly. Even Najin couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback by this. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a visitor looking for you. We need to go quickly. They¡¯re waiting at my mercenary group¡¯s base right now¡­¡± Shaking eyes. Trembling voice. Roselin spilled out her words, pleading as if begging for help. ¡°The visitor is looking for you¡­ Quickly,e with me¡­¡± Her tone was almost imploring. Najin nodded in response. Only then did Roselin seem to breathe a sigh of relief, exhaling deeply. sp. Roselin grabbed Najin¡¯s hand and pulled him outside the lodging. Being dragged along, Najin couldn¡¯t help but wonder. Who was the person in front of him? The pinnacle of the city, Roselin Ascalo. A skilled Sword Seeker. A noble with a title of honor. The leader of the powerful Red-Eyed Mercenaries. Nobles themselves wouldn¡¯t dare provoke Roselin, so who could scare her so much? Moreover, who was this person looking for him? Unable to contain his curiosity, Najin finally asked. ¡°Who is this visitor exactly?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Roselin didn¡¯t stop walking. Turning her head swiftly to meet Najin¡¯s gaze, she spoke with a distressed face. ¡°¡­It¡¯s Sir Karan.¡± ¡°What? Say that again?¡± ¡°Sword Master, Karan!¡± Karan of the Order of the Sword. A Sword Master with six stars. The epitome of the sword, an individual who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship, was looking for Najin, Roselin conveyed. A few hours before the incident. Upon hearing that the trade route mainly used by the Garchea Trading Company had been upied by monsters, Roselin immediately mobilized her mercenary group and headed to the location. Since the Garchea Trading Company sponsored them, they had to handle this situation. Arriving at the site, she found a road buried under debris as if andslide had urred, and monsters were upying the area around the roadblock. ¡°Tsk, clearing the roadblock will take some time¡­¡± Dealing with the monsters was not hard, but restoring the copsed road would take some time. Roselin assessed the situation and looked back. There, the Garchea Trading Company merchants were sighing in front of their carriages, halted by the blocked road. They seemed to be returning from a business trip. As Roselin approached the carriage to exin the situation, she noticed something unusual. ¡°¡­Huh?¡± She spotted a pair of individuals in distinctive attire among the merchants. Two men dressed in priestly robes, seemingly members of the Order of the Sword. ¡°Who are they?¡± ¡°We were selling necessities to the Order of the Sword and on our way back. These two priests said they had business in Cambria and joined us.¡± The merchants replied. Roselin was about to move past them, having just heard their exnation, when she felt a chilling gaze. A gaze that seemed to pierce through her. Roselin quickly turned around. There stood the two priests of the Order of the Sword. One a middle-aged man, and the other, of indeterminate age, deeply hooded in his robe. It was the hooded priest whose gaze she had felt. His eyes were fixed on Echoing Swords, the masterpiece Roselin wore at her back. The focus of his attention was not very pleasing to her, so Roselin spoke sharply. ¡°¡­You seem quite interested in the masterpiece, don¡¯t you?¡± The hooded priest let out a short sigh. ¡°Apologies. I was just intrigued by the unusual form of the sword.¡± He smiled awkwardly. ¡°So you are the mercenary hired by the tradingpany? I heard the road is blocked and the carriages can¡¯t pass.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the case for now. It might take a while, so I suggest the priests wait and rest¡­¡± ¡°How long might it take?¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± Roselin narrowed her eyes. She didn¡¯t quite appreciate the priest¡¯s tone, but decided to answer him anyway. ¡°Roughly half a day, I suppose.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate. Well, that won¡¯t do.¡± The priest grimaced slightly. ¡°I¡¯m in a bit of a hurry. Please excuse me.¡± He brushed past Roselin. Just as she was about to ask what he meant, the priest drew his sword with a ng. The movement was incredibly smooth and wless. Certainly a priest of the Order of the Sword. His posture is quite well-formed¡­ That was as far as Roselin¡¯s thoughts got. Her eyes widened in shock. She hadn¡¯t sensed any presence from the priest before, but the moment he drew his sword, an overwhelming aura pressed down on the area. The mercenaries all stopped in their tracks. The chattering merchants fell silent. Time and space seemed to be gripped by an odd sensation. In that feeling, the priest alone moved. He walked through the frozen mercenaries and stood at the front. The debris blocking the road and the monsters perched on it didn¡¯t even blink as he approached. Unable to blink. Unable to breathe. Unable to move. Among those frozen, the priest swung his sword. The act of swinging and sheathing the sword was indistinguishable. When one thought he had swung it, his sword was already back in its sheath. Immediately, the overwhelming pressure and intensity vanished. Ssssh. What was heard was a tranquil slicing sound. Just a single slice. There was no sound of monsters being cleaved, no rumbling of the earth, no crashing of debris¡­ not a single sound. After that one slice, only the aftermath remained. The mound of dirt and debris blocking the road, and the monsters that had upied it, all had vanished without a trace. As if by magic. The merchants, with their eyes wide open, were in shock, and the mercenaries, releasing their held breath, were equally astonished. None of them understood what had just happened. They only knew that the priest had swung his sword once, and the roadblock and monsters had disappeared without a trace. ¡°Oh, oh my, oh my my¡­¡± Only Roselin. Roselin, who had reached the level of a Sword Seeker, somewhat grasped what had just transpired. She had seen it at the moment the priest swung his sword. A fleeting sh of brilliance. It was more like a massive swarm of light than sword aura. A sword aura of such an unbelievable output that no human body could possibly handle. The moment the sword was swung, the sword aura struck down everything in its path like a guillotine. And that was the end. Everything touched by the sword aura vanished without leaving any trace. Only the finest particles fluttering in the air were proof that the monsters and debris had ever existed here. ¡®I couldn¡¯t even see it properly.¡¯ Even Roselin, with her keen eyesight, had only perceived a brief sh of light. This realization sent a chill down her spine. Btedly, Roselin turned to look at the hooded priest. He was also looking at her. The face visible through the gap in the robe. Roselin Ascalo recognized that face. Herplexion turned pale rapidly as she realized the identity of the person standing before her. The Sword Saint of the Order of the Sword. A being who had reached the pinnacle of mastery with the sword. Sword Master, Karan. Chapter 50 Chapter 50 ¨C Sword Master Karan (2) The First Sword Saint, who founded the Order of the Sword, ssified the realm of swordsmanship into three major categories. Sword Expert. Sword Seeker. Sword Master. These categorizations, primarily distinguished by the quality of sword aura, were as clear and distinct as they could be. However, this was only true for the stages of ¡®Sword Seeker¡¯ and ¡®Sword Expert.¡¯ Sword Masters are different. They are, in a sense, entities of another kind. There was such a vast gap between Seekers and Masters that there were arguments about the need for an intermediate stage. Sword Seekers often say that they feel a massive wall is ced before them. As they hone their skills and diligently pursue mastery, they approach this wall. The wall they eventually face is so immense that no matter how high they look, its end is nowhere in sight. In front of this wall, many Sword Seekers end upughing bitterly. All this talk of Experts and Seekers. They often feel a sense of futility, questioning the utility of these ssifications and wondering if their years of training have been meaningless. The towering wall before them seems to say: The world is simply divided into two. Sword Masters and everyone else. Superhumans transcending human limits and mere mortals. Even those who have reached the level of Sword Seeker are reduced to mere mortals in their presence. These are the Sword Masters, entities beyond clear definition. ¡¸How do you distinguish a Sword Master if Sword Experts are recognized by their ability to draw out sword aura and Sword Seekers by infusing their sword aura with sentiment?¡¹ Someone once asked this question to the First Sword Saint. He burst intoughter and responded: ¡¸Is there even a need to categorize?¡¹ Simply, he replied: ¡¸The moment they draw their sword, you¡¯ll know.¡¹ ¡¸Ah, this guy is a Sword Master.¡¹ As people read this record, they were puzzled, but as time passed, they had no choice but to ept the words left by the First Sword Saint. There was nothing else that could more urately describe it. The moment a Sword Master draws their sword, even if you dislike it, youe to realize: The person standing before you is at the pinnacle. A superhuman who has reached the ultimate limit of the sword. This was true for Sword Masters throughout history and the three Sword Masters guiding the current era. ¡­And now. Someone was experiencing this firsthand. ¡°Gasp, gulp¡­¡± Sword Seeker Roselin Ascalo¡¯s intuition was screaming in rm. The man standing before her was a Sword Master. The Sword Saint, Karan. Breathing was difficult. Cold sweat ran down her back. Karan took one step, then another towards Roselin. In a terror akin to death¡¯s approach, Roselin lowered her head. Then, the sound of his footsteps stopped. A massive presence was felt right in front of her. Then, tap tap. Karan gently patted Roselin¡¯s shoulder. Slowly lifting her head, Roselin saw Karan, still hooded, smiling at her. ¡°Ah, I finally remember. Where have I seen you before? You¡¯re Roselin Ascalo, aren¡¯t you?¡± Karan spoke as if he was pleased. ¡°A young Sword Seeker, known for wielding a masterpiece and being a renowned mercenary. I¡¯ve always wanted to cross swords with you. Pleased to meet you. I am¡­¡± ¡°Ahem!¡± Just as Karan was about to say his name, a coughing sound came from behind Roselin. There stood Mid-Rank Priest Volkman, clearly uneasy. Karan had said he would apany her incognito. However, seeing Karan seemingly unconcerned about revealing his identity, Volkman was sweating. An unofficial visit by a Sword Master would bring about truly, truly troublesome matters. ¡°I¡¯ve been rude. There¡¯s a situation where I can¡¯t reveal my identity¡­¡± ¡°K-K-Karan, sir, it¡¯s an honor to meet you.¡± ¡°Oh dear.¡± Karan touched the back of his neck awkwardly, his expression showing he had been caught, and nced at Volkman. Volkman wiped his face and sighed deeply. ¡°Well, now that it¡¯se to this.¡± Karan exhaled briefly. ¡°Do you know an adventurer named Ivan?¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± ¡°I¡¯vee here to see him. If you know where he is, could you arrange a meeting? I¡¯ll make sure topensate you.¡± Sword Master Karan. The lord of the Order of the Sword, a Sword Saint. A request from a figure considered a giant among giants. Of course, from Karan¡¯s perspective, it was a simple request, and refusal wouldn¡¯t matter much¡­ but that was just Karan¡¯s view. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best!!!!!¡± For Roselin, this was a mission she had to aplish as if her life depended on it, as urgent as if a meteor had fallen from a clear sky. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange it¡­!!!¡± Thus. The situation hade to this. Led by Roselin¡¯s hand, the moment Najin arrived at the headquarters of the Red-Eyed Mercenaries. As he opened the door on the first floor and stepped inside, the gazes of the gathered mercenaries instantly focused on him. ¡°Gasp!¡± ¡°He¡¯s finally here!¡± ¡°Quick, to the boss¡­!¡± They looked at Najin as if he was a savior, rejoicing at the prospect of liberation from the stifling atmosphere, and pushed him towards the stairs. ¡°The top floor, in the office. Quick! As fast as possible¡­!¡± Najin, clueless about the situation, was pushed forward by them. As he climbed the stairs and nced back, he saw Roselin, who had copsed onto a chair, gasping for air. You guys, I¡¯ve had too much going on. Seriously, it¡¯s been so tough¡­ Roselin¡¯sment and the mercenaries¡¯ agreeing voices echoed as Najin ascended the stairs. Sword Master Karan hade looking for him. The reason was unknown to Najin. ¡®Could he have noticed that I pulled out Excalibur?¡¯ -Definitely not. Merlin stated emphatically. -Even I didn¡¯t notice that. At this point, it seems more likely there¡¯s something about that underground city where you were¡­ Najin steadied his breath and moved forward. With the Sword Master already seeking him out, fleeing was no longer an option. While the magnitude of a Sword Master¡¯s strength was unclear to him, escape seemed improbable. Ascending the stairs to the top floor office, Najin reached the door and knocked gently before pulling the handle to open it. As he was about to step inside, his senses heightened rmingly. A sensation like lightning racing up his spine made his eyes widen, and his pupils dte. ¡°Ah, he finally arrived.¡± A voice sounded. Najin turned towards the source of the voice. There sat a familiar face¡­ Mid-Rank Priest Volkman, apanied by someone else. A young man in histe twenties. Najin intuited that the man, now unhooded and revealing his full face, was Sword Saint Karan. Despite not exuding any overt presence, just being in the same space as Karan set Najin¡¯s senses off rmingly. ¡°¡­I am Ivan.¡± Najin, having barely managed to control his breathing, spoke. ¡°I heard you were looking for me.¡± ¡°Ah, yes.¡± Karan stood up. ¡°Pleased to meet you. You might have heard of me already, but my name is Karan. Now that we¡¯ve been formally introduced, how about a handshake?¡± Karan extended his hand. From Najin¡¯s perspective, this was a nerve-wracking situation. The man before him was none other than Sword Saint Karan, the head of the Order of the Sword. His honorary title and power alone far exceeded that of a duke, and at times, he could even dine with the emperor himself. Even the most skilled warriors can¡¯t obtain power without ying politics¡­ but that¡¯s only an issue for those not skilled enough. When one possesses the strength to overthrow a nation single-handedly, power and titles naturally follow. This was true for the Empire¡¯s Sword Master Gerd, the executioner of the Order, Yuel Razian*, and now, the man before him, Sword Saint Karan. *Uel has been changed to Yuel, apologies for the inconvenience. This significant figure was offering him a handshake. But who was Najin? He was a man who didn¡¯t even flinch in the presence of Merlin, the transcendent being of the night sky. Gathering hisposure, Najin epted Karan¡¯s handshake. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about you from Volkman. They say you¡¯re an exceptionally talented swordsman¡­¡± Karan said with a smile as they shook hands. ¡°I don¡¯t have a significant reason for seeking you out.¡± A sincere smile. Intent clearly visible in his eyes. Karan¡¯s gaze was fixed only on the sword hanging at Najin¡¯s waist. ¡°I thought it might be good to cross swords with you. I could invite you to the Order of the Sword, but that would draw too much attention to you¡­ so this will have to do.¡± Karan shrugged. ¡°That¡¯s all I have to say.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything else to add?¡± Karan seemed to be asking if Najin had any more questions. If there was anything else, he should speak up quickly. Confused by Karan¡¯s attitude, Najin tilted his head. Volkman, sitting behind, just gave a bitter smile. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing more¡­¡± Volkman¡¯s bitter smile made sense to Najin after a short while. ¡°Let¡¯s exchange some swordy then. Follow me outside. I saw a nice spot on my way into the city.¡± Karan said this and started packing up to leave. His ¡®baggage¡¯ was only the single sword he had propped against the wall. Dumbfounded, Najin blinked. Sword Master Karan. The fact that such a figure came looking for him solely for the desire to ¡°sh swords¡± was not something Najin could easily ept. ¡®Surely, there must be another motive¡­¡¯ As Najin was assessing Karan, the Sword Saint turned his head sharply. ¡°What are you waiting for? Come on.¡± Karan, with his sword slung over his shoulder, urged Najin to follow. His expression suggested an itch to cross swords immediately. Volkman approached Najin and whispered. ¡°¡­He¡¯s always been like that.¡± ¡°Really¡­?¡± ¡°Sorry about this. But it might be a good opportunity for you, so please forgive us.¡± Volkman patted Najin¡¯s back reassuringly. After a brief carriage ride and passing through a forest, they arrived at an open field. Najin, Karan, and Volkman disembarked from the carriage. During the ride, Karan hadn¡¯t uttered a single word. As if no further conversation was necessary. As if any questions would be asked through the sword. Stepping out of the carriage, Najin nced at Karan, who was casually stretching. After rotating his arms, Karan exhaled briefly. Then, ng. He drew his sword. However, he didn¡¯t raise the drawn sword. Instead, he nted it into the ground and held the scabbard in his hand. Swinging the scabbard a few times in the air as if getting a feel for it, he suddenly swung it with force. Crrrack. The ground tore open in a straight line. Najin¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Unable toprehend what Karan had done, he was baffled. It didn¡¯t seem like Karan had surrounded the sword with sword aura, so how¡­? While Najin was perplexed, Karan rotated his wrist, smiling contentedly as if to say, ¡®That should do.¡¯ He then turned his head to look at Najin. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Aren¡¯t you drawing your sword?¡± Karan jiggled the scabbard, urging him on. Having witnessed Karan lightly swinging the scabbard to tear the ground apart, Najin envisioned a future where a wrong move could mean instant death. ¡­Could this be an attempt to kill me rather than a sparring match? It was a reasonable suspicion for Najin. He sighed and drew his sword with a ng. Regardless of the situation, it remained a valuable opportunity. ¡°Then, I ask for a good match.¡± An opportunity to experience the pinnacle. Determined to extract as much as he could from the situation, Najin took his stance. -You must be the only madman who thinks about milking an experience from a Sword Master. ¡°What? What did you say?¡± -Never mind, just do what you normally do¡­ Amid Merlin¡¯s incredulous voice, Najin stepped forward. Chapter 51 Chapter 51 ¨C Sword Master Karan (3) Sword Saint Karan is an anomaly. Who would dare to call a transcendent Sword Master an anomaly? Yet, that was the only way to describe Karan. One day he would suddenly vanish into the Demon Realm, returning with the heads of high-level demons. Another day, he would cross the boundary near Cann, ughtering the cursed beings that ventured over. And sometimes, he would be seen wielding his sword on the battlefield of the stars. But that¡¯s not all. Fancying a good drink, he would stride into the sanctuaries of the constetions in the night sky to stir up amotion or effortlessly scale the city walls to share a drink with the emperor, eyes of the guards wide with shock. An unpredictable character, indulging in entricities. Karan isn¡¯t perceived as dangerously unpredictable by the world despite being such an oddity among oddities. His values are crystal clear. Sword, Righteousness, and Chivalry. Just as the Knights of Atanga bind themselves with honor and pride, the Sword Saint binds himself with righteousness and chivalry. He immerses himself in what he believes is right, indifferent to power or fame. Obsessed only with the sword. Indifferent to politics and power. His motives are inscrutable. Yet, Karan has a purpose. He always says: He must ascend to the extreme. He must acquire more stars, be stronger. It¡¯s not just about challenging his own limits. Why this thirst for strength? To that question, Karan once answered: ¡°To fulfill the hidden mission of the Order of the Sword.¡± The world knows not what this mission is. Only Karan and the previous heads of the Order know the true nature of this mission. It¡¯s more a duty, a destiny, than a hidden mission. Karan ponders over this mission. To achieve it, he needs a monster, one even more extraordinary than himself, deemed a genius. Ordinary means won¡¯t suffice to approach the Order¡¯s mission. Thus, Karan is on a quest. Seeking an existence that might surpass him. One that could show him ¡®the next step¡¯. ¡®So, what about you?¡¯ The Sword Saint gazed at the young man before him. It was time to scrutinize. How much talent did this young man possess? Could he be the existence Karan had been seeking? And if so, how should his value be judged? The answer was absurdly simple. ¡®With the sword.¡¯ If there¡¯s something to be confirmed, confirm it with the sword. That was the way of the Order of the Sword. Najin gazed at Karan. Holding the scabbard, Karan remained motionless, as if inviting an attack. It wasn¡¯t arrogance but the ease of a true strongman, an undeniable fact Najin couldn¡¯t refute. Because it was the truth. Even if Najin exerted his full power and drew Excalibur, victory seemed unlikely. The gap between him and Karan was too vast, not even the holy sword could bridge it. The epitome of swordsmanship. A force to be reckoned with, equal to the constetions in the night sky. ¡®He possesses six stars, right?¡¯ -Yes. He could ascend to a constetion at any time, but he chooses to remain on earth. A being who could join the stars, yet chooses to remain in the world of men. Najin took a deep breath and rxed his sword arm. It was a rare opportunity to experience the pinnacle. Despite being thrown into the situation, he understood the invaluable nature of this chance. Knowing this, he had no intention of holding back. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± One deep breath. The currents within Najin surged. No longer needing to hide his ability to use sword aura, he let it envelop his sword in pure white. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Volkman, observing their duel, widened his eyes in surprise. It was unbelievable for someone to awaken sword aura in just a month. The correct assumption would have been that Najin could already handle it when they first crossed swords. ¡®He was concealing his strength.¡¯ Volkman smiled. He wasn¡¯t disappointed. On the contrary, he was curious to see how far Najin could push Karan. And Karan¡­ He still hadn¡¯t drawn his sword aura. He simply held the scabbard, watching Najin. Thump. Najin lunged at Karan with a speed surpassing a Sword Expert. Swoosh! In an instant, Najin¡¯s sword swung. A swift strike. The posture, the trajectory of the sword, were wless even in Volkman¡¯s eyes. But not for Karan. With a casual flick of the scabbard, he deflected Najin¡¯s attack. The scabbard¡¯s speed wasn¡¯t fast or slow, it was just right to meet Najin¡¯s shoulder. Karan then thrust it forward. That alone shattered Najin¡¯s stance. His sword¡¯s path skewed, bnce broken, and Najin stumbled backward. Barely avoiding a fall, his eyes were shaken. Tap. Quickly regaining his stance, Najin charged at Karan again. But once, twice, five times¡­ the same scenario yed out. Karan lightly flicked the scabbard. And with that, Najin¡¯s stance crumbled. It wasn¡¯t a proper strike or a swift one. Karan¡¯s speed seemed simr or even slower than Najin¡¯s. Yet, he effortlessly disrupted his stance. How exactly? Najin knew. Vulnerabilities in the stance. Unstable points. Imperceptible ws invisible to ordinary eyes were precisely targeted by Karan. ¡®Then¡­¡¯ Najin exhaled shortly and regripped his sword. ¡°It¡¯s begun.¡± Volkman, watching, clicked his tongue. Duels with Karan usually go like this. Moving at equal or slower speeds, Karan limits his sword, yet it¡¯s futile¡­ Karan thoroughly dominates. Picking vulnerabilities, shattering sword paths, reading and breaking stances, parrying every attack from his position. Being overpowered by someone swinging slower is hardly pleasant. ¡®The feeling of having your sword negated.¡¯ Feeling invalidated. That¡¯s why many hesitate to duel with Karan. Though there¡¯s much to gain, the time it takes to rebuild a shattered ego is immense. What about this young man? He¡¯s aware of his own talents. The impact must be substantial. Volkman contemted this as he observed Najin charge at Karan with the same posture as before. Was he unable to ept his own ws? As Volkman sighed at this thought¡­ The moment Karan thrust his scabbard. Najin¡¯s movements changed. The w had already been exploited once. The moment it was targeted, Najin had mentally sorted how to patch it, how to adjust his stance. For Najin, reconfiguring his actions was not a difficult task. Karan¡¯s intended target was now blocked. Unfazed, Karan lightly swung his scabbard again. For the first time, Najin¡¯s sword and Karan¡¯s scabbard collided. A sword without aura cannot block a sword enveloped in aura. A basic understanding, yet Sword Masters reign above such logic. Karan¡¯s scabbard, devoid of aura, effortlessly redirected Najin¡¯s sword. It was the flow along the scabbard that made it possible. nk! But Najin didn¡¯t fluster. He instantly adjusted his stance and unleashed a flurry of strikes at Karan. Amidst the elerated sword swings, Karan¡¯s scabbard prated Najin¡¯s vulnerabilities repeatedly. Knocked back, tumbling to the ground. It happened just once. Najin didn¡¯t expose the same w again. Although it¡¯s said that once a stance bes habitual, it¡¯s hard to correct, there are always exceptions. ¡®What is this¡­¡¯ Volkman, witnessing Najin¡¯s real-time posture adjustments and covering his vulnerabilities, was astounded. ¡®Indeed.¡¯ Karan smiled slightly. He began to understand why Volkman had highly rated this young man. Certainly, a remarkable talent. He knows how to control his body. And then¡­ Karan¡¯s gaze sharpened. He felt Atanga¡¯s swordsmanship in Najin¡¯s swings, saw the roughness of mercenaries, and sensed Volkman¡¯s style too. Najin¡¯s swordsmanship was a mix of many, yet not fully harmonized. Merely imitating others. Not truly his own swordsmanship. ¡®Talented in imitation, is he?¡¯ Let¡¯s see about that. Having probed enough, Karan adjusted his grip on the scabbard. What he demonstrated was the Order¡¯s swordsmanship. The title of Sword Saint, the pinnacle of the Order of the Sword, is not just given for reaching the Sword Master level. It¡¯s awarded to those who ascend to the extreme of all swordsmanship and stances present in the Order. Among the three existing Sword Masters. If ites to pure swordsmanship, no one can beat Karan. His achievements in swordsmanship were that extraordinary. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Finally, Karan began his technique. Najin¡¯s eyes widened. Not a skill that transformed or endowed properties to sword aura, but one purely executed through physical movement. A technique that can be mimicked if seen. If only observed, it can be replicated. Najin was confident in this. He had always seeded in doing so and had never failed before. Absorbing Karan¡¯s swordsmanship as his own style, Najin focused intently. ¡®I¡¯ve seen it. Pictured it in my mind.¡¯ Receiving a blow, Najin was pushed back. Surely, different from Volkman¡¯s. Although from the same Order, the level of mastery varied significantly. Naturally, if one could wield a sword like that, their own would seem full of ws. Mulling over the pictured stance, Najin grimaced. If Volkman¡¯s swordsmanship was depicted in about thirty pictures, Karan¡¯s was well over a hundred. Drip. Blood trickled from his nose. His eyes, strained to their limit, stung. Just picturing a single stance had overloaded his mind. ¡°Imitation is your forte, I hear.¡± Karan looked at Najin, flicking his scabbard. ¡°Steal all you can. Imitate all you want.¡± He smiled. ¡°As long as you can steal, I¡¯m prepared to show you all the swords I possess.¡± Challenge epted. Karan¡¯s message was clear. Wiping blood from his nose, Najin returned the smile. If Karan was so forting, there was no reason to refuse. Click. Grinding his teeth, Najin moved. Following the images in his mind, he swung his sword. However, he soon realized that his body and the envisioned images slightly misaligned. 34th, 41st, 56th¡­ Seven images were misaligned. Though it seemed minor in the grand scheme, to Najin, Karan¡¯s sword trajectory appeared perfect. However, both Najin, swinging his sword, and Karan, observing, knew. The gaps created by the misalignments. The ipleteness of this strike. Karan easily thrust his scabbard into these gaps. Najin, his posture broken, tumbled to the ground. ¡°¡­¡± Sitting dazedly, Najin nkly stared at his sword. The images had misaligned. It was the first time he had experienced such a discrepancy. He pondered over the misaligned images. The feeling of incongruity in motion. No matter how he moved, some aspects in the images were unattainable. As Najin chewed over this, he stood up. ¡°You seem to think it¡¯s impossible.¡± Karan thrust his scabbard at Najin. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious?¡± He spoke indifferently. ¡°This is my sword. Tailored to my body, my breath, my speed. My own, unique sword.¡± He spoke as if stating the obvious. ¡°Even if stolen, could it ever truly be yours? It¡¯s mine, uniquely mine.¡± He narrowed his eyes. ¡°Your talent for imitation is clear. Impressive. But mere imitation is pointless.¡± With a flick, Karan whipped his scabbard. Najin hastily drawn sword¡¯s trajectory was effortlessly shattered. Najin gazed at the scabbard inches from his neck. ¡°Where is your sword?¡± Karan questioned. The Sword Saint inquiring about the sword. ¡°Show me your sword. If you haven¡¯t found it yet, create it here. If you can¡¯t¡­¡± Karan¡¯s eyes turned cold. ¡°This duel is worthless. If all you can do is copy, your sword will never reach its limit.¡± And I have no time for pointless duels. Karan dered. In response, Najin momentarily fell silent, then chuckled. Karan had instigated this duel and now arbitrarily judged its worth. Najin could¡¯ve easily dismissed Karan¡¯s words as nonsense and ignored them, but¡­ Swoosh. Instead of ignoring, Najin reached for the scabbard pointed at his neck. This sudden move, as Karan furrowed his brows to retract the scabbard¡­ sp. Najin¡¯s hand grasped the scabbard. A movement seemingly anticipating its trajectory. Karan narrowed his eyes at this action. ¡°If this duel gains value.¡± Najin questioned, holding the scabbard. ¡°What can I gain?¡± A brazen question. To this, Karan burst outughing. Najin, unflinching before the Sword Master, speaking his mind, was refreshingly bold. ¡°My trust. And a mentor.¡± ¡°Mentor, as in¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be your teacher. Of course, only if you wish.¡± Najin smiled. ¡°I like that idea.¡± Releasing the scabbard, he stepped back. My own sword, he asked. Dismissed as merely imitative. Indeed, as Karan said. He never considered his own style. But Najin wasn¡¯t the type to let such an affront pass. He was determined to throw a curveball at Karan to see him surprised. His own sword was unclear, but¡­ A variable. Something unique he had: his vision and snap judgment. Now, extending to a momentary foresight. Najin¡¯s eyes glinted with a sunset hue. Chapter 52 Chapter 52 ¨C Sword Master Karan (4) The Sword Saint, Karan, felt an anomaly. He looked at the young man standing before him. Najin¡¯s eyes, reminiscent of a sunset, were bloodshot, his pupils constricted to their limits. ¡®His eyes resemble those of Sword Master Gerd.¡¯ The Empire¡¯s Sword Master, Gerd. The supreme human warrior, surpassing him in every aspect except swordsmanship. In Najin¡¯s eyes, Karan glimpsed Gerd¡¯s. Different in appearance, yet simr in the chilling sensation they evoked. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Karan silently observed his scabbard. Moments ago, Najin had grasped Karan¡¯s scabbard as if foreseeing the immediate future. The movement disyed by Najin in that instant was distinctly ¡®abnormal.¡¯ ¡­A move predicting the future. And then. The ability to replicate others¡¯ movements with a bizarre level of uracy after a single observation. When Najin imitated Karan¡¯s movements earlier, the aspects he couldn¡¯t mimic were minimal. Parts werepleted after Karan attained the Sword Master level. Beyond human capabilities, almost everything else was precisely mimicked by Najin. An eerily urate reproduction. It was imperfect without its own perspective, yet the precision was undeniable. ¡®Imitation and a temporary foresight.¡¯ Information clicked together in his mind. ¡®Surely not.¡¯ Connecting the dots, Karan chuckled at the conclusion. If his thoughts were correct, Najin¡¯s true talent wasn¡¯t solely in the sword itself. A smile formed on Karan¡¯s lips. Meeting Najin¡¯s intense gaze, Karan was about to open his eyes but then firmly gripped his sword. Not yet. He needed to observe a bit more. ¡°Show me.¡± Karan flicked his scabbard. Whatever it is, show me. Show me your uniqueness, your worth. The world looked different. Thendscape, seen through bloodshot eyes, had changed. Having grown through countless experiences in Cambria, Najin had evolved. Naturally, the world, as perceived by those eyes, had to differ. Constricted pupils. Bloodshot eyes. The world reflected in those eyes was a mass of information. Waves of data flooded Najin¡¯s mind, but as always, he discarded the irrelevant information, focusing solely on his opponent. The Sword Saint, Karan. His breath, posture, minute muscle movements, fluttering clothes, and eye movements. Based on this information, Najin predicted the near future. His extraordinary insight and vision made this possible. In the underground city. In the city of opportunities. During the battle with the Demon Knight. In battles, escapes, pursuits, Najin had trusted his eyes. This time was no different. However, he also sensed something. ¡®I can¡¯t maintain this for long.¡¯ During the battle with the Demon Knight, he could maintain this view, but now, the time he could sustain it was limited due to the overwhelming amount of information. Before him stood a Sword Master. A superhuman, transcending ordinary humans. A being like an entity reigning overmon sense. Even with Najin¡¯s exceptional vision, fully predicting Karan¡¯s movements at his current level was impossible. The volume of information was just too immense. Drip. The halted nosebleed resumed. His head pounded. Nheless, Najinughed it off, stepping forward. Then, with a thrust, he charged at Karan. Karan responded to Najin¡¯s movement, intentionally reacting a beatte. As Karan moved, the future Najin foresaw wavered. Unlike previous opponents, Karan¡¯s movements were not clear, but blurred. A sign he was yet beyond Najin¡¯s grasp. ¡®So what.¡¯ He sees it. Vaguely, but it¡¯s there. That was enough. Najin¡¯s eyes moved rapidly. Ducking as Karan¡¯s scabbard whooshed overhead, he closed in. Mixing the Order¡¯s swordsmanship and his own, developed in the underground city, Najin executed his swordsmanship. Karan had called it iplete,cking worth. He doesn¡¯t deny it. He¡¯s still immature. Adjusting others¡¯ techniques to his body,pensating the stance ¨C but not quite ¡°his¡± sword as Karan meant. He knew that. ¡®In fact, I couldn¡¯t mimic the Sword Saint¡¯s swordsmanship.¡¯ Complete control over one¡¯s body. A swordsmanship uniquely theirs. Not just mastering but fully internalizing and optimizing. Karan¡¯s swordsmanship was such which Najin couldn¡¯t steal. No matter how he adjusted, the pictures didn¡¯t align. Karan¡¯s swordsmanship couldn¡¯t be interpreted in Najin¡¯s way yet. Najin was still too inexperienced. Hecked a deep understanding of the sword and hadn¡¯t internalized numerous swordsmanship like Karan. He wascking and immature. He didn¡¯t n to deny it. But Karan seeks a variable. Something uniquely Najin¡¯s. He knew he could show that, even if it weren¡¯t his own sword. Swoosh. In a split second, Najin elerated his sword. Karan¡¯s scabbard, too, sped up in response. shing with a cacophony, Karan¡¯s scabbard effortlessly guided and blocked Najin¡¯s sword. Karan still moved easily, but Najin, unlike before, neither rolled on the ground nor gotpletely overpowered. Stubbornly persisting, he swung his sword. There were no verbal exchanges, but Karan read Najin¡¯s intent through shing swords. How long will you only target weaknesses? Without that, I can¡¯t learn anything either. His sword seemed to speak. Karan responded with a heartyugh to Najin¡¯s unspoken proposal. Alright, let¡¯s show you more. Karan pushed back Najin¡¯s sword, advancing for the first time. Boom. mming the ground, Karan swung his sword. It was a guillotine-like strike from above. A perfect motion and a perfect breath werebined in this strike. Najin, despite anticipating it, had to force himself to block. Just knowing where it woulde from didn¡¯t make it easy. His knees almost buckled upon impact. His fingers trembled on the hilt. Crack, the ground splintered under his feet. sh, crash, crash. However, it didn¡¯t end with a single strike. As Najin blocked the sword, Karan¡¯s scabbard flowed like a river along Najin¡¯s de and reached for his neck. The transition from a sh to a thrust was incredibly smooth. ¡°¡­!¡± Najin, having foreseen it, twisted his sword just in time to disrupt the flow. But the flow had already shifted. The Order of the Sword¡¯s technique creates momentum, cornering the opponent through a series of connected stances. Some say the Order¡¯s swordsmanship is like a giant tree. Starting from one root, it branches into hundreds, thousands, even millions of forms. It¡¯s practically equipped to handle any conceivable situation in a duel. The Order has spent centuries refining these techniques. The way of linking sword moves. Responding to an opponent¡¯s block. Shifting from defense to offense. Countering and retaliating against an aggressive opponent. In any given situation, there are dozens of ways to respond. All these techniques, tens of thousands of stances, memorized and mastered by a Sword Saint, make a duel¡­ merely a process of selecting the correct answer. ¡®It¡¯s like a wave.¡¯ Receiving the Sword Saint¡¯s blows, Najin felt as if he was in the midst of a vast sea, with waves crashing over him. A feeling of being swept away, on the verge of sinking. This is the swordsmanship of a Sword Master. This is the pinnacle of the Order. Even in his duel with Volkman, Najin sensed the flow created by his opponent, but Karan¡¯s swordsmanship was iparable. An unyielding current created by Karan. ¡®Even predicting the future¡­¡¯ He couldn¡¯t resist the flow. Najin¡¯s eyes screamed in agony. The future he saw became blurry, like a white fog. He was continuously pushed back. Yet, Najin engraved it in his memory. Karan¡¯s sword. The pinnacle of swordsmanship he witnessed. Even if he couldn¡¯t replicate it yet, it was a valuable lesson, a rich fertilizer. ¡®I envy it.¡¯ The swordsmanship of the Sword Saint. The understanding of that sword. The beautiful art of his swordsmanship. ¡®More, much more¡­¡¯ Najin wanted to see more. However, he couldn¡¯t draw out the Sword Saint¡¯s sword on his own. So, he decided to gamble instead of being swept away. Najin¡¯s eyes widened. Blood vessels burst, coloring his vision red. But for that brief moment, Najin precisely read Karan¡¯s sword. He saw the clear future. The trajectory of Karan¡¯s scabbard, what swordsmen at the pinnacle call the Sword Path, was witnessed by Najin. Najin¡¯s sword reacted btedly. Yet, it effortlessly received Karan¡¯s de. Visible trajectory. He knew exactly where to block. When Najin blocked, Karan¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Najin, still with wide eyes, took a step towards Karan. Three times more. With his throbbing eyes, he could only manage three more times. Intending tond a blow within those three opportunities, Najin had witnessed and experienced the pinnacle. A valuable experience for anyone. After the duel, he would review the content of the duel, refining his understanding. Alone, facing a wall, swinging his sword based on the reviewed content. This process is a path to enlightenment for swordsmen. But Najin didn¡¯t need such cumbersome methods. Enlightenment coulde even in the midst of battle, there was no need to postpone it. ¡®So, then.¡¯ Hundreds of pictures formed in his mind. Dozens, hundreds of pictures shown by Karan unfolded in Najin¡¯s mind. He understood how Karan swung his sword, when to apply and release force. ¡®Just like this.¡¯ Understanding it. Swoosh! Najin mimicked Karan¡¯s sword in his own way. It wasn¡¯t enough to be called exclusively Najin¡¯s sword yet. It was still imitation, not creation. But even so¡­ Najin¡¯s single strike. It didn¡¯t seem worthless in the eyes of the Sword Saint. At least there was no way to block it at the same level. Hence, Karanughed. He recognized the value in Najin¡¯s effort. ¡°Thest strike you showed was excellent.¡± Karan had seen amendable sword strike. So, he owed a response. Showing even that much would benefit Najin. Releasing Najin¡¯s sword, Karan moved toward where his real sword was nted before the duel began. Securing his scabbard at his waist, Karan reached for his embedded sword. And the moment he drew his real sword¡­ The air changed. The flow reversed. Despite the distance, Najin felt as if a de was pressed against his neck. Not just him, but even Volkman, observing from afar, felt the same. Karan gripped his sword. The energy rising from it was Karan¡¯s sword aura. Looking at Najin, he warned: ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± It was a single warning. Immediately after that, Karan swung his sword. Chapter 53 Chapter 53 ¨C Sword Master Karan (5) ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± The voice of the Sword Saint echoed in Najin¡¯s ears, and before he couldprehend its meaning, his body became rigid, unable to move a muscle or even breathe. The master of this realm hadn¡¯t granted permission. It was a sensation simr to when Merlin had restrained him. Although he could have moved with effort, Najin chose not to. Instead, he widened his eyes, determined to witness what was about to unfold with his own eyes. Blood vessels in Najin¡¯s eyes were bursting. Blood pooled at the corners of his eyes. Swooshing¡­ Rain poured down over the field. Each drop that hit the ground sshed up. In the elongated moments, Najin saw the Sword Saint swinging his sword. Even straining his eyes to their limit, Even in the stretched timeline, Najin couldn¡¯t clearly see the Sword Saint¡¯s movement. The sword, once pointing skyward, was now aimed at the ground. It was at that moment that Najin realized. Drip, drip-drip-drip. The falling raindrops split apart, scattering as if colliding with something invisible. Cutting through the rain, something approached. Water droplets were tossed into the air, parting the downpour. It advanced, pushing aside the blurring rain. ¡­Regardless of the physical distance of tens of meters between Najin and the Sword Saint, it meant nothing in this realm. This was the domain of the Sword Saint. His sword¡¯s swing naturally cut through anything in its path. Thus, the burst of light emitted from the tip of the Sword Saint¡¯s sword surged unimpeded toward Najin. To the average eye, it was a mere sh. But to Najin, it was visible¡ªa giant beam of light, like a guillotine, shing down in a straight line. Screech. The sound of slicing through the air came a beatter. The sound reverberated as the giant de halted just before Najin¡¯s nose. It was a massive sword aura reaching the sky, which Najin btedly recognized as the Sword Saint¡¯s sword aura. The sword aura was reflected in Najin¡¯s sunset-hued eyes. He witnessed the strike of one who had reached the pinnacle. Merely watching it caused his head to throb in pain. Whoosh! Then, the sword aura dispersed. The wind brought by the sword aura hit Najin momentster. His hair fluttered, and his clothes rippled. Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud! Raindrops split by the sword aura pelted Najin¡¯s body. Through the rain hitting his face, Najin exhaled the breath he had been holding. He pressed his fingers against his eyelids, which throbbed with pain. It was a momentary instant. Yet, in that fleeting moment, the Sword Saint¡¯s strike was etched in Najin¡¯s mind. Even with closed eyes, the image was vividly drawn. The strike of the Sword Saint etched a dividing line in Najin¡¯s mind. A line dividing ordinary humans and superhumans. A massive wall dividing the world into Sword Masters and those who are not. The strike shown by the Sword Saint was akin to such a boundary. ¡°¡­¡± Najin touched his neck. The sensation he felt when the Sword Saint drew his sword, a chilling feeling, as if a de rested against his neck. ¡®It wasn¡¯t an illusion.¡¯ Najin realized it was no mere illusion. This entire area belonged to the Sword Saint. Realizing this, Najin couldn¡¯t help butugh. Slowly opening his eyes, Najin looked down at his feet. A deep, straight line cut into the ground. A single strike that had split the ground and raindrops, shot from the Sword Saint. Seen but not understood. Iprehensible, thus alien. Alien, thus an immense barrier. ¡­Normally, facing such a massive wall, most would feel despair or hopelessness in front of a realm they could never reach. But this was limited to ordinary swordsmen. Najin was an anomaly. He had provoked constetions, pulled out Excalibur, and staked his life in gambles ¨C an anomaly among anomalies. ¡°Ha¡­¡± Therefore, facing the wall, Najinughed. He felt his hand trembling. Not from fear, but from awe and exhration. Confronting the pinnacle he must reach someday¡­ ¡®No, not quite.¡¯ Najin gripped his sword tightly. It wasn¡¯t a ce he must reach someday. It was a realm to be trampled and surpassed. Najin¡¯s goal was the highest point in the heavens. Reaffirming his goal, Najin lifted his head. Locking eyes with the Sword Saint, the Sword Saint burst intoughter. Najin¡¯s gaze did not waver. ¡°As promised, I¡¯ll teach you the sword,¡± the Sword Saint spoke after the duel ended. ¡°I have many obligations, so I can¡¯t visit often, but I¡¯ll try to make time at least once a month. You¡¯re worth that effort.¡± Once a month. A familiar proposition to Najin, only the mentor had changed from a mid-rank priest to the master of the Order of the Sword. ¡°Obviously, I don¡¯t n to make this public. You wouldn¡¯t want that either. Besides¡­ I have a fair number of enemies.¡± The Sword Saint chuckled bitterly. ¡°If word gets out that I¡¯ve taken a disciple, surely Yuel Razian, the Executioner of Starblood Sect, will sniff you out. Definitely. That one is definitely the kind who would do something like that.¡± ¡°The Executioner of the Starblood Sect, you mean¡­¡± ¡°Another Sword Master with six stars, Yuel Razian.¡± The murderer, as they call her. Najin had some knowledge about Yuel Razian. He could easily find basic information about the Sword Masters¡¯ backgrounds. ¡®She must have killed many to reach the Sword Master realm¡­¡¯ An entric Sword Master. Yuel Razian was seen as an object of disdain and fear, not respect, among swordsmen. ¡°She wants to strike me down. If she learns I¡¯ve taken a disciple, she¡¯ll definitely take an interest. Even if not her, the world¡¯s attention will focus on you¡­¡± The Sword Saint smirked. ¡°Do you want that? I won¡¯t stop you if you do.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll respectfully decline.¡± Najin politely refused. The Sword Saint nodded as if expecting this answer. ¡°It seems like you don¡¯t n to join the Order of the Sword, as Volkman said. Well, I wouldn¡¯t rmend it either.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you the master of the Order?¡± ¡°The Order of the Sword is a good ce. But it¡¯s not ideal for gaining varied experiences.¡± The Sword Saint stated inly. ¡°You need diverse experiences, so the Order doesn¡¯t suit your style. I won¡¯t force you. In fact, I¡¯d rmend bing a wandering swordsman.¡± Crossing his arms, the Sword Saint gazed out over the rain-soaked field. His eyes seemed to be looking beyond the field, contemting something far greater. ¡°Carrying only a sword, wander the world. See much, experience much, and interact with numerous people. Through that journey, the sword is perfected. I did the same, and so did the very first Sword Saint.¡± Unbound by anything, Walking wherever the path leads. Najin nodded in agreement to Karan¡¯s words, as his own path was simr. While listening to Karan, Najin slightly parted his lips. ¡°Sword Saint.¡± There was something he was curious about. Najin looked straight at Karan. In Najin¡¯s eyes, Karan appeared different from Volkman. He seemed to view training a talented swordsman not as a goal but merely a means to achieve an end. ¡°Why do you wish to teach me the sword?¡± Hence, Najin posed the question. Why teach me the sword? What are your intentions? At this, the Sword Saint gave a bitter smile. ¡°Teaching the sword to a talented individual is a duty of the master of the Order of the Sword¡­ It would be nice to answer that way, but it¡¯s not the whole truth.¡± Karan replied briefly. ¡°It¡¯s to fulfill the secret mission of the Order of the Sword. That¡¯s all I can say for now. I can¡¯t go into details, please understand.¡± The secret mission of the Order? Najin expressed his doubt but nodded in acknowledgment. -Huh¡­ Merlin¡¯s breathing echoed in Najin¡¯s ears. It sounded a bit surprised. Merlin continued after exhaling. -A bit unexpected. I didn¡¯t think anyone who remembered that still existed¡­ ¡°Do you know what the secret mission of the Order is?¡± -Of course. It¡¯s rted to Arthur. Merlin¡¯s voice became solemn. Unlike usual, her voicecked any yfulness orughter as she spoke. -¡°Liberation of the first Sword Saint.¡± That¡¯s the Order¡¯s secret mission. ¡°The first Sword Saint, an hero from the era of King Arthur? He¡¯s either dead or a constetion by now¡­¡± -Not dead. More urately, he¡¯s unable to die. Merlin¡¯s voice carried a heavy tone. She sighed and continued. -He became a ghost of Cann. In the carriage returning to the Order of the Sword. Mid-rank Priest Volkman nced at his friend sitting opposite him. Sword Saint Karan. He seemed more content than ever, meticulously tending to his sword. ¡°You seem impressed by that young man too?¡± ¡°Would it be only my impression?¡± Volkman¡¯s question was met with a shrug from the Sword Saint. ¡°ce any Sword Master there, and they¡¯d have the same reaction. He had that much potential.¡± The potential Karan spoke of wasn¡¯t limited to mere talent, Volkman knew. Karan, who had refused to teach countless geniuses, iming they didn¡¯t catch his eye. ¡°He wasn¡¯t frightened even after seeing my sword. There was no hesitation. Did you see his eyes at the end? Really, it¡¯s unbelievable¡­¡± Karan murmured but couldn¡¯t help smiling. ¡°He looked at me, not as a summit to reach, but as a hurdle to ovee. Can you imagine? A mere Sword Expert thinking of surpassing a Sword Master.¡± There¡¯s power in one¡¯s gaze. Eyes reveal intentions. And audaciously, that young man showed a desire to challenge the sword Karan had disyed. He saw it not with admiration or awe, but as a target to surpass. What an absurd notion. ¡®Yet, that¡¯s why¡­¡¯ He liked it. That was exactly the kind of person Karan was looking for. He had no interest in those who idolized him as a goal. One to surpass him. One to rise higher than him. That¡¯s who Karan had been searching for. ¡°I won¡¯t teach him anything but the sword. You should cooperate too.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°It means I won¡¯t interfere in his life.¡± He would only teach the sword. He had no intention of meddling in the young man¡¯s life. He wouldn¡¯t provide support or rescue him from crisis. That would be pointless. He must ovee crises on his own. Face trials, break through dead ends, Survive deadly battles and grow. He had no intention of intervening in that process. Even if he liked the young man, he wouldn¡¯t protect him. He would teach only swordsmanship, and the rest was for the young man to fill with his own strength. If he dies in the process, That¡¯s all he was meant to be. ¡­Sword Masters are twisted in their own ways. Even among the three Sword Masters, Karan, considered the most normal,cked human aspects. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Sharpening his sword, Karan recalled his goal. The secret mission of the Order of the Sword. It might sound grand, but if one were to simplify it, it was straightforward. ¡°Kill the first Sword Saint.¡± That was the mission of the Order. Put more gently, ¡°Grant rest to the first Sword Saint,¡± but isn¡¯t it essentially the same? Karan mused over the Order¡¯s purpose, recalling thend of the abyss, Cann. Despite having six stars, Despite reaching the realm of Sword Masters, The image of Cann, isted and alone, haunted him even with closed eyes. ¡°Thend of the abyss, Cann.¡± In that sealed space created by Arthur, cursed beings breathe and wait for the seal to break. Swallowing dragons, witches of the fallen, traitors of the Round Table, fallen stars¡­ And the Sword Ghost of Cann. Each time Cann¡¯s barrier trembles, a blurred swordsman can be seen. Dragging his sword, he cuts down everything, ally or foe alike. Resembling a ghost wielding a sword, he was called the Sword Ghost. But no one knows the true identity of the Sword Ghost. It¡¯s only known as a swordsman gone mad, wandering the cursednd. Only a few constetions and past Sword Saints of the Order know his true identity. Karan pictured the figure of the Sword Ghost he had faced at the boundary of Cann, looking at his own sword. ¡­The Sword Ghost is the first Sword Saint. Worn out over hundreds of years. Left alone in Cann, cutting down the cursed for centuries. A hero from the past who lost to madness. Liberating him was the secret mission of the Order. The reason Karan began wielding his sword. Karan sighed deeply, sheathing his sword. Would the young man he met today fulfill his secret mission? Only time will tell. Karan hoped that one day he would reveal this truth to the young man. -The first Sword Saint, who turned into the Sword Ghost of Cann. -You¡¯ll have to strike him down someday. To be more precise¡­ Merlin spoke to Najin. -Only you can do it. There was aplexity in her voice. -He can only be struck down with Excalibur. Chapter 54 Chapter 54 ¨C The Snake that Swallows Gold (1) ¡®The Sword Ghost of the Abyss can only be killed with Excalibur.¡¯ ¡°Could it be some sort of demon then? I heard demons can only bepletely eradicated with Excalibur.¡± -That¡¯s not what I meant. The Sword Ghost of the Abyss doesn¡¯t have immortality or demonic traits. The reason I said Excalibur is needed¡­ Merlin added, -¡­because that guy also wields a holy sword. ¡°A holy sword?¡± -A sword that bes holy or demonic depending on its user, the sword Gramr. The only weapon that can withstand his sword is Excalibur. Essentially, a capable weapon was needed. But this didn¡¯t quite make sense to Najin. If ordinary swords don¡¯t work, what about magic or arrows¡­ Aren¡¯t there various methods? There seemed no need to confront it with a sword specifically. -You wouldn¡¯t mention them if you knew that man. Merlin chuckled wryly at Najin¡¯s inner thoughts. The Sword Ghost of the Abyss is a being beyondmon understanding, a figure who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Arthur and apanied him to the end of his journey, even though he wasn¡¯t a Knight of the Round Table. The final destination reached by the First Sword Saint. Remembering this, Merlin sighed deeply. It wasn¡¯t a memory she wanted to revisit. Changing the subject, her voice returned to its usual tone. -There¡¯s no need to know about the Sword Ghost for now. Forget about it. It¡¯s a problem for muchter, a foe you¡¯ll meet eventually. That aside, She murmured and chuckled. -You got yourself a proper swordsmanship teacher, huh? No need to look for another one now. Learn swordsmanship from the Sword Saint and magic from me. Najin, about to nod, suddenly tilted his head. A word caught his attention. ¡°¡­Magic?¡± -Yes, magic. ¡°I can use magic too?¡± -Why not? ¡°But it¡¯smon knowledge that swordsmen can¡¯t use magic¡­¡± -That¡¯s just what ordinary people say. Merlin smirked. -At the very least, basic magic is a matter of culture. It¡¯s good to learn. It helps when dealing with mages. Learning how to counter mages. Indeed, Najin hadn¡¯t yet encountered a mage. Rubbing his chin, he sighed deeply. ¡°There¡¯s a long way to go.¡± -You know it¡¯s been only two or three months since you pulled out Excalibur, right? Listening to Merlin¡¯s incredulous voice, Najin chuckled. Sword Saint and Volkman had left long ago. Left alone, Najiny sprawled in the field. ¡°That¡¯s what I mean.¡± It had been just a few months since he left the underground city. Recalling the events of these months, Najin looked up at the sky. The rain had stopped, and the dark clouds parted, revealing the blue sky. What he once struggled to see was now familiar. The high sun. The stars in the night sky. He had made connections with the city¡¯s magnate, left a good impression on the city¡¯s top adventurers, defeated the Demon Knight, and even made connections with the Knights of Atanga. And now, he was about to learn swordsmanship from the Sword Saint. ¡°Time really flies.¡± Such events were unimaginable in the underground city. He had experienced so much in such a short time. Just when he thought it would take long to adapt, he found himself ustomed to the new experiences. -Is it just time that¡¯s flying? -Your growth rate is absurdly fast too. With Merlin¡¯s amused voice in the background, Najin stood up. The day wasn¡¯t over yet, even after the Sword Saint¡¯s storm-like visit. It was time to head back and look for new quests. Najin walked towards the City of Opportunities, Cambria, with light steps. The day after the duel with the Sword Saint, at noon. Najin stood in the square, waiting for someone. He had agreed to meet someone there. As he stood under the clock tower, many eyes were drawn to him. That was to be expected. From his aplishments in the Dochzenberg Forest skirmish, to his promotion to a heretic, to being the hero of the Demon Knight skirmish, Najin was the man of the hour. At this point, it would be strange if he didn¡¯t attract attention. The most notable adventurer in Cambria. The first choice for recruitment by many merchants and medium-sized guilds, his stock had skyrocketed beyond measure. That was Najin¡¯s current standing in the City of Opportunities. With him standing in the middle of the square, it was natural to attract attention. Yet, no one dared approach him easily. ¡­Because they knew who had their sights set on Najin. Just then, Najin turned his head, looking at a corner of the square. Those watching him followed his gaze. There stood a girl, apanied by a single knight, stepping into the square. The Snake that Swallows Gold, Dieta Arbenia. With her flowing, silky light brown hair and captivating yellow eyes, Dieta¡¯s beauty stood out, even among many nobledies at a ball. Even after being abandoned by the Arbenia ducal family, her beauty didn¡¯t fade. Instead, she seemed even more radiant, walking confidently. However, her outfit was different than usual. It was not the uniform of Dieta Trading Company, nor the luxurious dress of a nobledy, but a casual dress. Apanied only by a shawl and a parasol, her rxed appearance was unfamiliar to the adventurers of Cambria. It was as if she was dressing to meet a close friend. Dieta stopped right in front of Najin, under the clock tower. ¡°Am Ite?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve only been waiting for a short while.¡± Watching them, the merchants clicked their tongues. They thought he was marking his territory. Showing off that he¡¯s close enough to Dieta to meet her privately, dressed in casual clothes. To them, Dieta¡¯s actions implied such intentions. But to the guard Pasion, it appeared differently. Having served Dieta the longest, Pasion saw in her smile not just an act. There might be some intent to show off their closeness, but¡­ ¡°Shall we go then?¡± Dieta looked genuinely rxed and happy. Her body slightly rxed, not just putting on an act of enjoyment. ¡®Above all¡­¡¯ Pasion vividly remembered how Dieta, frowning while dealing with business early in the morning, suddenly brightened up the moment it was time to meet Najin. It was an unusually pleasant sight of her mistress. ¡®What exactly happened during thatst escort¡­¡¯ Though he had heard rumors about shattering a noble, it was clear there had been more to their interaction. Pasion cast a wary nce at Najin and clicked his tongue. Regardless, Dieta hummed a tune, strolling through the square with Najin. Her mistress seemed happy, so Pasion soon withdrew his gaze. After all, seeing Dieta smile sofortably was rare. After the meal, sipping her tea, Dieta suddenly looked up. Across from her, Najin was sipping his coffee, puzzled. Why anyone would drink such a bitter thing? Amused by his expression, Dieta asked, ¡°Should I order something sweeter for you?¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯m getting used to it.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t have to follow my choice.¡± ¡°I was just curious.¡± Najin set down his cup. ¡°Why do people drink this? I knew someone who was always sipping coffee. In a ce where such luxuries were hard to find, I wondered why they would drink such a bitter thing. So, I¡¯m just trying it out of curiosity.¡± Nibbling on the served snacks, Najin spoke. Listening to his story, Dieta idly yed with her teacup. She had been interested in the man before her from the start, but as the ¡®Snake that Swallows Gold¡¯, her interest was of a different kind. A human who seemed like a profitable venture. An adventurer worth befriending for future benefits to her trading house. Through Dieta¡¯s eyes, which converted everything into gold, Najin was an unmined gold mine. A treasure trove that promised gold with just a few strikes of a pickaxe. Hence, her interest as a merchant¡­ but then: ¡°I hear you vanquished the Demon Knight recently. Could you tell me about it? I¡¯m curious.¡± After theirst joint venture, after the day she had dropped her mask in front of Najin, Dieta found herself intrigued by the human being he was. His personality. His habits. His mannerisms. Simply put, she wanted to know more about the man before her. Whether this was a merchant¡¯s desire or just Dieta¡¯s own curiosity, she couldn¡¯t distinguish. ¡°The reason I didn¡¯t wait for the Knights of Atanga? Nothing extraordinary. I just didn¡¯t like it, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t like it?¡± ¡°I mean the story of the knights. The Demon Knight, Verheigen, as he spoke¡­¡± As Najin continued, Dieta nodded along, sometimes smiling. She felt she had a good grasp of how he thought and acted. ¡®Likest time¡­¡¯ He was quite impulsive. Seemingly without ns, often acting on the spur of the moment. For him, the most important thing was his belief, even if it meant dealing with consequencester. The recent battle against the Demon Knight was an example. Waiting for the Knights of Atanga, coordinating an attack with them would have been strategically sounder, but he plunged in alone. Why? To hog all the glory? When asked, his reason was simply ¡®just because¡¯. Such emotional reasoning, leading to such rash actions, made her think he was refreshingly straightforward or foolish. Either way, Dieta knew she couldn¡¯t possess such traits. ¡°Ah.¡± As Dieta listened andughed, a question suddenly piqued her curiosity. What was Najin¡¯s goal? She paused, teacup in hand, and asked: ¡°By the way.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°What¡¯s your goal?¡± ¡°To inscribe a star.¡± Najin replied without hesitation, dering his goal to inscribe a star in the sky. Dieta was momentarily speechless at his straightforward answer. ¡°A star, you mean¡­¡± ¡°The stars held by Constetions. Inscribing a star in the sky is my goal.¡± It wasn¡¯t a goal you¡¯d casually mention. Too grandiose, almost fantastical. Owning a star meant achieving feats worthy of bing a Constetion. A childlike fantasy, really. ¡°¡­Are you serious?¡± ¡°Yes. There¡¯s no reason to lie about this.¡± Yet, Najin was earnest about it, indifferent to others¡¯ opinions. And then he added: ¡°And besides, I promised to do so.¡± As he spoke, Najin wore a bittersweet smile, one that spoke of many stories. ¡°What about you? What¡¯s your goal?¡± The same question was posed back. Dieta sipped her coffee, replying easily. Her goal was straightforward, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°To amass gold. To grow my trading house and gather more gold. That¡¯s my goal.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t gold just a means?¡± ¡°Sharp of you.¡± Dieta put down her cup, her narrow eyes fixating on the coffee residue. Yes, Najin was right. Gold is a means, not an end. So, what was her end goal? Dieta pondered over her surname, Dieta Arbenia. The Arbenia Duchy. The cold mansion of her childhood. Recalling it, she spoke: ¡°It¡¯s how I raise my worth.¡± Warriors raise their worth with swords, achieving titles like Sword Expert, Sword Seeker¡­ Status and treatment change with rank. Not just warriors. Mages, rangers, and knights do the same. They prove their worth through self-improvement. A very tangible means ¨C personalbat prowess. But not everyone is born with martial talents. So how do they prove their worth? For some, it¡¯s politics. For others, knowledge. Or amassed power. Dieta knew there was a more tangible measure of worth. Something even more straightforward thanbat prowess. ¡°Gold. Money. Wealth. Assets. Isn¡¯t it the most direct measure of worth? The more you have, the more your worth increases.¡± The origin of all value. Politics, knowledge, power ¨C they all require money. Throw enough gold, and everything else follows. That¡¯s why Dieta swallows gold. To increase her worth. To be undeniable. That¡¯s the snake that swallows gold¡¯s purpose. ¡°Gold is my value. Just as you inscribe stars to increase yours¡­ to me, stars are just gold.¡± Increasing her worth. A usible life goal. But listening to her, Najin narrowed his eyes. He sensed more to it. Collecting gold. Raising worth. These seemed mere means to an end. He didn¡¯t ask further, sensing she didn¡¯t want to delve deeper. Perhaps it was rted to her sensitive spot. ¡°Well, that¡¯s just how it is.¡± Dieta shrugged, exhaling deeply. But before she exhaled, Najin saw it. The venom in her eyes, in her breath, when speaking her goal. A venommon in those who¡¯ve crawled from the bottom. Dieta, too, harbored that venom. Its true nature was beyond Najin¡¯s knowledge. ¡°Then, see you again.¡± At dusk, Dieta waved warmly at Najin and walked away. Pasion, who had kept his distance, joined her side. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve taken quite a liking to that young man.¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s so interesting to hear him talk. It¡¯s like watching a novel¡¯s protagonist.¡± Dieta chuckled. ¡°He acts spontaneously, ambitiously aiming for the top. If he dislikes something, he confronts it head-on. He¡¯s refreshing and romantic.¡± She sighed as she walked. ¡°I thought we were alike, but only our childhoods were simr. He¡¯spletely the opposite.¡± Someone simr yet different. Simr childhoods, yet entirely different life approaches. Dieta felt an indescribable emotion toward Najin. Someone living in apletely different world. Whether it was admiration, envy, or simple curiosity, Dieta couldn¡¯t tell. But it wasn¡¯t unpleasant to feel this fluttering emotion. At least with him, she could be just Dieta, not Dieta Arbenia. Someone who knew her true self. She enjoyed talking to such a person. As Dieta returned to her office, still somewhat ted, she was greeted by her sweating secretary, holding a letter. The ornate lettering on the envelope spoke of its luxurious origin. ¡°¡­¡± Taking the letter, Dieta¡¯s smile vanished. The mask she had rxed during her conversation with Najin clicked back into ce, her eyes turning ice-cold. Arbenia Duchy. The letter was from the family she had fled from. Chapter 55 Chapter 55 ¨C The Snake that Swallows Gold (2) From the moment of birth, some lives are predetermined. If born to a traitor, one would live under the stigma of treason for life. Born among ves, one is likely to remain a ve forever. Yes, life is determined from the moment of birth. Dieta Arbenia realized this truth on her seventh birthday. She was the child born between a maid and the head of the Arbenia Duchy. Naturally, the looks she received were far from kind. There were numerous torments. But she thought she could endure them. That was until her mother hanged herself on Dieta¡¯s seventh birthday. Her mother¡¯s body was a gruesome sight, with burn scars marring her face. Although the immediate cause was the noose around her neck, it was the scars that drove her to it. The scars that eroded her worth. How could a mere maid have rtions with the head of the house and even aspire to be a concubine? It was all thanks to her exceptional beauty. Unlike the head¡¯s other wives, Dieta¡¯s mother had neither the wealth, family background, nor connections. Her worth was solely her beauty. And so, she was easily destroyed. A fire, staged as an ident, ravaged her face. Priests arrived toote to offer blessings, and the scars could not be fully erased. The long, burn marks on her face, the distorted skin. The fire took her beauty. It burned away the only value she had. The head of Arbenia was a cold man who lost interest in a woman devoid of worth. He no longer summoned her to his bedroom and began to take back what he had given her. As if she was nothing but a pastime, he banished her and her daughter, Dieta, to a separate house. Her mother, once proud, became withdrawn. She wore a veil over her face, her oncemanding voice became meek. The woman who shattered her predetermined fate with her shining worth fell to the ground, losing all her value. And as it often ends, miserably. Dieta, staring at her mother¡¯s hanging corpse, had to realize. The protective fence around her had shattered. All that was left for Dieta was her mother¡¯s beautiful looks and thebel of an abandoned child. Value. Value. Value. The young girl faced reality. Was it misfortune, or fortune? The girl had a talent. She inherited her beauty from her mother, but her eye for value came from her father. The girl was a prodigy. A prodigy, yet still a child. Her mind wasn¡¯t mature enough to ept the world, too young to endure the venom and torment. So, she wore a mask. Behind the mask, she leveraged her beauty, packaging herself for the world. Behind the mask, she ttered, yed the fool, and sometimes lived as if dead among the indifferent. She knew opportunities woulde eventually. On her fifteenth birthday, The day when no one cared about her anymore. Dieta fled her family. She ran and ran towards a ce where she could use her talents. That ce was none other than the City of Opportunities, Cambria. Where anyone with talent could rise. Dieta spent five years in this city. ¡°Five years have passed.¡± Dieta leaned back in her chair. Everything she had built from the ground up over thest five years was here. A major tradingpany among the top three in the city. It was her achievement. ¡°And now¡­¡± Dieta looked at the letter. Her eyes were wavering. ¡°Why, all of a sudden?¡± They hadn¡¯t contacted her when she ran away, when she established her tradingpany, or even when it started to thrive. They had never shown interest or concern. So why this sudden letter? Dieta examined the letter. Though lengthy, the essence was clear. ¡°Come to the estate immediately upon receiving this letter.¡± ¡°We have matters to discuss face to face.¡± A letter penned by the Duke of Arbenia himself. It was a summon. Dieta sighed deeply as she read the words, knowing she had no grounds to refuse. To refuse meant to oppose. And the Arbenia Duchy was not a house that Dieta¡¯s tradingpany could afford to provoke. Knowing this, Dieta stood up with a sigh. ¡°Pasion. Get ready.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± With a stern face, Pasion went to prepare the carriage. Dieta stood before a mirror, looking at her reflection. The joyful and rxed smile she had while talking to Najin was gone. Her lips were rigid. Touching the corners of her lips, Dieta let out a bitterugh. It was the same mocking tone, the same resignedughter as always. The summons from the Central Guild. Najin arrived at the guild with a light heart, only to be met by officials at the exclusive counter for higher-ranked adventurers, waiting with stern faces. Najin was puzzled. ¡°Green-rank adventurer, Ivan.¡± The officials began. ¡°We recognize your achievements and propose a promotion to the Red rank. Do you consent?¡± An unexpected promotion to red-rank. Najin blinked in surprise. Naturally. ¡°¡­I never applied for a promotion, though?¡± Najin hadn¡¯t requested any promotion. Within just two months of setting foot in the city, Ivan, a 28-year-old adventurer, achieved the rank of Green. The Central Guild of Cambria kept a close eye on him, as his growth was extraordinary. Not only did he single-handedly subdue a Blood Troll of Red threat level, but he also set a record score in the Dochzenberg Forest extermination. His performance on significant quests was impressive, and his ability toplete smaller tasks was equally remarkable. Clients were exceptionally satisfied, oftenmenting, ¡°The adventurer¡¯s work is quick and clean.¡± He was particrly praised for bounty quests. His efficiency in returning stolen goods alongside capturing the criminals was unparalleled. ¡°Definitely worth noting,¡± thought Supervisor Jubeiroa, eyeing the man before him. This adventurer, whom ¡°Roselin Ascalo¡± had taken an interest in, was quickly bing a person of interest. And now, he had done something unthinkable yet again. The protagonist in the defeat of the Demon Knight, Verheigen. Before the shock of his solo Blood Troll defeat and his promotion had even faded, this young man had sent another shockwave through the adventurer city. At this point, the Central Guild could no longer sit idly by. Ivan¡¯s capabilities clearly surpassed the Green rank. Of course, the next rank, ¡°Red,¡± was not to be taken lightly. It represented the guild¡¯s elite forces, effectively the city¡¯s ambassadors endorsed by the Central Guild. Though the promotion process was notoriously stringent andplex¡­ ¡°Given the uniqueness of the quests you¡¯vepleted and your exceptional performance, we¡¯ve decided to proceed with a special promotion test for you.¡± A special case had to be made for the man before them. ¡°Baron Orvaiz, Viscount Traam, Viscount Toscanelli, Viscount Epister, Count Ternien¡­¡± The Demon Knight expedition. This adventurer had essentially resolved numerous noble quests in one fell swoop. There were more than seven quests from nobility alone tangled with the Demon Knight Bernhaigen. ¡°Although the Knights of Atanga haven¡¯tmented¡­¡± Considering the reputation of the Knights of Atanga and many nobles, the Central Guild feltpelled to grant this adventurer a special exception. ¡°Furthermore, most importantly, youe highly rmended by Duke Edelmar of the Trebache family. He personally sent a letter of rmendation, so be thankful for his favor.¡± Listening quietly, Najin nodded. ¡°Of course, the Red rank promotion test will be extremely rigorous, conducted under strict criteria over three days. The first test will be supervised by me, Jubeiroa.¡± Do you have any objections? At that question, Najin nodded in agreement. ¡°Then let¡¯s proceed.¡± Following Supervisor Jubeiroa, who had risen from her seat, Najin moved forward. As they walked, Jubeiroa began to exin the test he would oversee. ¡°I¡¯ll be assessing instantaneous judgment, as well as subduing and escorting a target. From now, you will escort me to a designated location. The test will proceed at my pace, and any contact with me will result in a penalty, so be mindful.¡± She nced at Najin as she moved. Without a word, Najin simply nodded in response to Jubeiroa¡¯s instructions. ¡°Also, inflicting serious injury on ¡®attackers¡¯¡ªadventurers acting as assants for this test¡ªwill also result in a penalty. Remember, it¡¯s about subduing, not injuring.¡± After finishing her exnation, Jubeiroa pped her hands. With the echoing p, she announced, ¡°The test begins now.¡± Jubeiroa set off along a pre-determined route, followed by Najin, who narrowed his eyes, sensing movement. Instinctively reaching for his sword handle, Najin soon rxed his grip. Inflicting injuries was forbidden, so it seemed best not to use his sword. With this thought, he had taken only a few steps when¡­ Thump. Someone leapt from a rooftop, charging at Jubeiroa. It appeared to be one of the hired adventurers mentioned earlier. ¡®One, two¡­¡¯ Two adventurers rushed at Jubeiroa, one of them targeting Najin. Observing their movements, Najin stepped forward. The attacker wielded a wooden sword, dulled to prevent injury. Though it was safe to grab with bare hands, this was, after all, a mockbat scenario. Reading the attacker¡¯s motion, Najin extended his hand, seizing the adventurer¡¯s wrist. Once caught, the wooden sword could advance no further, halted by Najin¡¯s grip. Startled by his strength, the attacker was swiftly flung aside by Najin. As he tumbled to the ground, his aplice was greeted by the same fate. ¡°Ugh, ack! Cough!¡± Choking under Najin¡¯s grasp, the adventurer tapped Najin¡¯s arm a few times with his palm, signaling surrender. Najin then rxed his grip, which could have easily rendered the man unconscious with a bit more pressure. One subdued. Turning, Najin looked behind. There stood the adventurer he had just thrown, appearing somewhat baffled but signaling a truce. Suddenly, a series of thuds echoed. Adventurers employed as ¡®attackers¡¯ for the test simultaneously charged at Najin and Jubeiroa. Adventurers hired by the guild for the role of attackers. They were part of a medium-sized mercenary group called ¡°Pavlet.¡± Their individual ranks varied between Blue and Green, but their extensive experience inpleting numerous quests together effectively ced them at a Red rank. Therefore, when they were assigned this task, the members of the Pavlet group were somewhat puzzled. ¡®Even if he¡¯s the talk of the towntely, isn¡¯t this asking too much?¡¯ Protect the target, subdue attackers without causing serious harm, and even respond instantly to ambushes. Naturally, the use of Sword Aura was out of the question. With such restrictions, how could they properly face the challenge? With these concerns, they embarked on their mission. And now, 3 minutes into the ambush, the leader of the Pavlet group couldn¡¯t help butugh in disbelief. ¡°This is absurd.¡± Eight mercenaries. It took merely 3 minutes for all of them to be subdued. The leader reflected on the recent events. Two had approached as a test. When one was so easily overpowered, he immediately gave the order: attack from all sides, with the remaining two providing backup. As they converged on Najin from every direction¡­ One was grabbed and thrown. Another was kicked into a wall. As one attempted to swing a club, Najin kicked the club from his hand and flung him backward. Four were subdued in an instant. The rest didn¡¯t even realize how they were overpowered. They thought they were attacking from a blind spot, but suddenly found themselves on the ground. Thud. Somehow, Najin had managed to grab thest two, who were attempting to provide cover, and dragged them forward. ¡°Ugh, ack! Cough!¡± As one choked, he tapped Najin¡¯s arm, signaling surrender. Najin then loosened his grip, sparing them from unconsciousness. Having subdued one group, Najin nced back. There stood the adventurer he had just flung, who, despite looking slightly bemused, gestured in defeat. With that, a series of thuds resounded. Adventurers participating in the test as ¡®attackers¡¯unched a coordinated assault on Najin and Jubeiroa. Chapter 56 Chapter 56 ¨C The Snake that Swallows Gold (3) The Arbenia Duke¡¯s mansion. With its vast gardens, splendid buildings, and a number of servants too numerous to take in at a nce, it truly befits the reputation of a duke¡¯s household. Dieta, having alighted from the carriage, sighed in front of her home, returning after 5 years. The ancestral home. The ce where she was born and spent her childhood. There was not a speck offort or coziness that one might feel upon returning home. For Dieta, this mansion held no particr memories, at most those with her mother¡­ But such memories had long been forgotten. When she saw her mother¡¯s corpse hanging in front of her, all memories turned into nightmares. Dieta had thrown away all such depressing recollections. ¡°Phew¡­¡± After a long exhale, Dieta stepped into the mansion. Unlike her brothers and sisters, who paraded around with numerous vassals, Dieta was apanied only by her bodyguard, Pasion. She moved forward under the gaze of the servants. ¡°We wee you, Miss Dieta.¡± Following the servant¡¯s lead, Dieta moved forward. Unlike the times she wore fancy dresses and walked as if dead, Dieta was now walking through the mansion¡¯s corridors dressed in the uniform of a merchant lord. Not as Dieta Arbenia. But as the merchant lord, Dieta. Therefore, there was no need to bow her head. Her destination was the reception room. As the servant opened the door, the one waiting for her inside¡­ was the master of the Arbenia household. Osman Arbenia. Dieta¡¯s biological father and the head of the Arbenia ducal family. His eyes bore the same yellow hue as Dieta¡¯s. For a moment, as their gazes met, Osman Arbenia smiled brightly. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, Dieta.¡± At Osman¡¯s smile, Dieta inwardly cursed. Acting from the very start. However, there was no need to reveal her true feelings. Dieta responded with a smile and sat down in the chair prepared in the reception room. ¡°It has been a long time, Father.¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s been 5 years since you left the family to see the wider world. When you disappeared with just a letter, I was so worried¡­¡± Osman continued after a brief pause. ¡°But you were with a trustworthy knight, and I heard you were doing well in Cambria, so this father could finally rx.¡± The image of a father worried about his daughter who had left home. His tone was natural, and his expression was too natural. However, Dieta knew all too well that this was just a facade. She remembered Osman, who coldly viewed her mother¡¯s cold body and ordered it to be ¡°removed¡± with a click of his tongue. And she hadn¡¯t forgotten the way Osman¡¯s eyes appraised her, standing by his side. Dieta still smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, I have been living my best not to tarnish the name of Arbenia. It¡¯s an honor that such news has reached you, Father.¡± ¡°To think you rose to the position of a merchant lord, controlling a city from the ground up in just 5 years, I am truly proud of you.¡± Osman smiled. ¡°Merchant Dieta, I¡¯ve heard a lot about the tradingpany you named after yourself. Though there are nasty rumors in the world about you being the abandoned child of Arbenia¡­ How could I abandon you? You¡¯re the only thing she left behind.¡± Lies were exchanged, and false smiles were shared. Both were conversing while wearing masks. When the conversation was ripe enough. ¡°The reason I called you today is none other than tomend your achievements.¡± Osman Arbenia broached the main topic. Dieta looked at Osman. She was on edge, trying to understand the meaning behind each of his words. ¡°I was quite surprised by the tradingpany you built with your own efforts, not relying on the family¡¯s power. It¡¯s something that deserves praise.¡± Up to this point, it was as she expected. Dieta bowed her head. Why had she been called back to the family? After pondering over it during the carriage ride, Dieta hade to a few conclusions. The tradingpany was sufficiently on track, a feat that even the head of the Arbenia ducal family would acknowledge as an aplishment. Dieta had proven her worth. And Osman Arbenia assesses the value of people. In his eyes, Dieta was too valuable to discard, a talent that could bring greater value if embraced. ¡®So¡­¡¯ He would want to create a connection with the tradingpany and Arbenia. Now, was he trying to correct the rumors of an abandoned child and ept her as part of the family? Of course, she wasn¡¯t that optimistic. ¡®It¡¯s a bait.¡¯ If it were Osman, he would create a connection with the tradingpany and gradually take control of it. And eventually, he would swallow the tradingpany whole. Even expecting this, Dieta hade here. The reason was simple. Because she was confident. If it was just that level of trickery, she could ovee it and use it as a stepping stone to elevate her tradingpany even higher. That was her resolution ining here. ¡°Unlike your siblings, you have achieved great feats at a young age. It¡¯s truly remarkable¡­¡± However. ¡°Do you know what your brother has been up to? He¡¯s smart like me and sits in a fairly high position, but hecks experience and achievements. It¡¯s regrettable that someone with talent hasn¡¯t been recognized yet.¡± This was something she hadn¡¯t expected. Why was he talking about her brother? Feeling a sense of unease, Dieta raised her head. There stood Osman Arbenia, looking down at her. His yellow eyes were chillingly cold. ¡°Dieta Arbenia.¡± Osman uttered Dieta¡¯s name. ¡°You are my child. A member of the Arbenia family.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°You are not an abandoned child. You are part of Arbenia. And, family should help each other out. Blood is thicker than water, as they say.¡± Dieta understood the situation. She grasped Osman¡¯s intentions. Hence, a hollowugh escaped Dieta¡¯s lips. Osman Arbenia was saying. Hand over the tradingpany to your brother. For the sake of a line or two in your brother¡¯s resume, who needs achievements¡­ hand over the tradingpany you¡¯ve built over 5 years. That¡¯s what Osman was implying. ¡°You are mistaken, Duke.¡± Dieta spoke. She referred to him not as father, but as Duke. ¡°The tradingpany is maintained under my management. It won¡¯t run smoothly just because someone else takes the position of the merchant lord. Above all¡­¡± Dieta let out a bitterugh. ¡°Do you think my worth is only that much in the eyes of the Duke? It took me 5 years to reach this position. Aren¡¯t you curious to see how far I will climb after another 5 years?¡± You are misjudging my value. It¡¯s worth more than just that. ording to Osman, Dieta had achievements. Because of these achievements, Dieta challenged Osman back. This was a wrong judgment, like cutting open the goose thatys the golden eggs. Rather, create a connection with the tradingpany. And take control of it slowly, isn¡¯t that your way? Wouldn¡¯t it be a loss for you to cut me off just to swallow one tradingpany? ¡°You¡¯ve grown a lot, Dieta.¡± Osman only smiled in response to Dieta¡¯s words. His mask remained tradingpany. ¡°You have received many marriage proposals. Many prestigious families desire you. Perhaps, they highly value you for establishing the tradingpany in Cambria.¡± He does not answer the question. He only tells the stories he wants to tell. And, as with those who converse with Osman¡­ ¡°They value you highly. Many are willing to offer much for a marriage alliance with you.¡± Listening to the story, Dieta understands Osman¡¯s intention. Osman Arbenia assesses value. And he did not belittle or ignore Dieta. He simply assessed. The value Dieta possesses, and its peak. The tradingpany Dieta built was already on track. Her age was suitable for marriage, and her appearance had bloomed beautifully. Both the tradingpany and Dieta herself are at their highest value. Sell when the value is highest. That was the merchant¡¯s principle andmon sense. Osman Arbenia was both a noble and a merchant. He believed politics was nothing more than doing business under the guise of justification. ¡°Do you remember the annex where you lived with your mother? Wait there. I will call you separately when the guests arrive.¡± The annex located at the edge of the domain, far from the ducal mansion. The ce where her disfigured mother, having lost her value, was banished. Dieta knew what that annex was called. Arbenia¡¯s birdcage. A prison to banish or confine those who lost their value, preventing them from escaping. Dieta¡¯s expression twisted as she read Osman¡¯s intention. The second day of the test also ended smoothly. Leaving behind the examiner, who marked him pass with an incredulous expression, Najin headed back to his lodging. Walking along, Najin shifted his gaze. A splendid carriage was passing through the split crowd. ¡°It¡¯s quite the spectacle.¡± -It seems a noble is on the move, eh? Najin squinted at the carriage¡¯s emblem. A snake-like figure. He had seen this emblem somewhere before. -Arbenia? ¡°Do you recognize this emblem?¡± -Yeah. Back in my day, there was one who bore this emblem on their g on the battlefield. Listening to the story, Najin stroked his chin. Arbenia, Arbenia¡­ He sighed briefly as he remembered. The abandoned child of Arbenia. When a ¡®minor¡¯ dispute urred with the nobility, they certainly referred to Dieta in that way. So, was it Dieta¡¯s family who had sent someone? With that thought, Najin watched where the carriage was heading. The carriage was heading towards the tradingpany. Eventually, people alighted from the carriage that hade to a stop. Four knights in shining armor and a man in splendid uniform, unlike Dieta, with striking blond hair. The man, apanied by the knights, made his way towards the tradingpany¡¯s building. Four knights followed him, and behind them, a knight in shabby armor joined. It was a familiar figure. Dieta¡¯s bodyguard, Pasion. Click. He suddenly looked back. The moment Pasion¡¯s gaze met Najin¡¯s, it wavered. But that was brief, and with gritted teeth, Pasion followed the man into the tradingpany. ¡­The tradingpany¡¯s name changed from ¡°Dieta¡± to ¡°Arbenia¡± the next day, and a letter from the Arbenia tradingpany arrived for Najin. An invitation from the Arbenia tradingpany. Holding the invitation, Najin headed to the tradingpany. Although the building itself hadn¡¯t changed much, knights were standing guard on the stairs leading to the office. They stepped aside when Najin showed the invitation. Up the stairs to the top floor. Unlike before, servants were bustling about on the top floor. A servant, recognizing Najin, knocked and opened the door for him, sparing him the need. Inside the office. The brown-haired girl who always warmly greeted Najin was not there. Instead, a blond young man and two knights were sitting in the office, one of whom was Dieta¡¯s bodyguard, Pasion. ¡°Oh, a distinguished guest has arrived.¡± The young man sitting in the main seat smiled. As Najin stared nkly at the young man, the knight standing beside him red. ¡°Show respect to Lord Agesio. Bow and introduce yourself.¡± The knight looked ready to pounce at any moment. Najin frowned at the knight¡¯smand, his gaze towards the knight full of disdain. Just as the knight was about to reach for his sword at his waist. ¡°Hahaha!¡± The young man burst intoughter. ¡°Indeed, a renowned adventurer from Cambria should be like this. Sir Phileon? There¡¯s no need to be so strict. This is the city of opportunities, Cambria. When in the city of adventurers, one should follow their rules.¡± He continued with augh. ¡°I am Agesio Arbenia. The eldest child of the Arbenia ducal family.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a Green-rank adventurer, Ivan.¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯ve heard some stories about you. Apparently, the former head of the tradingpany¡­ my sister had a good rtionship with you.¡± Continuing the conversation, Agesio flicked his finger. ¡°Sit down. If I keep looking up at you for a few more seconds, Sir Phileon might break your knees to force you down.¡± The knight standing beside Agesio. ncing at the ring knight, it indeed seemed like he was about to charge. Najin exhaled shortly and sat down in the chair before him. ¡°Well, the reason I called you here isn¡¯t so grand. Now that I¡¯ve taken the seat of the head of the tradingpany, I¡¯ve been checking the ledgers and sorting things out¡­ and there¡¯s quite a bit written about you.¡± Investment in talents by the tradingpany. Among them, the investment rted to Najin was personally written by Dieta. Armor made from the skin of a blood-red troll and numerous items that were nned to be supported. Dieta¡¯s assessment of Najin was written as ¡°a talent worthy of eyeing the White-rank adventurers.¡± He didn¡¯t believe all the assessments, but they were worth considering. Indeed, the rumors about the adventurer in front of him had reached Agesio¡¯s ears beyond Cambria. ¡°The protagonist of the Demon Knight subjugation, I¡¯ve heard a bit about you. Even the Knights of Atanga mentioned your name, so it would be strange not to know.¡± Agesioughed with his arms crossed. ¡°As you can see, I¡¯ve taken the seat of the head of the tradingpany, but I don¡¯t n to stay here long. It¡¯s just a temporary position. But, I don¡¯t intend to take it lightly either.¡± He looked directly at Najin. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you make a deal with me?¡± ¡°A deal, you say?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ll only be in this city for a few months at most¡­ but during those months, I intend to gather talents. There¡¯s a need to invest in the future and achieve some aplishments.¡± He extended his hand towards Najin. ¡°Aren¡¯t you too talented to be in such a city? The Arbenia ducal family will stand behind you. Besides, you seem to aspire to be a knight¡­¡± Agesio Arbenia smiled. ¡°Knighting is not a difficult task. If you ept the deal, I can easily arrange a knighting ceremony for you.¡± Chapter 57 Chapter 57 ¨C The Snake that Swallows Gold (4) She had misjudged. Inside the swaying carriage, Dieta looked out the window. The scenery whizzed by. Inside the carriage heading to the distant annex from the mansion, Dieta couldn¡¯t help but let out a hollowugh. ¡°I didn¡¯t know it was this rotten.¡± The reason Dieta obediently came this far. It was because there was nothing to gain from going against the ducal family and because she trusted Osman. Of course, that trust differed from the trust one ces in a colleague orpanion they could rely on. It was trust in a fellow. Someone who shared the same eyes and could see the world from the same perspective¡­ A trust in a fellow and apetitor. The Osman that Dieta knew was a cold politician and a merchant. Dieta had judged that such an Osman would not cut open the goose thatys the golden eggs. In her eyes, the decision Osman had made now was utterly foolish. ¡°Marriage proposal? Valuing highly? Much to gain?¡± It wasughable. She thought he would know. The growth of the Dieta Trading Company was still ongoing, and it was nning to expand beyond Cambria in the near future. By then, the value of Dieta herself and the tradingpany would be iparable to now. And at such a time, to change the head of the tradingpany? Dieta tradingpany revolved around Dieta, centered on her. The moment she was removed, the tradingpany could not possibly run smoothly. Projects would be halted or frozen, and there would inevitably be discord. ¡°It¡¯ll fall apart soon.¡± Even if the ducal family poured in their funds, seeing any profit would take a long time. That means a loss. The Osman that Dieta knew was not someone who would do such a thing for immediate gains. Had he grown old and senile? Had those yellow eyes of his grown dim? Dieta sighed deeply. If she had known this would happen, she would have torn up the letter when it arrived and taken a stand. The tradingpany would have suffered a big hit, but¡­ there would have been more options avable than now. ¡°Did I overestimate Osman?¡± With a sigh, Dieta looked out the window. The carriage was slowing down. It meant they were almost at their destination. Dieta looked at her reflection in the window. Tightly pursed lips. Cool eyes. The mask was intact. She was still holding on to her reason. Although emotions were stirring, they were still manageable. So, let¡¯s make a rational judgment. The situation had escted to the worst¡­ but. ¡°I wasn¡¯t unprepared.¡± There were still hidden moves. There were ways out. There were still means to use. The only reason the tradingpany could be swallowed up like this was because Dieta bore the name ¡°Arbenia¡±. If a normal tradingpany had been swallowed up by a ducal family in such a manner, there would naturally be bacsh. ¡°Political criticism. Checks from hostile forces. And even under imperialw¡­¡± Dieta pieced together the puzzle in her head. Information about the Arbenia family, hostile forces, and the moves left to her started to fit together. ¡°It¡¯s okay. Not yet.¡± Preparing for the worst of the worst is a merchant¡¯s virtue. Dieta took a deep breath. She needed to stay sharp from now on. There was still a chance to turn things around. Screech. The carriage stopped, and the door opened. Knights were waiting outside for Dieta. Knights appointed by the duke under the guise of escorts. But Dieta knew they were merely watchers, not escorts. Since her bodyguard Pasion was not here. The duke had first separated Pasion and her. There were no trustworthy people, no allies. This was deep within enemy territory. Dieta stepped out of the carriage and raised her head. She looked at the poorly maintained family annex, her lips twitching. ¡°Ah.¡± The ce where her mother had hung herself. The memories of her childhood spent in this cold annex shed through her mind. Suppressing the surging emotions, Dieta walked into the annex. Agesio Arbenia. A scion of the Arbenia ducal family, he knew how to handle people. At least, Agesio thought so. What is the way to handle people? Simple. Give them what they want. The thing they desire the most. The thing they cherish the most. The bnce will naturally even out when you ce it on the opposite scale. Agesio had enough power and wealth to give what others wanted. The position of the first child of the Arbenia duke was not a light one. ¡°A knighting ceremony is certainly possible.¡± Thus, Agesio Arbenia was confident. ¡°The knighthood of the master one serves does influence to some extent, so being a knight of the ducal family should be respectable anywhere, right?¡± He believed the adventurer before him couldn¡¯t refuse the offer. Didn¡¯t this person aspire to be a knight? While the title of a knight wasn¡¯t light, it was a trivial matter for Agesio, a scion of the ducal family. ¡°Of course, my offer isn¡¯t anything grand.¡± Agesio said, as if bestowing a favor. He was in a position of advantage here. Starting with light demands and gradually shackling the limbs was Agesio¡¯s specialty, hanging a sweet bait where the other party couldn¡¯t refuse. Once bitten, it¡¯s over. Agesio continued with a chuckle. The adventurer before him was outstanding in both reputation and skill in this city. He judged it wouldn¡¯t hurt to swallow him up. ¡°Cooperate with me, and while I stay in this city, maintain a friendly rtionship and asionally¡­¡± However, he made one mistake. Not everyone in the world moves ording to a few coins, powers, or titles. Even in a city full of gold-chasing adventurers, there are always exceptions. And Najin was an exception among exceptions. Honor, pride, and chasing stars, he was like an endangered species in an era where such things were fading away. The characteristic of such exceptions is that they often give answers beyond the other party¡¯s imagination. ¡°I refuse.¡± Najin cut off Agesio¡¯s words. An act of disrespect, interrupting a noble¡¯s speech. If this were not Cambria, it might have been punishable by death. But Najin¡¯s actions did not stop there. Najin stood up. Agesio¡¯s gaze shifted upwards. The scene where a mere adventurer looked down on a noble, and a noble looked up at an adventurer, was created. ¡°I¡¯ve said all I need to, so I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Before Agesio could continue, Najin turned around. Despite not being granted permission by the noble, he walked away, showing his back. At this, Agesio let out a hollowugh. But the knight beside him couldn¡¯tugh. Agesio¡¯s escort knight, Phileon, red. He hadn¡¯t liked the adventurer who stood tall before his master from the start. He had endured several times because his master held him back, but this was clearly crossing the line. Under imperialw, this was enough for execution. There¡¯s a minimum level of respect that must be shown to nobles, even in Cambria. Boom! Phileon took a step forward. The heavy footsteps from his robust build shook the office. Agesio did not stop Phileon from advancing. ¡°A lowly, gold-hungry mercenary scum¡­¡± He strode towards Najin. The moment Najin turned to look back, Phileon reached out his hand swiftly. ¡°Intoxicated by your own reputation, have you forgotten your ce? Does the Arbenia ducal family seem a joke to you?¡± Phileon grabbed Najin by the cor. Lifting him by the cor, Najin¡¯s feet dangled in the air. Bang, and with that, Phileon pressed Najin against the wall, ring at him. As long as his master didn¡¯t stop him, Phileon intended to teach this insolent brat a lesson. Sometimes a whip was the remedy for beasts too proud of themselves. Watching this, Agesio let out a smirk. This should have subdued him. Just as Agesio was about to raise his hand to stop his knight¡­ ¡°Hey.¡± Najin raised his hand. He grasped the wrist of Phileon, who had grabbed his cor. ¡°Remember, you¡¯re the one who struck first.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± The mercenary spoke rudely to the knight. Before Phileon¡¯s anger could erupt, Najin exerted force on the hand he was holding. Twisting Phileon¡¯s wrist, Najin slipped out of the cor grab. ¡°Scum!¡± As Phileon moved to act, he realized toote that Najin¡¯s foot was already on his armor. Pressed against the breastte covering his abdomen. ¡­How did it happen so quickly? In an instant, energy flowed through Najin¡¯s body. A moment of physical enhancement. Wrapping his entire body with mana in an instant, Najin¡¯s mana maniption speed was not something even an Expert could keep up with. Phileon btedly tried to muster his mana, but it was already toote. Crack! Najin extended his bent leg, kicking Phileon¡¯s abdomen with full force. The robust Phileon was sent flying into the air. The unexpected blow, without any mana defense, was lethal. Crash! Phileon, sent flying, wreaked havoc in the office as he rolled across the floor. Tables and chairs for guests were shattered, creating a loud noise. ¡°Cough!¡± Crashing into a cab, Phileon gasped for air. The breastte, directly hit by Najin¡¯s kick, was grotesquely deformed. Phileon slowly tried to get up, but the unexpected blow threw off his bnce. Agesio¡¯s eyes widened as he saw Phileon, who had flown to his side and crashed. He was momentarily flustered. Thump, thump thump¡­ Noticing themotion, knights rushed up the stairs. The arriving knights forcefully opened the door and assessed the situation. Phileon, crumpled on the floor, and Najin, standing upright. ng! The knights aggressively drew their swords, aiming them at Najin. Amidst the swords pointed at him, Najin simply rested his hand on the hilt of his sword at his waist, ready to draw at any moment. ¡°The one who attacked first was that man.¡± Najin said with an expressionless face. ¡°While I don¡¯t mean to disrespect the authority of the Arbenia ducal family, this is the city of opportunities, Cambria.¡± Showing a minimum level of courtesy to nobility. That¡¯s more of a rmendation than a legal obligation, it¡¯s just advice from the Central Guild to avoid troublesome situations. Of course, a lower-ranked adventurer would need to bow and show utmost respect in front of a noble, but¡­ Najin is a green-ranked adventurer, and his promotion to red rank is confirmed for tomorrow. He is a person whose identity is guaranteed by the Central Guild, and depending on the situation, he could receive protection from forces that respect Cambria¡¯sws and uniqueness. A red-ranked adventurer is worth that much. ¡°I merely retaliated after being attacked.¡± Even surrounded by knights, Najin didn¡¯t shrink back in the slightest. His eyes, looking straight at Agesio, posed a question. Are you going to continue? I have no intention of backing down. A truly audacious attitude. Watching him, Agesio couldn¡¯t help but burst intoughter. Of course, Agesio could use the authority of the ducal family to punish Najin right here and now. Trample him and force him to kneel in retribution. But that would inevitably lead to bacsh. If the word spread that the ducal family¡¯s scion, who had suddenly arrived in the city, had used his authority to make a well-known high-ranking adventurer kneel, Agesio himself would be the one to suffer. His standing in this city would be precarious. And, undoubtedly, troublesome situations would arise. Was this all calcted? If so, it¡¯s indeed remarkable. Smiling, Agesio gestured to the knights. It was a signal to sheathe their swords. ¡°My overzealous knight hasmitted a discourtesy.¡± Agesio said, looking straight at Najin. ¡°Consider my proposal positively. There¡¯s still plenty of time.¡± Najin didn¡¯t respond. Pushing past the knights blocking his path, Najin moved outside the building. Watching him, Agesio covered his eyes and burst intoughter. Truly a madman. A reckless adventurer who bites at everything, just like a rabid dog. ¡°He¡¯s even more intriguing now.¡± Agesio tapped the table with his fingers. The person was more interesting than he had anticipated. Above all, the level of force demonstrated was overwhelming even for Agesio, who was far from a warrior. He coveted it. He wanted to make it his own. Thinking of a way to do so, Agesio narrowed his eyes. If the bait doesn¡¯t work, there are other methods. Having left the tradingpany¡¯s building, Najin exhaled deeply. He wasn¡¯t in the best of moods. The words spat out by that insufferable blond had irked Najin. I can easily grant you a knighthood. If you want, I can arrange a knighting ceremony. Agesio¡¯s attitude, casually offering it as if doing a favor, greatly displeased Najin. If it weren¡¯t for Agesio being a scion of a ducal family, Najin would have thrown a chair and stormed out long ago. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Exhaling deeply, Najin was moving when he sensed someone approaching. Turning around, he saw Pasion, who seemed to have hurriedly followed him. Dieta¡¯s bodyguard knight. Just as Najin was about to ask where Dieta had gone and why that unbearable blond was sitting there, Pasion handed him something. ¡°This is a gift from Lord Agesio. It¡¯s a sign of goodwill; it would be wise to ept it.¡± As Najin frowned and was about to refuse, Pasion whispered in a voice only Najin could hear. ¡°19:00. Eastern outskirts, sector 37.¡± Najin narrowed his eyes and nced at Pasion. Pasion, having delivered his message, patted Najin¡¯s shoulder a couple of times and left. At 19:00, as the sun set, Najin headed to the designated location. Pasion, wearing a hooded robe, was waiting for Najin there. Making sure no one was watching, Pasion led Najin deep into an alleyway. ¡°So.¡± Najin broke the silence. ¡°Why did you call me out here? And what happened to Lady Dieta of the tradingpany?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you about that.¡± Pasion took a deep breath and removed his robe. In the dimly lit alleyway, under the flickering smallntern, Pasion began to speak. ¡°Ivan.¡± Najin¡¯s alias. Using that name, Pasion slowly lowered his posture. He bent his knees, bowed his waist, and lowered himself to the point where his bent knees touched the ground. In an alleyway littered with trash. Ignoring the filthy ground covered in refuse, Pasion willingly let his knees touch the ground. Even if his armor got dirty, he willingly knelt. Pasion is no ordinary knight. He does not kneel or bow to just anyone. He understands honor. He knows pride. He considers it an honor to protect his master and would never betray someone he has sworn loyalty to. He volunteered to be Dieta¡¯s guardian knight to repay the kindness he received from her mother. Though he couldn¡¯t protect her mother. At least, he wanted to protect her daughter. Honor, pride, and loyalty. Each knight values these three virtues differently. For Pasion, loyalty is the highest value. For loyalty, he could throw everything else aside. That¡¯s why he knelt. That¡¯s why he bowed his head to Najin. ¡°Lady Dieta has fallen into a trap.¡± His master had a hidden move. Knowing that, but forcibly sent to the adventurer city following Agesio, Pasion couldn¡¯t hide his anxiety. Right before leaving the ducal family, he overheard Duke Osman murmuring orders to his subordinates. Osman¡¯smand to break and ruin Dieta. The order he gave to his subordinate afterward. In the face of that, even the hidden move prepared by his master would be useless. Knowing this, Pasion wanted to act immediately, but he couldn¡¯t leave the city. The family¡¯s knights were watching him. ¡°I must inform her. That it¡¯s all a trap.¡± He said through gritted teeth. ¡°I know it¡¯s a lot to ask, but would you listen to my story?¡± I will give my all. Please, listen to my story. Chapter 58 Chapter 58 ¨C The Snake that Swallows Gold (5) The Arbenia Ducal Family. In front of Osman Arbenia, the master of the ducal family, a knight bowed his head and spoke. ¡°As youmanded, Lady Dieta has been taken to the vi. Reliable knights have been sent to guard the vi, so there should be no need for concern.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± Osman, with his chin propped up, responded. ¡°Have the orders been conveyed to the knights and servants?¡± ¡°That too, has been done as youmanded.¡± ¡°Well done, Sir Griffin.¡± ¡°May I ask a question?¡± The knight, Griffin, who had been bowing his head, raised it. Griffin appeared to be in his early to mid-thirties, but Osman knew he was older than that. Griffin had been a knight by his side since he was young. The captain of the Arbenia Ducal Family¡¯s knights. Sword Seeker, Griffin. He posed a question to his master. ¡°I wish to inquire about the rationale behind your orders.¡± A question that might be deemed rude. If posed by an ordinary knight, it might have been brushed off with augh or left unanswered¡­ but Griffin was Osman¡¯s most trusted knight, almost like a long-time friend. Therefore, Osman willingly answered. ¡°It¡¯s because it¡¯s dangerous.¡± Osman smiled. ¡°Griffin, do you remember when I was young?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Osman, who was the third son of the family. Pushed out of the sessionpetition, he was a person no one paid attention to. Yet, in the end, it was Osman Arbenia who took the seat as the head of the ducal family. Eliminate obstacles. Pull down those climbing high, and once they are pulled down, ensure they are broken and can never rise again. By the end of the fierce session battle, Osman was the only one standing. The rest were either crippled, had lost their will, or had fled somewhere. Griffin had witnessed the whole process up close. Mulling over the memories, Griffin nodded. ¡°That means¡­¡± ¡°Dieta, that child, has the makings of a powerholder. As much as me, or perhaps even more talented than I am. I do not deny that fact.¡± Osman said, propping his chin. ¡°Agesio, and the other children, are not without talent, butpared to that child Dieta, they fall significantly short. It¡¯s regrettable. That the one who inherited my blood the strongest is, unfortunately, that child.¡± Osman Arbenia looked at his own eyes reflected in the teacup. The yellow eyes. These eyes, which assess value, were his most cherished. ¡°That child is right. The value of that child is too precious to be sold off in a mere seasonal trade. Give it another 5 years? That child¡¯s tradingpany will grow even more, to the extent that even the ducal family cannot easily intervene. Surely it will.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s why, Sir Griffin.¡± Osman narrowed his eyes. The yellow eyes shimmered like a serpent¡¯s. ¡°While the child¡¯s value is high.¡± He tapped the teacup lightly. ¡°It¡¯s not something I can swallow. Therger it grows, the more it bes a serpent that will swallow me.¡± The child resembled him more than anyone else. Those eyes were like his, who had eliminated allpetitors and secured the seat as the head of the ducal family. That child would surely sink its fangs into my neck one day and swallow the ducal family. It was a conviction and trust. Just as Dieta considered Osman a kin, Osman also regarded Dieta as someone akin to himself. ¡°So, shouldn¡¯t I swallow it while I can?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have the hobby of raising a beast that will bite my neck one day,¡± Osmanughed out loud. To raise a beast, one must pull out its ws and teeth, and whenever it tries to climb up, beat it to imprint who is above. And Osman knew very well how to do that. Still unripe petals. A beast that has not yet fully grown. Osman Arbenia had trampled and destroyed such beings several times to sit in this position. ¡°Crush it thoroughly so it can never rise again. You know how, don¡¯t you?¡± Osman muttered indifferently. ¡°People break easier than you think.¡± Especially girls of that age. ¡°Lady Dieta has fallen into a trap.¡± Kneeling in the muck, Pasion spoke. Najin listened attentively to his words. Pasion ryed the internal affairs of the Arbenia ducal family and the situation Dieta was currently in. At the end of the exnation, Pasion drew a conclusion. ¡°The goal wasn¡¯t just to swallow the tradingpany. The tradingpany is just a bonus; Duke Osman¡¯s true aim is to crush Lady Dieta.¡± Having overheard the duke¡¯s orders, Pasion was certain. The duke was not underestimating Dieta. Rather, it was the opposite. He considers her a threat and wants to crush her. Therefore, Dieta¡¯s safety is in danger now that she has been moved to the vi. Dieta might be plotting a more long-term goal and waiting for an opportunity, but if the duke¡¯s n proceeds, that opportunity will nevere. ¡°We need to inform her of this fact, and Lady Dieta needs someone to act on her behalf.¡± The isted Dieta. What she needs now is someone who can move in and out of the vi and act as a messenger. However, Pasion, who should be fulfilling this role, is under surveince, and it¡¯s not easy to find another capable person who can be trusted with such a task. Someone who will stand by Dieta. And someone with at least Sword Expert level skills. While finding someone who meets the second criterion is easy, finding someone who meets the first is hard. Especially in this city full of gold-chasing adventurers, it¡¯s unlikely to find someone willing to take the risk of crossing the ducal family for such a task. ¡°I know it¡¯s an unreasonable request.¡± An unreasonable and dangerous request. The benefits of undertaking it are minimal, and the risks involved are too high. Pasion did not hide this fact. Now, kneeling and asking for help, it was only right for Pasion to provide truthful information to the person before him. ¡°Evading the knights¡¯ surveince to sneak into the vi and establishmunication is a difficult task. Of course, I will provide the map of the vi and the location of hidden passages, but the benefits you gain by undertaking this task are¡­¡± Therefore, the exnation bes difficult. Adventurers weigh benefits and risks. Pasion knows that such a request would not be epted. Pasion bowed his head a little more. ¡°¡­I cannot guarantee anything right now.¡± If things go well and Dieta returns to the tradingpany, there would be many benefits to guarantee. However, Pasion couldn¡¯t know how things would unfold. He was even considering the possibility of fleeing with Dieta. He clenched his teeth. What can be offered on the scale now is not visible benefits. The only thing he can offer right now is one thing. ¡°The only reward I can guarantee is my personal honor and everything.¡± As coteral, he offers his life. ¡°Regardless of the sess or failure of the task, if you end up being pursued by the ducal family, I will take all the me¡­¡± ¡°So.¡± Najin cut off Pasion¡¯s words. What¡¯s at stake is honor and everything. Having heard that much, there was no need to listen to the rest. Looking up and meeting Pasion¡¯s gaze, Najin continued. ¡°Where is it? That vi.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°Where is it, the vi?¡± Najin extended his hand towards Pasion. As if to help him stand up. Pasion, with a bewildered expression, took Najin¡¯s hand and stood up. ¡°¡­Are you epting the request?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not call it a request, but epting a favor.¡± Najin picked up the knight¡¯s sword lying in the mud. While picking up Pasion¡¯s sword, Najin said, ¡°I¡¯ve epted a knight¡¯s oath and a favor. That¡¯s enough. As for the rest¡­ we¡¯ll figure it out.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something to say from the position of asking for a favor, but this is a task that might put you at odds with the ducal family¡­¡± ¡°If we don¡¯t get caught, that¡¯s the end of it.¡± Infiltration is one of my specialties. Muttering so, Najin then let out a smirk, reminded of his master who had prepared to oppose the whole world for the sake of keeping one oath. ¡°And one more thing.¡± Shaking off the mud from Pasion¡¯s sword, And handing it back to Pasion, Najin said, ¡°I have a promise to keep too.¡± A debt to repay. Najin, who had promised Dieta to repay that debt, still remembered that promise. -So, you¡¯re going to do it? ¡°I n to.¡± Infiltration route and the vi¡¯syout, And even the location of the vi were all ryed to Najin, who was organizing the information in his head. He needed to have a n before setting out. -Infiltrating the ducal family, you know it¡¯s madness, right? ¡°It¡¯s not the ducal mansion but a vi, isn¡¯t it?¡± -Whether it¡¯s a vi, an outbuilding, or even the ducal stables¡­ It¡¯s all the same when ites to opposing the ducal family. You¡¯re aware of that, aren¡¯t you? ¡°I am.¡± Najin didn¡¯t know the full extent of the ducal family¡¯s reputation, but he was aware of what they could do under the guise of justice. If they set their minds to it, beheading a wandering adventurer would be no trouble at all. The gap between adventurers and the ducal family. It¡¯s no different from the gap between the residents of the underground city and those living above. -And yet, you still intend to do it? ¡°Yes.¡± -Why? ¡°Like I said, because I promised.¡± Merlin¡¯s response was one of iprehension. To this, Najin let out a long sigh. ¡°Merlin, you already know it, right? That I¡¯m not the type to be hung up on justice or to risk my life to correct wrongs.¡± Najin had lived in the underground city. To survive, he had killed countless people and didn¡¯t hesitate tomit evil deeds when necessary. Just because he pulled Excalibur and left the underground city didn¡¯t erase all that. Najin had no intention of sugarcoating himself. He didn¡¯t n to cry out for justice while acting hypocritically, nor did he n to preach his values to others. Whether theymit evil deeds or not, that¡¯s none of my business. I have no intention of correcting them. If they haven¡¯t wronged me, what right do I have to judge them or impose justice on them? Especially when I¡¯m no saint myself. But, just one thing I can¡¯t stand. ¡°There¡¯s just one thing I can¡¯t stand.¡± Najin handled his sword. ¡°Knights.¡± Those who uphold honor and pride. And the stars he saw in the underground city. ¡°I can¡¯t stand seeing those who bear the title of knight acting like that. I hate it when the name of a knight is tarnished and when knights are taken lightly.¡± It felt like his dream was being sullied. The stars and knights he dreamed of in the underground city weren¡¯t like that. Perhaps this was the stubbornness of a boy who could let go of everything but his dream. ¡°Keep the words you speak. Don¡¯t take oaths and promises lightly. Act on what you believe is right.¡± The code of knights. The knight Najin wanted to be. ¡°I just wanted to witness that being upheld. So, I intend to keep the promise I made. Besides, I don¡¯t particrly like that Arbenia ducal family.¡± Did that make any sense? With those words, Najin spoke. When no response came from Merlin, Najinughed bitterly. It must seem foolish. For someone without a knight¡¯s title, acting this way to uphold the code of knights isughable. Even among knights, those who uphold the code are called ¡®foolish.¡¯ -You¡¯re obsessed with something worthless. Merlin, who had been listening to Najin¡¯s monologue, spoke up. -You try to uphold something that doesn¡¯t need to be upheld. Even though there¡¯s nothing to gain from it, you risk your life to protect it. Yes, as you said, it¡¯s foolish. Merlin said. -But you know what? She smiled. -The king I served was the most foolish person in the world. The person who now hangs the highest star in the sky was a fool, a foolish knight. Merlin continued. -What I wanted to confirm wasn¡¯t whether your actions were right or wrong. ¡°Then?¡± -Whether you made that choice knowingly. Whether, even knowing the risks, you¡¯re determined to carry out your beliefs. That was it. Now that I¡¯ve confirmed it, that¡¯s enough. A short exhale. Then, with a satisfied voice, Merlin whispered. -Do as you wish. -The path is yours to walk, and preparing for the worst is the guide¡¯s role. Najin chuckled. Draping the robe he received from Pasion over himself and covering his face, Najin moved on. Ruining a person is simple. Dieta was acutely aware of that fact. She numbly stared at her ankle. Remembering what the knights did to her as soon as she was brought into the vi, Dieta couldn¡¯t even muster a smile anymore. The moment she entered the vi, the knights changed. The moment the vi¡¯s door closed with a creak, the knights grabbed Dieta¡¯s limbs. They forced her to kneel, stuffed a cloth in her mouth, and then drew their swords to sh at her ankles, severing the tendons. An injury that could be healed with potions and priests. But for Dieta alone, it was an irrecoverable injury. Until she could leave this prison-like vi, Dieta wouldn¡¯t be able to walk without someone else¡¯s help. To this extent, to go this far. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Dieta¡¯s lips twitched. She thought she had donned a mask and armed herself with an iron will, but at the moment her ankle was shed, she let out a disgraceful scream. She had no resistance to pain. From that moment on, Dieta had to realize. This ce was meticulously designed to trample and break her. A cage to break a bird¡¯s wings. In this vi, Dieta had to doubt everything. The sleep disturbed by the throbbing ankle. The unidentifiable food. The harassment from the servants and the windows nailed shut to prevent even sunlight from entering. The empty room slowly gnawed away at Dieta¡¯s sanity. ¡­Ruining a person is easy. No matter how strong her will was, Dieta was just a young woman who had just reached adulthood. She wasn¡¯t a knight trained to withstand countless tortures, nor was she resistant to pain. If they were determined, breaking her was no difficult task. Osman¡¯s mockingughter seemed to echo in her ears. Her mask was shaking. The means at her disposal were diminishing. She knew she needed to find new methods, but her mind wasn¡¯t functioning properly. Dieta clenched her teeth. She couldn¡¯t even tell how much time had passed in the solitary cell; she was merely clinging to her slipping mask. What she didn¡¯t know was. Behind the vi, in a small forest, mes were rising. Unaware of the servants rushing out to extinguish the unexpected fire. And amidst the chaos, an adventurer was moving¡­ She was unaware. Chapter 59 Chapter 59 ¨C The Snake that Swallows Gold (6) Her mother hanged herself to death in front of her. It was the story of her seventh birthday. The daughter of a harlot, the abandoned child, the filthy blood, whispers of the servants, and the ridicule of her siblings echoed in her ears. At the dinner table where no one came, she ate the cold food, no different from always. It¡¯s the story of her eighth birthday. The harassment by the servants. The lies of her brother. The testimonies of her sisters. Locked in a room for something she didn¡¯t even do. She spent the day looking at the setting sun beyond the window. The story of her eleventh birthday. No one. Twelve. Came. Thirteen. nder, lies, things she didn¡¯t do, harassment, cold food, ridicule, mockery, the daughter of a harlot. The abandoned child. A day filled only with mockery. Fourteen. In solitary confinement, Dieta faced the mirror and smiled. Fourteen. The mask wasplete. Even in front of mother¡¯s grave, her eyes no longer wavered. She was certain she could justugh everything off. And so, on her fifteenth birthday. Dieta left the household. Swearing an oath to return one day and swallow them all. In a dark solitary cell where not a sliver of sunlight entered, Hugging her knees, Dieta curled up. Her ankles hurt. Due tock of proper sleep for the past three days, her eyes kept closing, but the throbbing in her ankles woke her up. Lack of sleep, pain, and hunger. Meals reeking of drugs. Murky water handed over without any attempt to hide its contents. Not daring to touch easily, not knowing what was mixed in or what had been done to it. Everything in the vi was suspicious. There were no allies here. Everyone was an enemy and everything was a trap. The sharply heightened nerves brought fatigue. But there was no way for Dieta to relieve that fatigue now. The mind worn down over the past three days began to reveal its bottom. The mask wavered, and muddled thoughts messed up her head. ¡®n. A way out. Any means avable.¡¯ The usual her might have found a way. But even in this moment, pushed to the limit, it wasn¡¯t possible. Thoughts didn¡¯t connect properly, as if her mind was clouded. Eventually, Dieta reached her limit. Finally, the mask hiding her face was stripped away. The Snake that Swallows Gold, the young merchant who wrote a sess story in the City of Opportunities, a genius in investment, a prodigy among prodigies with the qualities of a target¡­¡­ The splendid adornments that decorated Dieta Arbenia began to strip away one by one. The mask, the merchant¡¯s uniform, the expensive essories, everything she had built up to increase her value, all fell away. And what remained after everything was stripped bare. Not the Snake that Swallows Gold. Not the abandoned child of Arbenia. Not even Dieta Arbenia. What remained was just a girl, huddled up. A girl adorned and made morous to hide her wounds, her brokenness, her decay. Dieta curled up a little more. Hugging her knees, she buried her head. Her lips quivered, and her eyes twitched. Soon, tears flowed down her cheeks. She couldn¡¯t remember thest time she cried, but once the tears started, they didn¡¯t stop. The emotions suppressed by the mask poured out. Laughing off, ignoring, pretending as if nothing mattered. Such trivial things had found their moment and overflowed. Shaking slightly, Dieta clenched her teeth. The mask had been stripped off. A new mask was needed. A stronger, more intricate mask that would never be stripped off again. Cornered, Dieta began to break down. This was Osman¡¯s intention in nning this situation¡­ but there was one thing Osman misunderstood. A broken person doesn¡¯t necessarily give up. Dieta is the toughest of the tough. She can be broken down, but not broken. Gritting her teeth, Dieta monologued. I won¡¯t trust anyone anymore. If tonight, after shaking off all remaining emotions, I wear a new mask¡­ I will never take off this mask again. nning to sell me off in a political marriage? To extract value from me till the very end? Go ahead. Try all you want. I¡¯ll sell everything that can be sold. I¡¯ll use every means avable. Even if it means throwing myself into a pit of fire, I promise the next. I will definitely return here and swallow you all. ¡­In hardship, trials, and pain, children be adults. ck mes rose from Dieta¡¯s yellow eyes. Once again, let me say. Dieta Arbenia is a genius. It is not yet at itsplete stage, but her talent in controlling the flow of money and grasping the value, clutching gold coins, is unparalleled. Given enough time, she possesses the qualities of a target to rise to the highest position, holding the reins ofmerce, and the traits of a power broker to influence people. But what she couldn¡¯t let go of, forpletion¡­ Was humanity. The existence of Dieta behind the mask. A genius who has experienced failure learns from that failure. There¡¯s a saying that the pain that doesn¡¯t kill you only makes you stronger. Contrary to her knight¡¯s worries, Dieta does not choose the foolish option of ending her own life here or crumbling in despair. She will be more thorough. More perfect. More tenacious. But that also means¡­ the death of ¡®Dieta¡¯ as herself. After tonight, the girl named Dieta will be nowhere to be found. Only the Snake that Swallows Gold will remain in her ce. ¡®But still, one night should be okay.¡¯ The night that came to the solitary cell where the flow of time was imperceptible was long and drawn out. The snake, yet to shed its old skin, decided to spend itsst day as Dieta, pouring out its emotions. Crying miserably, trembling, burying her head in her knees, releasing blocked breaths. Then¡­ Drip-drop. Wooden chips fell onto Dieta¡¯s head. Slowly, Dieta lifted her head. In the solitary cell where not a single light leaked in, there was a twinkling white light on the ceiling. And then, screech. The light moved. Along with the light tracing a square trajectory, a part of the ceiling was torn off. Only then did Dieta realize that the shining thing was Sword Aura. Thump. Someone came into the room through the hole in the ceiling. The figurended softly on the floor, their face unseen due to the darkness. Only their presence was felt. Dieta gasped in fright at that moment. Whoosh. The unidentified figure pulled out amp from within. The twilight-colored ore dimly lit the room. In the dim light, Dieta¡¯s eyes met with the intruder¡¯s. ¡°¡­Ivan?¡± Gray hair and twilight-colored eyes. An unexpected figure stood before her. Dieta blinked nkly. Was she seeing a hallucination? Why was that person here? There was no reason for him toe here, no way he could. ¡°Your knight, Pasion, asked me.¡± Najin spoke to Dieta, who was still blinking. He ced the oremp in front of Dieta and kneeled down to meet her eyes. ¡°He asked if you could be amunication tool, to allow you tomunicate with the outside. I came to fulfill that role, but¡­¡± Najin¡¯s eyes narrowed as he looked at Dieta. The sight of her emaciated appearance and the severed tendons in her ankle caught his attention. After a long breath, Najin continued. ¡°Is there something you would like to request?¡± ¡°How could¡­¡± Dieta murmured in a trembling voice. The man who suddenly appeared before her. Dieta was considerably startled by the appearance of Najin. Pasion¡¯s request? To be amunication tool? Dieta blinked as she chewed over the words Najin had uttered. Her mind wasn¡¯t working properly. Sitting here right now was just Dieta, not the Snake that Swallows Gold. The girl couldn¡¯t keep up with the sudden situation. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn¡¯t have missed such a golden opportunity that hade her way¡­ ¡°Why¡­¡± The girl muttered suddenly. ¡°Why did you take on the request?¡± Was it because she had a fondness for the man before her, Or because he was the only one she couldfortably interact with, or perhaps because the time she spent with him in Cambria was genuinely enjoyable. Or was it all of the above? Dieta asked with a trembling voice. ¡°There¡¯s no benefit for you¡­ It¡¯s dangerous. You¡¯d be risking your life if you get involved with a ducal family.¡± It was inevitable. For a moment, she felt joy that he hade for her, but then she thought he shouldn¡¯t get involved with her. ¡°Why¡­?¡± Dieta knew. She knew the price one had to pay for this. It was a direct confrontation with the Arbenia ducal family, and it might even cost him his life. Not as a merchant who never misses an opportunity. But just as Dieta, a human being. She thought she shouldn¡¯t drag this man into this situation. Because if he got involved with her, he too would fall. Dieta didn¡¯t want to see the man, who was simr yet walking a different path, to fall. Above all, it was unfamiliar. She had never experienced such kindness, such good fortune, the kind of stories that only appeared in fairy tales. That¡¯s why Dieta still asked the question in such a situation. Why did you do it? She had to ask for the reason. ¡°Why do you ask?¡± And to that question, Najin replied as if it was obvious. ¡°There was a promisest time, remember?¡± ¡°A promise?¡± ¡°I said I¡¯d help you once without asking any questions. We made that promise, remember?¡± There was such a time. A promise not written in a contract, not left with any trace, only remembered through a conversation while watching the sunset. Just for that¡­ one thing? To fulfill a promise that nobody would me him for breaking, a promise that was just a few words? Unable toprehend, Dieta blinked, and Najin continued. ¡°So,¡± ¡°Just say it without worrying about the before and after. Why, how¡­ we can talk about theplicated stuffter.¡± Ask for help. If you say so. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll help you.¡± Regardless ofpensation, risks, dangers, the Arbenia ducal family, I¡¯ll help because I decided to. You just have to say the word. It was too straightforward. Too convenient. But the moment Dieta¡¯s eyes met Najin¡¯s, who was looking straight at her, her lips moved. With a face marred by tear streaks, Dieta murmured as if letting out her true feelings. ¡°Get me out¡­¡± Dieta said. ¡°Please, get me out of here.¡± Her voice was small, as if crawling into itself. The moment Najin heard that voice, he nodded briskly. He didn¡¯t ask if she had a n, what she would do once out, or if there was a method. Najin simply replied. ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± Najin stood up. He turned off the oremp with a click and tucked it away, plunging the room back into darkness. Dieta blinked in the suddenly darkened solitary cell. Boom! The wall shook. Dieta flinched and slowly opened her eyes. Through the rising dust, she saw it. The moonlight, or perhaps starlight, leaking into the dark solitary cell. Najin had kicked the wooden boards nailed to the window and shattered them. Stunned by such a refreshingly bold action, Dieta blinked nkly. The leaking moonlight, or starlight. The tinum-colored light made Najin¡¯s gray hair sparkle. ¡°Let¡¯s decide on the destination slowly.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Saying so, Najin approached Dieta. Thump, thump, thump. Themotion Najin caused seemed to stir the footsteps in the corridor. Probably, the knights wereing. But Najin seemed not to care as he bent down and picked up Dieta. Carefully, so as not to touch her ankles. But firmly enough not to let go. Najin, holding Dieta, leaped out of the window. Amidst the shaky scenery, Dieta looked up at Najin¡¯s face. His face wasn¡¯t clearly visible because of the deeply hooded robe, but his eyes were visible. Twilight-colored eyes. Dieta, as if enchanted, stared nkly at Najin¡¯s eyes. ¡°Do you expect me to believe that?¡± Griffin, themander of the Arbenia ducal family¡¯s knights. He mmed the table after gathering all the knights sent to the vi and receiving a report on the incident that happened the previous night. ¡°Not only did someone break into the vi, but they also carved out the ceiling and shattered the window to escape, and you¡¯re telling me no one saw him? Do you think that makes any sense?¡± The servants could be excused. The vi was in chaos due to the sudden fire, and it¡¯s understandable that servants wouldn¡¯t notice a highly skilled warrior sneaking in if they were determined to hide. But, the knights are different. It was absurd to say that trained knights didn¡¯t notice the intrusion. ¡°I asked if it makes sense that not a single one of the seven knights who were guarding saw the intruder.¡± Seven. Seven well-trained knights. Could it really be usible that they all missed a kidnapper openly abducting a confined noblewoman right under their noses and ears? Griffin stood up, rubbing his face. ¡°Move. I¡¯ll check it out myself.¡± He sighed and started walking. The situation had twisted oddly. It was an unexpected variable, and Osman¡¯s eyes widened the moment he received the report. After all, something unimaginable had happened. Breaking into the ducal family¡¯s vi to kidnap a noblewoman. How absurd that one sentence was, how much turmoil it would bring, was hard to predict. It was a major incident directly rted to the reputation of the Arbenia ducal family, a story that must not leak out. The issue had to be resolved before it escted. Griffin, clutching his throbbing head, verified the remnants left in the vi. He narrowed his eyes upon confirming the path the intruder seemed to have taken. ¡®Seven Sword Experts.¡¯ To bypass seven experts without making a sound and kidnap the noblewoman was no easy feat even for Griffin, a Sword Seeker. It would be much simpler to just barge in and wreak havoc. ¡®A Ranger?¡¯ The first usible suspect was a ranger. Did Dieta Arbenia have a ranger she couldmand? Certainly, there are a few skilled rangers in Cambria. The first name thates to mind is Kapman Theosis. Kapman Theosis, a ranger from Techo Mountain, considered on par with a Sword Seeker. If he had cooperated with Dieta, surely tracking them would be impossible. However, it didn¡¯t seem like that man would get involved in such a matter. ¡®What kind of lunatic¡­¡¯ Griffin sighed deeply. The n had gone awry, and the situation had overturned. In such a situation, quick judgment and action were needed more than ever. Griffin, having roughly gauged the severity of the situation, made a decision. He called one of the knights following him. ¡°Tell Duke Osman.¡± He said. ¡°I will organize a pursuit team to chase down the scoundrel who infiltrated the ducal family.¡± And. ¡°I will lead the pursuit team.¡± He dered. Chapter 60 Chapter 60 ¨C Moonlit Night¡¯s Escape Drama (1) Dieta suddenly thought it was like a scene from a fairy tale. You know, those clich¨¦d and childish storiesmonly found in fairy tales. About a princess trapped in a tower and the handsome knight whoes to rescue her. Of course, Dieta doesn¡¯t like such stories. She¡¯s long past the age where she could find charm in fairy tales that simply line up good scenes without considering the context. But that¡¯s only when such stories are encountered as fiction. ¡­When you pull a fairy tale into reality. Why¡­ Surprisingly, Dieta had to admit that her heart was racing. Thinking about herself, confined in the ducal family¡¯s vi, and the handsome ¡°knight¡± who came to rescue her without considering the consequences. ¡®He¡¯s not exactly a knight, but he¡¯s handsome nheless¡­¡¯ Dieta gazed at Najin with dazed eyes. His face wasn¡¯t clearly visible under the robe, but from below, she could somewhat make out his features. ¡­Was he always this handsome? Was it the situation, her dazed mind, or perhaps the moonlight and starlight acting as a filter? Najin seemed more handsome than usual, making Dieta gulp down her saliva. Her heart raced inappropriately for the situation. Probably because she was startled. With that thought, Dieta huddled herself a bit more. The night wind was quite cold. Her body kept shaking, making her dizzy. With suchme excuses, Dieta clung tightly to Najin¡¯s robe. Under the brilliant moonlight, the escape drama continued for a while. ¡°Let¡¯s take a break here.¡± Far from the vi, In a small cave within a dense forest along the boundary of the territory, Najin entered. After gently setting Dieta down, Najin took off his robe. ¡°Proper pursuit can only start after dawn anyway. Even if they¡¯re good with night vision, grasping the situation and regrouping will take some time. At the very least, we have time to catch our breath.¡± After all, the knights don¡¯t know where Najin fled to or where he¡¯s heading. Najin was already skilled at masking his presence and disrupting his tracks. ¡°So, let¡¯s rest for a bit.¡± Najin nced at Dieta. He could run through the night without any problem, but Dieta wasn¡¯t in the best condition. She was sweating cold and looked pale. Najin handed his removed robe to Dieta. ¡°Wrap this around you.¡± ¡°Eh, me?¡± ¡°It¡¯s cold. I can bear it, but it will be tough for you.¡± Najin nced at Dieta. Her attire was thin and flimsy, not suitable for the weather. Dieta slowly nodded and wrapped the robe Najin offered around her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I didn¡¯t bring anything to treat the ankle¡­ It¡¯s not something a potion can fix, so we¡¯ll have to postpone that.¡± Najin muttered while rummaging through his adventurer¡¯s bag. Then he pulled out a rolled-up nket and an oremp from the bag. He spread the nket in front of Dieta and gestured for her to lie down. ¡°Try to get some sleep. You look tired.¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m still okay.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be stubborn and rest while you can. We¡¯ll have to run for our lives once dawn breaks.¡± Muttering so, Najin struck the oremp with his fist. Themp flickered upon impact. Soon, a twilight glow filled the cave. Only then could Dieta properly see her disheveled state. Her pajamas, clinging to her sweaty skin, revealed her body¡¯s outline and her hair was a mess. Though she couldn¡¯t see her face, it was surely stained with tear marks. Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Dieta tightened the robe and wiped her face with her sleeve. ¡°Are you very cold?¡± ¡°Eh, no? I mean, no, I¡¯m fine¡­?¡± Dieta hupped. She wasn¡¯t really cold. It was just the heat rising to her face. But to Najin, Dieta¡¯s tightly gripping the robe¡¯s hem seemed like she was shivering from cold. And her face seemed oddly red. Could she have caught a cold? After all, she had been injured, without proper meals or sleep for days. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if her immunity had hit rock bottom. ¡®Is your head dizzy? You can¡¯t even maintain eye contact.¡¯ Dieta¡¯s spinning eyes and her ears turning bright red. To Najin, Dieta appeared simply as a patient, but the reality was a bit different. Thump, thump, thump. Dieta pressed down on her wildly beating chest and bowed her head. For some reason, it was hard to meet Najin¡¯s gaze. Avoiding his eyes, Dieta crawled under the nket. Why am I acting like this? And why is my heart racing so wildly? She had lived her whole life wearing masks, focusing solely on growing the tradingpany. So, the feelings Dieta was experiencing now, with her mask off, were utterly foreign. Dieta pulled the nket over her head without even recognizing what this feeling was. The thoughts that crossed her mind, ¡°Could it be¡­?¡± But Dieta quickly shook her head. She told herself she couldn¡¯t possibly feel such emotions, let alone be such an easy woman¡­ No, isn¡¯t it natural for the heart to flutter a bit in such a situation? A strange denial and rationalization. Inappropriately, with her heart still fluttering, Dieta closed her eyes. Just before dawn. The early morning when the twilight of dawn is about to break. Blink. Dieta opened her eyes. She wondered if she could sleep with her heart racing and ankle throbbing, but contrary to her worries, she slept soundly. Rubbing her eyes, Dieta looked across. There was Najin, holding his sword, leaning against the cave wall with his head bowed. Had he been guarding her all night like that? Blinking her still drowsy eyes, Dieta stared intently at Najin. How long had she been watching him when ¡°Are you awake?¡± ¡°Gasp.¡± Najin, whom she thought was asleep, lifted his head. Startled by the sudden voice in her ear, Dieta shuddered. ¡°Were you awake the whole time?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t sleep much. I was thinking it¡¯s about time to wake you up, but you¡¯re already up.¡± Najin exhaled long and stretched his shoulders. ¡°You¡¯ve probably sorted your thoughts out after a night¡¯s rest. Do you have any ns in mind?¡± Pasion, the knight, said. Dieta had prepared measures, and if he yed the role of a messenger, she would surely navigate through the situation. It turned out he just brought her along, but it probably didn¡¯t make much difference. ¡°Thanks to you.¡± Dieta smiled. Just as Najin said. After a good night¡¯s sleep, her mind started functioning normally. Still, it was hard for Dieta to meet Najin¡¯s gaze directly, so she slightly lowered her eyes. ¡°I¡¯vee up with quite a few methods.¡± ¡°Such as?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a bitplex and involves a tiresome battle of justifications, but we can overturn the situation. I didn¡¯t want to resort to this measure, but¡­ now that it¡¯se to this, we have no choice.¡± Dieta sighed deeply. ¡°My tradingpany is one of the top three in the City of Opportunities, Cambria. It¡¯s arge-scale tradingpany. Normally, when a tradingpany of this size is targeted by a ducal family, there¡¯s bound to be bacsh.¡± However, there wasn¡¯t much opposition in this case. There¡¯s no significant reason for that. ¡°The reason there wasn¡¯t much bacsh this time, the reason the opposition wasn¡¯t strong¡­ it¡¯s because I belong to the Arbenia family. The ducal family has a justification. Who would say anything if the ducal family swallows a tradingpany raised by its own child?¡± Dieta smiled bitterly. The name Arbenia. She hadn¡¯t been able to let go of that name, which still held some sentimental value, and now it was holding her back in this way. ¡°Then the solution is simple,¡± She said. ¡°We just need to inform the Central Guild, and even more importantly, the Cambria Foundation, about the entire situation. And while we¡¯re at it, I might as well change my surname during this opportunity.¡± ¡°What happens then?¡± ¡°The Arbenia ducal family won¡¯t be able to swallow the tradingpany anymore. They would have to be cautious about touching me, considering external perspectives.¡± Osman had confined Dieta knowing this fact. If he pushed the situation to the point where Dieta couldn¡¯t take any action, even the Foundation couldn¡¯t do anything about it. ¡°It¡¯s ultimately a battle of justifications.¡± And then, Dieta continued. ¡°The Foundation¡¯s justification won¡¯t be inferior to that of the Arbenia ducal family.¡± The Cambria Foundation. A foundation formed by several nobles to preserve the tradition and uniqueness of Cambria, the city where King Arthur¡¯s journey began. And the legitimacy of the foundation was guaranteed by the Emperor himself. No matter how high and mighty the Arbenia ducal family might be, they can¡¯t directly confront a foundation backed by the Emperor. Above all, the justification is on this side. If a tradingpany of significant size in the city is swallowed up in this manner, and if such a precedent is set, it would tarnish the reputation of the Cambria Foundation. ¡°Moreover, the Foundation views me quite favorably.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°How diligently I¡¯ve been paying my taxes. Tax evasion, book maniption, false listings¡­ I¡¯ve never yed such tricks on the Foundation. Of course, you might say that¡¯s expected.¡± Dieta shrugged her shoulders. ¡°In our industry, paying all your taxes makes you a fool. But, it¡¯s better to be seen as a fool by the Foundation. The fact that there hasn¡¯t been a singleint in the five years I¡¯ve grown this scale is all thanks to me being a diligent taxpayer.¡± So, if she asks, they would listen. Dieta was confident of that. ¡°But there¡¯s a small problem.¡± Dieta sighed. ¡°Informing the Central Guild would dy the situation, and I need to directly visit a noble family associated with the Cambria Foundation¡­ and that too, the higher-ups. But just showing up won¡¯t necessarily open doors for me.¡± She smiled bitterly. ¡°Currently, I have no means to prove myself.¡± No badge, no tradingpany master uniform, not even a messenger bearing the tradingpany master¡¯s name. All that was present was Dieta, merely a girl. ¡°So, it seems we¡¯ll need to stop by Cambria first, but Duke Osman won¡¯t just stand by and watch. He¡¯ll try to block the way by any means,plicating things.¡± ¡°About that,¡± Najin, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. ¡°Which noble family is at the core of the Cambria Foundation? What¡¯s the name of that family?¡± ¡°The Count Ostrum, the Count Kloeppsch¡­¡± The three noble families at the heart of the Foundation. Among the most renowned families, Dietast mentioned. ¡°And, the Duke Trebache.¡± Trebache. A name familiar to Najin. As Dieta spoke, Najin smiled. ¡°Then it seems we won¡¯t need to make a detour to Cambria.¡± ¡°What do you mean¡­?¡± Najin pulled out a letter from his belongings. It was a letter he had kept deep in his bag. Dieta¡¯s eyes widened upon seeing the seal on the letter. After all, it was the Trebache family¡¯s emblem. As if to say it¡¯s too early to be surprised, Najin unfolded the letter and handed it to Dieta. It was a letter personally written by Duke Edelmar of the Trebache family. It stated that Dieta was wee to visit anytime and would be treated as an honored guest if she visited the duke¡¯s residence. ¡°How did you¡­?¡± ¡°The Demon Knight subjugation. I met a knight there. I got connected while delivering hisst will.¡± Gilbert, a knight of the Trebache family. Najin hadn¡¯t expected the connection made during that conversation to be of help in this way, but the invitation now proved to be quite useful in the current situation. ¡°Really¡­¡± Looking at the invitation, Dieta burst outughing. ¡°You¡¯re a unique person, really.¡± ¡°Still, I can¡¯t deny that I made an inefficient choice. It would have been better if I stayed captive in the vi. I¡¯m sorry. I judged wrongly at that moment.¡± That single emotional outburst. Dieta felt a bit embarrassed about her past self, who had asked to be taken out of this cage surrounding her. Of course, thanks to that, she could rest and felt good. She couldn¡¯t deny that she was happy to experience her heart racing, but¡­ It wasn¡¯t a rational decision. She knows it wasn¡¯t a decision her usual self would make. ¡°I was a bit emotional. There could have been a more rational, efficient, and better way¡­¡± ¡°People can¡¯t always be like that, can they?¡± Najin cut off Dieta¡¯s words. While packing his gear and preparing to erase their tracks, Najin looked at Dieta. ¡°Who can always move efficiently and rationally? Sometimes you just have to go for it, be emotional. It¡¯s tiring to always chase efficiency.¡± Najin smiled. ¡°And you know,¡± Najin bent his knees and showed his back to Dieta, signaling her to get on. Dieta, somewhat flustered, brushed her hair and cautiously got on Najin¡¯s back. ¡°Who says this isn¡¯t the best option?¡± ¡°Eh?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it the best if we reach our destination this way? Better than being confined in a vi and treated like that, isn¡¯t this better?¡± As Dieta wrapped her arms around Najin¡¯s neck, Najin stood up. In an instant, with a whoosh, Dieta clung tightly to Najin¡¯s back. ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Well¡­ That¡¯s true.¡± Whether it¡¯s the best or not can only be known after reaching the end. Najin was saying that if they reach their destination this way, that would be the best. In front of such a refreshingly simple logic, Dieta couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Are you confident? Escaping with someone on your back doesn¡¯t seem easy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that heavy¡­ besides¡­¡± Najin chuckled. ¡°Escaping is my specialty.¡± Having been chased more than once or twice. Chapter 61 Chapter 61 ¨C Moonlit Night¡¯s Escape Drama (2) The knights of the Arbenia ducal family were pushing through the forest in pursuit. The sun was already high in the sky, yet they hadn¡¯t found any significant trace. Perhaps this was to be expected. There was no information to aid their pursuit. They hadn¡¯t seen the intruder¡¯s face, let alone his body shape or outline. As if a ghost hade and gone, there was not a single trace in the vi that could hint at the intruder¡¯s identity. They could only specte that the intruder might be a skilled Ranger or someone of equivalent capability. But this spection was of littlefort. For a Ranger capable of hiding his presence from a knight, evading capture would be exceedingly difficult. The only slight constion was that the target was ¡®carrying an injured hostage.¡¯ ¡°He couldn¡¯t have gone far.¡± Knight Pisen ventured deeper into the forest. It was the forest one must cross to reach the City of Opportunities, Cambria. Circumventing this forest would require a considerable amount of time. It was likely that the target would attempt to pass through or bypass this checkpoint to flee to Cambria. Therefore, Pisen, along with a few other knights, werebing through the forest as if hunting for a mouse. ¡°Themander of the knights went ahead with the first pursuit team across the forest. If he can block the path ahead of the pursuer¡­¡± His role was to find traces and block the retreat. Pisen hadn¡¯t forgotten his duty. Despite the sun being high, the dense foliage cast deep shadows in the forest, making it dim. He walked through the dark woods. Startled. Suddenly, Pisen stopped. He narrowed his eyes and looked around. He hadn¡¯t sensed any presence, but his sharp intuition warned him. Something was near. Not a judgment based on rational evidence, but a cry from animalistic intuition. However, looking around, there was nothing to be seen. Just the wind rustling through the trees, the crackling of fallen leaves, and the sound of birds. Was his intuition wrong? It¡¯s not often correct. He was thinking this when¡­ A shadow was cast overhead. Pisen¡¯s eyes widened in an instant as he jerked his head up. His hand reached for the sword at his waist. But, just as he was about to draw his sword, he saw something. ¡®¡­A piece of clothing?¡¯ What fluttered above him was a robe. A discarded robe. Distracted by the robe fluttering above him, Pisen heard a thud as something kicked the ground. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The moment Pisen turned towards the sound, it was already toote. The stolen sight, the dyed reaction, all gave way to a fatal opening. Just as Pisen was about to draw his sword, Najin had already closed the gap right in front of Pisen¡¯s nose. Najin extended both hands forward. His left hand towards Pisen¡¯s face, and his right hand towards the sword Pisen was trying to draw from his waist. The extended hands almost simultaneously achieved their purpose. With a grip and a ng! Najin¡¯s left hand covered Pisen¡¯s eyes, grabbing his face, while his right hand struck the emerging sword, pushing it back into its sheath. A sudden attack. Obscured vision. A sword that couldn¡¯t be drawn. Yet, even in this situation, Pisen responded. He was, after all, a well-trained knight. Pisen gathered mana and tried to shake off the attacker gripping his face. This was the best decision he could make at the moment, but the situation had already strayed far from the best the moment the attack was allowed and his vision obscured. With a jolt. He felt an impact on his leg. The sound of armor crumpling was heard. An overwhelming grip felt like it would burst his head. Pain, noise, the sensation of his body tilting. Thud! A dull impact was felt at the back of his head. Pisen¡¯s body jerked briefly, but the impact didn¡¯t stop there. Still blinded, something repeatedly struck Pisen¡¯s temples. The blows that shook his head came several times. Crack, crack, crack¡­ His outstretched hands were deflected by something, and the legs he tried to il were pinned to the ground as if trampled. The difference in reaction speed was evident. The physical capabilities were different. In the pitch-ck view, the attacker struck Pisen¡¯s temples several times. ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± No matter how well-trained a knight he was, he couldn¡¯t withstand concentrated blows to the temples. Just as he was about to groan, something striking his temples hit his jaw. His mouth closed, and the scream was cut off. A brief ckout. But even that ckout didn¡¯tst long. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Sparks flew in the pitch darkness, and pain surged up his spine and shook his brain, waking Pisen. He wanted to scream, but something stuffed in his mouth prevented any sound. He couldn¡¯t grasp the situation with something covering his eyes. Eventually, the presence disappeared. Pisen, with his barely functioning hands, removed whatever was covering his face and spat out the cloth stuffed in his mouth. ¡°This damn¡­¡± And then, he faced it. Completely ruined greaves and an ankle twisted at an odd angle. He couldn¡¯t move. A sharp pain from his ankle made him groan. ¡°Is there anyone, anyone at all!¡± He shouted. No response came back. No, that wasn¡¯t quite true. There were sounds. The sound of something being struck, suppressed screams. And then a chilling snap. A sinister sound echoed through the forest. The sounding from afar made Pisen grit his teeth and crawl on his palms. The sound echoed from all directions. After crawling for a while, what Pisen faced at the source of the sound was¡­ a knight, with his te armorpletely crushed, stuck against a tree. Crawling a bit further, he saw another knight lying on the ground foaming at the mouth, and another knight screaming while clutching his ankle. Including Pisen, four knights had been dispatched to this forest. All four of them had their ankles shattered. Pisen¡¯s face turned pale. The four knights had been defeated without putting up a proper fight, each one overpowered and their ankles crushed. They could have been killed, but they weren¡¯t, meaning¡­ ¡°What in the world¡­¡± It was chilling. Along with fear, the question arose. Pisen and the other three knights couldn¡¯t understand why they lost or how they were overpowered. It wasn¡¯t a defeat by an absolute realm. It felt as if they had been toyed with from start to finish. They were ambushed with their vision stolen, allowed the first strike, and from the openings created, they were thoroughly trampled. They couldn¡¯tprehend the series of events. The reaction speed surpassing a Sword Expert. The eyes that read movements and anticipated the next move. The ability to quickly gather mana. And the decisive judgment to strike boldly. Najin, possessing all these, was unmatched within the same realm. Especially in a forest full of hiding ces. Of course, the ducal family¡¯s knights had no way of knowing this. Dieta looked at Najin with disbelief. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying you smashed four knights?¡± ¡°Yes. They were scouting the path to Cambria.¡± ¡°Why bother¡­? We¡¯re not even going that way.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why.¡± Najin, who had said he¡¯d be right back, disappeared and then returned, repeating this process. And upon his return, he imed to have crushed knights far away. ¡°Our destination, the opponents can¡¯t be sure of it, can they? They¡¯ll likely think it¡¯s highly probable we¡¯re heading back to Cambria.¡± ¡°Guess so¡­¡± ¡°Moreover, the opponents don¡¯t know our location or even what I look like. It must be frustrating for those chasing us. I didn¡¯t leave any traces.¡± So he decided to add to their confusion. Najin replied like that. ¡°If knights investigating traces in a forest they thought we had already passed through were attacked, what would the opponents think? Are they nearby? Are they close? Does it confirm they¡¯re escaping this way?¡± Many thoughts would cross their minds. All those spections would have reasons. Or, they might think it¡¯s all a decoy¡­ but nothing was certain. ¡°They won¡¯t be able to make a proper judgment. And, it¡¯s an effective strategy to weaken the pursuing forces.¡± ¡°Wait, just a moment.¡± Dieta interrupted Najin¡¯s words. ¡°To do that¡­ it requires a lot of conditions, doesn¡¯t it?¡± She murmured while folding her fingers. No trace should be left behind, and no advantage should be given away by revealing their faces or physiques to the knights. Moreover, the ability to ¡®quickly¡¯ traverse from there to here is also required. Each condition was absurd. However, upon hearing these conditions, Najin simply tilted his head. ¡°Isn¡¯t that obvious?¡± ¡°Eh¡­?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I took care of all those conditions.¡± He said it so nonchntly as if keeping all those conditions whileunching the attack was a given. Dieta sighed in disbelief. What kind of person is this man? Of course, for Najin, this was nothing unusual. He had escaped from that infamous sect for days and had killed more than a dozen of its members. Najin was confident that he would ¡®never¡¯ get caught by the knights if he was alone. It was only because Dieta was with him that he had to buy time and take periodic rests, hence the use of such methods. ¡°That aside,¡± Najin nced at Dieta¡¯s ankle. He carefully unwrapped the bandage around her ankle while she sat on a suitable rock. Dieta flinched every time Najin¡¯s fingers touched her skin. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°A bit.¡± Dieta¡¯s face turned slightly red. Najin thought to be more careful and slowly unwound the bandage. The wound on her ankle, oozing pus, came into Najin¡¯s view. ¡°Please bear with it a little.¡± He wiped the pus from the wound with a clean cloth and ced a gauze soaked in potion on the wound. Dieta flinched during the process and clutched Najin¡¯s robe tightly, her head bowed. It was a painful procedure, but necessary. If the injury couldn¡¯t be healed, at least preventing it from worsening was crucial. After changing the bandage, Najin stood up. Dieta rubbed her face with her sleeve. With slightly reddened eyes, Dieta looked at Najin. ¡°It does hurt a bit.¡± ¡°It¡¯s supposed to hurt. It would be better to get proper treatment soon, but¡­¡± ¡°Then we¡¯d be caught. It¡¯s okay. I can still endure it.¡± Dieta smiled faintly. Najin silently looked at her, then exhaled shortly. ¡°It¡¯s not much of a revenge.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°I did smash the knights¡¯ ankles.¡± Concerned about the hassle of dealing with the aftermath if he killed the knights of the ducal family, Najin settled for crushing their ankles. Such injuries could be healedter. ¡°I could have smashed their knees, but I thought, why not the ankles while I¡¯m at it.¡± Najin nced at Dieta¡¯s ankle. He wondered if any of the knights he attacked contributed to cutting the tendon in Dieta¡¯s ankle. Thinking about it made him slightly regret not crippling them further. Blink. Dieta blinked several times while looking at Najin. Then, as if she finally understood the meaning of his words, she covered her mouth and chuckled. ¡°Thank you. It¡¯s somewhatforting.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look veryforted.¡± ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like I gain anything from them suffering the same fate as me, so it¡¯s not particrly thrilling.¡± Dieta looked at Najin with a smile. ¡°But since you did it for me, I¡¯m a bit happy.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes, it feels good.¡± Dieta stretched her arms towards Najin with a bright smile. ¡°Shall we go then?¡± Dieta was gradually getting used to being carried on Najin¡¯s back. Although she initially felt embarrassed, she now enjoyed the ride on Najin¡¯s sturdy back. Click. Dieta pressed close to Najin¡¯s back and wrapped her arms around him, calling out with a voice tinged withughter. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± ¡°You seem oddly happy.¡± ¡°The nighttime escape drama is more fun than I thought. I¡¯m in debt, so it¡¯s a bit embarrassing to say, but I can¡¯t help but enjoy it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s broad daylight now.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s overlook the minor details.¡± Najin chuckled and went along with Dieta¡¯s pace. Seeing her bright face nowpared to the dying expression she had in the vi, he found this much more pleasant. With Dieta on his back, Najin started running. Four knights were defeated. And they were found with their ankles shattered. Traces were discovered. The discovered traces were scattered. The direction was unclear. It seemed as if the traces were intentionally left. News keepsing in. With each piece of news, Griffin, themander of the Arbenia ducal family¡¯s knights, frowned. ¡°What kind of person is this?¡± There¡¯s no way to track the direction. The skill in erasing traces was profound. Just when they thought they had an estimated route, unexpected traces would appear, and knights would even be ambushed. It¡¯s impossible to understand the intent. This isn¡¯t a skill honed from one or two experiences. But what was most iprehensible was¡­ the process of subduing the four knights. The knights who imed to have been attacked one by one in the forest. None of the four knights had seen the appearance of the attacker. They were ambushed. Their vision was obscured. They were beaten unconscious with something covering their faces. When they came to, their ankles were shattered¡­ What an absurd testimony. They are not just any men but knights. Knights who had reached the realm of Sword Experts. The Arbenia ducal family wasn¡¯t a martial family, so the knights¡¯ level wasn¡¯t exceptionally high, but it was still a ducal family. Meaning, they were above average. How could such knights be so easily defeated? Could they really be Sword Seekers? To subdue them so cleanly, one would have to be at least at the level of a Sword Seeker. ¡°Kapman Theosis.¡± Is it really you? Griffin, suspecting the most renowned Ranger in the adventurer city, inadvertently clicked his tongue. No, if it were him, he would have sniped the knights¡¯ ankles from afar. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± The pursuit team is growing. If they continue to deploy more troops, rumors will start to spread, and suspicion will arise. With a throbbing headache, Griffin lit a cigarette. Enough time has been wasted. They couldn¡¯t afford to dawdle any longer. Just as Griffin was contemting his next move¡­ Beep. A messenger birdnded beside Griffin with a cry. Griffin unfolded the letter tied to the bird. It was a letter personally written by Duke Osman. ¡°¡­¡­¡± He read the letter in silence. After reading, he muttered, ¡°As expected.¡± ¡°Count Ostrum.¡± ¡°Count Kloeppsch.¡± ¡°Duke Trebache.¡± Three potential destinations. The letter contained a map marking the routes to these destinations and the waypoints they might pass through. Osman, piercing through Dieta¡¯s strategy with precision, had narrowed down the potential destinations. Not Cambria, but focus on the paths leading to these three ces. That was Osman¡¯s message. Griffin reorganized the pursuit team and prepared to depart. After giving orders, he mounted his horse and headed towards the most likely route. Knight Commander Griffin. His destination was Duke Trebache¡¯s residence. Chapter 62 Chapter 62 ¨C Moonlit Night¡¯s Escape Drama (3) The moonlit escapade continued for a while. Since only Dieta¡¯s face was known, Najin was rtively free to move around. He obtained food from nearby viges and checked the knights¡¯ routes, gradually adjusting their escape path. It wasn¡¯t a particrly difficult task. Even though he was with the injured Dieta, the situation was at least twice as good as it had been in the underground city. Sometimes, they spent the night in the forest, and at other times, they hid in alleyways to continue their escapade. On the fourth day. ¡°Speaking of which.¡± As Najin was striking a luminescent stone deep in the forest, Dieta suddenly spoke up. ¡°That¡¯s quite a unique luminescent stone, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°The luminescent stones carried by adventurers aren¡¯t this color, and they¡¯re not this weak in output either. Looking at the frame that holds the stone, it seems a bit old-fashioned¡­¡± ¡°You seem to know a lot.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a product we deal with at the tradingpany.¡± Dieta shrugged. ¡°Where is this luminescent stone from? The light isn¡¯t bad. I¡¯m thinking of getting one for myself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s from my hometown. It¡¯ll be hard to find. It¡¯s quite isted from the outside world.¡± ¡°So, rangers from the Techo Mountain Range use something like this?¡± ¡°¡­¡­Huh?¡± Najin blinked in surprise. Dieta smiled knowingly. Even if he pretended not to know, she was aware of everything. ¡°I know everything. You¡¯re from the Techo Mountain Range, aren¡¯t you? No wonder you¡¯re so skilled. With stealth abilities like yours, you couldn¡¯t be anything but a ranger. At this point, it¡¯s obvious¡­¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re mistaken.¡± ¡°What?¡± His tone was firm, without a hint of lying. Dieta blinked in confusion, and Najin calmly stated, ¡°I don¡¯t even know where the Techo Mountain Range is. And I¡¯m not from anywhere that grand. Well, you might be surprised if you hear it, but¡­¡± Najin let out a long sigh. ¡°I don¡¯t want to reveal it just yet.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a particrly nice ce to be from.¡± ¡°You must have your own circumstances too.¡± Dieta didn¡¯t ask any further questions. It was the same situation as in Cambria. They didn¡¯t delve into each other¡¯s depths, allowing the conversation to naturally end. Dieta didn¡¯t dislike such light conversations, but¡­ ¡°Listen.¡± Was it because of the moonlight? Or because they were spending the night in the deep forest, relying on just one luminescent stone? Driven by the peculiar situation, Dieta, who had been swinging her legs while sitting on a suitable rock, looked at Najin. Her yellow eyes gazed at Najin. Without the mask, not as the Snake that Swallows Gold but as ¡®Dieta¡¯ herself, she faced the man before her. ¡°Will you listen to my story?¡± Dieta stepped into the next part of the conversation that had been cut off. The night was still deep, sleep hadn¡¯te yet, and she wanted to talk a bit more. The Snake that Swallows Gold, Dieta. She had never shared her story with anyone. It was a given. To her, everything in the world was merely an enemy, and sharing her story meant revealing her weaknesses. It was a kind of defense mechanism. A scar carried by a child who had to grow up too soon. She had to be thorough to survive, trust no one, and use everything. That¡¯s why Dieta always wore a mask, never revealing herself. She had been doing so since her seventh birthday. But the serpent, now without her mask and having put everything aside, began to talk about herself. Under the moonlight, in front of the dimly glowing luminescent stone, Dieta spoke of her life. ¡°That¡¯s how I lived.¡± So, she said. ¡°That¡¯s how I¡¯ve lived. Honestly, I have no regrets. Climbing up means stepping on someone else, right? I have no regrets about that, but¡­¡± She smiled as she looked at the luminescent stone. ¡°Sometimes, when I wear the mask, hide myself, and live like that, I often think¡­¡± That smile was bitter and a bit sad. ¡°Where am I in all this?¡± ¡°Once you asked me what my goal was. When I answered it was to umte gold, you asked again what I would do with the gold, right?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°Back then, I dodged the question by saying it was to increase value, but¡­¡± Dieta ran her fingers through her hair. ¡°Actually, my goal was revenge.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes. My goal was to be a serpent sorge that it could swallow the duchy, umting and increasing my gold to that extent.¡± Najin listened quietly to her words. It seemed she wasn¡¯t expecting an answer. ¡°To think that crushing the duchy wouldpensate me.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°For the time I had to wear the mask. For the things I had to endure. For the moments I had tough off, build up, and just endure. I thought I could bepensated for those years.¡± ¡°It¡¯s so absurd, right?¡± Dieta murmured. ¡°To think that even if I crushed the duchy, those times wouldn¡¯t return¡­¡± She sighed deeply and looked up at the sky. The moon that she had often looked up at from the duchy¡¯s mansion. Looking at the moon in the night sky, she smiled bitterly. ¡°Really foolish, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Why is that foolish?¡± ¡°¡­?¡± Dieta lowered her head. There, Najin¡¯s eyes, glowing with the same hue as the luminescent stone, were staring straight at her. ¡°Revenge is foolish. It¡¯s useless to do it because you won¡¯t get anything back. There are people who say that, but it¡¯s all nonsense. Why wouldn¡¯t you get anything back?¡± Najin chuckled. ¡°All that talk about enduring, breaking the cycle of hatred, what bullshit¡­ As if the shitty past bes prettier by doing that.¡± Harsh words spilled out. The hunting dog that lived in the underground city began to spit out raw words. ¡°Even if there¡¯s nothing to gain, if you feel refreshed after taking revenge, isn¡¯t that reason enough?¡± Najin lowered his gaze. That gaze was directed at the luminescent stone glowing with artificial twilight. Just as the moon did for Dieta, the light from this luminescent stone reminded Najin of the past. ¡°I¡¯m the same. I need to rise to a high ce, to a position where no one can ignore me¡­ I have enemies that I need to take revenge on.¡± The Starlight Faction. Swallowing that name, Najin said, ¡°It feels like I can only move on after doing that.¡± ¡°The next¡­ step?¡± ¡°To smash, burn, trample¡­ Whatever the method, I need to tie up loose ends definitively to move on.¡± Dieta suddenly looked at herself. She hadn¡¯t thought about what woulde after growingrge enough to swallow the duchy. ¡°The next move¡­ I¡¯m not sure yet.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to think so hard about it.¡± Najin looked at Dieta. ¡°Do you always have to wear a mask? Sometimes, just take a breath. Do what you want. If you want to get angry, get angry. As you live like that, it naturallyes to you. What you want to do next.¡± Najin smiled. ¡°That¡¯s what I did.¡± The two simr individuals looked at each other. Following Najin, Dieta also smiled. ¡°It¡¯s nice to see. Smile more often.¡± ¡°That, that so?¡± ¡°Why are you stammering?¡± ¡°You said it looks nice¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°¡­Nothing.¡± Dieta let out a long sigh. Stretching as much as she could, she rxed her shoulders and then blurted out, ¡°On the fifth day, the end of the chase was in sight. In the distance, thends of the Trebache Duchy could be seen. Crossing those gates would mark the end of the pursuit. After all, even the knights of the duchy couldn¡¯t freely disrupt the territory of the marquis. ¡°How is your ankle now?¡± ¡°Well, one side feels somewhat better.¡± Dieta limped as she walked. Thanks to various potions acquired from the vige, one of her feet had recovered enough to bear weight. It was painful to walk, but she could stand, which Dieta decided was significant. ¡°Then, let¡¯s go.¡± Najin began to move with Dieta in his arms. However, their progress was short-lived. Just a few steps forward, Najin slowly came to a halt. Someone was blocking the path. At the only passage leading to the marquis¡¯s territory, stood a knight adorned in armor bearing the crest of the duchy¡¯s family. As if he had been waiting for them, he blocked their way. ¡°I havee to escort you, Miss Dieta.¡± He spoke. Dieta¡¯s eyes flickered as she looked at him from Najin¡¯s arms. She knew who he was. ¡°Sir Griffin.¡± Themander of the duchy¡¯s knights. A Sword Seeker-level warrior and the duchy¡¯s sharpest de. Dieta swallowed hard and touched Najin¡¯s shoulder. Najin gently set Dieta down. Holding onto Najin¡¯s arm, she stood on the ground and faced Griffin, who was blocking their way. This was one of the worst-case scenarios Dieta had considered. Though it was a moment to panic, her eyes, which had wavered, soon steadied. ¡°It seems a knightmander has been dispatched.¡± ¡°The duke holds you in high regard. Let us return together.¡± ¡°And if I refuse?¡± ¡°You know the answer.¡± Griffin rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. Dieta sighed deeply and looked at Najin. They had already discussed this situation. ¡°Sword Seeker, Sir Griffin.¡± ¡°A warrior beyond Sword Expert level. Among the knights deployed for the chase, the only one who could surely overpower you is Griffin. There are three more Sword Seekers, but they probably weren¡¯t mobilized for this chase.¡± In the deep forest as night fell. ¡°If you ever face Griffin.¡± ¡°Leave me behind and you go to your destination. It would be easier to persuade them with me there, but it¡¯s not necessary without me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy us time.¡± Dieta had said so. No matter how skilled Najin was, facing a Sword Seeker-level warrior and securing a victory was unlikely. This was a logical decision from Dieta¡¯s perspective. She didn¡¯t want Najin to die. ¡°¡­Go on.¡± She whispered and released Najin¡¯s arm. Then, she took a step forward. Facing Griffin, she intended to buy time by engaging in a verbal duel. ¡°I will. But there¡¯s a condition.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not in a position to make demands.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s call it advice.¡± Dieta pointed to Najin behind her. ¡°This man is a guard hired from Cambria. He acted ording to the contract, and any problems that arose during the process should be the responsibility of Cambria.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°So, let him go.¡± ¡°That¡¯s impossible¡­¡± ¡°The duchy¡¯s knightmander kills a red-ranked adventurer from Cambria. And near the territory of the Trebache Marquisate, which oversees the Cambria Foundation.¡± Dieta¡¯s lips curled up. She had donned her mask again. As the Snake that Swallows Gold, her eyes narrowed. ¡°Can you handle that, Sir?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a criminal. He broke into the duchy¡¯s estate¡­¡± ¡°That fact wasn¡¯t publicized. Moreover, the duchy¡¯s position isn¡¯t exactly honorable either, is it?¡± With that, Dieta gestured. A signal for Najin to run. However, Najin didn¡¯t move. As Dieta tried to buy more time in her anxious state. Najin grabbed Dieta¡¯s shoulder. Startled, Dieta turned around. There stood Najin, quietly gazing at her. Their eyes met, and suddenly she remembered. ¡°I¡¯ll buy us time.¡± ¡°Escape.¡± What had Najin replied when she said that? Najin hadn¡¯t said anything. He just looked at her with eyes like now. Najin pushed Dieta back and stepped forward. His action had a simple meaning. Standing in front of Dieta, Najin pointed towards the road leading to the marquisate¡¯s territory. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Najin said. ¡°I¡¯ll buy us time.¡± Dieta¡¯s eyes wavered. But soon, she realized that Najin wouldn¡¯t change his mind. Then there was only one thing she had to do. ¡°Don¡¯t die.¡± Clenching her teeth, Dieta began to walk. Dragging one leg, she started to move. Her pace was slow, but she was doing her best. It would take quite a while to reach the gates of the marquisate. ¡°¡­Huh.¡± Griffin sighed as he watched her. What kind of farce is this? As Griffin was about to step towards the retreating Dieta. ng! A shiver ran down his spine. Griffin turned his head. There stood Najin with his sword drawn. A white sword aura blossomed along the de. Pointing his sword at Griffin, Najin¡¯s stance seemed to say, If you take even one step. He was ready to charge and strike at Griffin¡¯s neck. Griffin narrowed his eyes at the intensity. Judging by the form of the Sword Aura, Najin was a Sword Expert-level warrior. A warrior below his own level. Though Griffin could easily defeat such a warrior if he set his mind to it, he couldn¡¯t ignore that determination. Unyielding, clinging on even if it meant biting ankles to buy time. Such a strong will was evident in this man. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Griffin silently drew his sword. Not towards the fleeing Dieta, but at Najin. It was a tribute to the will shown by the man. ¡°I won¡¯t ask your name.¡± A sword aura with form bloomed on his drawn sword. A privilege of Sword Seekers, a step beyond sword aura. ¡°The duke hasmanded me. Secure Miss Dieta and kill those who aided her escape.¡± He dered. ¡°I am the duchy¡¯s sword, a knight who follows the duke¡¯s orders. It doesn¡¯t matter who the target is.¡± Whether it¡¯s a noble with a title. A famous adventurer from the city. Or someone too significant to kill. ¡°The duke has ordered your death, and I simply follow thatmand.¡± That wasn¡¯t his concern. The duke had ordered, and he was to follow. ¡°Yet, I speak this out of respect.¡± Griffin pointed his sword at Najin. ¡°For your choice.¡± Though they served different masters. Had he been Dieta¡¯s knight, he too would have acted the same. The man before him, unknown and unverified as a knight, showed a nobility that Griffin respected. Najin quietly raised his sword. He didn¡¯t deny the knight before him. Serving one¡¯s master with unconditional loyalty. That, too, was a kind of knighthood. Topletely set aside one¡¯s values and follow the master¡¯smand. That¡¯s what Griffin considered loyalty. Yet, he raised his sword because¡­ Because Najin had his own lines he couldn¡¯t cross. Dieta had asked him to escape that mansion, and Najin was obligated to fulfill that request. They had made a promise. And there was no room forpromise in that promise. It was simple, but that was the entire reason Najin challenged a Sword Seeker-level warrior. Chapter 63 Chapter 63 ¨C Moonlit Night¡¯s Escape Drama (4) Sword Seeker. They do not merely weave mana to extract sword aura; they infuse their very essence into the sword aura, ascending to a realm where the swordsmanship they wield diverges from the ordinary. It goes without saying. The sword aura produced by a Sword Seeker possesses its own unique form and nature. Some mirror the mes, while others scatter an aura akin to snowkes. Even when wielding the same swordsmanship, the scope and domain of the de¡¯s cut vary depending on the form of the sword aura. Swinging their swords, they incinerate the flora. Swinging their swords, they cleave foes from afar. Standing between the realms of humans and superhumans, their des sometimes defymon sense. Just like now. Ssshhhrrrrrrrk! Najin staggered backward. Blood was profusely flowing from his shoulder. Despite thinking he had fully blocked the attack, the gushing blood forced Najin to grit his teeth. Najin is by no means weak. He stands at the pinnacle among Sword Experts, unmatched by anyone within that rank. His physical prowess and output of sword aura have long surpassed an Expert¡¯s, and his snap judgments are not inferior even to a Sword Seeker. Yet, Najin remains a Sword Expert. He has not yet reached the realm of a Sword Seeker. Though not all battles are decided by one¡¯s realm, most are determined by the levels of strength umted. Ssshhhk! Pressing down on his bleeding shoulder, Najin lifted his head. Before him stood Knight Commander Griffin, his sword drawn with aura. The sword aura rippling over his de was crimson. The red sword aura took the form of a thorny bush, its sharp branches extending outwards. Keeping his distance, Najin narrowed his eyes. ¡®I thought I had blocked it.¡¯ The moment he blocked the sword, the extending sword aura deeply cut into his shoulder. Najin, who had only fought against those with fixed-form sword auras, found the changing nature of this aura unfamiliar. ¡­Unfamiliar, but something he must get ustomed to. This was not a training exercise devoid of life-threatening intent but a real battle where lives were at stake. Naturally, there was no room to simply observe. There was no option to flee; he had to stand his ground. He wouldn¡¯t let Knight Commander Griffin reach Dieta. He would stall for time against his opponent until his goal was achieved. That was the mission bestowed upon Najin. With that engraved in his mind, Najin moved. Regting his breath, he adjusted his grip on his sword. By the time Najin steadied himself, Griffin was already advancing towards him. Thud. It was just one step forward, but Najin found himself facing Griffin, who had closed the distance in an instant. Reflexively, Najin swung his sword. ngngngng! Sword aura shed against sword aura. Despite his growth to a point where he had no equals among Experts, Najin couldn¡¯t fully withstand Griffin¡¯s sword aura. He was outmatched in density, output, and the cohesion of the sword aura itself. Each time he blocked, his sword aura was whittled away. Even as Najin struggled to maintain his stance, Griffin¡¯s strength shattered it. With each swing of his sword, Najin¡¯s body shook violently. Crash! Eventually, his stancepletely broke down. Najin¡¯s arm, holding the sword, was flung backward, unable to withstand the recoil of the sword aura. And thus, Griffin¡¯s kick, fully exposed to Najin¡¯s torso, exploded against him. Though visible, it was unavoidable. Crack. The kick, reinforced by greaves and military boots, delivered a shock greater than any blunt weapon. The breath Najin had been holding was forcefully expelled, and his eyes widened as his body wasunched backward. Swoosh, the sound of air being sliced whistled past Najin¡¯s ears as he flew through the air. At the level of a Sword Seeker, one¡¯s physical abilities have reached a realm beyond human. Even as an Expert, Najin could send arge knight flying with a kick; it was no surprise that Griffin, a Sword Seeker, could do the same or more. Thendscape shed before Najin¡¯s eyes. The figure of Griffin, who had been standing before him, receded. No, it wasn¡¯t receding. Griffin, having extended his leg for the kick, mmed it down to the ground. As Griffin stomped, his receding figure instantly closed the distance. He was in hot pursuit of the airborne Najin. ¡®Damn it, this is insane.¡¯ Cursing inwardly, Najin clenched his teeth. If he stayed like this, he would be sliced open. Twisting his body mid-air, fortunately, they were in the woods, and there was something to grab onto even while flying. Clutch. Najin reached out and grabbed the trunk of a tree he was passing by. Twisting his body, he evaded the sword swung by the pursuing Griffin. The de, missing Najin by a hair¡¯s breadth, cleanly sliced through the base of the tree he had been holding onto. There was no time to rest even after dodging. The tree, its base cut, toppled. Kicking off the falling tree, Najin escaped the range of Griffin¡¯s sword. Ssshhhrrrrk,nding smoothly on the ground, Najin caught his breath. His abdomen throbbed from the impact. It felt like one or two ribs were broken. Spitting out a mixture of blood and saliva, Najin red at Griffin. Ruuuumble! The tree crashed to the ground, kicking up dust. Emerging from the settling dust, Griffin¡¯s eyes were fixed squarely on Najin. There was no sign of fatigue, and the crimson sword aura emanating from his sword was eerily chilling. Truly a monster in its own right. More than a demon knight that regenerated no matter how many times it was cut, the knight before him felt more terrifying to Najin. ¡®No fancy swordy, no dazzling tricks, no special movements.¡¯ He simply pressed on with straightforward sword swings. Yet, it was sufficiently threatening. This is a Sword Seeker; this is the realm Najin has yet to reach. Struggling to steady his uneven breath from the blow to his abdomen, Najin let his sword hang low. ¡®Use the terrain to your advantage.¡¯ Najin thought to himself as he pushed off from a tree. Avoid a head-on confrontation and aim for the blind spots in his opponent¡¯s vision. He had a rough understanding of how to face someone stronger than himself. It was at that moment he attempted to move. Thump. Griffin took a step forward. The ground shook. Gripping his sword with both hands, he pulled it back behind him. The crimson sword aura swirled and coalesced into one. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Najin¡¯s eyes widened. His instincts sounded an rm. His heart pounded fiercely for a moment. Instinct, reaction speed, and immediate decision-making¡ªall were called upon as Najin indiscriminately absorbed more mana than his body could normally handle. The tumultuous mana caused severe pain within him, but that was of no concern at the moment. He needed to move. Having drawn in more mana than his capacity allowed, Najin could push off the ground and leap high into the air. As he did, Griffin swung his sword, and the crimson sword aura whipped out like ash. Crack, crackle¡­ and then a thunderous crash. Najin, who had leapt into the air, opened his eyes wide. Below, the sight that met his eyes was akin to a giant¡¯s sweeping hand having cleared the trees to one side. With a single swing, Griffin had obliterated all the trees within a twenty-step radius. ¡®Insane.¡¯ Had he not enhanced his body and jumped at that moment, he would have ended up like those utterly destroyed trees. Landing in the clearing created by the demolished trees, Najin couldn¡¯t help but stick out his tongue. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Griffin, standing at the center, merely looked at Najin, maintaining his silence. He said nothing, but Najin could tell what he meant. There¡¯s nowhere to run. No ce to hide. If you thought this terrain was to your advantage, discard that thought. All the tricks Najin had relied on thus far, the movements utilizing the terrain, the techniques sneaking into blind spots, none of them worked against the man before him. The difference in their realms meant he could surpass all those with ease. ¡®Indeed, I can¡¯t win.¡¯ Unless he drew the Excalibur, winning was out of the question. While he might have to draw it if truly cornered, Najin hadn¡¯t considered that yet. ¡®But I can stall for time.¡¯ Winning would be ideal, but Najin¡¯s primary goal was to dy. If Dieta reached the gate and showed her invitation¡­ the knights of the Marquis¡¯s family woulde rushing here. If he could hold out until then, it would be his victory. So think. Keep thinking. Najin moved in sync with Griffin¡¯s steps. The moment Griffin raised his sword, Najin elerated his own movement. Closing the distance before Griffin could fully swing, Najin¡¯s sword struck Griffin¡¯s de. ng! Amidst the loud noise, Griffin and Najin¡¯s eyes met. Griffin narrowed his eyes, sensing something amiss. The man before him was undoubtedly an Expert, but that movement was not of an Expert¡¯s. The sense of dissonance didn¡¯t stop there. Najin moved first, even before Griffin could swing, and he persistently found and exploited openings as if reading the other¡¯s movements. Although the de wasn¡¯t threatening, its nuisance was undeniable. And above all else, what was noteworthy was¡ª Crack! The young man¡¯s momentary judgment. Griffin was pushed back. The armor covering his chest was dented. Najin, having closed the distance, had struck with his elbow. Pushing with the elbow to create distance, he then swung his sword. The fluidity between movements was smooth. Witnessing Najin¡¯s sword aiming for his neck, Griffin felt a sense of astonishment. He hadn¡¯t anticipated an attack at that moment. Griffin swung his sword, deflecting Najin¡¯s de. ¡®To charge in even after witnessing such a strike.¡¯ A strike that obliterated a swath of the area. Charging in despite such a strike, closing the distance, was something not possible with ordinary courage. It would be normal to maintain distance, wary of the technique, which is what Griffin had intended. He could sweep arger area if the distance increased, maintaining his advantage. Yet, the young man¡¯s decision to close the distance without fear, despite such a technique, was unforeseen by Griffin and, in fact, the best decision. Close up, exploiting openings and thrusting made it impossible to userge techniques. ¡®While I can respond, a moment¡¯s miss could turn it into a lethal de.¡¯ Despite facing a weaker opponent, Griffin acknowledged he couldn¡¯t afford to lose focus. Evenpared to his long years of wielding the sword, the young man¡¯s judgment was notcking. In fact, in terms of reaction speed and judgment, he was superior. He was not an opponent to be taken lightly. Therefore. He couldn¡¯t be killed lightly. Griffin adjusted his stance with respect for the young man before him. Any further dy was undesirable for him as well. Chapter 64 Chapter 64 ¨C Moonlit Night¡¯s Escape Drama (5) Griffin raised his sword in the clearing created by the destruction of the surrounding trees. Above the raised sword, branches of red extended high into the sky. The sword aura shaped like a red thorny bush. In the midst of the forest, a red thorny bush had taken root. Griffin¡¯s movements, while slow in raising his sword, were wless. Najin, attempting to find and exploit any openings, furrowed his brows. There were no openings to be seen. Najin sensed something different from what Griffin had shown before. This was not basic swordsmanship. It was the martial art that a warrior had honed over a lifetime. Griffin¡¯s stance exuded such momentum and precision. Najin¡¯s instincts screamed at him. To retreat immediately. Creating distance from an opponent unleashing a powerful technique is certainly a bad move. However, if there was no way to receive that sword, a bad move had to be made. Thud. Najin stomped the ground to halt his momentum. Unable to ovee the speed, his body leaned forward, but he forcefully pushed off the ground to leap backward. And ultimately, that decision proved correct. Griffin swung his sword. The red thorny bush extended its branches. The sound that apanied the swing was not the ¡®swoosh¡¯ of a cutting de but a ¡®crack¡¯ as if something was being split apart. The wind blew, and dust rose. When the dust settled, the ground was seen split apart. Where Najin had stood moments before, the ground around Griffin, within a five-step radius, was marked with the shape of a thorny bush, sword scars etched into the earth. And Griffin¡¯s sword did not stop. Rooted to the ground, he swung the thorny bush. It seemed less like a knight swinging a sword and more like a giant uprooting and wielding a massive tree. Crack! The ground split. The longsword in Griffin¡¯s hand, roughly 120cm in length, extended its reach and breadth more than threefold once wrapped in the red thorny sword aura. But since the sword aura had no weight and only recoil, its speed was no different from that of swinging a longsword. ¡®Starting from Sword Seeker, one begins to defymon sense.¡¯ Najin had to personally experience the phrase he had once read somewhere. A greatsword, over 3m in length, was being swung at the speed of a longsword. The moment one came into contact with those extending branches, not only would the skin be sliced, but the bones would also be cleaved. Rolling on the ground, pushing off the earth, widening his eyes to preemptively read the movements and react¡­ but evasion alone couldn¡¯t avert the situation. An unavoidable attack wasing. Facing the horizontally swinging red thorny bush, Najin thrust his sword forward. Even with his sword aura¡¯s output pushed to its limit, the moment it collided with Griffin¡¯s sword aura, Najin¡¯s was rapidly diminished. sh! He was overpowered in the recoil. Overpowered in density. Despite gripping the sword tightly, the violently shaking hilt felt as though it would slip from his grasp. Crack¡ªhis fingers bent. It was impossible to receive it. Continuing like this would result in all ten fingers being broken. Gritting his teeth, Najin pushed off the ground. The moment he lifted off, he was pushed sideways through the air, having decided it was better to be blown away than to try and withstand the attack. Crash! Najin, thrown far away, barely managed to roll and stand up. His arm was numb, his fingers throbbed. The sword aura, greatly diminished, could no longer emit a fierce light. It flickered briefly like a torch burning out. ¡°Cough, kuh.¡± Najin, who had taken in more mana than his body could handle and was whipping his body to maintain bnce, was in disarray. His insides screamed, and from the deep cut on his shoulder, dark red blood flowed incessantly. The situation was dire. He was cornered, and his opponent was unscathed. Sweet whispers echoed in Najin¡¯s ears. Draw the Excalibur. If you do, you might be able to win, right? But Najin had no intention of sumbing to those whispers. That was ast resort. A power far too great for him to wield yet. Relying on such power, pulling it out whenever cornered, would hinder his growth. Moreover, drawing it in such a situation would only lead to greater trialster. Najin steadied his breath and thought. Think. Find the answer. Come up with a way to survive against this formidable knight. ¡®What Ick is¡­ sword aura.¡¯ He couldpensate for the other factors somehow. The inability to receive the opponent¡¯s sword was the biggest issue. The difference in sword aura. The only way to bridge that gap was one. Imagery, the scenery engraved in the mind. A concrete shape to infuse into the sword aura. If he couldn¡¯t conjure it up, he would die. Walking the tightrope between life and death, Najin gripped his sword anew. But how? How to interpret and understand the vague notion of infusing imagery into sword aura? -No need to overthink it. That moment came. Merlin, who had been silent all this while, spoke up. -You already know what to do. ¡°You have already experienced the catalyst.¡± Merlin said. ¡°The pure white sword aura you were able to draw forth after your battle with the demon knight, that was a fragment of your Imagery.¡± She was sitting in profound darkness. It was Najin¡¯s inner self, still iplete. ¡°Imagery is essentially the scenery drawn in your mind.¡± When Merlin opened her eyes, which had been closed all along, what she saw was thendscape of Najin¡¯s inner self¡­ his Imagery. ¡°The memories that strongly remain in your mind, what you want to emte, what you desire, all these form thatndscape.¡± When Merlin first took her ce here, all she saw was darkness stretching beyond the horizon. But not anymore. Now, she could see. Thendscapes that had started to take shape in Najin¡¯s Imagery, especially after the battle with the demon knight, were visible to her. Walking among thesendscapes, Merlin whispered to Najin. ¡°What was your starting point?¡± As if answering her question, thendscape stirred. The previously vague outlines became clear. It was the scenery of the Underground City. The dim and gloomy appearance of the Underground City. The ce Merlin was wandering had transformed into the city located at the lowest point of the world. At best, it spanned about ten steps. A very narrow range ofndscape was engraved. It was far from enough to fill this vast space, but for now, this was sufficient. Greed shouldn¡¯t be indulged from the beginning. Merlin continued to whisper to Najin. ¡°What did you want to be? Stars, knights, pride, honor. Mull over the words that have taken root in your mind. Visualize them as andscape.¡± A light flickered. ¡°You said there was a knight who shone even in the lowest ces.¡± The shimmering light emerged in the middle of the Underground City. It was a pure white light. A light symbolizing a knight who, because of his unwavering pride, could shine until the very end. ¡°You swore to that light. To hang a star in the highest ce. Yes, you dreamed of stars in a ce where no stars could be seen.¡± Another light ascended. The light that rose shone brightly in the high heavens. The pure white star hung in the lowest ce and the tinum star in the highest. Looking at the two stars supporting Najin¡¯s Imagery, Merlin smiled. ¡°In a ce where no stars can be seen.¡± Thendscape of the Underground City became clear. ¡°The oath with the knight who didn¡¯t lose the star.¡± The low-hanging pure white star flickered intensely. ¡°The star shining from the highest ce.¡± The high-hanging tinum star shone brilliantly. ¡°And what¡¯s in your hand is a sword. It may not be the Excalibur, but does that matter? You were chosen by the Excalibur, recognized by the Sword of Selection. And inside you, there are two shining stars.¡± So, Merlin whispered. ¡°With the star in mind, when you swing, that bes the Star¡¯s Sword.¡± Merlin stopped walking. Before her was a pure white star. The intensely flickering star, for a moment, shone brightly. With a sh of light, the surrounding scenery evaporated. But Merlin knew that didn¡¯t mean it was destroyed. The scenery hadn¡¯t vanished into Najin¡¯s inner self. It had merely shifted to Najin¡¯s sword. Merlin closed her eyes again. When she did, what she saw was through Najin¡¯s eyes, the world as Najin saw it. Through Najin¡¯s perspective, Merlin saw the sword he held. The sword aura blooming over it was pure white. That sword aura somewhat resembled a star. The sword aura, resembling a pure white star, scattered bright particles. The battle did not easilye to an end. Griffin frowned. Even after employing the swordsmanship of the war hero, Arta Trigadian, the battle dragged on unexpectedly. The young man was evading the sword through all means, bleeding and wrecking his body to buy time. Though he wouldn¡¯t be defeated, If the fight dragged on, he couldn¡¯tplete his mission. That was as good as defeat for Griffin. Fulfilling the mission given by his lord under any circumstances was what he considered knightly. Griffin stepped forward, intending to settle the matter. It was time to conclude. Therefore, Griffin recalled. The fundamental scenery of his Imagery. It was the stark thorn bush in the garden of the Arbenia ducal family. The thorn bush had always been there since Griffin was young. The knight who had made Griffin a squire had called that tree the guardian tree of Arbenia. The thorn bush that had stood its ground for over 300 years. Looking at that tree, Griffin swung his sword. Over the years, his mentor retired, Griffin became a knight, reached the realm of Sword Seeker, and eventually rose to the position of knightmander. Decades passed, but the guardian tree of Arbenia still stood its ground. Having swung his sword in front of such a guardian tree for decades, a thorn bush firmly stood in Griffin¡¯s inner self too. A steadfast giant tree that merely followed its master¡¯s wishes. That was Griffin¡¯s idea of a knight. His Imagery extended along his sword. The giant tree grew a bit more, now swinging a thorn bush over 5m tall. There was no escape. To prevent being pushed back like before, Griffin swung his sword from above downward. And then it happened. Najin, who had been fleeing, suddenly stood still. Standing still, Najin inexplicably raised his sword above his face. Griffin recognized that posture. It was a stance habitually taken by some knights, or knights of Atanga, before drawing up their sword aura. A gesture topose oneself through the sword salute. As the sword salute concluded, white particles blossomed over Najin¡¯s sword. It seemed no different from before, but Griffin felt a change. Najin¡¯s sword aura, which had dimmed, was scattering light again. Indeed. It was scattering light. White particles blossomed around Najin¡¯s sword, like stars shining in the night sky. In that moment, Griffin¡¯s eyes widened. It wasn¡¯t just a cluster of light but ¡®sword aura with form.¡¯ Although still unstable and iplete, it was clear that the young man¡¯s Imagery was contained within. He had touched the fringe of Sword Seeker. In a dire situation, walking the tightrope between life and death, Najin had finally stepped into a realm he hadn¡¯t reached before. sh! The red thorn bush and the pure white star collided. Until now, Najin¡¯s sword had been hopelessly overpowered, but not anymore. Scattering particles, Najin¡¯s sword cut through the branches of the red thorn bush. Just one of the many branches was broken. However, the fact that it was cut was significant. Realizing he had made a cut, Najin¡¯s eyes widened. He had found a means to counter. That meant he could now fully utilize techniques he hadn¡¯t been able to use before. Najin pushed off the ground and charged at Griffin. Swoosh! Cutting through the branches of the giant tree, sometimes bleeding, Najin closed the distance. It cost several bleedings just to take one step, but Najin didn¡¯t care. However, there was one thing Najin was mistaken about. The difference in experience. Najin had just touched the fringe, but Griffin had been in the realm of Sword Seeker for over ten years, a true veteran. Despite his astonishment, Griffin swung his sword diligently. He was still in a superior position. The Imagery contained in Najin¡¯s sword was slowly evaporating. Its sharpness was evident, but he was still a novice in wielding a sword filled with Imagery. The difference in experience dictated the oue. Najin fought valiantly, but when the de reached its target, it no longer bore sword aura. Time was up. ¡®It¡¯s over.¡¯ That¡¯s what Griffin thought as he was about to deliver the final blow. Then, with a whistling sound, an arrow flew from somewhere. Griffin, with wide eyes, swung his sword to deflect the arrow, but the impact forced him back. The arrow lodged in the ground was suitable for a great bow, a weapon too powerful for ordinary strength to draw. Griffin¡¯s mind went to a renowned knight of the Trebache Marquis¡¯s family. A knight who had reached the realm of Sword Seeker, skilled with a great bow. It was clear that the arrow had been shot by him. Following that, the sound of horse hooves echoed through the forest. ¡°Stop.¡± The approaching horsemen. The echoing voice. Griffin looked around. Arriving on horseback were knights of the Marquis¡¯s family, their swords drawn at Griffin. Their arrival was quicker than Griffin had anticipated, signaling his defeat. Griffin exhaled deeply and slowly lowered his sword. With the Marquis¡¯s knights present, he could no longer continue the battle. Just as he was about to lower his sword, Griffin nced ahead inadvertently. There stood the young man, bloodied and still in the same posture as before. The young man, holding his pose, exhaled. Watching that posture, Griffin couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Hecked foresight or the talent to predict the future through an opponent¡¯s movements. Yet, he had enough insight to recognize Najin¡¯s stance. It was a technique from the Order of the Sword, optimized for counterattacks at close range. A technique that destabilized the opponent¡¯s stance by striking with the sword hilt, devoid of sword aura. ¡®At the veryst moment, did he assume the stance for a counterattack, anticipating the sword aura to fade?¡¯ Had he struck down as intended, Could he have taken the young man¡¯s life? He couldn¡¯t be certain. Uncertainty led Griffin to feel a chill. Even if he couldn¡¯t secure victory, he would at least avoid defeat. The intense will to survive emanated from the gasping young man. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Griffin silently lowered his sword. Though they met as enemies, the young man¡¯s fighting spirit deserved respect. Griffin, still facing the unyielding Najin, said, ¡°I have been defeated.¡± Only then did Najin lower his sword. Griffin sighed and looked at the knights surrounding him. Now, he had to fight with words and justification. And such a battlefield¡­ Was far too disadvantageous for Griffin. Chapter 65 Chapter 65 ¨C Moonlit Night¡¯s Escape Drama (6) Knight of the Trebache Ducal House, Wolfhild. He, as always, sat atop the castle walls, gazing down upon his domain. It was one of his few hobbies. The domain was peaceful as ever, with no apparent issues. It was during such moments, as he basked in the blowing wind, lost in thought. Someone was approaching the gates. An unexpected visitor and she was a girl with a peculiar appearance. Limping towards the gate, she seemed to be fleeing from something. The soldiers guarding the gate noticed her too. They approached the girl, helped her up, and asked why she hade to the ducal house. Wolfhild, silently observing, narrowed his eyes the moment the girl pulled something out of her possession. It was a piece of letter paper. Despite the distance between the girl and Wolfhild, his vision surpassed that of ordinary humans. He saw the emblem on the letter. The emblem of the Trebache Ducal House, a symbol that only the lord of this domain could bear. The moment he confirmed this, Wolfhild leaped from the walls. Despite jumping from such a height, the sound of hisnding was surprisingly soft. A light thud. Wolfhild, recognized by the saluting soldiers, approached the girl. He bowed slightly to her. The letter was only sent to esteemed guests of the duke. That alone was reason enough to show respect. ¡°Are you a guest of the duke? Allow me to escort you to the mansion. The letter, if you please¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s not mine.¡± Interrupting him, the girl spoke. Wolfhild, with narrowed eyes, looked at her. Taking a deep breath, the girl enunciated clearly. ¡°An adventurer from Cambria, Ivan.¡± That name was also in Wolfhild¡¯s memory. The duke had once noted, ¡®To think such a person still exists, it¡¯s quite astonishing,¡¯ regarding this adventurer. Moreover, he was the person who had apanied his colleague in theirst moments. ¡°He is the owner of this letter.¡± ¡°Where is he?¡± Wolfhild asked, and the girl replied. Despite her urgent appearance, her exnation was concise and sufficient for understanding. Wolfhild frowned as he summarized her words. ¡°Are you saying that the Knight Commander of the Arbenia Ducal House attacked you and that adventurer while you were visiting the ducal house?¡± It was a summarized and omitted story. The girl hadn¡¯t told everything. She only summarized the situation, leaving out the details. Yet, it wasn¡¯t a matter that could easily be overlooked. To threaten a guest of the duke near the ducal territory by a knight from another domain? This was a disregard for the Trebache Ducal House¡¯s name. Even if the opponent was a Knight Commander from a ducal house, the fact remained unchanged. Wolfhild felt displeased by the situation. However, he knew it wasn¡¯t a situation to act on displeasure alone. He had to inform his master. And discuss how to proceed cautiously. That would be the normal and universal response. If the person in front of him hadmitted a grave crime in the ducal house, the justification would lie with the ducal house. However, the situation was too urgent to consider all aspects. ¡°Tell me the location.¡± Thus, Wolfhild made his choice. ¡°Let¡¯s hear the details on the way. Guards, bring the warhorses. Summon the nearby knights. And then, inform the duke.¡± He chose to act without consulting his master first. He had the authority to make such decisions, and he was confident that, were his master here, he would have made the same decision. Understand without being told. Move first, understanding the intention. Always advise the best course to your master. That was Wolfhild¡¯s definition of loyalty. He was the Knight Commander of the Trebache Ducal House, a knight granted autonomy by Duke Edelmar. Duke Edelmar respected and trusted Wolfhild¡¯s judgment. Whish, thud. He firmly secured the great bow on his back. Instead of a sword, a quiver with arrows long enough to be mistaken for longswords was tied to his waist. The girl, Dieta, who realized who the man standing before her was, knew it was fortunate for her. The Knight Commander of the Trebache Ducal House. The knight who wielded the great bow, Wolfhild. It was lucky for Dieta that he had been sitting at the gate of the castle walls. As Wolfhild, carrying Dieta on a warhorse, moved with the knights, his eyes widened at her story. ¡°¡­Are you Miss Dieta?¡± He recognized the identity of the girl who had been speaking to him. Thedy of the Arbenia Ducal House. Though called a forsaken child, she was undeniably a part of the ducal house. Of course, to Wolfhild, the name of a merchant from Cambria was more familiar. He couldn¡¯t be certain, but if this girl¡¯s identity as Miss Dieta was true, the situation was moreplicated than he had thought. Wolfhild frowned and spurred the warhorse. ¡°Why would the Knight Commander of the ducal house¡­?¡± ¡°It¡¯splicated. But once we reach our destination, the justification will be on my side. All we need to do is rescue Ivan¡­¡± Listening to her, Wolfhild couldn¡¯t help but wear a bitter expression. It was toote, and that was all he could say to thedy. The Knight Commander of the Arbenia Ducal House. The Red Thorn, Griffin. Wolfhild knew him well. Griffin, who had reached the realm of Sword Seeker and even mastered the war hero¡¯s ¡®Arta Trigadian¡¯ swordsmanship, was a formidable opponent even from Wolfhild¡¯s standpoint. ¡®That adventurer Ivan is a Sword Expert. Though his skills are exceptional¡­¡¯ It was unlikely he couldst long against amander-level powerhouse. He was probably dead or in no condition to wield a sword anymore. Wolfhild felt regret at this thought. He had consoled the spirit of his colleague. A young man who possessed a rare ¡®knightliness¡¯ in this era. It wasn¡¯t a pleasant sight to see such a young man broken in this ce. Wolfhild swallowed the bitterness in his mouth and drove the warhorse forward. As he raced down the forest path, Wolfhild suddenly narrowed his eyes. Thump, thump, thump¡­ The ground was trembling. Sounds were approaching. It was the aftermath of a battle. Wolfhild dismounted the warhorse. Sending the following knights ahead, he climbed a tree to gain a higher vantage point. With his feet firmly nted on a thick branch, he widened his eyes. The expanded view showed the forestndscape and an artificially cleared de in the middle of the forest. In the center of that de grew a red thorn bush. ¡®¡­Is the battle still ongoing?¡¯ The thorn bush had grown to about 5 meters. It meant that Knight Commander Griffin was seriously engaged in the battle. Yet, the fact that the battle had not been decided surprised Wolfhild only momentarily. sh. The light created by the sword of the young man facing Griffin caught his eye. A cluster of light blooming white, like a star. The pure white sword aura. Wolfhild was captivated by that sword aura for a moment. The pure white sword aura. It had sliced through the red branches. Wolfhild¡¯s eyes widened. To have cut through even a part of a Sword Seeker¡¯s sword aura. He understood what that meant. With a chuckle, Wolfhild reached for his back. He grasped the great bow and firmly secured his military boots on the thick branch. He steadied his breath and pulled the bowstring of the great bow to its limit. Watching the fight, Wolfhild released the bowstring at the optimal moment. Until that moment, he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off the momentum disyed by the young man. ¡°What a madman.¡± Wolfhild let out augh. The reputation of having cut down a demon knight was not exaggerated at all, and perhaps¡­ it might have been understated. He saw it clearly with his own eyes. ¡°Halt.¡± The knights lined up, Their des fiercely aimed at him. Griffin sighed and raised his hands above his head. ¡°This is the domain of the Trebache Ducal House.¡± ¡°More precisely, we¡¯re near the domain, aren¡¯t we? I¡¯m aware this ce doesn¡¯t fall within the domain¡¯s bounds.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what matters. Even if we¡¯re near the domain, this area is still under Trebache¡¯s influence.¡± Griffin looked at the knights lined up. The knights of the Trebache Ducal House were formidable. Duke Edelmar of Trebache, their lord, was devoted to nurturing his knights. Facing all of them would be overwhelming. Moreover, it shouldn¡¯t evene to that. It would mean dering war on the ducal house. ¡°This far is enough.¡± Just as Griffin was choosing his words, a voice came from deep within the forest. Wolfhild, a knight who had arrivedte on horseback, spoke up. ¡°What brings you here, Sir Griffin?¡± Griffin¡¯s expression hardened. Behind Wolfhild, on his horse, was Dieta. Realizing the situation had turned against him, Griffin let out a long breath. ¡°Lord Osman of Arbeniamanded me. To punish the criminal who infiltrated the Arbenian family¡¯s vi and kidnapped Miss Dieta, and to bring her back.¡± ¡°Is that so? The story I heard is a bit different.¡± Wolfhild narrowed his eyes. With his help, Dieta dismounted from the horse. ¡°It¡¯s the opposite, Sir Griffin.¡± Dieta spoke up after dismounting. ¡°It was the Arbenia Ducal House that kidnapped me, and this man is my hired escort. He acted to rescue me. The crime of damaging the vi is not minor, but¡­ there are matters to discuss before that.¡± She spoke clearly. Wolfhild, who had heard the situation, took over. ¡°This man is an esteemed guest of Duke Edelmar of Trebache. The duke has ordered that should he ever visit the domain, he is to be weed. The matter of damaging the vi can be discussedter, can it not?¡± The usation of kidnapping thedy was false. All that remained for Najin was the crime of ¡®damaging the vi during an escort mission.¡¯ Griffin realized he was at a disadvantage in terms of justification. ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Sir Griffin.¡± Wolfhild said. ¡°I have a duty to escort the duke¡¯s guest. There¡¯s justification for it. Of course, you wouldn¡¯t know that, Sir Griffin, so I can overlook themotion up to now.¡± But, Wolfhild yed with the arrows in his quiver. ¡°If you continue to attempt to snatch the duke¡¯s guest in front of Trebache¡¯s knights, we will have no choice but to act. Each has their own stance, after all.¡± ¡°Is that Duke Edelmar¡¯s will?¡± ¡°It¡¯s my judgment.¡± Griffin narrowed his eyes. ¡°I am the Knight Commander of the Arbenia Ducal House.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± ¡°This matter was directly ordered by the duke, emphasized as a must-do. So, I ask you. Can you handle it? What would Duke Edelmar think about this¡­?¡± ng! The knights of Trebache unsheathed their swords violently. Their demeanor changed instantly. Wolfhild was no different, gripping his great bow tightly with wide eyes. ¡°Do not dare to interpret his will.¡± Interpreting the duke¡¯s will is not your job, but ours who serve him. It¡¯s not a matter for a knight from another domain to interfere in, Wolfhild warned. ¡°¡­I have been rude. I apologize.¡± With a sigh, Griffin stepped back. ¡°I merely advised that this incident could escte into aplex issue between families.¡± ¡°Your advice is appreciated, but my stance remains unchanged.¡± Wolfhild spoke briefly. ¡°I request that you leave this ce.¡± Griffin, stroking his face, then moved on. Further confrontation here seemed unlikely to change the situation. Pausing his steps, Griffin looked back for a moment. There stood Najin, looking at him. A young man who, until the end, didn¡¯t bend his will and won in his own way. Looking at the young man, Griffin thought to himself. They would meet again soon. And by then, that young man would be a knight, not just an adventurer. That was what Griffin thought. A desirable talent, yet not one he could obtain. Griffin smiled bitterly. ¡°Miss Dieta.¡± Griffin looked at Dieta. ¡°You have a good escort.¡± He had no choice but to acknowledge his defeat. With those words, Griffin walked away, leaving Trebache¡¯s knights behind. ¡°Huff, huuuh¡­¡± Najin breathed heavily. His insides, ravaged by an overuse of mana, were in disarray, and his vision blurred from pushing his mana to the limit. This was the first time he¡¯d felt such exhaustion since facing Ivan in the underground city. Feeling like he¡¯d copse with just a bit less strength. Thus, Najin didn¡¯t let go of his tension until the situation was fully resolved. Only after Griffin turned and left did Najin copse where he stood. ¡®I feel like I¡¯m going to die.¡¯ -Of course. You filled your sword with spirit recklessly without being ready, how could your body withstand it? ¡®But you said I had reached the right moment before?¡¯ -That was then, this is now. Merlin chuckled. -You just started walking, and you ran without stumbling. It¡¯s odd if you don¡¯t fall. But still¡­ She whispered to Najin. -It was quite¡­ no, not bad. Was she about to say it was cool? As always, she¡¯s not straightforward. Najin smiled bitterly and bowed his head. His consciousness was fading. He¡¯d probably need to rest for a while. But with Trebache¡¯s knights intervening and Dieta¡¯s safety assured, he could probably afford to close his eyes. Through his blurring vision, Najin saw someone running towards him. It was Dieta, limping towards him. ¡°Are you¡­ okay¡­¡± Dieta¡¯s voice came in sobs. Between the intermittent voices, Najin closed his eyes. He couldn¡¯t resist the exhaustion any longer. ¡°¡­! What, what to do!¡± Najin thought he heard the sobbing voice grow a bit louder just before he lost consciousness. Chapter 66 Chapter 66 ¨C After the Moonlit Night Ends (1) Najin¡¯s consciousness sank beneath the waters. It was the bacsh from using mana to its limit, and the price for recklessly wielding the nascent fringes of his spirit. Feeling his body sink beneath the surface, Najin closed his eyes. How much time had passed? Chirp, chirp. Awakened by the chirping of sparrows, Najin opened his eyes on a sunlit bed. The maid, startled upon making eye contact with Najin, bowed hastily and scurried out of the room. Soon after, a knight entered. ¡°Have you awakened?¡± It was Wolfhild, the Knight Commander of the Trebache Ducal House. ¡°How long have I been asleep?¡± ¡°About a night.¡± Najin blinked a couple of times and lifted his arm to inspect it. It was bandaged at the shoulder, and the minor wounds that remained on his body had almost healed. Such rapid recovery wasn¡¯t solely due to Excalibur¡¯s regenerative abilities. ¡°Give thanks to Duke Edelmar for his grace.¡± Wolfhild briefly recounted how his lord had gathered the priests and physicians of the domain to aid in Najin¡¯s recovery, extending his grace. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Your thanks should be directed to the duke himself.¡± ¡°I shall do so.¡± ¡°Good.¡± Wolfhild smiled satisfactorily. Then, he suddenly stroked his chin. ¡°That aside, your recovery is unnaturally swift? The physicians and priests tending to you were taken aback. They only administered first aid, yet the wounds were healing.¡± Wolfhild murmured, to which Najin remained silent. He couldn¡¯t reveal it was thanks to Excalibur¡¯s healing power. ¡°They said you should¡¯ve been bedridden for at least ten days, yet you woke up fine in just one. It¡¯s certainly surprising. It wasn¡¯t a minor injury¡­¡± ¡°My body is rather resilient.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Wolfhild squinted his eyes but soon chuckled and shrugged. ¡°Must be a unique constitution. It¡¯s not my ce to pry. I have my peculiarities too.¡± He tapped his temple lightly. Like himself, there are others born with unique constitutions. Thus, Wolfhild chose to attribute Najin¡¯s unusual recovery to ¡®such things.¡¯ ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve instructed those who saw your condition to keep it under wraps, so no worries.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ much appreciated.¡± ¡°You are the duke¡¯s guest, after all. It¡¯s only right that nothing harmful befalls you at Trebache.¡± Proudly pointing to the Trebache emblem on his uniform, Wolfhildughed. ¡°Once you¡¯re able to move about, you should visit the duke. The servants will guide you.¡± Ah, Wolfhild sighed briefly. It seemed like something he feltpelled to say. With a yful expression, he whispered with his palm before his mouth. ¡°Yourdy is in the room next door, so perhaps show your face. She must be quite worried.¡± ¡°Excuse me? Lady?¡± ¡°Ah, not in that sense yet? I thought you were rather close, assuming you were involved.¡± What did he mean by ¡®involved¡¯? Confused, Najin tilted his head, and Wolfhild muttered, ¡°Miss Dieta must be having a hard time,¡± under his breath. ¡°Anyway, Miss Dieta was quite concerned about you.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Indeed. After you copsed, she wept so sorrowfully. ¡®Don¡¯t die, please don¡¯t die,¡¯ she cried, burying her face in your chest¡­¡± Scratching his neck awkwardly, Wolfhild continued. ¡°It felt a bit awkward to just say, ¡®He seems to have lost consciousness.¡¯ We had to sweat it out too.¡± What else did Miss Dieta say? Just as Wolfhild was about to speak, there was a knock on the door. Without waiting for permission, the door creaked open. There stood Dieta, her face flushed red, as if she had been eavesdropping from the other side. ¡°Sir Wolfhild.¡± Her voice trembled slightly. With her ears burning red, Dieta red at Wolfhild with a reproachful look. ¡°You promised to keep it a secret¡­¡± ¡°Oh, dear.¡± Wolfhild quickly rose from his seat. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t intrude on your conversation. Please, talk amongst yourselves. I¡¯ll be waiting outside.¡± He greeted Dieta politely and swiftly left the room. Despite the fierce re from the embarrassed girl, a knight who had reached the realm of Sword Seeker couldn¡¯t be followed so easily. When they regained theirposure, only Najin and Dieta were left in the room. After an awkward silence, Dieta approached Najin hesitantly and slumped into a chair beside the bed. She bowed her head, hiding her face, but her ears peeking through her hair were still vividly red. ¡°Are you, um, feeling better?¡± Dieta¡¯s voice was awkward. Najin simply nodded for now. ¡°I¡¯m fine. There¡¯s no trouble moving around.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a relief.¡± ¡°And how about you?¡± Najin nced at Dieta¡¯s ankle. Wrapped in bandages, her walk earlier seemed natural enough, suggesting some recovery. ¡°I can walk around. They say the scars should be gone in about a week or so.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± Najin smiled. As Dieta slightly raised her head and met Najin¡¯s smile, her ears reddened even more. She seemed unable to meet his gaze directly, her eyes darting elsewhere. ¡°I heard something from Sir Wolfhild.¡± Despite feeling shy, Dieta had to speak up. ¡°Forget about it. Just forget it, quickly.¡± ¡°Sorry? Forget what?¡± ¡°What I said before. Forget about it, quickly. It¡¯s embarrassing.¡± Was that something to be embarrassed about? Why was she so red-faced? Although Najin didn¡¯t fully understand, he nodded anyway. In the mansion¡¯s reception room, where the emblem of the Trebache Ducal House was engraved, a man who appeared to be in his early thirties awaited Najin and Dieta. The lord of Trebache, Duke Edelmar. Despite losing his father at a young age and taking over as lord, he had solidified Trebache¡¯s reputation as an excellent politician and power broker within just a decade. He smiled at his guests. ¡°Wee, Miss Dieta. And Ivan.¡± Be seated. With that gesture, Duke Edelmar began to speak. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the gist of it from the knights and Sir Wolfhild. What a story¡­¡± Sipping his tea, Duke Edelmar let out a long sigh. Was he about to express anger at the ducal house¡¯s forceful merger, or was it a sigh ofment? Dieta was observing Edelmar¡¯s reaction when he said something unexpected. ¡°What a romantic tale.¡± The unexpectedment almost made Dieta reflexively question him, but she managed to hold back. ¡°A splendid rescue operation where a lone man sneaks into a vi to save a woman kidnapped by a ducal house!¡± The duke eximed, with exaggerated gestures. ¡°Surely, he must have offered his back to the incapacitateddy. Despite the knights¡¯ pursuit, they fled under the moonlit night!¡± His exaggerated tone and gestures were like those of an actor introducing a y. With sparkling eyes, he looked at Dieta and Najin. ¡°And then, the final ordeal. A life-threatening duel and unyielding will, but the protagonist falls, and the woman weeps. A story that could have ended in tragedy, but fortunately¡­¡± The duke smiled. ¡°This tale won¡¯t end in tragedy. d to see you¡¯ve recovered, Ivan. And you as well, Miss Dieta.¡± ¡°Thank you for your consideration.¡± ¡°Thank¡­ you.¡± Najin spoke formally, and Dieta, with a trembling voice, expressed her thanks, barely containing her embarrassment. Duke Edelmar whistled at her reaction. ¡°Moving on.¡± He pped his hands. ¡°I have a rough idea why you¡¯vee. The fact that the Arbenia Ducal House tried to forcefully take over Dieta¡¯s trade guild and attempted to secure Dieta¡¯s identity in the process, I¡¯ve confirmed it all.¡± Duke Edelmar had sent his knights to gather information. ¡°This is unjust. An unfair act. Of course, the world is full of injustices caused by the disparities in power and status, but¡­¡± His eyes narrowed. ¡°Such things should not happen in Cambria, the city of opportunities. Especially not in the city where the great King Arthur began his journey. Fairness and equality must be ensured there. That¡¯s what the Cambria Foundation is for.¡± The three powerful families at the heart of the Cambria Foundation, Of which, Trebache, the most influential, was represented by its lord. ¡°I, Edelmar personally, and the Cambria Foundation, will not stand idly by. If the guild had been built with the ducal house¡¯s power, there might have been some justification, but I know Miss Dieta did not do so.¡± The ducal house¡¯s abandoned child. The stain left by a courtesan in the ducal house. Dieta Arbenia was the one who built herpany from scratch despite such stigmas. ¡°Of course, had you note to my domain, it would have been difficult to intervene, but now that you¡¯re here, the justification is on our side. I¡¯ll help you regain your guild.¡± ¡°Thank you for your grace.¡± ¡°There is no need for thanks.¡± Duke Edelmar responded inly to Dieta¡¯s gratitude. ¡°It¡¯s my duty to act. Performing one¡¯s duty should be a matter of course. epting thanks for doing what¡¯s expected would make the world too harsh, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Above all, he paused to take a breath. ¡°I enjoy watching ys, but I can never quite stomach tragedies. I hope for the characters, who have ovee hardships and trials, to be able to smile in the end.¡± The duke enjoyed ys. And he had likened Najin and Dieta¡¯s escape to a ¡®y.¡¯ Smiling, he continued. ¡°I hope you can smile when all this is over. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve heard such a good story.¡± After finishing his story, Duke Edelmar took a moment to breathe. His gaze shifted from Dieta to Najin. ¡°Miss Dieta, would you mind stepping out for a moment? I have something I¡¯d like to discuss with Ivan alone.¡± ¡°Of course.¡± After Dieta left for a while, Duke Edelmar looked directly at Najin. There were no exaggerated gestures or tones, just calm and settled eyes and voice. The duke spoke. ¡°Gilbert, the knight of Trebache.¡± The knight Najin had encountered during the demon knight hunt. ¡°My knight, and my conversation partner, you were with him at the end. I heard you honored Gilbert¡¯sst wishes.¡± Najin nodded quietly. He had listened to Gilbert¡¯sst words, pursued the demon knight, and ultimately, Najin had in the demon knight. ¡°There is one thing I¡¯d like to ask.¡± ¡°Please, go ahead.¡± ¡°Was Gilbert a knight until the end?¡± ¡°Was he a knight until the end?¡± That was the final phrase left by the Knight King, the epitome of knightly philosophy. ¡°Since a knight is also a human, they cannot be noble at every moment and always act with honor and pride. Ultimately, a knight is faced with choices at every moment.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I ask.¡± ¡°What will you choose in your final moment?¡± Will you be an ordinary human swayed by desire and instinct, Or a knight moved by pride and honor? What will you remain as in the end? So. ¡°In the veryst moment.¡± ¡°I will ask you.¡± ¡°Were you a knight until the end?¡± Recalling those words, Najin thought of Gilbert, who, even in his dying moments, pointed with his fingertips towards the fleeing demon knight. With that image in mind, Najin said, ¡°Yes.¡± Najin nodded firmly. ¡°Until the end, Sir Gilbert was a knight.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± Duke Edelmar smiled wistfully. ¡°Then he could have smiled in his final moments.¡± He sighed deeply. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m grateful that someone who knows honor and pride was with Gilbert at the end.¡± ¡°Forgive me, but¡­¡± Najin spoke awkwardly. ¡°I still do not know honor. I have not possessed it.¡± ¡°You have pride, then.¡± ¡°I am striving to possess it.¡± Duke Edelmarughed out loud. ¡°The honor and pride you speak of seem much heavier than what others mention. Indeed. They should not be taken lightly.¡± In this era, they have be too light. Yet, there stands someone before him who wishes to regard them as heavy. A young man in this era, rare for his knightly nature, made the duke smile pleasantly. ¡°Helping ady in distress. Keeping promises. Doing what one believes is right. Honoring thest wishes of the honorable, wielding the sword against evil¡­ risking one¡¯s life to keep an oath.¡± Stories about the young man named Ivan. Chewing over this information, the duke pped his hands. Not in mockery, but in respect. ¡°You are already an excellent knight.¡± Not yet knighted, but already a splendid knight. Duke Edelmar stated. ¡°I hope you find a lord to whom you can pledge your loyalty and be a great knight. Or perhaps be a free knight who upholds the knight¡¯s code. I truly wish it.¡± The duke rose from his seat. Najin too stood up, bowing his head and about to kneel before the approaching duke, who stopped him. He extended his hand to Najin. Not with the formality of a noble, but simply, as a gesture of camaraderie. Even though Edelmar valued decorum, he deemed the young man before him worthy enough to set aside those formalities. As Najin cautiously took his hand, Duke Edelmar, shaking it vigorously up and down, smiled. ¡°Rest easy while you stay in my domain.¡± Chapter 67 Chapter 67 ¨C After the Moonlit Night Ends (2) In thenguid afternoon sun, Najin strolled through the duke¡¯s garden. The case hade to a resolution, and what followed was not his stage to perform on. By bringing Dieta here, he knew his role had ended. What would follow was a battle of politics and justification. And sifting through theplex imperialws to stab opponents with a metaphorical dagger¡­ It was a battle fought by politicians with their three-inch tongues and a few lines of text. Najin was ignorant of such matters and had no intention of getting involved. ¡°There are experts for that sort of thing, after all¡­¡± The Snake that Swallows Gold, Dieta. Now back to her cold, merchant self, she was preparing a counterattack with the help of Duke Edelmar. She mentioned it wouldn¡¯t take long to reim her tradingpany. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. This is my stage.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll definitely repay you when we return to Cambria.¡± Not all battles required wielding weapons and shedding blood. Dieta had her own battlefield. To avoid disturbing the busy Dieta, Najin often walked around the duke¡¯s estate. With the medal given by the duke, he received warm hospitality wherever he went. While sitting on a bench during his walk, Najin suddenly looked in front of him. There stood a tall tree. Although it wasn¡¯t a thorn bush in front of him, looking at the tall tree reminded him of the battle a few days ago. Griffin wielding the thorny sword aura. He was a formidable opponent, one who repeatedly pushed Najin towards death. He was also the knight who had firmly imprinted what it meant to be a Sword Seeker. Sword Seeker, mental image, innerndscape. Najin mulled over these words. Then, he blinked. Najin closed his eyes. Focusing inward, he could sense the mental image that had barely sprouted during his battle with Griffin. It was a space norger than a few steps. Thendscape of the Underground City Artman was set in a pitch-ck space. There, two stars were ced in the sky and on the ground, respectively, and a girl was sitting on a fence, gazing at the star in the sky. Najin walked through thendscape within him. One step, then another. The girl sitting on the fence and swinging her legs turned her head to look at Najin. Her hair flowed like a wave in shades of blue and white. Her eyes, calm like a stillke, curved as she met Najin¡¯s gaze. ¡°What¡¯s up, you came?¡± The Wizard of the Lake, Merlin. The one within Najin¡¯s inner self greeted him. ¡°It feels like it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Well, it does feel like it¡¯s been a while since we¡¯ve seen each other face to face. About four months? Or three?¡± ¡°It seems so.¡± Merlin patted the space next to her with her palms. Najin climbed up the fence and sat next to Merlin, where the star hanging high in the sky could be best seen. ¡°Is it now possible to meet like this?¡± ¡°Not often, but it¡¯s possible if you close your eyes and concentrate.¡± Merlin replied. ¡°My consciousness resides in your mental image, and the clearer and more concrete your mental image bes, the clearer I will appear. It¡¯s still a bit blurry, isn¡¯t it?¡± She leaned towards Najin. Indeed, Merlin¡¯s figure was still blurry, as if reflected on the water¡¯s surface, different from when they had met in her star domain. ¡°Speaking of which¡­¡± Merlin turned her head to look around. The innerndscape of Najin. She sighed briefly as she observed the most strongly imprinted scenery in Najin¡¯s mind. ¡°It¡¯s a destendscape.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s no forest, noke, no sunlighting through. It¡¯s dark and dreary. This must be the scenery of the underground city you lived in.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Although, in reality, it¡¯s a bit brighter.¡± Najin smiled bitterly. ¡°In front of the tavern there, manynterns made of sunset ore are hung. Every day, big sis Epolies out to clean the signboard and check thenterns.¡± With a blink,nterns appeared around the tavern. A faint glow of dusk spread around it. ¡°That way leads to the counter. It seems it hasn¡¯t been drawn beyond that path yet¡­ Beyond that road is a bit more morous. It¡¯s the brightest ce in the underground city.¡± The road stretching into the darkness. Light leaked from that path. He hadn¡¯t fully realized it beyond there, but he could imagine the leaking light. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. And over there¡­¡± ¡°Is there such a thing?¡± ¡°People here long for the upper city. They probably wanted to draw andscape that resembled the upper city, even a little. I¡¯m not sure, though.¡± As he talked with Merlin, Najin looked around thendscape. The city, once only dark, now hadrge and smallmps hung, transforming into a more intricate scenery. Of course, if Najin lost focus even a little, all of it would disappear. These were not yet fully settled in his mental image. Najin felt a bittersweet and somewhat nostalgic emotion as he looked at thendscape within him. ¡°It feels strange.¡± Najin murmured. ¡°I thought it was a shitty ce, a ce I didn¡¯t even want to remember, but looking at it now, I feel a bit nostalgic.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what hometowns are like.¡± ¡°Is that the same for you, Merlin?¡± ¡°Even though my hometown was a shitty ce, after it was burned down by a witch and turned into ashes, I did miss it a bit.¡± Merlin smiled bitterly. ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s good to asionally refine your mental image like this. If you don¡¯t keep it in mind, the mental image will gradually erode and eventually crumble.¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°What you should fear most is oblivion and wear. So cherish thisndscape you¡¯ve created for the first time.¡± Merlin rested her chin on her hand and looked at the scenery of the Underground City Artman with distant eyes. Her eyes seemed to be recalling something, reminiscing. ¡°Once you lose it, you won¡¯t even be able to regret it. Because you won¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that bad with memory.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? This is different from memory.¡± Merlinughed as if it was ridiculous. ¡°There are definitely those who want to corrupt your mental image. Bastards who mess up your memory, stirring your mind with their fingers. So, be careful.¡± ¡°It still feels like a distant story to me.¡± ¡°Who knows? It might be closer than you think.¡± Well, Merlin jumped down from the fence. Walking the streets of the Underground City Artman, she said. ¡°Yourndscape isn¡¯t bad. It has a cozy feeling.¡± Merlin looked back at Najin with her hands behind her back. ¡°It would be nice to have ake too, if possible. Try to create one sometime.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± Najin smiled faintly and blinked a couple of times. Thendscape of the underground city disappeared, and the scenery of the duke¡¯s garden came into view. After looking at the tall tree for a while, Najin moved on. In Duke Edelmar¡¯s office. The captain of the knights, Wolfhild, expressed his subjective opinion after reporting to his master. ¡°It¡¯s close to that of a Sword Seeker.¡± ¡°¡­Is that true?¡± ¡°Yes, objectively speaking, Sir Griffin, the Knight Commander of the Arbenia ducal family, is a strong opponent. Wielding a sword aura over 5m long with the swordsmanship of ¡®Arta Trigadian¡¯, Sir Griffin is by no means an easy opponent.¡± Wolfhild continued. ¡°If it¡¯s a close-range battle, it would be my loss, and even from a distance, I cannot guarantee victory alone. It¡¯s no coincidence that Sir Griffin is called the ducal family¡¯s first sword.¡± Griffin was a strong opponent. He was not a novice Sword Seeker who had just awakened his mental image, but an experienced swordsman who fully controlled his own. ¡°That young man countered the sword of such a strong opponent. He even managed to cut through the fragments of sword aura. It¡¯s a feat impossible at the level of a Sword Expert.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°He must have approached the level of a Sword Seeker, or he has grasped a fragment of the mental image. It seems his physical abilities have already reached the realm of Seekers.¡± Wolfhild had witnessed the confrontation between Griffin and Najin. He was a knight who wielded a great bow, an individual who had honed his observational and insight skills for decades. The duke trusted his eyes. Trusting him, Duke Edelmar couldn¡¯t hide his astonishment. The duke sighed deeply. ¡°Remarkable. To reach such a level at that age?¡± ¡°Although his official age is 28¡­¡± ¡°Even at that age, he would be the youngest Sword Seeker. His talent is reminiscent of the Sword Saint, Sir Karan.¡± Or perhaps surpassing Sir Karan. If the story became known, it would surely cause a significant uproar. For now, the young man¡¯s tale was circting only within Cambria¡­ ¡°Before long, he will stand out. Even outside.¡± He was not one to stay within Cambria. Soon, he would step onto a broader stage. A talent like his couldn¡¯t be confined to one ce for long. Duke Edelmarughed incredulously. ¡°Where did such a talent spring from, I wonder.¡± His origin, real name, actual age. All of it was concealed. Even digging around brought up no information. Could he be from a family whose records were erased? There¡¯s no one else whose information has been so cleanly wiped. ¡°An unknown identity, a youth who values chivalry and possesses exceptional talent with the sword¡­¡± Mulling over that information, the dukeughed inadvertently. Hearing his masterugh, Wolfhild tilted his head and asked. ¡°Why do you say that¡­?¡± ¡°Maybe I¡¯ve been enjoying ys too muchtely. A ridiculous thought urred to me.¡± Blinking, the dukeughed along with a sigh. It was a nonsensical fantasy, but pondering over it, it seemed somewhat usible. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that young man seem just like King Arthur?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Unknown identity. A figure who suddenly appeared from nowhere. He values chivalry, honors, and pride heavily. He possesses exceptional talent with the sword and¡­ is at a high level despite his young age.¡± The characteristics of the young man. ¡°Moreover, the ce where he started to stand out is none other than the City of Opportunities, Cambria. Starting his journey in this city¡­ doesn¡¯t it remind you of the Chronicles of King Arthur?¡± Each characteristic, taken separately, ismon, but whenbined, they form a rare story. ¡°A young man resembling King Arthur appearing in the City of Opportunities after hundreds of years. Ah, what a thrilling tale this is?¡± The duke looked at his knight with shining eyes. ¡°What do you think, Sir Wolfhild?¡± ¡°With all due respect, I believe you should reduce your y viewings.¡± ¡°Hmm. Is that so? Indeed, I have been frequenting the theater quite a bittely. Perhaps I should cut back¡­¡± ¡°And maybe reduce the support for the theater as well¡­¡± ¡°Oh no. That¡¯s not possible.¡± The duke frowned. ¡°That¡¯s a project I¡¯m promoting. If the theater grows, it can boost tourism and elevate Trebache¡¯s name, so it¡¯s beneficial in the long run.¡± Well, whatever the case. Muttering to himself, the duke looked at the documents on his table. Sent from the Central Guild of Cambria. At the top of the documents was written [Final Approval for Promotion]. Duke Edelmar silently scanned the contents of the examination. The adventurer in question hadn¡¯t been active for long, but each of his deeds was significant, and he scored nearly perfect in the promotion exam supervised by experts in various fields. At this point, the promotion was as good as confirmed. Especially since bing a Red-rank adventurer meant being recognized as a skilled individual by Cambria, it was customary to receive formal permission from the foundation¡¯s representative. The duke smiled as he looked at the name ¡®Ivan¡¯ on the document. Unknown identity. No known information. Risk of identity fraud. Ignoring the ¡®risk factors¡¯ section, the duke signed his name on the document. Then, he stamped it with the seal of the duke¡¯s family. It was the moment when Najin¡¯s promotion to Red-rank was confirmed. Days passed, and the incident was concluded. Dieta, who had danced in the dirty political arena, filled withplexity, stickiness, and nitpicking, sprawled out on the bed, exhausted. Yet, the incident was resolved. Her return to the position of tradingpany leader was confirmed, and in a day or two, she would head to Cambria to return to her daily life. Of course, she would face opposition from the ducal family in the future, but that was a problem to be tackledter. Lying on the bed and looking out the window, a brilliantly shining moon hung in the sky. Gazing at the bright yellow moon, Dieta smiled to herself. The moon is beautiful. The bright yellow moon she had seen while fleeing with Najin shed through her mind. Involuntarily, the solid back of Najin came to mind, as did the arms that had lifted her, making Dieta twirl her hair around her fingers. ¡®Come to think of it¡­¡¯ Before leaving the territory, didn¡¯t the duke say he would host a banquet? Dieta, who generally didn¡¯t favor noble gatherings like banquets or festivals, always received nothing but contempt there. But this banquet would be different. It was hosted by the duke, and she would attend as a guest along with Najin. No one would dare insult the duke¡¯s guest in his presence. ¡®A banquet, meaning¡­ dance.¡¯ Dieta swallowed nervously. A banquet and a ball. And dancing. Scenes often found in sweet romance novels. Couples dancing under dazzling lights. The climax of the banquet. Thinking of such scenes, the duke¡¯s image, winking slyly, came to mind. It seemed like he was shouting, ¡°You know who you¡¯ll be dancing with, right?¡± Fitting for the duke who loved theater, he had prepared a stage to conclude the moonlit escapade. Although the intention was obvious, if asked whether she disliked it, the answer would be no. Feeling her face heat up, Dieta washed her face with dry hands. ¡°Dance, meaning¡­ I¡­¡± With that person? Dieta¡¯s heart raced. Burying her face in the bed, Dieta aimlessly kicked the bedpost. Chapter 68 Chapter 68 ¨C After the Moonlit Night Ends (3) On the eve of their departure from the Duchy of Trebache. A small banquet was held under the name of Duke Edelmar. It wasn¡¯t a gathering that drew in external nobility but a modest affair filled with the duke¡¯s own people. However, the banquet itself was anything but modest. The hall was filled with food and splendid lighting, all set up for dancing. Musicians from the theater began their performance with violins and pianos, filling the hall with lively music. As the atmosphere warmed up, Duke Edelmar stepped onto the balcony of the banquet. Duke Edelmar, his hair neatlybed back, swirled the ss in his hand and gave a toast. ¡°To the two guests who graced Trebache, cheers.¡± With his brief toast, the music resumed, and one by one, people started moving to the center of the hall to find partners to dance with. Among them were nobles affiliated with the Cambria Foundation, people of the duke, and¡­ ¡®Is it always this ufortable?¡¯ -Formal wear tends to be like that, doesn¡¯t it? Najin was also getting ready to step into the hall. Unfamiliar with the formal attire he was wearing for the first time, he fidgeted with his cor when someone ced a hand on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw Duke Edelmar standing there. ¡°Now, now, the star of the stage shouldn¡¯t be lurking here. Isn¡¯t yourdy waiting for you?¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± With a click of his tongue, the duke gently pushed Najin¡¯s back. With a bewildered look, Najin turned to find the duke winking at him, as if to say, do well. ¡®What¡¯s all this¡­¡¯ Everything felt alien¡ªthe atmosphere, the lighting. Feeling awkward, Najin began walking towards the center of the hall, aware of the many eyes on him, though he couldn¡¯t fathom why. ¡­Unbeknownst to Najin, The escapade involving Najin and Dieta over the past few days had spread far and wide, embellished by the duke¡¯s influence. The more the tale spread, the more ¡®justification¡¯ it gained. The story of a woman imprisoned by the ducal family and the man who dared to rescue her alone, romanticized for the audience. Thus, it was no surprise all eyes were on him. Among the focused attention, Najin crossed the hall, presumably towards Dieta, who awaited him as the duke had implied. With the music ying lively tunes, it was time to find a partner for the next dance. Dieta stood at a corner of the banquet, hands sped, smoothing over her hands. ¡®It¡¯s strange, as expected.¡¯ Though she had attended banquets before, no one had ever asked Dieta to dance. It was to be expected. Dieta was a discarded child of the ducal family, and asking her to dance meant bing aughing stock. Thus, she always watched the banquets from the sidelines. She had never stepped into the center of the hall to dance. She had never been the shining protagonist on the stage. As a child, she had envied those who danced at the center of the hall. ¡®It¡¯s all in the past now.¡¯ Dieta let out a thin smile. She was of age now, wasn¡¯t she? Already twenty. It would be embarrassing to have her heart flutter at such a dance at her age. Thump, thump¡­ Embarrassing, truly embarrassing. Yet, why was her heart pounding so loudly? Swallowing her nervousness, Dieta looked towards the hall. Najin should be standing on the opposite side; would he find her amidst the crowd? As she entertained such silly thoughts, She noticed the other attendees of the banquet stopping one by one, their gazes fixed in one direction. There, across the center of the hall, walked a figure. With hair tied neatly back in shades of gray and white, Eyes resembling the hue of sunset, And dressed in formal attire, Dieta¡¯s eyes widened as she btedly recognized the man as Najin. His appearance was so different from usual that she hadn¡¯t recognized him immediately. He was quite handsome to begin with, but dressed up like this, he seemed different. With everyone¡¯s attention focused, Najin crossed the hall, directly towards Dieta. The attention that had been on him naturally dispersed towards Dieta, who stood where he was heading. And then, finally, thump. Najin stopped in front of Dieta. He extended his hand and bowed slightly, just as he had been taught by Wolfhild for a day. It was a gesture of invitation to dance. ¡°May I have this dance?¡± Staring nkly at Najin, Dieta soon smiled and nodded. ¡°Yes, I would be delighted.¡± Dieta took Najin¡¯s hand. Together, they moved towards the center of the hall. As the protagonists of this banquet, the attendees naturally made way for them. In the brightest spot under the lights, Dieta stood at the center of the hall. As the current tune neared its end and a new one was about to start, there was a brief silence. Only the loud beating of Dieta¡¯s heart echoed in her ears. But soon, even the pounding of her heart was drowned out by the start of the new performance. All she could hear was the lively music, And all she could see was Najin, holding her hand. Her face flushed, but taking a short breath, Dieta cautiously took the first step. Neither she nor the man before her had properly learned to dance, so it was bound to be a mess. To avoid falling, she had to move carefully¡­ That¡¯s what Dieta had thought. So¡­ it was somewhat of a stutter at first until Najin, after ¡°carefully observing¡± the most elegantly dancing couple, suddenly became adept, before he even knew it. As the tune ended and a break ensued, Dieta, sitting at a tea table in a corner of the banquet hall, caught her breath and nced at Najin. Initially, Najin had awkwardly matched his steps with hers¡­ but at some point, as if he had learned the dance, he led confidently, leaving a strong impression. ¡®Is that even considered leading¡­?¡¯ Adjusting her waist, pulling her arms, and even twisting his body to correct any odd movements. Though Dieta had never properly danced before, being led around by Najin, they received a round of apuse by the end of the song. Even professional dancers were impressed, indicating a high level of skill¡­ It was absurd. Dieta chuckled and spoke. ¡°You haven¡¯t taken dance lessons by any chance, have you?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t.¡± ¡°Really? It didn¡¯t seem like it was your first or second time.¡± ¡°It was my first time today.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As Najin nodded, Dietaughed. The first time, he said. ¡°It¡¯s an honor. To have be the first dance partner of a future Sword Master. Seems like quite an achievement.¡± ¡°Sword Master?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you aiming to etch your name among the stars? To reach the highest ce, if not a Sword Master?¡± At Dieta¡¯s question, Najinughed. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not incorrect. Bing a Sword Master is indeed a goal.¡± ¡°It seems there¡¯s more to it?¡± ¡°A Sword Master is a part of the journey, not the destination.¡± ¡°A realm unreachable even if one dedicates their entire life to it is merely a step in the journey. Always¡­¡± Even as sheughed, Dieta couldn¡¯t deny it. The man before her was indeed special. A person who aims for heights unimaginable to ordinary people. ¡°A step in the journey, not the destination¡­¡± Mulling over his words, Dieta stared intently at Najin, resting her chin on her hand. ¡°Maybe I should dream a bit higher myself?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no harm in that. For example?¡± ¡°My original goal was to create a tradingpany big enough to engulf the Arbenia ducal family. To reach the pinnacle as a merchant.¡± But, Dieta murmured. ¡°If I look higher¡­ there is something.¡± A tower built of gold coins. Sitting atop that tower, there would still be higher ces to reach. If she had reached the peak with gold, it was time to scatter those coins and seize power. ¡°Should I be a pir of the empire?¡± The words were spoken lightly. But that goal was anything but light. What is a pir of the empire? Higher than a duke, with only the emperor above, the absolute power holders. Recognized by the emperor, Sometimes even purging members of the imperial family, Not bowing to anyone, Truly the pirs that support the empire. The five pirs of the empire, known as the Imperial Pentagons, represent the highest position a power seeker can attain. In some ways, it¡¯s a titleparable to a Sword Master. Indeed, the empire¡¯s first pir was ¡®Sword Master Gerd¡¯, so it wasn¡¯t an inurate statement. ¡°If you be a Sword Master.¡± Dieta looked at Najin and smiled. ¡°I would need to be one of the Imperial Pentagons to stand on equal footing with you.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it is.¡± She leaned back in her chair. And let out a contented sigh. ¡°It¡¯s still a distant story, but as you said, there¡¯s no harm in dreaming big, right?¡± Well, that¡¯s one thing. Dieta mused and looked straight at Najin. ¡°I enjoyed tonight. I felt like I was the protagonist of a fairy tale. I never imagined I¡¯d be dancing in the center of the stage, it was quite a magical feeling.¡± Everything was so wondrous. Tomorrow, she would return to being the Snake that Swallows Gold, dealing withplex issues, and facing off against the Arbenia ducal family¡­ But at least for tonight, Dieta could enjoy herself as Dieta. Pleased with that fact, Dieta smiled warmly. And she felt a slight pang of regret. Special times feel special precisely because they must return to the routine. ¡®But still¡­¡¯ Dieta nced at Najin. Not everything would return to routine. This feeling for him seemed unlikely to fade. In his presence, she could always be herself. Thump, thump, thump. The loud heartbeat, this fluttering rhythm was entirely her own. And she wouldn¡¯t let anyone take it from her. The Snake that Swallows Gold never lets go of what it sets its eyes on. With the lengthy ordeal concluded and the duke¡¯s farewell, Najin and Dieta boarded the carriage headed for Cambria. The carriage smoothly cut through the wind, moving forward. What followed was simple. Upon returning to the city, Najin would dye his badge red, iming his ce among the highest-ranking adventurers, and Dieta would reim her position as the head of the tradingpany. Despite the numerous obstacles and incidents, things hade to a satisfactory conclusion. Everyone believed this without a doubt. What they hadn¡¯t anticipated was the first child of the Arbenia ducal family¡¯s tenacity, and that the rumors that had reached him were not to be trusted. ¡°I challenge you to a duel.¡± The first thing that greeted Najin and Dieta upon their return to the city was Prince Agesio and a line of knights behind him. Despite receiving orders to return to the ducal family, Agesio had postponed his return, waiting for Najin and Dieta instead. He couldn¡¯t ept it. The fact that Dieta, an abandoned child, had outsmarted him, and that all his ns were thwarted by a mere adventurer. Even if he had to step back, the ducal family¡¯s honor had to be restored. That was Agesio¡¯s thought, his chosen wrong answer. He didn¡¯t know how to ept defeat or endure humiliation. He had never been defeated. Nor had he ever endured humiliation. Of course, Najin didn¡¯t necessarily have to ept the duel. There was no justification, no reason. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t refuse a duel, would you? A man aspiring to be a knight can¡¯t decline an honorable duel, or he wouldn¡¯t be worthy of knighthood. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± But. ¡°If you understand honor and pride.¡± The moment Agesio lightly uttered those words, Najin found his justification, his reason. ¡°I ept the duel¡­¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Najin drew his sword. The de, pulled out with a harsh scrape against the scabbard, gleamed menacingly. epting the duel was what that meant. As one of the knights took a step forward, Najin chuckled and flicked his drawn sword. Responding to the cheap provocation, Najin too hurled a cheap taunt at the knights. ¡°Do you need toe at me one by one?¡± Najin threw his sword scabbard to the ground. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be more bnced if you all came at once?¡± Chapter 69 Chapter 69 ¨C After the Moonlit Night Ends (4) ¡°Do you need toe at me one by one?¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be more bnced if you all came at once?¡± Najin¡¯s words were a clear provocation, and Phileon, the knight who had stepped forward, responded. He was the knight who had been kicked by Najin and mmed into a wall before. The humiliation he had endured in front of his master. Phileon had not forgotten that humiliation. It was a blow allowed by his own carelessness. If they fought again, the oue would be different. He truly believed that if he faced Najin with a sword in a proper ce, he wouldn¡¯t be defeated so easily¡­ Denying, not enduring, was how he chose to protect his pride. And of course, that was the worst of choices. Phileon had been given several clues to understand the situation properly. First, Najin¡¯s mana maniption speed was unusual. Second, his physical abilities were extraordinary. Third, there were rumors that Najin had survived a sh with the knightmander of Arbenia. However, Phileon denied what he had seen, dismissed the rumors as false, and ignored the information he could have considered. It was a mistake born out of a knight¡¯s pride and stubbornness. ¡°You¡¯re incredibly insolent.¡± Phileon approached Najin with a grim expression. From the beginning, he held his sword, drew his sword aura, and circted mana in his body, standing at the forefront beyond his ringrades. ¡°The knight of Arbenia seems quite weak¡­¡± ¡°You talk too much.¡± Interrupting Phileon, Najin threw his sword into the air. It was a bizarre act to let go of his sword in front of an opponent who had drawn his sword aura. Before Phileon could guess the meaning of this action, Najin stepped forward. The longsword spinning in the air. Najin stepping forward. Phileon thrusting his sword at Najin. Rather than understanding Najin¡¯s odd behavior, Phileon aimed to attack the approaching Najin. Phileon swung his sword at Najin, intending not to kill him in a duel but not minding if his sword drew blood. Swoosh! Phileon swung his sword, using Imperial Swordsmanship. The longsword, swung in a clean trajectory, aimed for Najin¡¯s shoulder. It was a sufficient strike to slice through an unprotected opponent who hadn¡¯t even drawn his sword¡­ That¡¯s what Phileon thought. Denial, not eptance. Ignoring, not acknowledging. Thus, he chose the wrong answer, the worst of the wrong answers. Naturally, choosing the wrong answer in a duel does note lightly. Thud. The cleanly swinging sword stopped in its tracks. The reason was Najin¡¯s casually extended left hand, which had grabbed Phileon¡¯s hands holding the sword hilt. Phileon¡¯s eyes widened as he tried to move his arms, but they wouldn¡¯t budge. ¡°What kind of strength¡­!¡± Phileon¡¯s captured hands screamed. Phileon¡¯s brows furrowed. Just as he thought to kick Najin and create some distance, Najin was already moving. Crack. Najin kicked Phileon¡¯s knee. With a snapping sound, Phileon¡¯s knee bent inward. Sparks flew in Phileon¡¯s eyes, and unable to stand any longer, he knelt down. His posture lowered, and naturally, Phileon found himself looking up at Najin. With his hands captured and a knee brought to the ground. Now, the one left defenseless was not Najin but himself. Phileon realized this toote. Once again, sparks flew in his vision, but this time the pain came from his face, not his knee. ¡°Cough¡­?¡± It was a questioning groan. Blood spurted out. The blood wasing from his nose. Phileon frowned at the sharp pain on the bridge of his nose, btedly understanding what had happened. With his left hand, he had pinned down both of Phileon¡¯s hands. With his right fist clenched, he was striking Phileon¡¯s face. Crack, crack, crack¡­ Phileon¡¯s vision flickered several times. His head was repeatedly jerked back and then returned forward with each punch from Najin, causing blood to spray from his face. The watching knights widened their eyes, and Agesio, Phileon¡¯s master, gasped. What Najin was disying was not a duel. It was certainly not a sword fight. It was a one-sided assault. At some point, Najin had let go of Phileon¡¯s hands, but Phileon didn¡¯t even think to swing his sword. His eyes had already lost their rity. Only then did Najin stop his fists, grabbing Phileon by the hair to meet his gaze. Najin¡¯s longsword, which had been thrown into the air at the start of the duel, finally came down and stuck in the ground with a thud. ¡°Are you done?¡± This is a duel. Until one side admits defeat, the duel does not end. The moment Phileon met Najin¡¯s cold eyes, he finally understood. There was no special meaning in Najin throwing his sword upward at the start. It was simply a statement. I don¡¯t even need a sword to deal with you. Phileon felt humiliated by this realization. But more than humiliation, he felt fear. In Najin¡¯s eyes looking down at him, Phileon sensed a chill. By lowering his head, Phileon responded without words. Agesio¡¯s servants dragged Phileon away, and Najin silently watched him and his escort knights. Najin¡¯s gaze spoke volumes. Who¡¯s next? If they still wanted toe at him one by one, he wouldn¡¯t stop them. ¡­The knights weighed their options. Revenge for personal pride or for the honor of Arbenia. Those loyal to Arbenia chose thetter. The remaining four knights stepped forward simultaneously. Only then did Najin draw his sword from the ground. A white sword aura bloomed around the drawn sword. Some say the difference between a martial artist who has awakened a fragment of their heart¡¯s imagery and one who hasn¡¯t is stark. This isn¡¯t just about sword aura. Awakening one¡¯s heart¡¯s imagery is a process of solidifying the soul. Your ownndscape. Your own color. Your own mana. Over the years, humanity has built up much. All martial arts eventually be imitations, and truly new things have be rare, but heart¡¯s imagery remains always new, unique, and original. It¡¯s something that belongs solely to oneself, not imitated from anything else. Only those who are true to themselves can possess it. This firm belief influences the flow of both the body and mana. It means the soul is colored, and mana takes on special forms and properties. Again, to say. The difference between a martial artist who has touched even a fragment of their heart¡¯s imagery and one who hasn¡¯t is stark. Najin, who was unmatched as a Sword Expert from the beginning, had now awakened a fragment of his heart¡¯s imagery¡­ ¡°Cough, cough¡­¡± ¡°Ugh, uweeek!¡± Terrain, special conditions, first strike, grappling techniques. Even in a straightforward duel without these factors, Najin could overpower multiple Experts. Proof of thisy before Najin¡¯s eyes. Knights clutching their stomachs and falling to the ground, fingers snapped and knees shattered. While a priest¡¯s aid could heal such injuries, they were not minor enough for immediatebat readiness. Unlike the fallen knights, Najin only had minor scratches. ¡°¡­How is this possible?¡± Agesio of Arbenia, who had witnessed the entire event, had his eyes shaking. It was unbelievable, even though he saw it with his own eyes. He had never heard of an Expert who could take on four knights at once and subdue them. He must be at least at the level of a Sword Seeker. The rumors that had recently been circting around Agesio were about the adventurer in front of him, who had allegedly withstood a fight against the knightmander of the Arbenian ducal family. Agesio had considered those rumors to be exaggerated. It was a natural assumption. After all, if the formidable Sir Griffin had been serious, there wouldn¡¯t have been a fight to begin with. Agesio had assumed that Griffin arrivedte or that the knights of Trebache had joined from the beginning. ¡°But¡­¡± Five knightsy defeated. Especially since one was subdued barehanded. Seeing such a dire state, it couldn¡¯t just be dismissed as a rumor. Agesio looked at the adventurer before him. Najin, too, was looking at Agesio. Agesio felt a chill in those eyes. He staggered backward. At that moment, without anyone left to protect him, Agesio realized he was alone, facing an adventurer who wouldn¡¯t adhere to noble etiquette. ¡°Stop, stop it.¡± Fear was what he felt. ¡°Stop, Imand you!¡± But Najin didn¡¯t stop, despite Agesio¡¯s loud protests. Eventually, Agesio stumbled over a stone and fell to the ground, no longer able to flee. As he looked up at Najin, his eyes were shaking. ¡°Do you know who I am¡­?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not interested in who you are.¡± Najin leaned down to meet Agesio¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡¯m giving you a warning.¡± His amber eyes glinted. Like the eyes of a beast. ¡°Don¡¯t speak lightly of honor and pride. They¡¯re not light enough for someone like you to talk about.¡± With those words, Najin stood up. He left the fallen knights and Agesio behind and walked away. As the sound of his footsteps faded, Agesio gasped for breath and bowed his head. A sense of relief that it was over. And the humiliation of having felt fear in front of a mere adventurer. Both feelings coexisted as Agesio clenched his teeth, forced to acknowledge hisplete defeat and failure. Click. The sound of footsteps made Agesio look up. Dieta was approaching him. She stood before Agesio with an expressionless face and then smiled down at him. ¡°What a mess, Lord Agesio.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t look down on me. A disgrace to the family¡­¡± ¡°Lord, I am no longer affiliated with the Arbenian family. I have no reason to endure such insults.¡± Dieta cut him off. She hadpleted the process of changing her family name at the Trebache dukedom. She was no longer Dieta Arbenia but a merchant of Cambria. ¡°Lord, you challenged my escort and me to a duel and lost. There are plenty of witnesses to this spectacle, so no need for further proof.¡± She smiled as she gestured around them. The ce Agesio had chosen to humiliate Najin and Dieta had now be a stage for his own greater humiliation. ¡°The victor has rights.¡± She whispered. ¡°And the loser has consequences.¡± The snake¡¯s eyes glinted. The yellow snake¡¯s eyes half-opened. ¡°That¡¯s what a duel is. Even a mere merchant knows thismon sense, so surely the great Lord of Arbenia wouldn¡¯t be unaware.¡± So, ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the consequences you must bear.¡± Duels are for knights, but the consequences and collection are for merchants. Dieta had no intention of letting this easy prey go. After all, shaking him down would spill a fortune in gold coins. The gold-swallowing snake smiled. ¡°¡­What is this?¡± ¡°Your share, what else?¡± In the office of Dieta¡¯spany, Najin pointed to the hefty purse and various documentsid before him, looking puzzled. Dieta, with a smile still on her lips, exined. ¡°The consequences of the duel. See, a little shake and everythinges pouring out. How thankful.¡± The spoils from Agesio. Laughing softly, Dieta seemed fully back to her merchant self. ¡°Anyway.¡± Dieta took a long breath as she looked around the office of her tradingpany, which she had missed, even if just a little, during her time away. ¡°I¡¯m back here again.¡± It felt likeing home. The staff of the tradingpany also breathed a sigh of relief when Dieta returned, and Pasion, who had been guarding the office, even broke down in tears. It¡¯s truly a relief¡­ Recalling the time it took to calm Pasion down and send him off to wash his face, Dieta smiled bitterly. ¡°Give me your coat. I¡¯ll have it mended for you.¡± Dieta pointed at the coat Najin was wearing. Made from the hide of a blood troll, it was durable enough not to tear easily¡­ But considering the opponents Najin had fought, it was natural for it to be in tatters. ¡°I¡¯ll pay back the debt slowly, so look forward to it. You¡¯ll receive more than you ever expected.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t looking to receive anything¡­¡± ¡°I know. You were just keeping a promise. If it makes you ufortable to receive it, think of it as an investment.¡± ¡°If you say so.¡± As Najin responded, Dieta paused for a moment and then shut her mouth. Her title had returned to ¡®tradingpany owner¡¯. Somehow, it felt a little disappointing. She was technically back to being the owner, but it felt like drawing a line. ¡®Come to think of it¡­¡¯ Has he ever called me by my name? She thought hard but couldn¡¯t recall a time. Najin naturally respected others and never casually used someone¡¯s name. She didn¡¯t dislike his personality. Not really. But somehow, she wanted to be called by her name by him. It was embarrassing to say it out loud, so Dieta thought of a clever way. ¡°Hey, how about¡­¡± In the office, with just the two of them, Dieta looked at Najin and cautiously spoke. ¡°Shall we drop the formalities?¡± ¡°¡­Pardon?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s speak informally. We don¡¯t seem to have much age difference.¡± ¡°I¡¯m eight years older.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a fake age.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°See! It is a fake age.¡± Dieta tapped the table with her palms as Najin averted his gaze slightly. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, you¡¯re younger than me?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Wait, are you really younger than me?¡± Seeing Najin avoid her gaze, Dieta let out a long breath. Technically, Najin was 18 and Dieta was 20, but she had no way of knowing that. ¡°No¡­?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just consider it about the same. Eight years isn¡¯t much of a difference.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really sticking to that story, huh.¡± Dieta sighed and spoke again. ¡°Let¡¯s just speak informally anyway.¡± ¡°¡­Do we really need to?¡± ¡°Yes. It would be even better if you call me by my name.¡± After a moment of hesitation, Najin sighed and finally spoke. ¡°Dieta.¡± Dieta¡¯s shoulders jerked. ¡°Is this how it¡¯s supposed to be when we drop the formalities?¡± ¡°Uh, um¡­¡± Dieta fumbled with her words. Her face flushed red, and her eyes darted around, lost. ¡°Let¡¯s, let¡¯s save the informal speech forter.¡± ¡°¡­Why the sudden change?¡± ¡°I, just being called by my name is enough for now.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you prefer¡­¡± ¡°Take care on your way home. I have a lot of work to do, so¡­¡± Dieta mumbled in a barely audible voice, her head bowed low. Najin tilted his head, puzzled, and reached for the doorknob. As he opened the door, he ran into Pasion, who had just returned. ¡°Oh, leaving already? We could¡¯ve talked a bit more¡­¡± Pasion was about to start a conversation with Najin when he saw his master, her ears red to the tips, head bowed. ¡­Pasion silently looked back and forth between Dieta and Najin. The strange atmosphere. The peculiar mood. Pasion broke into a cold sweat. He was not an oblivious knight. A thought of ¡®could it be¡¯ shed through his mind. ¡°¡­The talking can wait for another time. Be careful on your way.¡± Pasion stepped aside to let Najin pass. It seemed his master, who appeared a bit unsettled, might need a moment to herself. Chapter 70 Chapter 70 ¨C Hunter, or Hunted (1) ¡°Congrattions on your promotion.¡± Najin epted the certificate and namete handed over by the supervisor of the promotion exam. The namete, which had been ck just a few months ago, was now shining red. ¡®It seems to be made of a different material too.¡¯ Unlike the green-rank nametes, the red-rank nametes were different in both material and shape. As Najin fiddled with the namete, the supervisor continued his exnation. ¡°Bing a red-rank adventurer means that your reputation is not limited to Cambria. If you show this namete outside, you will be treated ordingly.¡± Above the red rank, there were only five adventurers of the white rank. Essentially, reaching the red rank meant that one could be considered among the top adventurers in the city¡­ and naturally, top-ranked adventurers were entitled to corresponding privileges. ¡°As for the privileges you can enjoy from now on¡­¡± The supervisor¡¯s exnation went on for a while. After hearing about everything from the privileges to the detailed description of the quests he could receive in the future, Najin was finally able to leave the central guild. The moment he stepped out of the central guild building. The eyes of the adventurers gathered in front of the building poured onto Najin. More precisely, onto the red-shining namete he was wearing. Seeing the namete sparkle in the sunlight, the adventurers clicked their tongues. Having set foot in the city just 4-5 months ago. To them, Najin, who had be red-ranked in such a short period, was a source of astonishment and awe. What is the red rank? It¡¯s a level many adventurers dream of reaching once they enter the city, a symbol of sess for them. Considering that many remain at the green rank even after more than ten years, reaching the red rank in just five months was indeed remarkable. When something remarkable happens, some will admire it, and others will envy it. However, few felt thetter towards Najin. Envying a genius would only tire themselves out, and the rumors circting about Najin¡¯s qualifications were evidence enough. He knocked down five knights of a duke¡¯s house. Even facing four of them at once. And surviving a confrontation with the captain of the duke¡¯s knights¡­ Whether all the rumors were true or not was uncertain, but it was undeniable that Najin was among the top within the Sword Experts. -If the rumors are true¡­ -Won¡¯t he reach the white rank soon? -Do you think bing a Sword Seeker is easy? One must be aware of their own essence, and even if they do¡­ -But to face five Sword Experts at once¡­ -It was four. -Four or five. The adventurers whispered among themselves. Ignoring their voices, Najin moved on. He had no intention of taking on any quests immediately, but he had things to do. Whether his namete was ck, green, or red, Najin¡¯s daily routine remained unchanged. Upon returning to his lodging, he sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes. It was time for training. Again. After the incident involving Dieta was resolved, a new process was added to Najin¡¯s training: the process of calming his mind. Sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, he focused inwardly. The mental training that martial artists who have reached a certain level undertake is usually very static and boring. It¡¯s a practice of looking inward and regting one¡¯s breathing. But in Najin¡¯s case¡­ ¡°Hey, have you ever thought about manifesting ake?¡± ¡°What are you talking about now?¡± ¡°You saw my sanctuaryst time, right? It¡¯s ake. A beautifully blueke.¡± His mental training was not so static. Because there was already one constetion residing in his mind. When he closed his eyes and focused inwardly, before seeing thendscape of the underground city, a girl with blue hair would appear in his vision. The Wizard of the Lake, Merlin. She sat on the fence, swinging her legs, and let out a long sigh. ¡°Having lived by theke for over a thousand years, I kinda miss it. It was my hobby to dip my feet in theke. Sshing around in the water would calm my mind.¡± ¡°So, you want me to create ake?¡± ¡°Yep. Is it possible?¡± Merlin nodded vigorously. Although she hadn¡¯t wished for anything when the scenery was just a dark void, now that the mental image was beginning to form, she decided to be a bit greedy. ¡°A smallkeside wouldn¡¯t be too bad, right?¡± Merlin spread her arms wide, drawing a circle. If we were being strict, it was more the size of arge basin or well than ake. Najin wondered what she meant but then thought that this might be part of the training. After all, mental imagery is about manifesting imagination. The process of manifestation itself could be considered training. Even if it¡¯s just akeside, in any case¡­ Merlin must have her reasons for asking. With that thought, Najin closed his eyes and concentrated. He hadn¡¯t seen manykes. There were none in the underground city, and he had only seen them a couple of times while traveling by carriage. ¡®The only one I can think of¡­¡¯ Theke he saw when he first met Merlin. Najin quietly recalled that blueke. ¡°Oh!¡± As he concentrated with his eyes closed, apuse came from beside him. When Najin opened his eyes, Merlin was pping and pointing in front of her. There was a tiny, basin-sizedke. ¡°You actually made it?¡± Merlin smiled brightly, seemingly pleased to see theke after a long time. It was a proud expression. After taking off her shoes and socks in a hurry, she cautiously approached theke and dipped her toes in. Just as she was about to immerse her feet in theke. As soon as Merlin¡¯s bare feet touched it, theke disappeared with a fizzling sound. Merlin, who had been full of anticipation, was left tapping the dirt floor of the underground city with her toes. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Merlin turned her head sharply to look at Najin. Whether she was truly disappointed or not, she pouted and stomped on the innocent dirt floor. ¡°It¡¯s not easy to maintain it.¡± ¡°Well, it makes sense¡­ You haven¡¯t seen manykes¡­¡± Though he said that, disappointment was evident. Merlin sighed deeply as Najin looked at her with a bitter smile. ¡°Anyway.¡± Najin moved on to the main topic. Since awakening his mental image, Najin often spoke face-to-face with Merlin in this manner. It helped with his mental training, and it was morefortable than just talking with voices. Najin drew a picture on the dirt floor of the underground city. ¡°I¡¯ve be a red-rank adventurer now, you know?¡± ¡°Yep. That¡¯s true. It¡¯s faster than I thought¡­ but now it¡¯s not so surprising anymore.¡± ¡°The types of quests I can receive have be more diverse now that I¡¯m red-rank. Especially, I can now take on named quests.¡± He drew three pictures on the dirt floor. Many were interested in Najin now that he had newly ascended to red-rank, and a few of them had sent named quests his way. ¡°First, a bandit subjugation quest, then an escort mission¡­¡± After pointing to the first two pictures in turn, Najin pointed to thest picture. ¡°A quest to search for and subdue a dark mage.¡± ¡°That one, you definitely have to take thest one.¡± ¡°I thought you might say that.¡± Merlin pointed to the third picture without a moment¡¯s hesitation. The quest to search for and subdue a dark mage. The details would be known once the quest was epted¡­ but Najin was nning to take on the third quest if possible. ¡°I¡¯ve never fought a mage before.¡± ¡°Right. It¡¯s better to gain experience now. You¡¯ll have to fight them over and over againter anyway.¡± ¡°With mages?¡± ¡°Yep. Dark mages are just the beginning, and demons are generally simr to mages¡­ That¡¯s probably why there are so many mages who¡¯ve made contracts with demons.¡± Merlin sighed. ¡°Mages are a breed that would sell their souls to demons if it meant gaining knowledge. Especially nowadays, when they¡¯re holed up in towers conducting research, there are plenty of them who¡¯ve gone mad.¡± ¡°¡­Aren¡¯t you a mage too, Merlin?¡± ¡°Look at you? Mages in my time were different. Holed up in towers for research? We hid in forests, conducting our research while greeting intruders morning and night.¡± Anyway, Merlin brushed her hair back and continued. ¡°Even excluding the witch of the abyss as an exception, you¡¯ll have many encounters with demons, dark mages, and the like.¡± ¡°So, you mean to take this opportunity to gain experience?¡± ¡°Something like that. Especially with magic, experience and knowledge are important. How should I exin this¡­¡± She pondered for a moment before snapping her fingers with an ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t know, you get hit.¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the basics of a magic battle. Don¡¯t know the counter? Then you get hit. Of course, this applies to swordsmanship and other areas too, but it¡¯s especially severe in magic battles.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not good news.¡± Najin clicked his tongue. He knew nothing about magic. After all, Najin had lived his lifepletely separate from magic. As Najin sighed, Merlin looked at him with an incredulous expression. ¡°What¡¯s there to worry about?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten who¡¯s by your side?¡± Merlin wore a confident expression. ¡°The first archmage in history to reach the realm of ten rings, the great sage who was the first to define mysteries, the constetion with eleven stars.¡± The one who had awakened to all the magic in the world. Merlin crossed her arms and smiled. ¡°I guarantee, as long as I¡¯m here, you won¡¯t suffer from ignorance. It¡¯s like carrying around a magic-specific strategy guide.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Najin circled the third picture. The quest to search for and subdue a dark mage. It was the moment when the first quest after bing a red-rank adventurer was decided. In a cabin deep in the forest. The man was scratching his neck. Even as the skin peeled off and blood flowed, the man did not stop scratching his neck as if it were itchy. ¡°Thought my neck was itchy.¡± The man sighed. ¡°What brings such a distinguished guest here?¡± The visitor to the cabin. The man sighed and weed the guest. The urge to shoot an arrow right into that unlucky face surged, but the man barely restrained himself. It wouldn¡¯t solve anything. ¡°I¡¯vee to entrust a task.¡± The guest sat on a chair in the cabin. Without even taking off his robe, he spoke. Just as he was about to exin the task, the man became serious. ¡°It¡¯s troublesome if you order people around just because you¡¯ve found one weakness. Don¡¯t test my patience.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an important task. Probably thest one.¡± ¡°Thest one, you say. That¡¯s sweet.¡± The man chuckled. ¡°If it¡¯s not thest one, remember that it will be yourst breath.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll remember.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it then. What¡¯s the task?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be the judge of that. Just exin. Briefly.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like someone killed.¡± The guestid down a portrait. The man frowned as he picked up the portrait. ¡°You want this person killed?¡± ¡°Yes. As quietly and cleanly as possible.¡± ¡°That might be difficult. If I remember correctly, isn¡¯t this person¡­ quite famous in the city?¡± The man pointed to the person in the portrait. He knew of this individual. A person who had recently stirred up Cambria. Someone who had risen to red-rank adventurer in a short period. Adventurer Ivan. The man tapped on the portrait of that person with his finger and asked incredulously. ¡°The reason?¡± ¡°I cannot tell you.¡± ¡°Well, there¡¯s no reason to tell a hunting dog, is there?¡± The man let out a self-deprecatingugh, gripped the portrait, and stood up. It meant he was epting the task. ¡°I hope your words about this being thest time are not false. I¡¯m not fond of being dragged around at this age.¡± ¡°Indeed. Not just for you, but for your¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t say any more.¡± In the dimly lit cabin, where light barely prated. The man¡¯s face was hidden in the shadow, but his eyes glinted like a beast¡¯s in the darkness. It was a chilling gaze that seemed ready to pounce and tear out throats at any moment. ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°¡­Alright.¡± The man began to gather weapons hanging on the wall. Throwing knives, hunting traps, various drugs, a machete painted ck¡­ And a great bow and arge crossbow. Weapons that could not be drawn by human strength, designed only for those close to superhuman warriors. With thick bowstrings and arrows almost asrge as long swords, the man gathered them all and pulled his poncho down deeply. ¡°nning to carry it out immediately?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no harm in being quick.¡± The guest watched the man and said, ¡°I¡¯ll trust you, Kapman Theosis.¡± One of the five white adventurers in the city. Former ranger of the Techo Mountain Range. Hawk Eye, Kapman Theosis did not respond to the guest¡¯s words. Chapter 71 Chapter 71 ¨C Hunter, or Hunted (2) The Snake that Swallows Gold, Dieta. Having cast aside the noble family name Arbenia and be amoner, her daily life had surprisingly not changed much. As always, she organized documents in her office and maintained friendly rtions with her business partners. Her daily life as a merchant remained unchanged. What had changed was her life as ¡®Dieta¡¯. Whenever she took a break from work, sipped her coffee, or absentmindedly looked out the window, Dieta found herself unwittingly sighing. ¡°Haah¡­¡± The employees of the tradingpany interpreted her sighs as ¡°She must be tired from all the work,¡± but to Pasion, the knight who guarded Dieta closely, those sighs seemed far from the sort rted to work. Dieta, with a mncholic gaze, looked out the window. Her gaze was that of someone longing for someone else, a girl anxious because she couldn¡¯t meet her lover. Since her master usually didn¡¯t make such expressions, Pasion found Dieta¡¯s current state both unfamiliar and refreshing. ¡®She must have really fallen for him¡­¡¯ Pasion groaned. It had been over 13 years since Pasion started guarding Dieta. Initially, he guarded her at the request of Dieta¡¯s mother, but as years passed, Pasion came to think of Dieta as his younger sister. A cute younger sister with a significant age difference. It seemed like this younger sister had someone she liked. Pasion, who adored Dieta terribly, would ¡®normally¡¯ go find the man Dieta seemed to have fallen for, interrogate him, and assess him¡­ but knowing who the other party was, Pasion couldn¡¯t do so. ¡®It must be Ivan, that young man.¡¯ Who was this young man named Ivan? Talented, hardworking, and skilled. Moreover, he was a rare romantic aspirant knight in this era, valuing the pride, honor, and loyalty of a knight. Even from the perspective of Pasion, a knight, it was impossible to score him lowly based on these qualities alone¡­ ¡®And furthermore¡­¡¯ He infiltrated the vi and rescued Dieta. He fought against the Knight Commander risking his life. And he ultimately brought Dieta to Cambria. He was truly someone Pasion should kneel and bow to in gratitude. Imagining all these, it was only natural for his master to fall in love. Pasion swallowed his saliva. ¡®He¡¯s indeed a prime candidate for marriage.¡¯ His future is bright, making him an unmatched suitor. However, it seemed like this young man named Ivan had no interest in romance. There¡¯s nothing more regrettable than unrequited love. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Watching his master sigh for the 37th time today while looking out the window, Pasion broke out in cold sweat. Eventually, Dieta murmured in a small voice. ¡°I miss him¡­¡± A very soft murmur. Yet, the superhuman hearing of a knight caught even that. Pasion was contemting bringing Najin over seriously when there was a knock on the door. Knock knock. The voice of the secretary announced a visitor. Dieta wasn¡¯t expecting any visitors today, she thought, just as someone entered after the door creaked open. Anytime. Freely. Reallyfortably! The person Dieta had emphasized several times to the staff to just quietly send up if he visits, was standing at the door. ¡°I came because there¡¯s something I need to ask.¡± So, Najin was standing there. Dieta¡¯s eyes widened. With slightly parted lips, as if she had been stunned, Dieta blinked. ¡°Dieta.¡± Najin called Dieta¡¯s name. Though they had agreed to drop formalities, calling each other by name was part of the deal. Najin called her by name, wondering if she wouldn¡¯t respond otherwise, but¡­ ¡°Hic.¡± In this case, Najin¡¯s call was a critical hit. Dieta, with her ears turning bright red, started hupping. After gulping down tea and taking several deep breaths to recover from her status ailment, Dieta spoke up. ¡°So¡­ you came to ask about the city of Regenoff, right?¡± The reason Najin came to see Dieta. It was to gather information about the location where he was to carry out his quest. After hearing Najin¡¯s brief exnation, Dieta tapped her fingers on the table, organizing her thoughts. ¡°Regenoff city was once dominated by dark mages. It¡¯s a story from decades ago, but there was a fairlyrge group of dark mages that had seized the city.¡± Marauders, Regenoff. The city was known by such a name decades ago. Recalling information about the city, Dieta continued. ¡°Did they say the dark mages had swallowed the city whole? They brainwashed the lord, took hostages, and even spread a perception-inhibiting barrier over the entire city, trying to establish some foundation.¡± ¡°¡­That¡¯s quite arge scale, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°So it¡¯s also recorded in the imperial history books.¡± What became of that in the end? Muttering to herself, Dieta pped her hands with an ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°Then they got caught by the empire, and led by the Royal Guards, the pce knights and mages swept through the city. I heard the Red Tower Master burned the city to the ground?¡± ¡°Burned the city?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how deeply rooted the dark magic was.¡± Dieta stood up, rummaged through a bookshelf, and handed a book to Najin. It was a contemporary history book of the empire. ¡°Here it is. The Regenoff Annihtion Campaign.¡± Annihtion. It was a section with a rather chilling word. As Najin skimmed through the history book, Dieta continued her exnation. ¡°That¡¯s a story from about 50-60 years ago, and the city was rebuilt with a new lord taking office. Since then, it¡¯s been quite famous as amercial city¡­ It seems some troublesome event has urred, right?¡± Najin nodded. ¡°A quest to subdue a dark mage hase in.¡± ¡°Hmm, that would indeed provoke a sensitive reaction. Just when they managed to shake off the derogatory title of ¡®den of mages,¡¯ getting entangled with a dark mage again would be bothersome.¡± Najin looked into the history book. The Regenoff Annihtion Campaign. An event where a group of dark mages led by the Seven Circle dark mage ¡®Kefalon¡¯ was purged, and all rted matters were annihted by the central government of the empire. -Seven Circles dark mage¡­? As Najin nced through the book, Merlin spoke up. ¡®Do you know him?¡¯ -Not a clue about this guy. But Seven Circles is pretty high up there, right? In today¡¯s terms, that would be almost Tower Master level. Circles or Rings. Najin knew it was a way to differentiate the stages of mages, but he wasn¡¯t clear on the specifics. ¡®How powerful is someone with seven circles?¡¯ -Close to a Sword Master. Merlin exined. -Think of Eight Circles as Sword Master level. It¡¯s not a precise division, but from Eight Circles, they are called Archmages. So, Seven Circles would be close to Sword Master level. It still didn¡¯t quite click for Najin. Since he hadn¡¯t yet experienced ¡®what¡¯ a Sword Master could do, that realm still felt like grasping at clouds to him. -If we were topare you to a mage right now, you¡¯d be around four or five circles. ¡®Really?¡¯ -Yeah. Roughly around there. As Najin flipped through the history book while listening to Merlin, he stopped his finger. There in the middle of the book was a name he couldn¡¯t just skip over. Themander of the operation, Gerd. Najin had heard the name Gerd before. The empire¡¯s first pir, known as the strongest human, the Sword Master. ¡°Ah, I heard Sir Gerd, who was then a Royal Guard, also participated in the battle. It seems he was a Sword Seeker at the time.¡± ¡°That Sword Master Gerd?¡± ¡°It must be. He was originally from the Royal Guards.¡± It must have been a significant event. Najin felt that much. It was still an unexplored territory for him, so he could only imagine in his mind. ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be anything in particr to be cautious about when going to Regenoff. Maybe just be careful if an Inquisitor apanies you for the quest?¡± ¡°¡­Inquisitor?¡± Najin narrowed his eyes. Inquisitors. Naturally, his alertness rose due to their connection to religion. ¡°Yes, the Starblood Sect will probably send an Inquisitor. Dealing with heretics like dark mages is their role. They are quite fierce people, so it wouldn¡¯t hurt to be careful.¡± It¡¯s not the Starlight Order. Then it didn¡¯t matter much to Najin. He exhaled shortly and closed the history book. ¡°Thank you for the information.¡± ¡°Was it helpful?¡± ¡°Yes, very.¡± Dieta smiled. ¡°But what should I do with this? It¡¯s still too early to be thankful.¡± She signaled, and the secretary brought a wooden box. Inside the box was Najin¡¯s armor and various equipment that had been sent for repairs, all packed in an adventure bag filled with ¡®our tradingpany¡¯s¡¯ goods. ¡°It¡¯s a gift. The adventure bag is filled with our tradingpany¡¯s goods, so please make good use of it.¡± Dieta, who stood up, unfolded the repaired armor and approached Najin. ¡°Stay still for a moment. Raise your arms.¡± Then she busily helped Najin into the clothes. After checking the fit and adjusting the length of the straps, Dieta smiled faintly. ¡°It suits you well.¡± Handing over the bag filled with adventure goods, she waved at Najin. ¡°Then, take care on your journey.¡± And please share your stories when you return. ¡°Oh, you must be that adventurer, Ivan.¡± On the carriage to Regenoff. In front of the carriage stood a knight who hade to meet Najin. He was a knight dispatched by the lord governing Regenoff. He offered his hand to Najin. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of your fame. My name is Ileph.¡± ¡°Pleased to meet you, Sir Ileph.¡± The two shook hands and boarded the carriage. As they rode towards the city, Najin was able to hear stories rted to the quest from Ileph. ¡°Lately, suspicious movements have been detected in the city¡¯s slums and sewers. Traces of dark magic were also found. It¡¯s being assumed to be rted to the dark mage ¡®Fauve,¡¯ who fled from the Inquisitors.¡± ¡°Do you have more information on the target?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Ileph continued his exnation. ¡°Fauve is at least a Four Circles mage, with an unknown school. However, considering she killed five Inquisitors, she might be of a higher level.¡± And as for special notes. Muttering to himself, Ileph spoke up. ¡°She possesses a masterpiece, Shadowme.¡± The dark mage Fauve owned a masterpiece. Hearing this, Najin immediately murmured inwardly. ¡®Do you know anything about it?¡¯ -I don¡¯t know this masterpiece either. Not all masterpieces were discovered in my time. Even Merlin didn¡¯t know this masterpiece. Hoping for more information, Najin waited for the knight¡¯s further exnation, but Ileph just shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know its effects. Only the name ¡®Shadowme¡¯ was revealed from the unearthed ruins. However, ording to the testimony of an Inquisitor who survived a battle with Fauve¡­¡± He briefly stated. ¡°Don¡¯t trust what you see.¡± Click-ck. The sound of high heels echoed deep in the sewer. Click-ck, click-ck. The sound was apanied by someone¡¯s screams. Someone was screaming as if their throat was being torn apart, but the scream didn¡¯t spread far. Severalyers of soundproof magic were in ce. Only one person listened to that scream. The owner of the high heels seemed to find the scream in her ears delightfully sweet, humming a little tune. The owner of the high heels, Fauve, dragged a mutted human deeper into the sewer, humming cheerfully. She was actually in a good mood right now. ¡°The great predecessor reallyid a solid foundation. Don¡¯t you think so?¡± The dark mages following her nodded. With three dark mages and two sacrifices in tow, she descended deeper into the sewer. Decades ago, the damned empire may have ruined the great predecessor¡¯s n, but¡­ Even that effort wasn¡¯t entirely in vain. The hidden workshop of the legendary dark mage who conspired to overthrow the state, built deep under the city by the great Seven Circles dark mage, Kefalon, survived the empire¡¯s scrutiny. Even the mes ignited by the Red Tower Master couldn¡¯t burn down the workshop located at the very depths of the city. A hidden workshop of a legendary dark mage who attempted a state coup. Isn¡¯t that a drool-worthy tale? Deep in the sewer, Fauve waved her finger. ck mana rose and seeped into the wall¡­ Click, with the sound of something being pressed, a path leading underground was created. Click-ck. Just as she was about to step onto that path, a disturbance was felt from the other side of the sewer. A soldier patrolling the sewer. The soldier, with wide eyes, attempted to signal the knight the moment he moved. Hehe, Fauve chuckled. She flicked thentern at her waist with the back of her hand. As thentern swayed, shadows were cast in the sewer, defying themon sense that fire doesn¡¯t cast shadows, and engulfed the soldier¡¯s vision. Then, ssh. The soldier abruptly threw himself into the sewer. He drowned with his head submerged in the water. There were no screams or noise in his death. Swoosh¡­ Only the sound of flowing water echoed. Chapter 72 Chapter 72 ¨C Hunter, or Hunted (3) ¡¸Dark mages and dark magic are like a gue.¡¹ ¡¸In the sense that they are extremely harmful to people and, if left unchecked, can ravage a domain in no time.¡¹ These were lines from the imperial history books. Numerous dark mages who read these lines rose in protest, iming defamation, but their voices never reached the scribe who had inscribed that sentence in the history books. The reason being, those dark mages were all dead. Killed by whom? By the knights and inquisitors of the empire. The empire applies a principle of zero tolerance to dark magic and demons. Regardless of the purpose or the perpetrator, the rule was to annihte everything associated without question or hesitation. This rule proimed by the empire disregarded not only social status but also national borders. Because that was the empire¡¯s mission. ¡°Why do you think it¡¯s called dark magic?¡± Najin, who was meditating in the carriage, listened to Merlin¡¯s voice. Merlin, sitting on a wall, spoke in a bored tone with her chin propped on her hand. ¡°Fundamentally, magic is a discipline that requires a tremendous amount of time. Unless you¡¯re a genius like me, starting from the basic characters of magic, to the intricacies of circuits, understanding of circles, the structure of spells, and so on¡­ there¡¯s a lot to learn.¡± Merlin shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I, being a genius, understand it all at a nce, but normally that¡¯s not the case¡­¡± ¡°Let¡¯s skip the part about Merlin and get to the point.¡± ¡°¡­Have you been a bit cold to metely?¡± I¡¯ve just learned when to cut you off. As Najin murmured that, Merlin grumbled but continued her exnation. It was about dark magic. ¡°The point is this. Dark magic ¡®shortcuts¡¯ theplicated process. And significantly so.¡± What was that method? Merlin answered with a sigh. ¡°It uses live sacrifices. It shifts all the costs and processes required for casting magic onto someone else. The more sacrifices, the more powerful the effect.¡± She drew on the ground. ¡°A human finger, ornaments made from human bones, and sometimes sks ¡®containing¡¯ living humans. These are things that dark mages always carry around.¡± Just hearing about it made one¡¯s brows furrow. Najin clicked his tongue and murmured. ¡°There¡¯s a reason it¡¯s called dark magic.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Anyway, Merlin muttered. ¡°That¡¯s the key to countering it. What gives dark mages an edge over ordinary mages? It¡¯s the shortcuts and enhancements in spell casting through sacrifices. Destroy all the sacrifices and items they use as mediums, and it¡¯s over.¡± Then go boom boom like this. Merlin flicked her fingers as if setting off an explosion. ¡°This precious insightes from dealing with numerous dark mages, so engrave it firmly in your mind.¡± Merlin shrugged her shoulders, seemingly pleased to show off her knowledge. Regenoff City. Stepping out of the carriage and following the knight¡¯s lead, Najin arrived at a conference room where those participating in the operation had gathered. Entering the room, Najin was greeted by a middle-aged man who seemed to be the employer. ¡°I¡¯ve heard of your reputation, adventurer.¡± The man warmly weed Najin. The man, introduced as Hite, was in charge ofmanding this operation on behalf of Regenoff City¡¯s lord. After Najin¡¯s arrival, people continued to arrive one by one, and once the Inquisitors gathered, Hite exined the outline of the operation. ¡°Our target is the presumed Four Circles (ËÄ­h) dark mage Fauve. A notable point is that she possesses the masterpiece ¡®Shadowme¡¯¡­¡± The exnation continued for a while. The information about Fauve was not much different from what Najin had heard from the knight. As Hite spoke, Najin surveyed the individuals gathered in the conference room. ¡®Knights, mercenary leaders, and then the Inquisitors.¡¯ Najin¡¯s gaze lingered on the Inquisitors for a moment. d in white priest robes with blood-red embroidery. They were the battle priests of the Starblood Sect, carrying sharp longswords and spears instead of the usual scriptures and maces of ordinary priests. ¡°Thest confirmed location of Fauve is the sewer system. Along with sightings, traces of dark magic have continuously been found there.¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s enough to hear.¡± Interrupting Hite¡¯s exnation, a priest stood up. He seemed to be the leader of the Inquisitors, and he briefly exined to Hite. ¡°We¡¯ll operate individually centered around the sewer system. The Starblood Sect has its own ways.¡± He didn¡¯t seek approval. However, neither Hite nor anyone else present showed any resentment, simply nodding in agreement. After all, dealing with dark mages had always been the business of the Starblood Sect. They were the experts in this field, so it seemed like they were respecting the opinion of the experts. After the Sect¡¯s Inquisitors left, Hite continued. ¡°Although the priests from the Sect are well aware, for those of you unfamiliar with dark mages, I¡¯d like to share some cautionary points and strategies. Does anyone have any knowledge they¡¯d like to share?¡± Najin raised his hand. ¡°I heard that destroying the sacrifices or mediums used by dark mages is effective in countering them.¡± It was information from Merlin. Information from an expert who had dealt with numerous dark mages was bound to be urate. However, upon hearing Najin¡¯s response, Hite showed a somewhat peculiar expression. ¡°Yes¡­? Not incorrect, but¡­ that¡¯s a rather outdated method. It¡¯s hardly used these days.¡± He awkwardly smiled, struggling to phrase it politely, but it meant that it was an old-fashioned method from long ago. Najin inwardly murmured. ¡®Strategies against dark mages, you said?¡¯ -¡­¡­ Merlin fell silent. After a moment of silence, Merlin spoke up. -¡­He doesn¡¯t know because he¡¯s ignorant. That¡¯s how it was done in my time. Najin realized the need to filter the information from Merlin, who had been active almost a thousand years ago. ¡°If you¡¯re looking for information useful in dealing with dark mages, I¡¯ve summarized it here. It might be helpful to read through it once. And¡­¡± After distributing some documents, Hite took a deep breath. ¡°Adventurer Ivan, pleasee this way. I have something to discuss separately.¡± Najin nodded. After the mercenary leader and knights left, Hite shared the special conditions tied to this quest with Najin alone. ¡°So¡­¡± Najin summarized what he had heard. ¡°You¡¯re saying it would be best if the job were done as quickly as possible, preferably faster than the Inquisitors?¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Hite nodded. The faster the speed, the higher the reward for the quest, he promised. ¡°Why hire you, an adventurer, when the job could have been left solely to the Inquisitors? To resolve this matter as swiftly as possible.¡± The reason he exined was mostly as follows. Five Inquisitors had already been killed by Fauve. If that number increased or Fauve¡¯s estimated threat level rose, it would be very troublesome¡­ ¡°It would be troublesome?¡± Najin inquired about the reason. With a deep sigh, Hite responded. ¡°The Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect would take action.¡± The Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect. That was a being even Najin was aware of. ¡°The Inquisitor General¡­ Yuel Razian?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± The Starlight Order has the Lighthouse Keeper, the Starbody Order has the Star Embodiment, and the Starblood Sect has the Inquisitor General. Sword Master, Yuel Razian. Najin had alsoe across information about this being known as a murderer. Yuel Razian was among the candidates who could pull out the Excalibur. ¡°If there¡¯s a dark mage of a certain threat level¡­ she takes action personally.¡± Even though it¡¯s not an issue warranting the movement of a Sword Master, Yuel Razian would move. If she finds a reason to stain her sword with blood, she would dly take steps. And if that happens, everything is over. The Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect possesses immunity and extrajudicial rights, including the right to execute summary judgments, even greater than those held by the pope of the Sect. The moment such a person sets foot in a domain¡­ it turns into utter chaos. ¡°It¡¯s not for no reason that there¡¯s a saying about burning down a domain just to catch one dark mage. The lord wishes to wrap up this matter cleanly before the Inquisitor General takes action.¡± The moment Yuel Razian moves. The domain would be a sea of blood, and all businesses in the thrivingmercial city would be frozen. Hite was exining that he had hired Najin to prevent such an oue from spreading. ¡°Then, am I not enough alone?¡± Hearing the story, Najin tilted his head. Not that he doubted his own skills, but if what Hite said was true, wouldn¡¯t he alone be insufficient? If they were so worried, shouldn¡¯t they have hired more people? ¡°Ah, no need to worry about that.¡± To Najin¡¯s question, Hite smiled. ¡°We¡¯ve hired another very skilled adventurer from the city of adventurers to work with you, Ivan. You should probably move together with that person.¡± He¡¯s probably waiting for you. Saying so, Hite opened the door and stepped outside. Following him, Najin arrived at a spot where a man with a deeply hooded poncho was standing. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The man looked at Najin without a word. The moment their gazes met, Najin felt a chill run down his spine. It was a chilling gaze, akin to that of a predatory animal. Feeling such eeriness for a moment, Najin narrowed his eyes. Najin recognized the man¡¯s appearance. He had seen it in a portrait hanging in the central guild. The moment their gazes met, Najin recalled the man¡¯s name. ¡®Kapman Theosis.¡¯ Hawk Eye, Kapman Theosis. One of the five white-ranked adventurers in the city. Hawk Eye, Kapman Theosis. Najin was well aware of the stories about this adventurer, who was once a ranger of the Techo Mountain Range. The white-ranked adventurers of the city of adventurers were all celebrities, and Najin had a personal interest in Kapman, a man said to be a ranger. And when ites to rangers, the first thing Najin thinks of is ¡®Horace,¡¯ one of the rulers of the underground city. ¡®Of course, he¡¯s iparable to Horace.¡¯ Apart from that, Najin had some interest in thebat style of those called rangers. While gazing at each other, Kapman approached Najin first. With each step he took, the namete hanging on his neck swayed. A pure white namete. It was proof of being a white-horn ranked adventurer, the pinnacle of Cambria. Confirming that his guess was not wrong, Najin also stepped towards Kapman. Thump. Kapman, who stopped in the middle, extended his hand to Najin first, seemingly offering a handshake. Najin took his hand. Kapman was the first to speak. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the stories. Red-ranked adventurer, Ivan. It seems we¡¯ll be joining forces this time. I am Kapman Theosis. Do I need an introduction?¡± Najin shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m well aware of the stories. I look forward to working with you.¡± ¡°Good to hear you¡¯re quick on the uptake. First off, we¡¯ll also infiltrate the sewer system to pursue the dark mage. You¡¯ve heard about the quest, right? The employer says speed is of the essence, so n to move quickly.¡± Kapman pointed to the entrance leading to the sewer system. ¡°We¡¯ll outpace the Inquisitors. We¡¯ll swiftly assassinate the dark mage Fauve before she causes more casualties. Understood?¡± He quickly summarized the key points. Najin nodded. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s get moving.¡± There was no need for further small talk. Just as they were about to pass the entrance to the sewer system, Kapman loaded an arrow into his ballista and asked Najin. ¡°Do you need antern? I have good night vision, so I don¡¯t need one, but you might.¡± ¡°I tend to see well in the dark too, so I think I¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Is that so? Well then¡­¡± Kapman looked at the darkness enveloping the sewer and let out a slight chuckle. ¡°Either way, be careful.¡± Click, the heavy sound of the crossbow being loaded echoed. ¡°In such dark sewers, no one knows who will be the prey and who will be the hunter.¡± Chapter 73 Chapter 73 ¨C Hunter, or Hunted (4) Ranger. Najin didn¡¯t know much about them. The basic knowledge was that Rangers perform dirtier and darker tasks than knights. That was all he knew about them, including their excellence in undercover operations, assassinations, setting traps, and ambushes. ¡¸Rangers are tricky.¡¹ And to add a bit more. ¡¸Indeed, tricky. It¡¯s hard to put into words, but Rangers are troublesome. You know that famous saying, right?¡¹ ¡¸Not all battles are divided by realms.¡¹ ¡¸That¡¯s bullshit in most cases, but not when you¡¯re dealing with Rangers.¡¹ It was information he had heard from Ivan and Offen. ¡¸They are hunters.¡¹ Rangers are hunters. ¡¸Does a hunter confront a beast head-on? Facing a wild boar and swinging a sword directly at it is just crazy, not hunting.¡¹ ¡¸Hunters thoroughly ¡®hunt.¡¯¡¹ ¡¸Knowing the target¡¯s habits, characteristics, movements, routes, quirks, and even the slightest weaknesses¡­¡± Ivan pointed his finger at Najin¡¯s temple. ¡¸Bang.¡¹ Ivan made a gesture of firing a crossbow, chuckling. ¡¸And finally, pulling the trigger.¡¹ Click. Najin turned his head at the sound of loading from behind. There stood Kapman, loading an arrow into his crossbow. Although the crossbow wasn¡¯t aimed at him, Najin felt an eerie chill. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s a unique crossbow.¡± Najin changed the subject. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such arge crossbow before.¡± ¡°Of course. It¡¯s usually mounted on walls.¡± What Kapman held was arge crossbow. It was simr in size to a ballista used for interception on walls, but Kapman moved around with the crossbow slung over his shoulder as if it wasn¡¯t heavy at all. ¡®Ordinary strength wouldn¡¯t suffice.¡¯ The image of someone holding such arge crossbow with both hands without a stand, shooting arrows, didn¡¯t quite fit in Najin¡¯s mind. The recoil would likely knock them back or cause them to fall. ¡®An impossible feat for an ordinary human.¡¯ Such acts were done with ease by superhumans, and Sword Seekers were close to superhumans. For a martial artist of their caliber, it probably wasn¡¯t difficult. Najin and Kapman walked silently along the sewer. They needed to go deeper into the underground sewer. Swoosh¡­ The sound of water flowing in the sewer was audible, but their footsteps were not. Both of them were skilled in concealing their presence. Najin, leading the way, did not notice Kapman¡¯s gaze closely observing his footsteps from behind. ¡°Were you part of the covert unit?¡± Kapman, who had been observing Najin, asked curtly. Najin stopped walking at the sudden question. ¡°Keep walking. We can talk while walking.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I asked if you were part of the covert unit. Your walk resembles that of the Order¡¯s covert unit. It¡¯s simr¡­ No, even better than theirs?¡± Kapman muttered indifferently. ¡°You seem to have quite a story.¡± ¡°Why bring that up all of a sudden¡­¡± ¡°Unknown identity. No records. Age, name, and even realm unclear. It¡¯s just because a noble of some significance from the Cambria Foundation vouched for you¡­¡± Kapman murmured and then chuckled. ¡°Otherwise, you would have had a tough time. I¡¯m speaking from experience. I also suffered a bit when I entered in disguise.¡± Eventually, it all came to light. You know who I am, right? Saying so, Kapman exhaled a long, very long breath. ¡°Don¡¯t expect a response to that question; no need to rack your brain. Just think of it as an old man¡¯s rambling.¡± ¡°Is that so.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it is. When you reach my age, you¡¯ll find yourself talking more. Even when there¡¯s no need to share stories, you end up chatting away.¡± The underground sewer stretched endlessly downward. ¡°Is it because it¡¯s so quiet, or does it make people more sentimental¡­ Sometimes I even find myself talking to the targets of my assignments?¡± As there was still some distance to the deeper parts of the sewer, Kapman continued the conversation. It was more like talking to himself than seekingmunication. ¡°You get curious, right? Ah, how did this guy live his life? What kind of life did he lead to end up in this situation? Just listening to their stories.¡± Click, and Kapman aimed the crossbow at Najin. ¡°Like this, aiming a crossbow.¡± ¡°That is such a bad hobby.¡± ¡°A bad hobby, indeed. But if they have anyst words before dying, I should listen, right? No matter how miserably they¡¯ve lived, a person should be able to leave somest words.¡± Kapman looked at Najin¡¯s hands. Even though he yfully aimed the crossbow, Najin¡¯s hand resting on his waist had already half-drawn his sword. If Kapman were to fire the crossbow? Najin would respond immediately. ¡®He has quick reflexes.¡¯ Kapman lowered the crossbow with a smile. ¡°Of course, dark mages are an exception, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Why are dark mages an exception?¡± ¡°You¡¯re asking the obvious. Didn¡¯t I say it? If they¡¯re ¡®a person,¡¯ they can leavest words.¡± Najin blinked, and Kapman answered. ¡°Dark mages aren¡¯t human. They¡¯re beastly bastards, like dogs that don¡¯t know gratitude.¡± Kapman spat out as if chewing on the words. The voice carried venom, a muttering filled with deep resentment. It seemed he had had some unpleasant encounters with dark mages. That¡¯s what Najin thought. ¡°It¡¯s starting to appear.¡± ¡°That iron grate looks like the entrance.¡± ¡°Lead the way. I¡¯ll cover the back.¡± As they continued their conversation and walked, they eventually reached the deepest part of the underground sewer. Passing through a twisted iron grate, Najin thought to himself. ¡®It¡¯s damn wide.¡¯ Was it because it spanned the entire city? The size of the sewer was terrifyingly vast. Not just that, this sewer was constructed when the city was upied by the Circle of Dark Mages ¡®Kefalon¡¯ in the past. From the beginning, this sewer was designed to hide dark magic research facilities and foundations and for Kefalon and his disciples to hide and hold out. Thus, the structure of the sewer was like a maze, reminiscent of spider webs or anthills. How could one find a dark mage in such a maze? The flowing water and damp air erased all traces, rendering the usual tracking skills useless in this space. ¡®Where to start¡­¡¯ Najin pondered, but his contemtion didn¡¯tst long. There was no need to search for traces. Creak¡­ Creeeak¡­ Beyond the sound of flowing water, the sound of dragging feet was heard. Najin looked towards the sound. There stood a guard. The uniform was that of the city¡¯s guard, but the flesh was bluish and theplexion deathly pale. It was not a living soldier. It was a moving corpse. The magic that moves corpses. In the empire, it¡¯s considered taboo, and naturally, the only ones who vite this taboo are dark mages. Sure enough, beyond the corpse, two dark mages in robes were seen. ng, the moment Najin drew his sword. The dark mages swung their staffs. The water flowing in the sewer began to bubble, and corpses started to emerge from the water. Their movement signified one thing. They had no intention of hiding or running away. They chose to intercept the intruders, as if they owned this sewer. Regardless of their intention, the same thought crossed Najin and Kapman¡¯s minds as they looked at the horde of corpses. This just got easier. At least they saved them the trouble of searching. The only magic Najin had ever experienced was the blood-based magic used by the alchemist of the underground city, Drugmaker Hakan. Even that, strictly speaking, was more akin to alchemy, making it a stretch to call it magic. So, strictly speaking. This was his first time seeing proper magic. Najin looked beyond the moving corpses. The reanimated corpses were merely a front line. Behind them were dark mages preparing their magic. Dark mana surged. The surging mana coalesced in the air. What appeared as the mana came together were two rings. The rings, or circles, as mages call them. The moment the strange characters engraved on the rings sparkled, Najin¡¯s body reflexively moved. Swoosh! What shot through the air was a stake made of bone. A stake resembling a human spine thudded into the spot where Najin had just stood. -Typical of the necromancy school. A voice echoed in Najin¡¯s ears. -Controlling corpses, sacrificing their bodies to cast magic, very typical of necromancers. Listening to the voice, Najin assumed his stance. He wasn¡¯t sure how the magic was shot, but he could see the flow of mana vibrating the air. -The basic means of attack are bone stakes. See them pulling out bones over there? The corpses blocking your way are not only a front line but also a medium for their dark magic. Sword aura formed on Najin¡¯s sword. -The next magicing is, aha. He bent his knees and lowered his stance. With his sword drawn back, Najin narrowed his eyes. -Bone swamp. Jump. The moment Najin kicked off the ground, bone stakes sprouted from the floor almost simultaneously. A spell to block a swordsman¡¯s approach. Transforming the terrain into a trap, intercepting from a distance, a very standard tactic. But if you know about it, it¡¯s not hard to counter. As he kicked off the ground, Najin began to run along the sewer wall. Physical abilities close to those of a Sword Seeker and innate bnce allowed him to run on the wall almost as fast as if he were sprinting on the ground. Ratatatatat! Bone stakes btedly sprang up on the sewer wall as well, but again, toote. By the time the stakes had emerged, Najin had already leaped into the midst of the corpses. The dark mages hastily swung their staves. The corpses swelled up, and then, with a thud, exploded, scattering their bone fragments in all directions. Necromancers of the necromancy school be more troublesome the more corpses they have to use as mediums. With this many corpses, they could easily grind down a warrior. As the corpses exploded, the dark mage thought so. Until, that is, they saw Najin hanging upside down, having driven his sword into the ceiling. ¡®When did he?¡¯ The dark mage¡¯s reaction speed couldn¡¯t keep up with Najin¡¯s movements, and by the time he cast his spell, Najin was already not there. As if he knew what was going to happen. -It¡¯s over. What now echoed in Najin¡¯s ears was Merlin¡¯s voice. What he saw were the flows of mana. He knew when the magic would be shot. And Merlin whispered to him the form of that magic. In other words, it was as if he knew ¡®in which direction,¡¯ ¡®what trajectory,¡¯ and ¡®at what moment¡¯ the opponent¡¯s sword woulde. If he knew, there was no reason he couldn¡¯t counter. ¡®There¡¯s no losing to a dark mage.¡¯ Hanging upside down from the ceiling, Najin bent his knees. ¡®Is this what you meant?¡¯ -You shouldn¡¯t lose to a low-level mage ¡®out of ignorance.¡¯ Well¡­ you probably could have done without my help anyway. And then, bang. Najin kicked off the ceiling. Diving diagonally towards the dark mage, he was like an arrow shot from a bow. The dark mage tried to shoot bone stakes, pull in corpses, but¡­ Najin twisted his body in mid-air, swinging his sword. The moment the sword auraden de touched them, the bone stakes turned to dust and disappeared. The moment the spinning sword swept by, the corpses blocking the way were all split apart. Sword aura, capable of slicing through stone walls and even steel, couldn¡¯t possibly be stopped by mere corpses. Squeak! The view opened up in an instant. The moment Najinnded right in front of the dark mage, the dark mage¡¯s eyes widened. The moment a swordsman is allowed to approach, the battlefield bes disadvantageous for the mage. And the dark mage had no means to overturn this disadvantage. Najin¡¯s sword sliced through the dark mage¡¯s wrist. Blowing away the wrist holding the staff, Najin reached out his hand. To cast magic, a mage needs fingers, a staff, or a mouth, as Merlin said. -Unless they¡¯re an archmage, they¡¯re bound by sybles and circuits. Block all of that, and they can¡¯t cast magic, right? The hand and staff were blown away. What remained was the mouth. Najin pped the dark mage¡¯s chin with his palm, silencing that mouth. Then, gripping the dark mage¡¯s face, Najin immobilized him. The dark mage¡¯s eyes fluttered as he was subdued in an instant. Regardless, Najin nced to the side. There were two dark mages weing them. One was subdued by Najin, but what about the other? The answery a short distance away. ¡°Cough, cough¡­¡± A dark mage embedded in the wall. A giant arrow was lodged in his abdomen, piercing through and deeply embedded in the wall. The arrow, having passed through the abdomen and stuck in the wall, made the dark mage look like a pinned insect. The scene created by a single arrow was chilling. Following the trajectory of the arrow, countless bodies were split into upper and lower halves. It looked as if they had exploded. But upon closer inspection, it was evident they had been pierced by the arrow. Kapman stood expressionlessly at the end of the arrow¡¯s path. He loaded another arrow and stepped forward. Click. The sound of heels echoed in the sewer. Najin¡¯s head whipped around. The sound came from a path turning to the right. The path was bent, so the figure wasn¡¯t visible, but the shadow cast on the wall was. The presence of a shadow meant there was light. Holding antern or something, the shadow flickered. As Najin was about to step towards the shadow, discarding the subdued dark mage. Swoosh. An arm stretched out from the bent path. Hiding the body, only the arm of the shadow¡¯s owner reached out. In that hand was antern. Antern burning with blue mes. The blue mes flickered. The flickering me imprinted on Najin¡¯s retina. Burning mes. A flickeringntern. And the giant shadow cast. The shadow cast on the sewer wall took the shape of mes. The shadow of fire covered the sewer. And then, whoosh. The shadowme engulfed Najin. Chapter 74 Chapter 74 ¨C Hunter, or Hunted (5) Najin¡¯s exceptional reflexes turned out to be a double-edged sword. When an arm stretched out from the curved path in the underground sewer, Najin instinctively widened his eyes to identify and prepare for what was held in that hand. Indeed, his reflexes were remarkable and his intention seeded. But sess doesn¡¯t always mean it¡¯s the best oue. Najin saw thentern held in the outstretched hand. The me burning eerily blue within thentern flickered. The moment the flickering me was reflected in Najin¡¯s eyes, he felt as if the world had turned upside down. He could see the eerily burning me. The burning me cast shadows. The shadowme was imprinted on Najin¡¯s retina. The change urred in an instant. First, his sense of bnce was lost; second, the scenery he saw with his eyes distorted; and third, his internal sensations became a mess. Am I standing? Have I fallen? Or is it something else¡­ A confusion of sight and sensation. -Najin! Yet the voice echoing within him remained undistorted. It was not heard with the ears but was a resonance of the soul. As Merlin¡¯s voice echoed, Najin clenched his teeth. Even amidst the chaos of his senses, Najin felt ¡®something¡¯ approaching him. Trusting his intuition, Najin extended his arm and kicked the ground. Ratatatatat! Bone stakes shot towards Najin, embedding themselves in his body. However, the bone stake aimed at his face was blocked by Najin¡¯s outstretched hand, and his kick off the ground prevented the stakes from piercing any vital points. An astonishing movement given the disarray of his vision and senses. But that was all. Najin, who had leaped without seeing his surroundings, plunged into the waterway of the sewer. Ssh, and then swoosh¡­ Almost simultaneously as Najin fell into the water, an arrow was shot. The arrow, flying through the air, burst through the corpses blocking the way and headed towards the hand holding thentern. Yet, the arrow did not pierce the arm. Creak, creak, creak. A protective spell cast over the arm caught the arrow. Soon, with a loud crack, the spell shattered. That a single arrow could destroy a mage¡¯s protective barrier was astonishing, but¡­ it didn¡¯t improve the situation. Click. And then she revealed herself around the bend. Holding the eerily burningntern and adorned with ornaments made of human bones, the dark mage Fauve smiled. ¡°Quite impressive.¡± A bracelet snapped and fell to the ground. It was a bracelet that had absorbed the impact of the protective spell. A bracelet that could withstand four strikes from an average Sword Expert was destroyed in one hit. An impressive force, but Fauve seemed merely amused, not significantly perturbed. She still had many relics on her person. Fauve looked leisurely at the ranger aiming a crossbow at her and smiled. ¡°But is that okay? Yourpanion has already fallen into the sewer. Aren¡¯t you going to save him?¡± With that, she tapped her staff on the ground. Rings of magic appeared behind her. Fauve swayed thentern she held, smiling. ¡°Falling into the water after being affected by this once¡­ You¡¯ll never be able to climb out. If you don¡¯t go save him now, he¡¯ll drown. Shouldn¡¯t you dive in after him?¡± A single ring. Bone stakes. Swoosh, as the bone stakes shot through the air towards Kapman, he pulled the trigger of his crossbow. With a loud thud, his poncho fluttered from the recoil. Crash. The arrow shattered the bone stakes. The arrow, slicing through the cloud of bone dust, stopped right in front of Fauve. This time, the arrow could not break through Fauve¡¯s barrier. The focused barrier in front of her caught the arrow. ¡°So cold-hearted. I¡¯m not fond of men without loyalty.¡± Fauve clicked her tongue, aiming her staff. ¡°But what to do? There¡¯s nothing more helpless than an archer without a vanguard.¡± One, two, three. Three rings of magic rose behind her. Not just the rings appeared behind her, but also two dark mages and corpses with their eyes rolled back emerged from the curved path. The corpses were a mix of knights and inquisitors. They were either the first to rush in or those recently defeated by the dark mages. Watching this, Kapman clicked his tongue. Things just got more troublesome. Ranger, Kapman Theosis, assessed the situation. Two dark mages of the second circle. One dark mage of the fourth circle, and over twenty corpses they could utilize as mediums. This alone would make them difficult to confront without preparation¡­ ¡®And they possess a masterpiece too.¡¯ Thentern-shaped masterpiece, Shadowme. The precise effects of this masterpiece were unknown. However, seeing how Najin lost his bnce and fell into the water when thentern flickered, it was likely¡­ A hallucinogenic or sensory disruption type. The me in Fauve¡¯sntern was nearly extinguished. Observing the me slowly growing in size, it seemed the relic required a recharge time. With this in mind, Kapman exhaled deeply. A challenging opponent. And this was their territory. They had yet to fully assess their prey and were at a disadvantageous battlefield. But¡­ so what? Kapman was a ranger, and before that, a soldier. He had fought more in unfavorable conditions than favorable ones. What mattered was turning the situation around. The corpses rushed towards Kapman. The knight and inquisitor corpses stood guarding Fauve, while the dark mages behind the advancing corpses chanted their spells. Setting up a vanguard and preparing powerful magic. Even as dark mages, they resorted to conventional tactics. ¡°Tsk.¡± Kapman clicked his tongue and pulled the trigger of the ballista, letting his body go with the recoil. There was no need for precise aim against the corpses charging head-on. Thud. With the recoil, Kapman was pushed significantly back. As he retreated, he let go of the ballista. The ballista fell to the ground with a thud, and Kapman¡¯s hand had already reached inside his poncho. What emerged from the poncho was a throwing dagger. The dagger thudded into the corpses, significantly reduced in number by therge arrow. Between the corpses that fell with pierced heads, Kapman gained a clear view. Fauve and two dark mages gathered together, with her pointing a staff at them. Blood droplets floated above the staff Fauve aimed. Kapman knew what that magic was. A favorite of blood alchemists and necromancers. Blood-based magic, requiring arge amount of blood, difficult for anyone but those of the blood sect to use¡­ but not for dark mages. They didn¡¯t need to use their own blood. There were corpses that hadn¡¯t been hit by the dagger or arrow, their skin shriveled up. As if all the blood had been drained from them. The blood extracted from the corpses swirled above Fauve¡¯s staff. Three rings of magic. 3-circle magic, Bloodray. The spell came as its name suggested. A ray of blood shot from the tip of the staff. Kapman was well aware of this spell, favored by dark mages, and he knew how to counter it as well. As he lowered his stance, Kapman flicked his fingers. The throwing daggers embedded in the corpses glowed a pale blue. Kapman might not have been a mage, but he knew how to handle magical artifacts. The more weapons at his disposal, the better. The spell engraved on the five daggers was ¡®Refraction.¡¯ The pale blue glowing daggers refracted the bloodray. Dodging the zigzagging ray, Kapman extended his arm forward. His target was the dark mages standing beside Fauve. Thwack. An arrow shot from the crossbow mounted on his forearm. The arrow disrupted the dark mages¡¯ chanting. With the few seconds gained, Kapman drew the great bow slung on his back and nocked an arrow to the string. The action, repeated thousands, if not tens of thousands of times, was smooth, and the bowstring was pulled to its limit. Screeeeech! The refracted bloodray, melting the sewer walls, circled back. The deadly ray returned at a terrifying speed. Before the ray could reach his back, Kapman aimed to thin their numbers. Just as he was about to release the bowstring. Gurgle. An unexpected sound was heard. Something burst through the water, breaking the surface tension. Sshing water droplets, Najin emerged from the sewer, bone stakes embedded in his body, already wrapped in sword aura. Spinning in mid-air, Najin nted his sword into the sewer ceiling. Securing the sword in the ceiling and retracting the sword aura, Najin then nted his feet on the ceiling. All this happened in one second. The sword, once again wrapped in glowing sword aura, was drawn from the ceiling. With the sword in hand, Najin kicked off the ceiling, charging towards Fauve. ¡°¡­!¡± Fauve, who had been aiming at Kapman, swiftly redirected her staff towards Najin. Just as the bloodray, scraping the sewer walls, was about to target Najin. Swoosh. Kapman released the bowstring in an instant decision. The arrow targeted Fauve¡¯s staff. The ray of blood, emanating from the staff¡¯s tip, began to melt the arrow, but before it couldpletely dissolve, the arrow struck the end of the staff. The trajectory of the staff, aimed at Najin, was altered. The bloodray narrowly missed Najin by a hair¡¯s breadth, and he, twisting his body, swung his sword. A brilliant arc of white sword aura traced a semicircr path. The sword aura, swung in an arc, struck down upon the protective spell around Fauve. The spell, which could have easily withstood four blows from an Expert, could not withstand Najin¡¯s strike. Crack. Najin¡¯s sword strike broke through the defense. Just as the tumultuous sword aura was about to reach Fauve¡¯s neck, a loud explosion of the protective spell urred. 2-circle spell, Barrier of Rejection. The resulting repulsion force pushed Najin significantly backward. He was propelled back to where Kapman stood, exhaling deeply. There, Kapman looked at Najin with a bemused expression. ¡°¡­You¡¯ve managed to survive, impressively.¡± A murmur of disbelief. Najin didn¡¯t mention how, upon falling into the water, he had instinctively thrust his aura-wrapped sword into the wall and moved blindly against the current. He merely ryed brief information. ¡°That hallucinationsts about 1 minute and 30 seconds.¡± From the moment his senses twisted, Najin had been silently counting. The duration of the masterpiece¡¯s effect, whatever it was that caused the shadowme. Sharing this timing, Najin gasped for breath. Bone stakes were still embedded in his body, and his breathing was harsh from holding his breath underwater. His condition wasn¡¯t great, a result of receiving a critical hit during their first encounter without any information. As Najin removed the bone stakes from his body, he regted his breathing. ¡°Kapman, sir.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°How many can you handle?¡± ¡°You first.¡± Najin, sword in hand, gazed ahead. The two dark mages gathered with Fauve and their summoned corpses seemed somewhat challenging to handle alone. ¡°This crazy bastard¡­!¡± While the two conversed, Fauve red at Najin, eyes wide with fury. Despite using the Barrier of Rejection, Najin¡¯s sword aura had managed to graze her skin just before she was pushed away. Blood dripped from her neck as she pressed her palm against it, grinding her teeth. She cursed under her breath while roughly tapping thentern at her waist. The fully recharged Shadowme flickered eerily blue once more. As Kapman was about to close his eyes at the sight of the flickeringntern, Najin¡¯s voice reached him. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of her.¡± Kapman heard Najin¡¯s voice. ¡°Handle the rest as you see fit.¡± ¡°What?¡± A tone ofmand. Before Kapman could retort, questioning the sanity of such a statement, Najin stomped on the ground. A loud thud resonated, and cracks spread across the sewer floor. A burst of eleration. Najin surged forward. Kapman, with his eyes closed, didn¡¯t see it, but he gasped. The fleeting presence he felt was too ferocious. With the ground as hisunchpad, Najin sprinted forward. Rapidly drawing mana, Najin¡¯s speed rivaled that of a Sword Seeker. The dark mages couldn¡¯t follow his movement with their eyes. By the time they realized, Najin was already upon them. However, the corpses of the knights and inquisitors managed to react to Najin¡¯s movement, albeit btedly. They swung their swords at Najin, and Fauve extended herntern towards him. But Najin had already closed his eyes. He could feel their presence even with his eyes shut. Najin took another step forward, maintaining his momentum and swinging his sword. As the Barrier of Rejection shattered, attempting to push Najin back, he reached out with his hand. ¡­The repulsion from the Barrier of Rejection urs ¡®twice.¡¯ The first instance focuses on the weapon that broke the barrier, urring instantly, and the second, a wider repulsion, follows shortly after. Having heard this from Merlin and just experienced it, Najin seized the opportunity. Having experienced it, he swung his sword with one hand. The sword that broke the barrier, and his left hand holding the sword, were flung back, but his right hand remained. Najin¡¯s extended right hand grasped Fauve¡¯s cor. As the repulsion force began to push Najin back, Fauve¡¯s neck tightened in the grip of her robe. ¡°Gack!¡± Her breathing disrupted, her magical power scattered. Najin wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity. He drove his foot down, leveraging the repulsion to hurl Fauve away. Fauve was thrown far into the distance. She was separated from the assisting dark mage and the protective corpses. The knight corpse swung its sword and the inquisitor brandished its spear, but by then, Najin was already sprinting towards the isted Fauve. Najin charged at Fauve, still with his eyes closed. Fauve clenched her teeth as she watched Najin, who was running towards her with his eyes still closed. Was he nning to fight blindfolded? Let¡¯s see if he could manage that. As she caressed her neck and swung thentern vigorously, she thought to herself. The Shadowme was a masterpiece. If simply closing one¡¯s eyes could neutralize it, it wouldn¡¯t be called a masterpiece. ¡®The moment he falls for it again.¡¯ This time, she would pierce his torso with a beam of blood. As a smile formed on Fauve¡¯s lips at this thought, Najin opened his eyes. He then stared directly into the flickering me. His eyes, wide open, were tinted with a tinum hue. Chapter 75 Chapter 75 ¨C Hunter, or Hunted (6) There are things called masterpieces. They are the 47 weapons forged by the primordial cksmith, artifacts that can cause miraculous phenomena. There has always been debate on whether to ssify these as mere weapons or as sacred relics. It¡¯s no wonder. Some took the form of spears and swords, while others resemblednterns, monocles, and even decorative timepieces. However, everyone agreed that masterpieces were ¡®dangerous¡¯ because they harbored mysteries. The concept of mystery was only defined thousands of years after the masterpieces were created, by the grand sorceress Merlin herself. ording to her, mystery meant the following: ¡ºUnbound by rules.¡» ¡ºBeyond the realm ofmon sense.¡» Rules as natural as fire burning and ice being cold, or shadows falling opposite to the light¡­ Mysteries break free from such constraints. In other words, they are things that defymon sense. Concepts beyondmon sense. Weapons imbued with such concepts. Such items could not be anything but dangerous. Take, for example, a child holding a masterpiece ¡®Bookmark¡¯ that killed a warrior of Sword Seeker caliber; the peril speaks for itself. Masterpieces disregard power disparities. They shatter norms and turn the tide of battle. If one does not understand the mystery within a masterpiece, battling an opponent armed with one bes exceedingly arduous. Hence, most warriors preferred to avoid confrontations with those wielding masterpieces, especially the less-known ones. This was a logical decision. The usual way to learn a masterpiece¡¯s mystery was through direct confrontation, which often resulted in death for those who faced it. The 4th masterpiece, Bookmark. It took the lives of 68 knights before its mystery was uncovered. Naturally, no warrior wished to be among those 68. It was wiser to wait for someone else to decipher the masterpiece¡¯s mystery at the cost of their life. ¡­Of course, it goes without saying. -Mirages. Exceptions always exist in the world. There are those who can perceive the mysteries with just one nce, without needing to face them repeatedly. The grand sorceress is one such individual. -The mystery within that masterpiece is mirages. Merlin, who defined mysteries, exined to Najin: -It confuses your sight and senses. But not both simultaneously. If you stare into the fire, ¡®sight¡¯ gets disrupted. And if you step on the shadowme, your sense of touch gets jumbled. See or step on or swallow. -Unfortunately, you can¡¯t avoid the shadows here. Merlin clicked her tongue. There were many reasons the opponent hid in the sewers, but this underground waterway was too advantageous for using that masterpiece. -But it¡¯s not without a solution. -Do you remember what I told you before? As Najin charged towards Fauve, he thought to himself. He remembered. And he knew what she was about to say. Najin opened his eyes, which he had shut. As soon as he did, he became aware of the flow coursing through his body. It was the starlight that had been within him since that day. Hidden and invisible to others, but undeniably present within him, shining more brilliantly than anything else in the world, was the starlight flowing within Najin. -Your body is no different from Excalibur¡¯s scabbard. -It might have been hard to perceive when you were an Expert¡­ Merlin smiled. -Do you feel it now? He had awakened fragments of Imagery. He was at the threshold of bing a Sword Seeker. During this process, Najin¡¯s soul and body had undoubtedly grown, and growth was also a process of bing aware of the hidden aspects within oneself. Now, he could feel it. The light that dwelled in his soul. Something beyond his control, vast and intense starlight. But he could grasp a small handful of it, enough to wield it. He couldn¡¯t clothe his entire body with a handful of starlight. The use of starlight was limited to a certain range. And where to use it had already been decided. Starlight resided in Najin¡¯s pupils. His tinum-blonde eyes stared directly into the mes burning on thentern. When swallowed by the cast shadowme, his senses were shaken, but his vision remained steady. -Excalibur exists above all masterpieces. -The Sword of the Star stands above all, how could any mere masterpiecepare with Excalibur? Since Excalibur was a concept above masterpieces. Merlin smirked, and Najin surged forward. His senses may have been jumbled, but his vision was clear. Though his body moved contrary to his will, adjusting was not difficult since he could see the movements with his own eyes. Boom. Najin elerated with a leap from the ground. Fauve¡¯s eyes widened as she saw Najin, who dared to charge head-on even after gazing at the masterpiece. ¡°This madman¡­!¡± Fauve swung her staff. Above her, circles of magic flickered, casting spells. Bone stakes. Bone swamp. Spells to halt the charge and buy time. The instantly cast spells attempted to block Najin¡¯s path, but¡­ Najin didn¡¯t slow down in the slightest. He could see them. If he could see, then slicing through was the solution. The bone stakes were swept away by Najin¡¯s sword aura, turning into dust. The bone swamp that covered the floor, walls, and ceiling was no different. Najin didn¡¯t stop to swing his sword; the motion of swinging and stepping forward were indistinguishable. Swoosh! With each swing of his sword, chunks of bones were swept away. Fauve¡¯s spells couldn¡¯t hold back Najin¡¯s steps for even a second. Fauve felt a chill as she saw Najin, with wide eyes, charging towards her. What is this? What exactly is this? Fauve felt a chill. Despite her efforts to throw off his senses and vision with the masterpiece, he charged forward as if unaffected, shattering her restraining spells with terrifying speed. ¡®What is this¡­?¡¯ The spells meant to buy time for chanting higher circle spells didn¡¯t grant her even a second. By the time she blinked, he had already closed the distance. Kaaang! Najin¡¯s sword shattered Fauve¡¯s barrier. As the barrier broke, a repulsion field was generated, but the situation remained unchanged. ¡°Gah!¡± Fauve was thrown aside, the dyed repulsion force making her drift further from her group, pushing her into a corner. ¡®This madman¡­¡¯ She cursed inwardly. Normally, the repulsion barrier isn¡¯t something to be used lightly. Maintaining protective spells consumes circles, reducingbat effectiveness andputational capacity for spells. That¡¯s why, for most mages, ¡®protective spells¡¯ are merely a precautionary measure. Carrying multipleyers of protection is only possible for archmages of the sixth circle or higher, overflowing withputational capacity and circles. But Fauve could use the repulsion barrier multiple times because of the artifacts she wore. ¡®The relics hidden by the seventh circle dark mage, Kefalon.¡¯ Kefalon¡¯s workshop, hidden in this sewer, overflowed with such relics. The artifacts she had acquired in just a few days of exploration were impressive. Such relics could only be worn by a tower master¡¯s apprentice. Relics of this caliber obtained in mere days. That¡¯s why Fauve was reluctant to abandon this workshop. Greater relics must be hidden deeper within. Therefore, she chose to intercept her pursuers. She believed she could advance her realm here if she bought enough time. Buy time, elevate her realm, and then leave this city. That was Fauve¡¯s original n. But now, that n was crumbling due to the mad swordsman charging at her. ¡®I shouldn¡¯t be losing. Why?¡¯ Fauve sweated coldly. Her threat level was known to the public as a fourth circle, so at best, a Sword Seeker level warrior was expected toe after her. And she was confident she wouldn¡¯t lose to a Sword Seeker. With the masterpiece, numerous relics, her following of dark mages, and the undead army at her disposal, she believed she could easily handle a Sword Seeker. But what was happening now? Kaaang! Another repulsion barrier was stripped away. ¡°Ugh!¡± Thrown again. When she came to, nearly all the relics she wore were shattered. The price of maintaining the repulsion barrier had taken its toll. Only four uses left. And even that number was rapidly dwindling. Fauve gritted her teeth and chanted a spell. Harassment was useless. It was better to assume the barrier would break andnd a heavy blow. Fauve¡¯s circle glowed blood-red. 3-circle magic, Bloodray. There was still blood extracted from the corpses. The swirling blood shone and wasunched towards Najin. The blood ray dyed the sewer red. As expected of a third-circle spell known for its exceptional power, its destructive force was iparable to the harassment spells. Screech! It melted everything in its path. The surface of the sewer scorched by the blood ray boiled and steamed, and the walls it touched melted. A spell that inflicted fatal wounds with just a brush. Kapman had countered it with a magic-imbued dagger, but Najin had no means to deflect it. Fauve thought so, but¡­ She overlooked Najin¡¯s physical capabilities, reaction speed, and dynamic vision. The moment Fauve¡¯s staff glowed blood-red, Najin was already moving. The blood ray was fired from the tip of the staff. Predicting its path. He moved ahead of it. As the light shed, Najin crouched and leaped, the ray and its scorching heat passing just above his head. But Fauve wasn¡¯t just a passive observer. She moved her staff, adjusting the ray¡¯s trajectory. However, it was futile. Najin¡¯s eyes were fixed on the tip of Fauve¡¯s staff. Predicting the blood ray¡¯s path from the staff¡¯s movement was not difficult. Running up the walls, Najin closed the distance once again. And then, Kaaang! Another repulsion barrier was stripped away. Only three barriers remained. Fauve¡¯s eyes began to waver. She sensed it. If things continued this way, she would be defeated. ¡®He¡¯s insane.¡¯ It was supposed to be her with the upper hand, holding the variables, but instead, the other side was creating variables. They were far from the main force, and no one coulde to help her. The distance from the corpses she could use for magic had also increased, preventing her from firing any more blood rays. The advantages she had were disappearing one by one. Death was approaching. The mad swordsman wasing. To cut her down. As she continued to retreat, she discovered a passage leading to Kefalon¡¯s hidden workshop. Using this passage now would leave traces and eventually expose the facility, but¡­ there was no time to consider such things. She struck the wall with her staff as she fled. ck mana coiled around the wall, and the passage leading underground creaked open. Fauve leaped towards the passage. As she passed through, the door that began to close was met by Najin throwing himself at it. Then, Kwoong. The door leading to the workshop closed firmly. Dark, damp, and unsettling. As Najin entered the workshop, his senses immediately went on high alert. The aura pervading this space was ominous. -All workshops of dark mages are like this. -This seems to be the workshop hidden by that Kefalon or whatever his name was. Ignoring Merlin¡¯s words, Najin pursued Fauve. It was pitch ck without a single light, but Najin could clearly see Fauve fleeing. Thud. Najin, leaping from the ground, swung his sword towards the fleeing Fauve¡¯s back. Now ustomed to the repulsion created by the repulsion barrier, instead of being thrown, Najin kicked Fauve¡¯s back. ¡°Ugh!¡± Fauve tumbled to the ground, hitting something and causing it to break. Then, a crunching sound followed as a relic shattered. -Two left. Merlin, counting the relics,mented. Najin, sword in hand, approached Fauve. The tide had turned, and the effects of the masterpiece were wearing off, returning his senses to normal. It was time to end this tiresome chase, Najin concluded. ¡°Heh, hehe¡­¡± Then,ughter echoed. Najin narrowed his eyes. Fauve, slowly rising, let out augh. Had she lost her mind? No, that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have followed me in here.¡± It wasn¡¯t just bravado. Fauve chuckled and mmed her staff down. Behind her, circles began to rise. One, two, three¡­ and then four. Fauve revealed all four circles. The light emitted by the circles brightened the surroundings. And the revealed scene was filled with horrors. Traces of biological experiments. Materials for ck magicy scattered around. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear that stepping into a mage¡¯s workshop won¡¯t end well for you?¡± A mage¡¯s workshop. Their domain, prepared with countless spells. Moreover, this was the workshop of Kefalon, a seventh-circle dark mage. ¡°It¡¯s all over, you crazy swordsman.¡± Fauve smirked and swung her staff. Mana spread out from her, and the mediums scattered around the workshop began to sparkle. The four circles spun wildly, quickly weaving a spell. Sparks flew from the spinning circles, assisted by mediums and relics. Herees. A massive spell with the power of the fourth circle or higher. But in front of the spinning circles, Najin remained expressionless. Who wouldn¡¯t know it¡¯s disadvantageous to enter a workshop? Yet, he had chased after Fauve, confident he could win despite the disadvantage. Keeeeeeng! The noise of surging mana echoed. But Najin didn¡¯t pay attention to that noise. The voice he listened to was the one ringing inside him. -Pulling out Excalibur seems a bit much. -Such a facility can¡¯t hide the light of Excalibur. It would take the power of a high-ranking demon to obscure its light even for a moment. But, Merlinughed. -It¡¯s enough to obscure your sword aura. Najin exhaled shortly. Closing his eyes, he raised his sword high. Grasping the fragments of Imagery and wandering through his Imagery, Najin realized his Imagery was somewhat peculiar. Thendscape at the heart of his Imagery. The vivid memory manifested as sword aura. While it should typically be one, Najin¡¯s Imagery contained two. One was a pure white star hanging low, and the other, a tinum star hanging high. ¡®The one I¡¯ve always summoned.¡¯ The pure white star. The pure white sword aura. The remaining one shouldn¡¯t be revealed in front of others, and the pure white star was more fitting for knightly conduct. ¡®But.¡¯ What he was about to do. Cutting down a dark mage, dealing with something cunning and vile. Najin knew that the pure white sword aura wasn¡¯t suited for such tasks. What he was summoning now was the highest hanging star. The tinum sword aura he had never had the chance to summon before. Merlin, within Najin¡¯s inner world, saw it. The star hanging high in the sky shone fiercely before being sucked somewhere. Watching this, Merlin closed her eyes. The star was drawn into the sword Najin held. The sword aura transformed. The nature of the sword aura changed. The tinum-zing sword aura was like a star itself. In a ce devoid of stars, the sword aura drawn by a boy yearning for the stars was beautiful yet poignant. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± In the dark mage¡¯s workshop filled with poignant starlight. Fauve¡¯s eyes widened the moment she faced the tinum sword aura. Even someone ignorant about swords knew what tinum sword aura meant. Sword aura granted to only one person in history. The sword aura wielded by King Arthur was there. Its meaning was simple and clear. Facing the tinum sword aura, Fauve realized. The roles of hunter and prey had been reversed. From the beginning, she was merely the prey. Chapter 76 Chapter 76 ¨C Hawk Eye, Kapman Theosis (1) tinum symbolizes the stars. The brilliant stars in the night sky, a blend of pure white and gold, are tinum-colored, as is the de of Excalibur, known as the Sword of Selection. Thus, people often associate tinum with stars. tinum symbolizes the stars and is also sacred. The constetions in the night sky are all great beings, and the orders that serve the stars also hold starlight sacred. Therefore, tinum, resembling starlight, was considered divine. Resembling stars and being sacred. Thanks to these symbolic elements, tinum was used in various ces: in the lighthouse of the Starlight Order, in the tinum tower at the empire¡¯s center, in the imperial family¡¯s emblem, and in countless precious things. However, there were ces it was not used. mes fueled by souls. tinum mana, circles, sword aura¡­ Many aspired for tinum, but no mage or swordsman could ever ignite tinum mes. It was a color granted to only one person in human history. The great hero, Arthur. Only he possessed the tinum mes. Only Arthur could wield the tinum sword aura. It was a well-known tale, and with no exceptions arising in the hundreds of years since Arthur¡¯s death, it became an established truth. It surely must be so. It definitely should be so. Fauve¡¯s eyes shook wildly. She saw the sword aura burning before her, emanating from Najin. If her eyes were not deceiving her, it was unmistakably containing tinum. Fauve swallowed dryly before the distinctly tinum sword aura. ¡°Deception. Illusion. Misunderstanding.¡± Numerous possibilities shed through her mind. However, her intuition denied all of them. ¡°But.¡± Fauve clenched her teeth. Even if that was indeed the tinum sword aura, she knew there was only one thing she could do. Kneeling and bowing now would only lead her to death. Above her, four circles spun wildly. Having voraciously consumed the mediums prepared in the workshop, Fauve¡¯s circles were ready to unleash a spell. Feeling her mana churn, Fauve forced a smile. There was only one option given to her. To kill the opponent before her. That was the only way for her to survive. Fauve aimed the tip of her staff at Najin, enveloped in tinum sword aura. It was the most powerful spell she could cast, and the spell¡¯s power, amplified by the workshop¡¯s full mediums, wasparable to that of a fifth circle. 4-circle magic, Hunger of the Dead. A pulse emanated from the tip of the staff. Following the radially spreading pulse, the grasps of the dead surged forth. The risen grasps wed, contaminated, and shattered everything they touched, ultimately turning them into the dead as well. The rotting dead, forever unable to satiate their hunger, are doomed to eternally gasp in starvation. The intense resentment, the souls¡¯ echoes of corpses and live sacrifices, made the power of ¡°Hunger of the Dead¡± far from trivial. If one hadn¡¯t received the church¡¯s baptism, their flesh would rot and crumble upon contact with those grasps, ultimately turning into the dead. DRDRDRDRDRDRDR! The grasps of the dead filled the view, leaving no ce to escape. Watching the spell unleashed by Fauve, Najin clicked his tongue. Indeed, a 4th circle spell¡¯s effects are menacing. -Of course, it would be. From the fourth circle onwards, they¡¯re like siege weapons. Merlin whispered. -Normally, you shouldn¡¯t let such spells be cast. -In a battle of this level, using a fourth circle spell is almost decisive. Merlin was right. If a typical mage had manifested a spell with simr power, one would have to be prepared for a fatal injury. The spell that surged broadly without giving a ce to escape seemed threatening even to Najin. Is this what it feels like to battle a mage? With that thought, Najin steadied himself. Even though it might seem like he was cornered, his breathing and gaze remained coldly calm. Well, a fourth circle spell being menacing is a story when ¡®typical¡¯ spells are involved. The opponent before him was a dark mage, and as usual for dark mages, Fauve¡¯s spell wasn¡¯t righteous and tainted the principles. Then, Najin judged, it¡¯s not a problem. nk. Lifting his sword high, Najin took a step forward. Without backing down, Najin charged straight towards the grasps of the dead. The moment the reaching grasps were about to touch Najin¡¯s body. Ssshh, Najin¡¯s sword sliced through the hands of the dead. Fauve¡¯s eyes widened. It wasn¡¯t impossible to cut through a spell. However, this case was different. The grasps touched by the tinum sword aura were burning away. Hssssss! The spell was burning away. The grasps of the dead were cut by Najin¡¯s sword and burned away by the starlight as soon as they emerged. Wherever the tinum sword aura touched, the grasps crumbled away like shadows retreating. ¡­tinum symbolizes the stars and is also sacred. The tinum sword aura, possessed only by Arthur in human history and known by many names like the Dragon yer¡¯s sword, the Star¡¯s sword, among demons, it was called this: The Judgement Sword Aura. It burns what it touches. It severs. And thus, it judges the wicked and vile. It burns the flesh of demons, hinders regeneration, and outright denies corrupted mana. -It¡¯s all aboutpatibility, after all. Watching the scene unfold before her, Merlin chuckled dryly. It was an absurd situation even for her. The day Najin¡¯s tinum sword aura was first seen. At that time, it seemed unlikely, and not being certain, Merlin decided to withhold judgment until the Sword Seeker test, where the sword aura¡¯s nature would be evident. Now, as Najin approached the realm of the Seeker¡­ Merlin had no choice but to acknowledge it. It was merely imbued with a fragment of Imagery. It¡¯s not yetplete. Yet, it possesses the qualities of a star. The sword aura feared by demons, hated by witches and dragons, and cursed by fallen stars. The sword aura blooming on Najin¡¯s sword is of the same kind as Arthur¡¯s. ¡®Is it because he drew the Excalibur that he possesses such sword aura?¡¯ If not that. ¡®Is it because the star he wished for, the star he envisioned, was Arthur¡¯s star, that he possesses such sword aura?¡¯ Which one it was, remained uncertain. Uncertain, but¡­ Looking at Najin¡¯s mournfully shining star, Merlin bitterly smiled. The starlight wrapping Najin¡¯s sword resembled Arthur¡¯s, yet it was different. The spell was severed. The grasps were burning away. Fauve¡¯s gaze wavered, and the staff she extended forward also shook. At this moment, Fauve felt fear. Her fourth circle spell was being shredded. Her most powerful spell was being cut through so effortlessly. Each time Najin swung his sword, a mass of hands was swept away, and with every step forward he took, the distance between them closed instantly. ¡°How¡­?¡± It was iprehensible. It defied all logic, but the hands, turning to ash in the starlight and screaming this reality to Fauve, were undeniable. Ssshh. The chilling sound of slicing echoed. The sound resonating in her ears was the sizzling of the severed parts burning away. The dead were being consumed by the starlight, drawing nearer. Before she knew it, all the numerous grasps were cut down and gone. Only wisps of mana, like mirages, rose from the tip of her now powerless staff. And then, thud. The sound of steps rang out right in front of her. Najin, having demolished the fourth circle spell head-on and closed the distance, had finally reached right before Fauve. Swoosh! Najin swung his sword. The swung de cut through Fauve¡¯s staff. Cutting the staff and soaring up, the de fell diagonally, smoothly slicing through Fauve¡¯s protective barrier. There was no resistance, no repulsion. The de, cutting through the barrier and reaching Fauve¡¯s neck, shone mournfully even in the darkness with its tinum sword aura. That was thest scene Fauve saw. Ssshh. The end of the dark mage, who had dreamt of grand ambitions, was pitiful. Her severed head tumbled to the ground. Leaving Fauve¡¯s falling body behind, Najin let out a long breath, feeling a wave of exhaustion wash over him, draining his strength. ¡°It¡¯s still quite tough, isn¡¯t it?¡± -You¡¯re not a Sword Seeker yet, after all. Merlin remarked. -The sword aura isn¡¯t yet shaped to properly contain Imagery, and forcing Imagery into it without the right form is bound to be straining. Listening to Merlin¡¯s muttering, Najin flicked his sword lightly and sheathed it. Indeed, he hadn¡¯t yet reached the realm of a Seeker, so the duration he could maintain the Imagery-infused sword aura was short. ¡°It seems to run out much faster than the white sword aura.¡± The sword aura containing the pure white star ran out several times faster than the one with the tinum star. It was still a power that was difficult to handle. With that thought, Najin surveyed his surroundings. ¡°This ce has a foul vibe.¡± Kefalon¡¯s workshop, where he had nned something in this city decades ago. Capturing the workshop¡¯s scene in his sight, Najin frowned. Even Najin, who wasn¡¯t easily disturbed, couldn¡¯t suppress the nausea from the ¡®objects¡¯ ced around. -It¡¯s strange how dark mages don¡¯t change their ways even after hundreds of years. The unpleasantness remains the same. Merlin also showed a disgusted reaction. Najin thought it would be best to report this ce and have it dealt with separately. It wouldn¡¯t do any good to have such a thing remain beneath the city. ¡°Huff¡­¡± Exhaling deeply, Najin pulled out a stake embedded in his body. He took out an emergency potion from his pouch, sprinkled it on the wound, and then poured a potion with the Dieta Trading Company¡¯s mark into his mouth. -Did you only pick out the high-quality ones? ¡°It seems like the effects are kicking in already.¡± Najin dragged Fauve¡¯s body. It needed to be shown to the client. Finding the passage he had entered through, Najin moved on. The passage leading upward. The door was firmly shut, but after bringing Fauve¡¯s face close to it a few times, it creaked open. Thud. Stepping outside the opened door, the first thing Najin encountered was Kapman, aiming a crossbow at him. Najin emerged into the passage and locked eyes with Kapman. Lowering the crossbow, Kapman approached Najin. ¡°I expected Fauve toe out, but it¡¯s you.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t I say I would handle it?¡± ¡°I thought it was just bravado. Who¡¯d charge at a Circle¡¯s dark mage with holes all over their body?¡± ¡°I would.¡± Kapman chuckled. He pointed at the body of Fauve that Najin was dragging. ¡°You won, I take it?¡± ¡°It turned out that way.¡± ¡°Well, damn. How did you manage?¡± ¡°What else is there for a swordsman? I charged and cut her down.¡± ¡°That¡¯s rather straightforward.¡± Kapman let out a long, very long sigh. ¡°Well, it made things easier for us. With Fauve out of the picture, dealing with the rest was simple. See those holes I made?¡± ¡°I see them clearly.¡± ¡°Now we just need to report back¡­¡± Kapman fiddled with his neck as if it was itching. He trailed off, then looked at Najin. ¡°Do you remember what I asked youst time?¡± ¡°What are you referring to?¡± ¡°The question about whether you¡¯re part of the Order¡¯s secret division.¡± ¡°I remember. Do you need an answer?¡± It was a question that didn¡¯t need an answerst time, something Kapman had dismissed as thinking out loud. Kapman shook his head. ¡°No need. It seemed unlikely after observing you.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°The Order¡¯s secret division doesn¡¯t fight like you do. But it seems like you¡¯re rted to them somehow¡­ Can I ask you one more thing?¡± Najin nodded, and Kapman asked. ¡°Underground City Artman. How¡¯s it these days?¡± An unexpected question from an unexpected person. Najin¡¯s mind momentarily froze. Why this person was asking, how much he knew, and what his intentions were¡ªall these thoughts shed through Najin¡¯s mind. And he came to one conclusion. Which was to do something immediately. Najin let go of Fauve¡¯s body and drew his sword. But the time it took to draw the sword¡­ was a second slower than Najin¡¯s usual decision-making time, due to the turmoil in his thoughts. And one second was¡­ ¡°I thought so.¡± Enough time to lose the initiative. ¡°Damn it all.¡± An arrow lodged into Najin¡¯s body Chapter 77 Chapter 77 ¨C Hawk Eye, Kapman Theosis (2) Arrows pierced Najin¡¯s abdomen. One, two, three consecutive arrows lodged themselves in quick session. Najin¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, as there had been no precursor to the fired arrows. Kapman had not made any motion to draw or wield a weapon. It was only when the fourth arrow was shot that Najin realized it came from a small crossbow attached to Kapman¡¯s wrist. Despite the confusion clouding his mind dying his reaction, allowing three arrows to hit, Najin was determined not to permit a fourth. Swinging his sword, he deflected the arrow and took a step towards Kapman. The distance was short. A single step was all it took for his sword to reach. Why Kapman attacked him, how he knew about the Underground City Artman, such considerations were postponed. Action was imperative. With a swift motion, Najin closed the gap and swung his sword. At such a range, a swordsman held the advantage over an archer. An unseen ranger is to be feared, but a visible one is less so, as even Ivan had mentioned. Najin¡¯s judgment was not mistaken. However, what Najin overlooked was that Kapman Theosis was not an ordinary ranger. Kapman¡¯s arm, emerging from beneath his poncho, held a rugged machete. As it shed with Najin¡¯s sword¡­ A loud ng forced Najin¡¯s arm backward. Kapman¡¯s strength surpassed Najin¡¯s. As Najin repelled the de, leaving his abdomen exposed, Kapman kicked it. The arrows, previously halted by armor, were now crushed under Kapman¡¯s boot, breaking the shaft and driving them deeper. Najin grimaced and clenched his teeth, gripping his sword anew. He crouched, aiming to thrust his longsword into Kapman¡¯s leg, but then, ¡°Engraving Release, Burst.¡± With a thunderous explosion, the enchanted arrowheads detonated, scattering shrapnel into Najin¡¯s body like buckshot. The st sent him flying, creating another opening. Kapman, now wielding a throwing dagger in his right hand,unched it while swinging his machete with his left. The nearly simultaneous actions made it exceedingly difficult for the unbnced Najin to counter or dodge. Yet, it wasn¡¯t impossible. With bloodshot eyes, Najin predicted Kapman¡¯s attack and, despite his stiff body, managed to retaliate. He parried the machete and ducked under the thrown dagger, But couldn¡¯t avoid them all, as one dagger lodged itself into his shoulder. Realizing the glowing blue of the embedded dagger, Najin leaped backward, pulling it out and tossing it aside just in time. The thrown dagger exploded upon removal, and Najin gritted his teeth. His abdomen throbbed painfully, and he coughed up blood. Spitting out the blood, he frowned. He had misjudged the situation. He had allowed too much distance. Creating distance when facing an archer is a critical mistake. Najin caught sight of Kapman¡¯s great bow, aimed at him, with an arrow gleaming at its tip. With a twang, as Kapman released the bowstring, Najin also swung his sword. The collision with the massive arrow felt like his shoulder was being torn off. The stopping power of the arrow, shot from a great bow nearly as thick as a longsword, exceeded Najin¡¯s expectations. Sparks flew between the sword and the arrow. Despite firmly nting his feet, Najin was pushed back, his shoes scraping against the ground. When he finally managed to shake off the arrow¡­ Another was already on its way. Unable to duck or jump, the arrow flew at a height that made evasion impossible without sacrificing a part of his body. Najin gritted his teeth and twisted his body. The arrow grazed his side, ripping through the flesh with a loud tear. Blood poured from the wound. Despite the pain contorting his face, Najin kept his eyes open, allowing him to see Kapman drawing his bow once again. The hunter never releases prey once captured. Ultimately, Najin chose to flee, realizing he couldn¡¯t turn the tide against Kapman here. Exposing one¡¯s back to a ranger and giving them time is a grave mistake, but Survival necessitated escape. As Najin narrowly dodged another arrow, he sprinted deeper into the sewer. Watching Najin flee, Kapman took a long breath before initiating the chase. The hunter¡¯s eyes glittered in the darkness. Kapman Theosis was a seasoned hunter. Having served in the Techo Mountain Rangers, bordering the empire for many years, hunting those who opposed the empire¡¯s name, he was adept in the art of hunting. Imperial knights seeking asylum abroad, mages attempting to sell imperial secrets, countless fugitives, and asionally, kingdom soldiers. Kapman, who hunted various individuals under diverse conditions without discrimination, knew better than anyone how tomence a hunt. Especially against formidable opponents. Understanding the prey¡¯s habits, minor quirks, movement, response speed, weaponry, andbat style enriched the hunt. Thus, Kapman gathered all avable information on the adventurer ¡°Ivan¡±¡­ rather, the young man named Najin, and observed him with his own eyes. ¡°A real madman.¡± During the information gathering, Kapman couldn¡¯t help but be astonished. ording to the client, the young man was eighteen. Approaching the realm of a Sword Seeker at such a young age was unfathomable, an extraordinary talent beyondmon sense. Even Karan, a genius among geniuses, only became a Sword Seeker in his thirties. An eighteen-year-old Sword Seeker was beyond Kapman¡¯sprehension. And there was more. Surviving a duel with the Commander of the Arbenia Ducal Knights and the Demon Knight, challenging and living through encounters with stronger opponents. Such feats were impossible for those intoxicated by their talent. Thus, Kapman observed with his own eyes. And he had to acknowledge the truth. The young man possessed more than just talent. Instantaneous decision-making and bold action, he was undoubtedly a youth climbing to great heights. And Kapman had to kill him. Because he had epted themission, and he couldn¡¯t refuse it. Lighting a cigarette from his waistband as he pursued the fleeing Najin, Kapman cursed. Taking a long drag, he spat out the smoke and clicked his tongue. Regardless of his foul mood or the desire to smash the client¡¯s face, the hunt had begun. And it must be seen through to the end. Otherwise, he would be the one to die. Kapman never let his guard down. Even if he seemed to have the upper hand, even if he felt like the stronger party¡­ He had experienced and caused enough reversals to know better. Above all, the young man he pursued possessed the talent and judgment to turn the tables. Managing to deal a critical blow to Fauve despite being gravely injured himself was no ordinary feat. ¡°He took down the dark mage Fauve head-on.¡± There must be more tricks up his sleeve. So press on relentlessly. With that thought, Kapman tracked Najin¡¯s trail. With the way up blocked by Kapman, Najin had no choice but to descend deeper into the sewer. And there¡­ A deafening explosion shook the sewer. Tossing the spent cigarette into the water, Kapman scratched his chin. It seemed he had triggered a trap. Kapman had arrived in the city the night before. And the hunt had begun from that very night. He hadid traps throughout the sewer system. He had hoped to catch the dark mage, but it didn¡¯t matter who got caught. Whether it was the dark mage or Najin, both were prey in Kapman¡¯s eyes. A scratch on his neck peeled skin, drawing blood. As he scratched the mark on his neck, Kapman moved towards the source of the sound. Rangers are truly bothersome creatures. Why, you ask? Their traps are a real pain in the neck. Setting such traps is a talent in itself. From what I¡¯ve seen, a ranger¡¯s skill is determined by how effectively they can set these ¡°annoying¡± traps. Horace, that guy, knows how to set a trap like no other. Ah, it¡¯s quite creative, really. It¡¯s hard to mess with people like that. I¡¯m generally a mild-mannered person, but just seeing one of his traps makes my blood pressure rise. What? You don¡¯t think I¡¯m that mild-mannered? Tsk. Just the fact that I¡¯m not smashing your head in right now should prove how gentle I am, right? Huh, punk? Anyway. A ranger is most dangerous when you can¡¯t see them. And if they¡¯ve shown themselves¡­ the hunt is already prepared. You know what they call Horace, right? Land Spider. That¡¯s simr to the derogatory term used for rangers in the upper districts, actually. Some of my seniors used to call rangers ¡°spider bastards.¡± Spreading their webs and slowly drying out their prey. Then, when the prey ispletely drained, they strike with their fangs. That¡¯s why they¡¯re called spiders. It¡¯s simr, isn¡¯t it? The hunting method. That¡¯s the way of the rangers. Well¡­ you probably won¡¯t have to fight Horace, but just keep it in mind. The longer you fight a ranger, the more disadvantageous it bes. Either decide the battle quickly or run far away. One of the two. If you can¡¯t do either? Well, what can you do? You might as well gamble. Najin exhaled deeply, clutching his side. The umted fatigue from his battle with Fauve and the injuries sustained in his fight with Kapman gnawed at his spirit. Blood flowed from the arrow-wound in his side. His abdomen, directly hit by the explosion and deeply embedded with arrow shrapnel, throbbed with every step. Groaning, Najin pulled the shrapnel from his body and continued forward. His injuries weren¡¯t limited to these; stepping on a trap during his escape hadpounded them. Now, he had to be cautious with every step. Traps filled this sewer. Their operating mechanism was a mystery, and they were hidden everywhere, invisible to the eye. The mental exhaustion from being constantly on guard doubled. Yet, he hadn¡¯t given up thinking. Najin mulled over everything he knew about rangers and the information Ivan had shared, searching for a way to turn the tables. ¡¸Don¡¯t y by their rules on their game board.¡¹ ¡¸Even if it¡¯s madness, you have to flip the board.¡¹ Ivan and Offen had taught Najin much, casually sharing stories over drinks, but to Najin, those tales were his world. Thus, he remembered every word vividly. ¡¸Hey, Offen, remember that story?¡¹ ¡¸Which one are you talking about?¡¹ ¡¸The one where you got screwed over by a ranger. No better story for a drink.¡¹ ¡¸I¡¯ve lost count of how many times I¡¯ve told it.¡¹ ¡¸Najin hasn¡¯t heard it yet. Tell it again.¡¹ The stories from the outside world, shared by Offen, with Ivan interjecting and apuding, eximing how utterly mad it was, under the twilight glow, clinking sses with his two mentors, and munching on snacks¡ªthese memories swirled in Najin¡¯s mind. There was a clue in those stories. Najin made his choice. ¡°Merlin.¡± -Tell me. ¡°Show me the way.¡± To Merlin, who shared the same scenery and thoughts, Najin, seeking guidance, requested a path to sess for his n. The rough outline of Najin¡¯s n, Formed only in its basic structure. Merlin fleshed it out,pleting the unfinished picture. That was her role, after all. Chapter 78 Chapter 78 ¨C Hawk Eye, Kapman Theosis (3) Hunting down prey once it¡¯s cornered is an easy task. Kapman Theosis knew this all too well. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Silently, Kapman walked through the underground waterway. What¡¯s the specialty of a ranger? It¡¯s precisely chasing and eliminating prey. Even if the visibility is poor due to the adjacent water flow and the humidity, it poses no issue at all. Bloodstains. Footsteps. Traces that remain despite efforts to conceal them. No matter how hard one tries, it¡¯s impossible to escape the seasoned eyes of a ranger. Following the remaining traces, Kapman moved quietly, never letting his guard down even while pursuing. His vision broad, his ballista always loaded. The moment he sensed Najin¡¯s presence from afar, Kapman pulled the trigger. The arrow, whistling through the air, grazed the thigh of the fleeing prey. Blood sttered, and a suppressed groan echoed. Thud! The prey kicked off the ground and fled. Bleeding and stifling groans, it ran off into the distance. Even then, Kapman did not run. He merely pursued Najin with steady steps. At first nce, it might seem like he was taking it easy, but in reality, it was far from it. The prey was already wounded, bleeding, and cornered. Moreover, the path the prey was heading towards was endlesslyden with traps, wasn¡¯t it? Then, there¡¯s no reason to give up the advantage of being the pursuer. Allow no opportunity for counterattack. Press on relentlessly. Never relinquish the upper hand once gained. That¡¯s Kapman Theosis¡¯s philosophy of hunting. There was no reason to close the distance and give the prey a chance to counterattack. ¡°Devour them.¡± Until they¡¯re utterly exhausted. Until they can no longer move. Only then, after pressing them to their limits, would finishing them with a bolt to the forehead conclude the hunt. At this point, the hunt was essentially over. It was just business as usual. For a hunter, it¡¯s nothing out of the ordinary. The hunter pursued the bleeding prey. The sound of footsteps of two people echoed quietly through the deep underground waterway. Chasing, pulling the trigger, and chasing again. Amid this recurring pattern, Kapman had the luxury to be lost in thought. Despite knowing that indulging in stray thoughts during a hunt is foolish, he couldn¡¯t ignore the thoughts swirling in his mind. ¡°¡­Huff.¡± He sighed deeply and walked on. Keeping his senses sharp, he pondered. Why had he fallen to such depths? The years spent in the rugged mountains bordering the empire, the years spent bleeding for the empire, are now all in the past. The honorable soldier who onceid down his life for the empire is not here. What remains is an old, weary hound. A hound that is dragged along as the leash is pulled, biting whatever it¡¯smanded to, simply living that way. Of course, if the empire had been the one holding his leash, Kapman would have considered this duty honorable. Dedicating one¡¯s life to the homnd is a matter of honor for a soldier. However, it¡¯s not the imperial family that holds his leash. Therefore, naturally, there¡¯s no honor or greater cause in what he does. Kapman felt bitter about this reality. ¡¸For the empire.¡¹ ¡¸For the glory and well-being of the empire.¡¹ Memories of shouting such slogans in the past swirl in his mind. Of course, he doesn¡¯t regret leaving the Techo Mountain Rangers behind and walking away on his own. He found a lover who he cherished more than his country, so it couldn¡¯t be helped. The problem lies in what followed. That was the real issue. ¡°Damn bastards.¡± Kapman muttered as if spitting out the words. Perhaps it¡¯s amon story. A group of dark mages seeking revenge on a retired soldier. An ident that resulted in his wife¡¯s death. And all that¡¯s left in the end is his child. ¡¸Emergency treatment has been administered, but it won¡¯tst long.¡¹ ¡¸It¡¯s a terrible curse.¡¹ ¡¸There¡¯s nothing we can do¡­¡¹ A life ruined. A story shattered. Yet, something remains. To protect what¡¯s left, a person can throw everything else away. ¡¸Oh, of course, we must help.¡¹ ¡¸But to break such a curse¡­ We¡¯ll need His Grace. And He appreciates those who serve Him beautifully.¡¹ ¡¸What will you do?¡¹ The options to cling to were limited. They demanded the unimaginable. ¡¸You¡¯ve made a wise choice.¡¹ ¡¸He will respect your decision.¡¹ But there was no way to refuse. ¡°Damn it.¡± Kapman scratched his neck. ¡°Bastards.¡± He scratched roughly, not minding the flesh and blood peeled off by his fingernails. Kapman gritted his teeth. ¡¸Huh.¡¹ ¡¸I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be able to investigate so thoroughly.¡¹ The truth revealed at the end of the chase. ¡¸Yes, it¡¯s true. I was the one who informed the dark mage who killed your wife of your location and instructed them to do so.¡¹ ¡¸But what can you do?¡¹ ¡¸Will you file aint? Go ahead, try.¡¹ ¡¸A few words from a retired soldier might catch someone¡¯s ear, but then what?¡¹ His life was toyed with, and what he thought was a tragedy turned out to be a meticulously nned conspiracy. But by the time he realized this, a leash was already around his neck. ¡¸Your daughter.¡¹ ¡¸The only ones who can get your daughter out of the Underground City Artman are us.¡¹ ¡¸Make a wise choice, Kapman.¡¹ ¡¸Don¡¯t you want to protect what¡¯s left?¡¹ What remains is a pathetic hound. Kapman clutched the contract in his arms. A contract made with their souls at stake. Fulfill the task, and he¡¯d be freed from everything. Just this once. Just seed in this task. Just one more time¡­ ¡°¡­¡­¡± Kapman gritted his teeth. He recalled Najin, who reacted to the word ¡°Underground City Artman¡±. Kapman knew how that city came to be, how people lived within it. Born and raised in such a city. And the boy who finally made it out. His role was to trample that boy, smash his head, gouge out his eyes so he¡¯d never see the light again. Kapman felt disillusioned by this fact. ¡°¡­Damn it.¡± Muttering so, Kapman pulled the trigger of his crossbow. The sound of it cocking resounded heavily. Shaking off his stray thoughts and gathering his emotions, Kapman walked on. Bang, Boom! A sound came from afar. The sound of a trap being triggered. The sound did not stop at once but continued to echo. Listening to that sound, Kapman muttered. It¡¯s over. The umted fatigue and injuries. The sluggish movements making it impossible to avoid traps. The blurred judgment due to pain. Such a vicious cycle leads the cornered prey to lose its judgmentpletely. The consecutive triggering of traps was proof of that. It¡¯s no longer a situation where one can detect and avoid traps. Heading towards where the sound came from, Kapman saw it. Bloodstains scattered here and there, traces of something rolling on the ground. Those bloodstains extended far into the distance. Traces as if dragging feet. This tiresome chase was finallying to an end. Following the bloodstains, Kapman moved on. To finish off the prey that could no longer move. Thus, Kapman closed the distance. He closed the distance, after all. The hunter, who had always maintained a distance and chosen only the correct answers, chose the wrong one at the veryst moment. -Now. A voice inaudible to Kapman. But audible to Najin. The moment he heard the voice, Najin moved. Hidden in the darkness of the waterway¡¯s ceiling, Najin silently jumped down. In the darkness where one can¡¯t see even an inch ahead, no one knows who will be the hunter and who will be the prey. As if to prove that saying, Najin¡¯s eyes shone in the darkness. ¡¸The moment a hunter is most off guard is when they¡¯re about to finish off their prey. Even the most experienced hunter shows an opening at that moment.¡¹ A story Offen had shared. ¡¸It was in such a situation that the ranger, who had been hidden all along, finally showed himself.¡¹ ¡¸And that was the only chance for a counterattack.¡¹ He said this while shaking a bottle of liquor. ¡¸Draw them in. Act like a bug caught in a web, struggling in the traps on purpose. Behave and act as if you¡¯ve lost your judgment, as if you¡¯re cornered.¡¹ ¡¸Deceive. The. Hunter.¡¹ ¡¸Wait until the spider, thinking you¡¯re sufficiently weakened, reveals itself in front of you.¡¹ That¡¯s the moment. ¡¸The moment that spider reveals itself to sink its fangs into you. That¡¯s yourst chance.¡¹ Offen smiled as he sipped his liquor. ¡¸Bite back. With all your might.¡¹ With eyes aze, Najin saw. The hunter who had finally revealed himself in front of him. And thus, what he seized was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The moment Kapman¡¯s gaze was fixed on the arrows and daggers Najin had thrown on the ground and stepped deeper into the fray. -Now. The voice echoed in his ears. Najin, who had been hanging from the ceiling, jumped down. The attack was silent, but Kapman, with almost superhuman senses, detected even the slightest hint of presence. ¡°¡­!¡± Kapman¡¯s eyes widened as he swiftly turned his crossbow toward Najin, but it was already toote. Najin, holding a dagger in his left hand in reverse grip, thrust it into Kapman¡¯s ballista. Crack! The dagger was thrust into the ballista before the crossbow¡¯s trigger could be pulled. As the ballista misfired, Najin¡¯s right hand, holding a longsword, swung. Due to the umted fatigue and injuries, as well as the sword aura extracted during the fight with Fauve, the longsword bore no sword aura. However, even so, the de was more than sufficient to tear human flesh. A surprise attack. And a longsword backed by considerable force. The longsword struck Kapman¡¯s shoulder, tearing through the poncho and sttering blood. As the de dug deep, aiming to sever the arm from the shoulder, Kapman clenched his teeth and thrust his arm forward. Crunch. Regardless of the blood flowing from his palm or the de digging deeper, Kapman gripped the de to prevent it from prating further and kicked out towards Najin. Crack. Despite the kicknding directly on his previously injured abdomen, Najin did not let go of the longsword. Even as he was pushed back, he forcefully twisted the longsword, widening the wound on Kapman¡¯s shoulder and deeply cutting the fingers of Kapman¡¯s hand that gripped the sword, as Najin retreated. Thus, a stalemate was formed. Maintaining distance, the two looked at each other. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen such a crazy bastard.¡± Kapmanughed as if in disbelief. Blood flowed from the torn shoulder. The torn poncho fell, revealing the contents inside, and the destroyed crossbow was rendered unusable. Deeply cut fingers and shoulder. This hand won¡¯t be able to draw a bow anymore. However, from Kapman¡¯s perspective, Najin¡¯s condition was several times more serious. His body was covered in wounds, his clothes soaked in red, and several arrows and daggers still lodged in his back as if not all were removed. Eyes zing with rage. Harsh breathing. Even if he had managed to draw him here, that bastard¡¯s condition was far from normal. It was a wonder he could still move¡­ Yet, he showed no intention of releasing the longsword. Observing Najin, Kapman acknowledged. No one here is the prey. Here, they are merely hunters to each other. Kapman¡¯s upper body, revealed as the poncho fell off, was covered in scars on his forearms, and various daggers hung from his leather armor. With one hand, he drew a dagger, and with the other, he unsheathed the machete from his waist. The scent of blood vibrating in the air. The only sound was the water flowing along the waterway. A moment of silence and a single breath. The time it took for each to assess the other¡¯s condition was merely a few seconds. During those few seconds, both had calcted how to kill the prey standing before them. It didn¡¯t matter who moved first. Almost simultaneously, the two hunters charged at each other. Najin¡¯s thrown dagger and Kapman¡¯s swung dagger shed in mid-air and were deflected, and as they parried the flying objects, the longsword and machete collided. ng! Sparks flew. Blood spurted from the wounds opened by the violent movement. The eyes of Najin, zing with rage, and Kapman met. The only reflection in their eyes was the intent to kill. Reasons, stray thoughts, such trivial emotions had long been discarded. Hesitation meant death. Chapter 79 Chapter 79 ¨C Hawk Eye, Kapman Theosis (4) des shed against des. A marksman unable to draw a bow due to deep cuts in his hand and shoulder. A swordsman covered in wounds, unable to summon sword aura. Both were far from being in a normal state, and the injuries and blood loss they suffered were severe. Drip-drop. The wounds opened by their fierce movements. Blood spurted from those wounds. Normally, the sight of such battered individuals spilling blood inbat is either pitiful or unsightly. However, this fight between the two was different. ng, ng, ng! The sound of des shing and scraping. The noise, urring several times per second, was not just spectacr but also elegant. Sparks flew as the metal collided, mixing with the blood. Their feet tangled in aplicated dance. Advancing one moment, retreating the next, and then suddenly darting to the side to strike from an angle. Both hunters, their eyes bloodshot with desperation to find each other¡¯s weaknesses, were relentless. Whoosh. Najin swung his sword as he stamped his foot down. Despite blood spurting from a hole in his thigh at the moment of impact, his posture remained unshaken. The longsword swung with swift precision. Kapman angled his machete to deflect the longsword, letting it slide off the de. Before bing a ranger, Kapman was a soldier of the Empire, well-versed in Imperial Swordsmanship. He hadn¡¯t used his sword much simply because sniping was more advantageous. But Kapman was a ranger. And Najin was close to being a Sword Expert, almost a Sword Seeker. Though Najin might be outmatched in strength, he held the upper hand in swordsmanship. Having witnessed the pinnacle of swordsmanship by a Sword Saint, Najin could clearly see the ws in Kapman¡¯s technique. If he could see them, there was no reason not to exploit them. Najin¡¯s sword, which had been sliding off Kapman¡¯s machete, suddenly twirled, wrapping around Kapman¡¯s de. The change in the force and direction caught Kapman off guard. Snap! Though Kapman twisted his body in reaction, Najin¡¯s sword still grazed his face. Stters of blood made Kapman curse. Sword fighting was to be avoided. Kapman created distance and threw a dagger. Cling, ng. Najin deflected the iing dagger and in the moment he advanced, Kapman shed his dagger and machete together. Enchantment release, Bullet of Darkness. The target was the blue dagger in Kapman¡¯s hand. The daggers that had been repelled behind Najin glowed a bright blue and then, with a bang, fired. Blue beams struck Najin¡¯s back. Ratatat! Caught in a blind spot and at high speed, the Bullet of Darkness hit Najin. Although the spell was weak and didn¡¯t prate Najin¡¯s body, the impact was enough to disrupt his stance. Najin staggered. A hunter wouldn¡¯t miss this opportunity. Kapman advanced and swung his machete. As the de aimed for Najin¡¯s shoulder, Najin somehow moved his body. The forced movement, despite his stiffened muscles, made a ¡®crack¡¯ sound. Najin barely managed to block the attack, but Kapman didn¡¯t let go of the momentum. He relentlessly pressed Najin. Refusing to fight in an advantageous domain for the opponent is the basics ofbat. Kapman didn¡¯t intend to give Najin a chance to use proper techniques. The ensuing fight was closer to a brawl than a duel. Swinging swords one moment, kicking the next, elbowing the temple, striking with knees. Using swords, hands, feet freely, and asionally throwing daggers to introduce unpredictability. Najin wasn¡¯t just passively receiving hits. Despite his slowed reactions due to umted injuries, his eyes urately followed Kapman¡¯s movements. He absorbed hits that couldn¡¯t be avoided, avoiding fatal wounds, and immediately countered. Clutch. Najin seized the momentum Kapman had grasped and turned it into his own. He had no intention of refusing a brawl if Kapman initiated it. ¡®I¡¯m not the only one confident here.¡¯ Najin was confident in a dogfight too. After all, wasn¡¯t he fundamentally a hunting dog? The moist air and darkness of the underground waterway reminded him of the Underground City Artman. Memories of the past, of days spent fighting for survival, of brawling with adults twice his size with bare hands, shed through Najin¡¯s mind. A dogfight, then. Bring it on. Will you bring me down first, Or will I tear your throat out first? That¡¯s something we¡¯ll find out by fighting it out. As the dogfight continued, Kapman felt a sense of strangeness. Through the eyes of a soldier who had spent over 50 years on the battlefield, this situation made no sense. ¡®How is he even moving?¡¯ Kapman retreated, bewildered by Najin¡¯s relentless assault. To Kapman, Najin seemed like a walking corpse. Arrowheads embedded in the abdomen. Skin burned from explosions. Pierced sides and calves, with blood flowing freely from the wounds, and arrows still stuck in the back and shoulder, unremoved. The numerous minor injuries were too many to count. With such injuries, dying from blood loss wouldn¡¯t be surprising. Of course, Kapman had seen soldiers drag a few more down with them even in near-death states. But even they didn¡¯t il for this long. At most, theysted a few seconds. But the opponent before him? Those few seconds had long passed. Now, it was turning into minutes, yet he was still swinging his sword, seemingly even faster than before. ¡®What in the world¡­¡¯ Despite being stabbed, swept up in explosions, and kicked, he got up and charged again. Doesn¡¯t he feel pain? No, that doesn¡¯t seem to be it. Kapman saw the blood seeping through the tightly clenched jaw muscles and teeth of Najin. He was literally gritting his teeth and enduring. The sight of him closing the distance despite such injuries was enough to send shivers down one¡¯s spine. Kapman clicked his tongue in awe. The thrill of battle. An extreme state of focus. Or perhaps, it could even be called immersion. ng! Kapman blocked the sword just in front of him and locked eyes with Najin. The bloodshot eyes and pinpoint pupils were intimidating enough to overwhelm anyone who saw them. Kapmanughed incredulously. Swoosh! Najin¡¯s sword finally nicked Kapman¡¯s calf. Kapman felt his own condition gradually deteriorating. The number of wounds had increased. The bleeding was severe. Now, he too had to be cautious of blood loss. A decision had to be made. A variable had to be created, risking his life. When was thest time he was cornered like this? It seemed to be thest time he carried out an assassination mission on a royal guard attempting to defect to another country¡­ The scenery of that time briefly crossed his mind. Why was he thinking of that now? The reason was simple. The trump card he had used back then seemed applicable even in this moment. Recalling the operation from decades ago, Kapman made his move. Clutch. Kapman gripped a dagger. He slipped four daggers between his fingers all at once and struck them with the machete in his other hand. The four daggers shone brightly with a screeching sound. Najin flinched at the sight. Having been subjected to enchanted daggers several times, Najin was wary of what mighte next, uncertain of the exact nature of the threat. Kapman had carried various enchanted daggers, each designed to trigger different responses. The nature of an enchantment is such that its specific effect remains unknown until activated. While expert mages might deduce the spell from the inscriptions on the de¡­ ¡°He¡¯s a swordsman.¡± He wouldn¡¯t have a deep understanding of magic. Likely, he¡¯d prepare for one of the previously seen effects, making him already ensnared. Enchantments were Kapman¡¯s traps. And Kapman had no intention of letting a prey caught in his trap escape. As the daggers glowed and the spells were about to be unleashed, Kapman threw two of them. Enchantment release, Burst. Right in front of Najin, explosions erupted with a deafening noise. Two explosions. Between the rising smoke, Najin¡¯s figure emerged. It seemed he had reacted swiftly enough to minimize the damage, with only some soot marking his shoulder. But two more daggers remained. Kapman threw thest two daggers. As he released them, he closed his eyes. Enchantment release, sh. Enchantment release, Resonance. A blinding sh followed by a rending noise that shook the eardrums. The more skilled a warrior, the more they rely on their sharpened senses, often leaving them wide open. Against such individuals, these spells are akin to natural predators. Spells that momentarily rob sight and hearing. Among the daggers imbued with direct attack spells, these were hidden as a trump card to create variables. Even the renowned royal guard had fallen into this trap and met his end. ¡°You¡¯ll be the same.¡± Kapman opened his eyes, which he had preemptively closed. Though he couldn¡¯t hear, he had maintained his vision. What Kapman saw as he swung his machete was¡­ Najin, with his eyes also open. And, as if he already knew Kapman woulde at him, Najin¡¯s longsword extended straight towards him. ¡­How? The question barely had time to form in his mind. Thud. Kapman¡¯s body was pierced by the longsword. Despite struggling to avoid it, he couldn¡¯t evade the fatal blow. As his shoulder was impaled, Kapman¡¯s stance crumbled. The prolonged battle had reached its conclusion. His stance copsed. Kapman slipped on the blood-soaked ground and fell. One shoulder was deeply shed, the otherpletely pierced through. He was no longer in a condition to wield anything. He might manage to throw a dagger if he tried, but regrettably, he had run out of enchanted des. Kapman let out a hollowugh. ¡°You¡¯re a real madman.¡± Unable to stand, he sat on the ground and looked up at Najin approaching him, sword dripping with blood. He had lost. The hunt had failed. Kapman had no intention of begging pathetically for his life. If the roles were reversed, he would have scoffed at any plea for mercy. He closed his eyes and bowed his head. As if to say, strike if you¡¯re going to. But no matter how long he waited, the sword did note down. Instead, there were sounds of uncorking and drinking. Lifting his head, Kapman saw Najin pouring a potion into his mouth. ¡°¡­What are you doing?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t you killing me?¡± ¡°Killing is one thing but it seems we can wait a bit for that.¡± Najin exhaled deeply. Steam rose from his body. Kapman furrowed his brows. The superficial wounds, except for the prating ones, were healing rapidly. Even the most expensive potions wouldn¡¯t produce such dramatic effects. The thought of a Homunculus crossed Kapman¡¯s mind. A forbidden technique in the Empire. Kapman recalled the bio-weapons created by the madmen of the Magic Tower but soon shook his head. A Homunculus wouldn¡¯t engage in natural conversation like the young man before him. Besides, hadn¡¯t the Empire¡¯s Sword Master personally hunted down and killed all Homunculi? The idea that any Homunculus could have survived the terrifying old man¡¯s sword seemed unlikely. ¡°Are you dying killing me to ask me something?¡± ¡°You catch on fast.¡± ¡°But you were aiming for my neck earlier.¡± ¡°If you died, you died. If you lived, I had questions.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite rational.¡± The longsword still pointed at Kapman¡¯s neck. Kapman grimaced at the cold touch of the metal. With the sword still aimed at him, Najin spoke. It was a story Kapman had once told Najin. ¡°Even if you¡¯re going to kill, you should at least hear how the person lived.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite the hobby.¡± Is that your line to say? Muttering so, Najin asked briefly. ¡°Did the Starlight Order send you?¡± Chapter 80 Chapter 80 ¨C Hawk Eye, Kapman Theosis (5) The Starlight Order. A faction that venerates the constetion ¡®Lighthouse that Illuminates All Things¡¯ as its deity, responsible for matters rted to starlight. Compared to other constetory orders, it is known for its moderation and peaceful approach, boasting thergest following of believers. Yet, Najin knew. They were not as pure and incorruptible asmonly believed. While the followers might be unaware, he was well aware of the rotten core within the order¡¯s leadership. ¡°Did the Starlight Order send you?¡± Thus, Najin boldly posed the question. Mere utterance of it could be deemed a sphemous insult to the order, punishable by severe sanctions. But if he had been concerned about such matters, he would have never escaped the underground city in the first ce. ¡°Seeing the order¡¯s namee up so quickly, you seem to have quite a deep feud with them as well,¡± Kapman chuckled. From his reaction, Najin could infer a few things: Kapman did not hold the order in high regard, and he was not affiliated with it. ¡°Yes, the order sent me.¡± Kapman lifted his chin, pushing away the longsword at his neck with his fingers and began to unravel the bandage wrapped around his throat. ¡°They promised to release a hostage if I killed you. From the Underground City Artman.¡± Najin frowned. The brand on Kapman¡¯s neck was familiar; he had seen it before. It was the same mark found inside Ivan¡¯s eyepatch and branded on Drugmaker Hakan¡¯s arm. A mark branded on those cast into the underground city. Offen had said, even if one managed to escape the underground city by sheer luck and coincidence, as long as this brand remained, the order would hunt them down until death. ¡°You too¡­?¡± ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m not from Artman. This is a leash they¡¯ve put on me.¡± Perhaps one hostage wasn¡¯t enough for them. Kapman shrugged and muttered. ¡°A hostage?¡± ¡°My daughter. Amon story, I guess. Makes you wonder why soldiers even bother having kids.¡± Kapman¡¯sughter was rough and bitter. ¡°I¡¯m not looking for sympathy. Nor am I begging to be spared. After all, if I don¡¯t kill you, I die. But would you let yourself be killed by me?¡± Najin remained silent, signifying his refusal. ¡°See? I¡¯ve lost to you, and I don¡¯t think iling here will let me win against you.¡± ¡°Then what?¡± ¡°The victor should enjoy their rights.¡± He stated. ¡°From what I see, your feud with the order seems extraordinarily deep. Well, if you¡¯re from Artman, it couldn¡¯t be shallow. I don¡¯t know why they¡¯re hell-bent on killing you, but¡­¡± Kapman looked at Najin, then suddenly burst into knowingughter. ¡°Ah, I see. A monster close to being a Sword Seeker at eighteen¡­ They probably thought you might actually be a Sword Master. At that level, you could potentially dismantle the order. So, they deemed you a threat.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Najin didn¡¯t deny it. It was true that the order saw him as a threat. ¡°Anyway.¡± Kapman sighed deeply. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Do you n to overturn the order?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Najin answered without hesitation, his response devoid of any pretense or falsehood. Swearing on the name of Ivan, who had sent him above the city, he vowed to demolish the order. ¡°I intend to do so with my own hands.¡± ¡°You seem to have quite the story behind that face.¡± ¡°As do you.¡± ¡°Yeah, well¡­ doesn¡¯t seem like you¡¯re lying.¡± Kapman reached out, pointing towards his poncho lying some distance away. Najin moved towards where Kapman had pointed. ¡°You¡¯ll find a document if you search it. It¡¯s the contract I made with the order; mighte in handy for you somewhere.¡± As he spoke, Kapmanughed, but Najin sensed something off in thatughter. Just as Najin was about to approach the poncho, ¡°Don¡¯te closer.¡± Kapman extended his arm to stop Najin. Najin¡¯s brows furrowed. Kapman didn¡¯t seem to be preparing anything, nor did he show any sign of counterattack. Then why? ¡°Hey, Najin.¡± Even as he pondered the reason, Najin halted his approach, maintaining distance to understand the difort he had sensed in Kapman¡¯sughter. ¡°The Starlight Order is more vile, more thorough, and more insidious than you think. Remember that.¡± With that unexpected advice Kapman took a long breath. ¡°They have many words at their disposal. Many. Whether the hostages are taken, brainwashed, or just purely fanatical zealots of the religion¡­¡± Kapman pulled out a ne from under his clothes. A trinket dangled from the ne, and as Kapman gazed at what it contained, he grimaced. ¡°I¡¯m just the beginning. Plenty of those star-crazed lunatics wille after you. Better be plenty of them. Anyway, what a pain.¡± As he spoke, Kapman applied pressure to his hand. With a snap, the ne broke. ¡°Well, do your best.¡± Kapman threw the ne he had carried all his life towards Najin. Thud. Najin caught the ne thrown by Kapman, sensing no magical presence from it. Kapman smirked and said, ¡°I¡¯d appreciate it if you buried that ne with me.¡± Before Najin could respond, a searing noise came from Kapman¡¯s neck. The brand turned red-hot. Blood flowed from Kapman¡¯s eyes, nose, and ears. -Silence¡­? No, why would he¡­? Before a puzzled Najin could utter a word, Kapman, spewing blood, forced out hisst words, as if determined to pronounce the name of the damned person. ¡°Or¡­nd.¡± Someone¡¯s name. At the mention of that name, Kapman¡¯s body swelled. Najin, with eyes wide open, grabbed the poncho and jumped into the waterway. As Najin plunged into the water, a thunderous boom shook the underground waterway. Emerging from the water, Najin looked towards where Kapman had been sitting. Kapman was gone. Only pieces of flesh and bloodstains remained. -¡­It was a Silence spell. Merlin said. -A spell triggered by certain words or names. Usually paired with a spell that causes the body to explode. Even as she exined, Merlin couldn¡¯t hide her difort. Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke. -It was a forbidden spell even in my time. -Because it was used in this manner. Najin gazed at the charred wall. Kapman had died without leaving a body behind, exploding into nothing but blood and flesh scattered around. Silently, Najin spread his hand. In ity the ne thrown by Kapman. Inside the trinket attached to the ne was a photograph. It depicted Kapman, his wife, and a girl who appeared to be their daughter. Najin stared at the photo for a long while. ¡°¡­¡­¡± He had tried to kill him. Najin knew all too well that dwelling on the deaths of such individuals, feeling sorrow and guilt, was unbearable. Thus, he attempted to look away, but upon seeing the photo, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a stir of emotions. The young girl in the photograph was someone Najin recognized. During his cleanup of Tricksey¡¯s involvement in human trafficking, which Ivan had prohibited, Najin hade across a list and ¡®products¡¯ Tricksey had been dealing with. He remembered scoffing at the destinations where these ¡®products¡¯ were sent. Najin¡¯s expression darkened as he recalled those memories. ¡°This fucking¡­¡± Najin cursed out loud. Despite not having eaten anything, something seemed to churn in his stomach, rising up as if toe out. Grinding his teeth, Najin felt a surge of intense emotion. Merlin remained silent, sharing the same intensity of feelings as Najin. ¡°Merlin.¡± ¡°¡­Speak.¡± ¡°I thought, I thought the surface would be different. That the world under the stars, unlike the underground city, would be different. But now¡­ I¡¯m starting to doubt that.¡± The underground city was filthy because the stars did not shine upon it. Najin had believed so. But after experiencing a series of events, doubts had begun to sprout within him. ¡°Do the stars not care about this world? At the very least, shouldn¡¯t the orders serving the stars not engage in such deeds?¡± ¡°Do you want an honest answer?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Merlin exhaled deeply. ¡°Most constetions don¡¯t care much about this world. Especially not about the central continent.¡± Najin asked why. Merlin responded with a bitter tone. ¡°Because we are, in a sense, entities that have ended.¡± The ancient constetion spoke. ¡°We achieved our feats, hung our stars in the sky, and met our end. Unless it¡¯s a ce where the boundaries between heaven and earth blur, we cannot intervene.¡± There are those among us who try to intervene. But they only end up regretting it. After all, we are merely onlookers. ¡°The constetions are not as grand as you think. The battlefield of the stars, the abyssalnd of Cann. We are akin to the dead, trapped by our stars, continuing an endless journey.¡± Najin remained silent, and Merlin continued. ¡°The majority of constetions have no interest in how the world turns. Most stars are more concerned with their own well-being and shining brighter than others.¡± Hunting other stars in the battlefield of the stars. Creating avatars to roam the battlefield of the stars. Longing for the next chapter of a story that has already ended. ¡°That¡¯s the essence of what constetions are. Perhaps I¡¯m not much different.¡± Before Najin could respond, Merlin chuckled. ¡°Longing for whates after an ended journey is something I share as well.¡± Merlin took another deep breath. ¡°As much as it might disappoint you, who admires the stars, not all constetions are grand and wless beings. Many are uglier than humans.¡± The truth Najin didn¡¯t want to hear. That¡¯s why Merlin hesitated to share it. As he spoke this truth, Merlin observed Najin¡¯s inner image. He wondered if the star floating in Najin¡¯s psyche might change. But the star remained unchanged. Najin¡¯s inner star continued to hold its ce. Soon, Najin¡¯s voice was heard. ¡°Then all the more reason to climb higher.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°The constetions that the order serves. Does that lighthouse star know about this?¡± ¡°Probably. I can¡¯t be certain about Excalibur, but it¡¯s unlikely that the star ispletely unaware of the order¡¯s misdeeds.¡± Najin, having pocketed the ne, stood up. ¡°Then I must question it as well.¡± To take the star and ascend higher. Najin had one more question to pose to the order. Clutching Kapman¡¯s poncho, he moved forward. Ond. Najin mulled over the name Kapman had utteredst. Ironically, it was a name Najin was familiar with too. He hade across it while investigating the Starlight Order. High Priest Ond of the Starlight Order. Sitting at the highest ce in the Starlight Order¡¯s main church, built above the Underground City Artman. Najin realized whom he needed to confront. Chapter 81 Chapter 81 ¨C Sword Master, Yuel Razian (1) After the battle with the dark mage Fauve and then Kapman, Najin dragged his weary body through the underground waterways. His steps were heavy, and his eyelids drooped repeatedly. ¡°It feels like death.¡± Najin let out a long breath. Despite the regenerative power of Excalibur and potions, mental exhaustion and critical injuries were not something that could be healed immediately. Still, there was work to be done. After escaping from Kapman, Najin had abandoned Fauve¡¯s body. Now, he went back to retrieve it and emerged from the underground waterways. By the time he set foot outside, dawn was breaking. The warm morning sunlight. Having been in the dark for so long, the sunlight felt strangely unfamiliar. Squinting against the brightness, Najin blinked a few times. Only after adjusting to the sunlight could he make sense of his surroundings. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± At the entrance to the underground waterways. There were people gathered there. They were the inquisitors of the Starblood Sect, and the mercenaries hired to assist them. Some of them noticed Najin and turned their gaze towards him. And then, huh? Their eyes widened as they looked at Najin, and then at the body of Fauve he was dragging along. Their eyes widened even more, and voices of astonishment leaked from their mouths. They were preparing their equipment and reviewing their strategy for entering the underground waterways early in the morning. What they faced was the news that the situation had already been resolved. The body of the dark mage brought in by Najin served as evidence of this. Even theposed inquisitors widened their eyes in surprise, and Najin let out a long breath. And then took a few steps forward. Among the mercenaries and inquisitors, he approached his employer, Hite, andid down the body. ¡°Haah¡­¡± Hite let out a long sigh. ¡°Remarkable, truly.¡± What Hite had requested from Najin was to handle the matter as quickly as possible. Alternatively, to weaken Fauve as a vanguard, so no more casualties would ur on the inquisitors¡¯ side. And Najin had perfectly aplished both. This was a swift and clean handling of the situation, just as Hite and the lord of the city had wished. However¡­ The situation did not unfold as they had hoped. Contrary to their desires, this incident could not be quietly resolved. Because the workshop of ¡®Kefalon¡¯ was discovered beneath the city. The following day, the news spread. The Starblood Sect took action. After applying simple first aid to his critical wounds, Najin copsed for the night in a room provided by Hite. While this alleviated his mental fatigue, the wounds pierced through his body were not so easily healed. ¡°He really made some big holes.¡± Kapman, a Sword Seeker-level warrior. True to his reputation, the holes Kapman had made were not easily filled. Of course, Najin¡¯s recovery rate was beyond human, so it seemed it wouldn¡¯t take too long. Bandaged and concealing his healing wounds, Najin stepped outside. Upon reaching the reception room, there were people waiting to hear an exnation. ¡°About the subjugation of Fauve, and a detailed exnation¡­¡± Najin answered their questions. He exined how he had subdued Fauve, and during the chase, he stumbled upon Kefalon¡¯s workshop. Of course, the location of Kefalon¡¯s workshop had already been exposed by the inquisitors. The trail of blood had led them straight to it. ¡°Haah¡­¡± Listening to Najin¡¯s story, Hite groaned. The involvement of the sect became inevitable. However, he could not me Najin for this. With a sigh, Hite spoke up. ¡°Where is Sir Kapman Theosis?¡± Najin had returned alone from the underground waterways. And Kapman¡¯s body was not found. Najin was silent for a moment before finally speaking. ¡°He fell in battle against the dark mage.¡± That was the response Najin chose. Revealing that Kapman was a hound of the sect and had been killed by his hand would onlyplicate matters. ¡°Not yet.¡± The power and authority to bring down the sect, and the justification for it. Only when he had all these would the contract handed over by Kapman be rewritten. ¡°Is that so.¡± Hite pinched the bridge of his nose. During the pursuit of Fauve, Kapman had fallen to her 4th Circle spell, ¡®Hunger of the Dead¡¯. That was the death of Kapman as testified by Najin. The ¡®Hunger of the Dead¡¯ turns its target into the undead, and when the caster dies, the undead crumble, leaving no trace. This was consistent with the inquisitors¡¯ investigation. ¡®Prepared sacrifices in the workshop, traces of the 4th Circle spell ¡®Hunger of the Dead¡¯ were found.¡¯ Everything made sense. However, for Hite, who had to announce Kapman¡¯s death, it was a bitter pill to swallow. The death of a white-ranked adventurer and the misjudgment of the risk level. ¡®It¡¯s our mistake.¡¯ Thepensation ims to the Cambria Foundation would be substantial. Hite¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°You¡¯ve worked hard. The payment for the request will be delivered through the Central Guild of Cambria.¡± With those words, Hite left the reception room, his steps heavy with sorrow. Sighing deeply as if his heart was heavy, Hite left. Watching him, Najin reached for the newspaperid out in the reception room. During the night he had slept. He wanted to find out what had happened during that night. As he unfolded the newspaper and read the first page, Najin understood why Hite had reacted that way. The look of utter despair on his face. ¡¸The dark mage Fauve, who had fled to the underground of Regenoff City, was finally subdued after a pursuit.¡¹ ¡¸However, the facility discovered in the underground of Regenoff City.¡¹ ¡¸The workshop of the dark mage ¡®Kefalon¡¯, who had terrorized the empire decades ago, was found¡­..¡¹ The sentences that summarized the situation. Following those modest sentences, arger one captured Najin¡¯s attention. ¡¸The intervention of the Starblood Sect.¡¹ ¡¸The Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect, Sir Yuel Razian, has expressed his intention to visit Regenoff City.¡¹ The workshop left behind by a dark mage. This was not something that could be overlooked, and it served as a perfect reason for the headquarters of the Starblood Sect, known for judging the malicious and sinister, to take action. Thus, the Starblood Sect moved. They mobilized their execution branch. A being known as the walking tribunal. The Inquisitor General, Yuel Razian. A Sword Master with six stars was making his way to Regenoff City. Only now did Najin understand why there had been suchmotion outside. This was not the hustle and bustle of preparing to wee a celebrity or organizing a festival. It was quite the opposite. Locking doors, clearing the streets, closing shops, and removing all street vendors. Along with themotion, the streets were being cleared. In a few hours, it would be as silent as a graveyard. To Najin, it seemed as if the residents of the underground city were preparing to wee someone from ¡®upstairs¡¯. The Inquisitor General, Yuel Razian. Najin knew very little about her. He had looked up all the Sword Masters before, but information about Yuel Razian was surprisingly scarce. The empire¡¯s first pir, the Empire¡¯s Foremost, Gerd. The owner of the Order of the Sword, Sword Saint Karan. The Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect, the Executioner Yuel Razian. Among the three most renowned Sword Masters of this era, information about Yuel Razian was scantpared to the other two. Origin, life, swordsmanship, sword aura¡­¡­ Nothing was disclosed. Normally, a Sword Master would have made a name for themselves from an early age, but there was no information about her childhood. At best, there were these records: ¡¸During the Dawn War, ghosts roam.¡¹ ¡¸There is a girl wandering around with pure white hair. The girl kills the remnants of the defeated. She lives by devouring corpses. If you encounter her, do not look back and run away.¡¹ ¡¸Estimated Sword Seeker.¡¹ Eyewitness ounts from a war that happened over 150 years ago. ¡¸There¡¯s a mad murderer.¡¹ ¡¸A group led by a dark mage was destroyed by the hands of a white-haired girl. A Circle¡¯s dark mage was brutally killed.¡¹ ¡¸A girl drenched in blood brought 182 corpses of dark mages to the Starblood Sect and demanded payment. The high priest was so shocked that he copsed.¡¹ An anecdote from 80 years ago. ¡¸The Inquisitor General.¡¹ ¡¸Yuel Razian.¡¹ ¡¸She received the high priest¡¯s baptism and reached the realm of Sword Master within a decade.¡¹ That was all that was known about her life. She had been around for 150 years and had reached the realm of Sword Master 70 years ago. As a Sword Master, one is liberated from the limitations of lifespan, so her age was also unknown. Despite all the unknowns, her blood-soaked history was clearly recorded in the empire¡¯s historical records. Dark magic, demons, the malicious and sinister. Wherever such things fester, Yuel Razian walks. She strides forth and kills everything rted to them. She seems to enjoy the act of killing and dismembering people without hesitation. Where she walks, thend is stained with blood. Thus, the world fears and also reveres her. The nickname ¡®murderer¡¯ was attached to her around that time, but Yuel herselfughed and adopted that nickname as her own alias. She liked it. -She¡¯s truly insane. Merlin muttered, propping her chin. -When she was a candidate for Excalibur, Bedivere and I screamed so much you wouldn¡¯t believe. That woman is nothing but a walking butcher. She said with disgust in her voice. -To be a Sword Master, one must master swordsmanship, awaken Imagery, and shake the world with their sword but in my time, some lunatic proposed a theory, you know? ¡°A theory?¡± -Yeah, it was a crazy theory. What was it again? Swing a sword and kill people. Absorb their blood, listen to thest screams of their souls, and get close to death itself. -It¡¯s a bitplicated if you delve into it, but the gist is this. If you kill people with your sword in the tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands, you can reach the realm of Sword Master without needing Imagery or swordsmanship. Najin chuckled in disbelief. ¡°What kind of crazy¡­¡± -Right? In my time, the schr who proposed that theory was called a lunatic. Merlin sighed. -And the one who actually did it was Yuel Razian. A person who became a Sword Master by killing a lot. Not by grasping the intricacies of the sword, not by manifesting her Imagery into the world, but simply by swinging widely and killing to reach the pinnacle. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Najin fell silent. In the distance, a carriage was approaching. The carriage bore the emblem of the Starblood Sect. The street, devoid of people, fell silent as the carriage came to a halt. Creak. Eventually, the carriage door opened. Despite the carriage¡¯svish exterior, only one person emerged from it. A distinguished guest arrived without any escort and stepped out of the carriage. Click. A woman of striking beauty emerged from the carriage. Her waist-length pure white hair and skin so pale it seemed almost transparent. The woman was monochromatic, except for her eyes. Eyes as red as blood. The woman who alighted from the carriage looked at Najin. The moment their eyes met, Najin felt a chilling sensation run down his spine. Visions of his head being severed from his body, of blood pouring from his form, flitted before Najin¡¯s eyes. ck. Instinctively, his left hand reached for the sword at his waist, but Najin managed to grasp it with his right hand in time. Cold sweat ran down his back. This was a sensation he had never felt before. Yuel Razian, exuding an unbridled aura of killing intent unlike Karan, was truly fearsome. Najin looked to his side, and his employer, Hite, had fainted with his eyes rolled back. -See? I told you she¡¯s insane. Merlin murmured, seemingly amused, as Najin looked up. Far away, Yuel Razian was watching him. Najin noticed the slight movement in the corners of her expressionless lips. Chapter 82 Chapter 82 ¨C Sword Master, Yuel Razian (2) The Dark Mage of the Seventh Circle, Kefalon. Around 60 years ago, he was a traitor who plotted to overthrow the state using Regenoff City as his base. Although his n failed, the incident nearly shook the millennium-long history of the empire, so the empire shuddered at anything rted to Kefalon. The ¡®Transcendence Ritual¡¯ attempted in Regenoff City was crucial, but even before that, Kefalon was like a pest to the empire, wreaking havoc through countless massacres. Therefore. The empire and the Starblood Sect had no choice but to be rmed by the tant discovery of Kefalon¡¯s workshop in the underground of Regenoff City. ¡ºWhat do you mean it was responsibly burned down?¡» ¡ºIt¡¯s not written here. ¡®The erasure of records and traces, under themand of the Red Tower Master Adriun.¡¯ It seems my memory isn¡¯t mistaken¡­¡» ¡ºWhat are you doing?¡» ¡ºWhy haven¡¯t you brought the person in charge?¡» The young emperor personally summoned the Red Tower Master. The former Tower Master, who had retired about 13 years ago to enjoy a leisurely retirement life farming in his territory, was dragged to the imperial court and had his shins kicked. He also had to undergo ideological verification. As the emperor personally reprimanded the former Tower Master, the Starblood Sect dispatched the Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect directly to Regenoff City to conclude the case. ¡­And so, the situation hase to this point. *** The witness and the first discoverer of a series of events. Since Najin was deeply involved in this incident, the Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect had requested an interview with him upon visiting Regenoff City. Of course, there was no obligation for Najin to ept the interview. After all, he was merely a reference. However, it wasn¡¯t something he could simply refuse. The Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect, a Sword Master, had specifically requested an interview, and refusing could bring unpredictable repercussions. ¡®If he were royal or from a ducal family, maybe¡­¡¯ At least, it wasn¡¯t an interview that a mere adventurer could refuse. Therefore, Najin remained in Regenoff City, waiting for the Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect. Upon meeting the Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect. Her first impression was chilling. With her skin paler than white and her white hair, she seemed in her early to mid-twenties at a nce, but Najin mulled over the fact that she had lived for at least 150 years. ¡®It¡¯s hard to judge her age just by her appearance.¡¯ -That¡¯s right. Even Sword Seekers maintain their youthful appearance, and Masters be free from the constraints of lifespan. Merlin answered nonchntly. -150 years old is just in her prime. 150 years old is in her prime? Najin decided to ignore the words of a mage who had lived for over a thousand years. Their sense of time seemed to be quite different. Tap, tap. Yuel Razian moved from a distance. Her walk didn¡¯t carry the formality typical of those in high positions. Instead, it was a bit rxed and light. ¡®Ah, this¡­¡¯ Noticing that Yuel Razian¡¯s red eyes were fixed on him, Najin groaned as he realized he was exactly where her gaze was directed. ¡®It seems I¡¯ve been marked.¡¯ -It does seem so. Ignoring the city lord and the inquisitor, as well as Hite, who was in charge of the recent Fauve suppression operation, Yuel walked straight towards Najin. Then, thud. She stopped right in front of him. Still expressionless and emotionless, Yuel seemed like a well-crafted doll, even the slight movement of her lips earlier seemed like an illusion now. Swoosh. She tilted her head. Following the tilt, her white hair flowed down. Through the cascading white locks, Yuel looked at Najin. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The question was thrown abruptly. Najin momentarily couldn¡¯t grasp that the voice belonged to the person in front of him. So alien was Yuel¡¯s voice. Thinner and more soprano than he imagined. Not quite fitting for a killer who had ughtered tens to hundreds of thousands. Catching his breath, Najin responded. ¡°Ivan.¡± ¡°Ah, you are the reference person for the case. I¡¯ve heard about you. Nice to meet you.¡± Yuel still used formal speech. However, those around didn¡¯t seem to take special notice of this fact, and Najin btedly remembered something about Yuel Razian. Yuel Razian uses formal speech with everyone. Because everything is the same to her. Even to the emperor, the sun of the empire, and to a beggar rolling in the streets, she uses formal speech. A few had pointed this out, but¡­ ¡®No one who pointed it out kept their head attached.¡¯ So, it wasn¡¯t ufortable. Quickly epting Yuel¡¯s formal speech, Najin graciously epted it. ¡°There¡¯s no need to waste time.¡± Yuel spoke indifferently. Her voice, close to a soprano, aside, there was no inflection in it. With that alien voice, Yuel said, ¡°Lead the way.¡± She pointed at Najin. Originally, she had requested an interview with Najin, and there was a designated guide, but¡­ as if it were none of her concern, Yuel pointed at Najin and continued. ¡°I will receive guidance from this person. Everyone, proceed with your duties. It shouldn¡¯t take long.¡± The inquisitors, as if ustomed, bowed their heads and dispersed. Only the lord and Hite remained, staring nkly at Yuel. ¡°Do you have something to say?¡± ¡°That, well¡­¡± The lord hesitated, and Hite spoke. ¡°Do you not need anypanions or knights to apany you¡­¡± At that question, Yuel tilted her head. The expressionless face tilted, and she opened her mouth. ¡°Pardon?¡± A voice full of questions. Confused by why such a question was asked, Hite realized his mistake toote. Bowing his head, Hite made way, admitting his slip of the tongue. From the start, Yuel Razian needed nopanions. There was no need for knights or simr personnel. Just as those who reached the transcendent realm are, Yuel Razian is a mighty being beyond human limits. It¡¯s futile to measure and judge her bymon sense. All the forces stationed in this city¡­ that is, all the knights and all the mages, as well as the mercenaries and soldiers still present, could all rush at her, yet not a single drop of blood would be shed from her. For that¡¯s what a Sword Master is. Yuel, tilting her head, then moved towards the underground waterway, leading Najin. *** ¡°This is the ce.¡± Guiding Yuel, Najin slightly adjusted his impression of her. If the impression of Yuel he had from Merlin¡¯s stories was of an unpredictable, blood-thirsty madwoman¡­ Tap, tap. The impression of Yuel following him now was of an emotionless doll. The intense murderous intent he felt when she alighted from the carriage was now nowhere to be felt, as if his experience then was a mere illusion. After some time. They reached a deep part of the underground waterway, where Najin had pursued Fauve and arrived. Turning his head, he saw a passage leading to Kefalon¡¯s workshop. The inquisitors had unlocked the passage. ¡°That¡¯s the ce.¡± Yuel, making a tapping sound, moved forward. She now stood ahead of Najin, changing their positions. As they descended into the workshop along the passage, Yuel said, ¡°Your name is Ivan, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Your age?¡± ¡°Twenty-eight.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like lies.¡± Her voice, still devoid of any inflection, made it hard to grasp the emotions and intentions in her words. ¡°Legally, I¡¯m twenty-eight.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s a disguised identity. Imperialw doesn¡¯t take identity disguise lightly, but that¡¯s a matter for the imperial officials, not my jurisdiction. I¡¯m not interested.¡± Yuel stopped walking and turned to look at Najin. Even in the darkness, her red eyes glowed. ¡°I¡¯m asking for your age. It¡¯s a personal curiosity, and I have no intention of harming you.¡± Najin sensed it was a warning. Lying again might have unpredictable consequences. Yet, Najin took a step forward. ¡°If you swear or make a vow not to disclose it, I will reveal my age.¡± ¡°Do you realize I have the authority and power to make you disclose your identity? I have many ways to make you speak.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± ¡°And still, you want a vow from me?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yuel looked at Najin. Her glowing red eyes stared into his unwavering amber eyes for a few seconds. Heh. Yuel¡¯s lips twitched slightly. ¡°Very well. I¡¯ll swear. I swear in the name of the thorny martyr, the patron saint of the Starblood Sect, that this conversation will not leak.¡± Is that satisfactory? Asking this, Najin nodded to Yuel. ¡°Your age?¡± ¡°Eighteen.¡± ¡°You¡¯re young.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes, more young than mature. Considering your realm, it¡¯s remarkably young. Astonishing.¡± Yuel pped her hands with a stoic expression. p, p, p. The dry sound of apuse echoed. As Najin looked at her with a bitter gaze, Yuel stopped pping and tilted her head. ¡°Don¡¯t you like being apuded?¡± ¡°I¡¯m confused. I don¡¯t know what you mean or your intent.¡± ¡°pping is my way of expressing astonishment. There¡¯s no other meaning, so smile.¡± Yuel raised her lips with both hands. ¡°The apuse of a Sword Master is precious. My astonishment is even more so. So, rejoice.¡± Najin forced a smile. Only then, seeming satisfied, Yuel turned and moved forward. She seemed a bit odd. -A murderer who¡¯s killed hundreds of thousands wouldn¡¯t be sane, would they? That¡¯s true. Ignoring Merlin¡¯s words, Najin followed Yuel. Even as they descended into the workshop, Yuel kept talking to him. ¡°If this were known to the empire, it would be in uproar. Sword Saint Karan mighte to meet you immediately. Surely, he would.¡± There was a hint of inflection in Yuel¡¯s usually t voice. Najin noticed her voice tinged with excitement. ¡°But you met me first, and I discovered you. Remember this. Yuel Razian was the first Sword Master you faced.¡± ¡°A honor indeed.¡± ¡°Indeed, a great honor.¡± Yuel stopped. They were deep inside Kefalon¡¯s workshop. In front of the horrifying sight, Yuel didn¡¯t blink. There was no sign of disturbance. ¡°It¡¯s also regrettable.¡± Yuel sighed. The sigh was filled with warmth. As if unable to bear it, she reached into her uniform and pulled out a water bottle. As if dying of thirst, she uncorked the bottle and downed it. Najin frowned. The strong aroma of potent liquor wafted over. It wasn¡¯t water but alcohol. After emptying the bottle, Yuel exhaled deeply. ¡°It¡¯s truly regrettable that I have no justification to draw my sword against you.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± An out-of-context statement. As Najin was puzzled, Yuel continued. ¡°Under imperialw, identity disguise is a grave crime. However, since you are under the patronage of the Cambria Foundation, an exception applies, and I cannot punish you.¡± It was a soliloquy. ¡°I have the power to make immediate judgments under imperialw, but I cannot wield it against you. The power I hold as the Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect is the same. I can interrogate you, but it must be through dialogue, not force. You have notmitted a crime yet.¡± It was also a question she posed to herself, seeking a reason to draw her sword. ¡°During our descent here, I observed the energy within you. Unusual achievements for your young age. I suspected a pact with a demon. If I detected even a hint of demonic energy, as the Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect, I could draw my sword against you, but there was none. You¡¯re clean.¡± Haaaaaah. ¡°It would be tantly illegal and against doctrine for me to draw my sword against you. That¡¯s regrettable. I thought it was a good opportunity¡­¡± Sighing, Yuel reached into the air. Then, snap, the scenery twisted as she grasped the air, forming a shape in her hand. Yuel grasped the air, but in her hand now was a great sword. At the sight of the great sword, Najin instinctively backed away. A murderous intent far surpassing what she had shown when alighting from the carriage filled the space, pressing down on it as if it had mass. Najin¡¯s eyes reddened. His senses were on edge, and before he knew it, he had drawn his sword. ¡°Your mental strength to withstand the murderous intent, the intuition to create distance, the reflex to draw your sword as a swordsman. Impressive. It¡¯s really a pity.¡± Holding her drawn sword, Yuel only turned her head to look at Najin. She was smiling. Her blood-red eyes glowed with excitement and regret. ¡°Under imperialw, death in a duel agreed upon by both parties is legal. If I challenge you to a duel, would you ept?¡± A duel with a Sword Master. If Sword Saint Karan had challenged him, Najin would have dly epted. Naturally, the Sword Saint would hold back, seeking to gauge and teach Najin through the duel. But the person before him was different. Her only goal was one. A duel where blood is shed, aiming for each other¡¯s lives, not stopping until life or death is decided. epting meant losing his head. ¡®What if I draw Excalibur?¡¯ No, he would still lose. The realms are different. The experience is different. The dimensions are different. Even summoning Excalibur wouldn¡¯t bridge the gap, Najin knew. ¡°I refuse.¡± ¡°A duel with a Sword Master is a valuable experience.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only meaningful if I survive.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not wrong.¡± Yuel nodded. ¡°Then, let¡¯s postpone the duel.¡± Regretfully sighing, she turned to look ahead. Kefalon¡¯s workshopy before them. As the Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect, Yuel had the authority to clean up this workshop. ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll have to cut this down instead.¡± She swung the great sword she held in one hand. And Najin saw. As if cutting out a newspaper with scissors, everything in front of them was excised from the world. The phenomenon urred first, followed by the sound. Screeeeeeeeech! A sword cry, resembling a human scream, echoed through the air. Chapter 83 Chapter 83 ¨C Sword Master, Yuel Razian (3) A sword cry that resembled a human scream. With a screeching tear, a tempest raged in the deepest part of the underground waterway, brought forth not by nature but by a sword wielded by a human. Yuel Razian swung her sword. The Sword Master wielded her de. In that moment, Najin saw the entirety of Kefalon¡¯s workshop, stretching far into the distance, being carved away. The process was unlike splitting, slicing, or shattering. It was different, and thus, alien. It was as if the world was being excised. Like cutting paper with scissors, thendscape was carved away by the swing of a sword. The process was more akin to disassembly than cutting or splitting. Despite seeing it with his own eyes, Najin couldn¡¯tprehend how it happened. Yuel Razian swung her sword once, and the workshop vanished without a trace. Only the cause and the effect remained, with the process itself evaporating. -I¡¯ve heard rumors, but witnessing it firsthand is indeed astonishing. Merlin¡¯s voice echoed in Najin¡¯s ears. -Do you remember when I spoke to you about Mystique? Najin remembered. Unbound by rules and lying beyond the realm ofmon sense. -Right. Masterpieces are said to contain Mystique, but why are they called masterpieces? Because they make the impossible possible, hence the title. Merlin sighed as he spoke. -Originally, Mystique resides in living beings. -There are a few species naturally born with Mystique. Dragons, demons, fairies, those kinds of beings. -But very asionally¡­ Merlin paused before continuing. -Mystique can also reside in humans. -There are those born with Mystique, albeit at an extremely rare rate. Of course, not all of them are aware of the Mystique they possess. Only a very few realize their own Mystique. The probability is incredibly low,pounded by yet anotheryer of rarity. Merlin muttered this, then chuckled bitterly. -Surprisingly, there are two of them here. Two, Merlin said. -One is me, whispering to you, and the other is that madwoman standing over there. Najin looked at Yuel. The woman holding a zweihander, a type of great sword. As she released the sword, it dissolved into the air with a whooshing sound. She turned her gaze towards Najin. Still expressionless, but beyond that mask of indifference, Najin had glimpsed her madness. Swallowing dryly under her sticky, blood-red gaze, Najin felt a chill. -Disassembly. That was the Mystique Yuel Razian harbored. Merlin was saying so. There was no need to ask in what context the word ¡®disassembly¡¯ was used. The example was right before his eyes. Andscape disassembled, excised from the world. The empty scenery of the vanished workshop spoke volumes about the usage of the word. Najin clicked his tongue inwardly. ¡®Mystique is chilling.¡¯ -Most are beyondprehension. What Mystique do you hold, Merlin? Najin asked. Merlin fell silent. After a moment, he spoke. -A full stop. Merlin didn¡¯t borate further, as if she didn¡¯t want to delve into the topic any more. *** Kefalon¡¯s workshop had vanished without a trace. What should have been a task for dozens of inquisitors to clean up waspleted with a single swing of Yuel Razian¡¯s sword. However, she seemed less than satisfied with the oue. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Yuel exhaled deeply. She rummaged through her belongings, pulling out a bottle from the Starblood Sect¡¯s uniform. Having emptied it earlier, not a single drop of alcohol fell out, even when turned upside down. ¡°Ah¡­¡± Yuel moaned. She quickly turned her gaze to Najin. ¡°Ivan.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Do you have any alcohol on you?¡± An utterly unexpected question. Najin shook his head, and Yuel sighed even longer this time. Unable to bear the sight of her constant sighing, Najin offered a bottle of water he had. ¡°I have some water, would you like that instead?¡± ¡°I suppose I¡¯ll have to make do with that.¡± epting the water bottle, Yuel quenched her thirst. Even after finishing the entire bottle, her thirst seemed unquenched, as she licked her lips looking at Najin, as if asking if there was more. Najin shook his head. He did have some potions, but he didn¡¯t want to give his expensive potions to Yuel, especially since she wasn¡¯t injured. ¡°Are you thirsty?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a habit. When I want to kill but can¡¯t, I get thirsty. Alcohol helps, but unfortunately, there¡¯s none here. A sad thing, really.¡± Yuel nced at Najin with those words, not exactly aforting look for him. Essentially, she was saying she was thirsty because she wanted to kill him but couldn¡¯t. It was a chilling statement. Najin decided to change the subject. As they climbed up from the underground waterway, Najin engaged Yuel in conversation. ¡°You seem to enjoy alcohol.¡± ¡°Yes, I do. I relish the burning sensation it brings to my throat. If it contains a bit of poison, even better.¡± Yuel offered a thin smile. ¡°I particrly enjoy the Starblood Wine produced by the Starblood Sect. I¡¯ve heard it called holy water or blessed wine by the outside world¡­ Did you know that the undiluted, highest quality Starblood Wine is essentially a poison?¡± ¡°Do you mean it¡¯s potent?¡± ¡°Both in potency and as an actual poison. It contains ingredients that act as poison in the human body.¡± She yed with her empty bottle, reminiscing. ¡°Drinking it feels like your throat is burning. Your eyes bloodshot, every sense heightened. It¡¯s the only alcohol that can make me, who has transcended, feel intoxicated and in pain.¡± Those who curse Starblood Wine as insane liquor are fools who know nothing of its taste. Yuel mumbled, a smile spreading across her lips. Even the mere thought of drinking seemed to bring her joy. ¡®I thought she was an emotionless doll¡­¡¯ Perhaps that¡¯s not quite right. Najin pondered as he walked. Then, he suddenly stopped, causing Yuel to halt as well. ¡°Do you have something to say?¡± ¡°May I ask you a question?¡± ¡°By all means.¡± Yuel nodded, and Najin spoke. ¡°I recall you saying you wanted to swing your sword at me, to try and kill me.¡± ¡°Indeed, I did say that. I find you intriguing. I want to sh swords with you, and yes, I also want to kill you.¡± There was no malice in Yuel¡¯s words. Pure interest. While the notion of discussing death as a matter of interest was chilling, understanding Yuel Razian as ¡®such a person¡¯ made the conversation somewhatprehensible. ¡°If I may be so bold, as the Inquisitor General, you wield immense power, as I understand.¡± ¡°That is true. Above me are only the Sun of the Empire and the Grand Priests of the three Sects¡­¡± ¡°So, wouldn¡¯t you be in a position where you could swing your sword at someone like me without facing any consequences?¡± Aren¡¯t you in a position where you can do as you please? That was Najin¡¯s question. He knew the world was such a ce. Even if Yuel executed Najin on the spot, the incident wouldn¡¯t escte much. Who would dare raise a hand against the Inquisitor General of the Sect? Yet, Yuel doesn¡¯t act on it. Najin wanted to know why. Despite the risk of asking, he somehow felt Yuel wouldn¡¯t kill him right there and then. ¡°Yes, if I were to kill you now, there wouldn¡¯t be any particr sanctions against me. That is true.¡± Yuel answered his question. ¡°But that would be making an exception to the rules I¡¯ve set for myself. One exception leads to two, and two leads to three and four. So, it¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°Rules, you say?¡± ¡°Rules to survive by.¡± She continued after a long sigh. ¡°I live ording to my desires. Kill as I wish. Yes, about a hundred and fifty years ago, I lived that way.¡± It was a story about herself. ¡°I killed as I pleased. It was an era of war, after all. In the battlefields of life and death, there is no right or wrong, no good or evil. So, I lived that way. It was indeed a delightful era.¡± Killing indiscriminately and reveling in blood. ¡°But time passed, and the wars ended. Then, shouldn¡¯t I change my methods as well?¡± She spoke calmly. ¡°I am a killer. I enjoy taking lives and love the sight of bloodshed. However, I also have a longing for life, a desire to indulge in this pleasure for a long time.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes, indeed. To enjoy this pleasure for longer, shouldn¡¯t I align myself with the world¡¯s definitions of right and wrong, good and evil?¡± So, she made her decision. Her own set of rules. Yuel Razian exined. ¡°Those whomit crimes. Those who do wrong. Apostates who dabble in dark magic. Evil and nefarious beings.¡± ¡°The world doesn¡¯t condemn me for cutting down such beings, but if my sword were to spill the blood of an innocent, severing their neck¡­¡± ¡°They woulde.¡± Yuel shrugged. ¡°The Lighthouse Keeper of the Starlight Order, the Incarnation of the Starbody Sect, Sword Saint Karan, the Empire¡¯s number one, Gerd.¡± Not in the battlefield of stars or the abyssalnds, But among the transcendent beings dwelling in the continent. They are the ones who would rush in a single stride to y a murderer spreading her wings across thend. ¡°Ah, they are strong. Even if I were to rush at them with all my might, I couldn¡¯t survive against all of them. Of course, I have a desire to fight and shed blood with them, but I¡¯ve saved that wish for the very end.¡± Saying so, Yuelughed. It was an innocent, untaintedugh, purer than anything else. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the most delicious dessert be saved forst?¡± Although he couldn¡¯t understand everything, Najin agreed with thest statement. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s how it is.¡± Najin felt a bit like he understood the kind of person Yuel Razian was. He didn¡¯t want to empathize with her way of life at all, but understanding was a different matter. ¡°So, I might hold back a bit when ites to you.¡± ¡°¡­Really?¡± The end of the underground waterway came into view. Tap, tap, as Yuel stepped on the stairs leading to the surface and looked back at Najin. ¡°You have the potential to ascend to a Sword Master. With your realm at that age, you¡¯ll likely reach a position like mine before long.¡± Her white hair sparkled in the iing light. Backlit, she smiled at Najin. ¡°When that timees, I will once again challenge you to a duel. I hope you won¡¯t refuse then.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about it.¡± ¡°Ah, you¡¯re also wee tomit a crime. Minor offenses can be pardoned under the specialws for Sword Masters, so if you¡¯re going to, make it a grand massacre¡­¡± ¡°That might be a bit difficult.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Yuel shrugged. ¡°What a pity.¡± *** When Yuel and Najin emerged from the underground waterway, the city lord sighed in relief. It seemed the matter had been settled more quietly than expected. ¡°I¡¯ll be heading to Cambria now.¡± Having finished all his business in the city, Najin returned to Cambria, and the inquisitors¡¯ carriage also returned to the Starblood Sect. However, Yuel Razian did not leave. Only her carriage remained in the city. As the lord watched her cautiously, Yuel, who had been standing quietly, slowly tilted her head. Her gaze was directed towards the narrow alleys of themercial city. ¡°I understand Regenoff City is amercial hub.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, it is, but¡­¡± ¡°I have a question. Depending on your answer, you may find yourself implicated in a crime. Please keep that in mind and respond.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± The lord trembled. Yuel looked at him with her red eyes, extending her arm to point deep into the alleyway. ¡°I sense magic there. It seems things that shouldn¡¯t be sold are being traded. I hear voices. The voices of merchants.¡± There was no sound to be heard. Not even the knights guarding the lord, nor Najin, and not even a Sword Saint if present, could have heard anything. But Yuel Razian hears. Her senses were abnormally sharp, even among Sword Masters. Her ears picked up the voices of merchants engaging in illicit trade. Her nose detected the stench of the items they bought and sold. ¡°Is this business under your management, or is it the unteral action of cultists who have settled here?¡± Yuel made it clear what she was talking about. ¡®The ck market.¡¯ An underground market existed in Regenoff City, its presence tacitly condoned. It was quite profitable, and themercial city¡¯s rapid growth owed much to this ck market. The lord had turned a blind eye to the existence of the ck market. Sometimes he even supported it, allowing it to grow unchecked. However, he couldn¡¯t reveal that fact. The Inquisitor General before him was someone who could sever a person¡¯s neck for being involved in a crime, and face no punishment for it. ¡°I¡¯m unaware of¡­ such things¡­¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Yuel knew the lord was lying. Yet, she merely nodded, as it didn¡¯t really matter to her. ¡°Then, I shall take care of it. It¡¯s my duty as the Inquisitor General of the Sect.¡± It was a minor incident that didn¡¯t require the involvement of someone of her stature. Nevertheless, Yuel Razian stepped towards the alleyway. The lord had no grounds to stop her. Closing his eyes tightly, he epted the inevitable. That day, the alleyways of Regenoff City were drenched in blood. Though no screams echoed, A sword cry, resembling a human scream, resonated. Chapter 84 Chapter 84 ¨C A Midday Date (1) In the City of Opportunities, Cambria, Najin gazed at the passing scenery from the carriage bound for Cambria. Thenguid sunshine was sying its rays everywhere. It was the season transitioning from autumn to winter, and the streets were carpeted with leaves in a myriad of colors. ¡®Are those fallen leaves?¡¯ -Eh? What do you mean¡­ ah. Merlin trailed off, finally grasping the meaning behind Najin¡¯s murmur. Having lived his entire life in the Underground City of Artman, Najin had no experience of autumn, let alone seen fallen leaves. Silently, Najin continued to look out the window. It was all new to him. Just when he thought he was getting ustomed to something, something new would pop up. The blue sky, the green of the fields, and the colorful fallen leaves¡­ The surface world was painted in colors unseen in the underground city. It was fascinating and beautiful. Najin¡¯s eyes momentarily captured the novelty of thendscape, but soon, a cool twilight filled his gaze. The eyes tinged with the hue of twilight narrowed. Clearly, he found some joy in wandering the outside world. ¡®But not enough to be off guard.¡¯ Najin recalled the battle with Kapman. Any slight mistake, and he would have been killed right there and then. Yet, at the same time, Najin realized he had been too rxed. He had forgotten the fact that he had pursuers, that he could be targeted anywhere, anytime. In getting ustomed to the unfamiliar, he had neglected the most crucial aspect. Ivan would have certainly clicked his tongue at this oversight. It shouldn¡¯t have happened. He should never have let his guard down, especially not like when he first left the Underground City. Najin sensed that the wariness he initially had significantly diluted. ¡®It¡¯s quite absurd.¡¯ Najin bitterly smiled. ¡®I¡¯m not even a Sword Master yet, let alone a Seeker, and here I am, catching a breath.¡¯ Merlin remained silent. Though she tried to say it wasn¡¯t so, her voice didn¡¯t reach Najin. What filled his mind was the image of being pierced by Kapman¡¯s arrow¡­ And Yuel Razian, the Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect, wielding her sword. When Yuel Razian unleashed her killing intent, Najin saw a vision of his neck being sliced. His senses, heightened to their limit, showed him a glimpse of the future. And even then, naturally, there was no way to respond. Death. A death so simple. The battle with Kapman, the encounter with Yuel. These events were enough to remind Najin of what he had forgotten. That his life could be taken at any moment, anywhere, a very simple fact. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± Najin exhaled deeply. ¡®I heard there¡¯s a Lighthouse Keeper in the Starlight Order, a Sword Master-level powerhouse.¡¯ -Yeah, there is. ¡®Would hee to kill me?¡¯ -No, that¡¯s not possible. Merlin stated categorically. -The Lighthouse Keeper can¡¯t move. He¡¯s a special being, and the moment he moves, the stars will take notice. If the Lighthouse Keeper moves, the whole world will watch you and him. Merlin added, if that were to happen¡­ -Everything would turn upside down if you were to draw Excalibur at that moment. The Starlight Order would seek to kill the bearer of Excalibur. The Lighthouse, the god of the order, wouldn¡¯t be unaware of the implications of such a statement. The Lighthouse Keeper is akin to an apostle to the Lighthouse, the god of the sect. The moment it bes known that the Lighthouse has moved its apostle to trample the bearer of Excalibur¡­ -It would give the stars a reason to intervene. -The conditions for the descent of a constetion are quiteplex, but in this case, the conditions for a star to descend on the maind would be met. The intervention of the stars. It would mean making enemies of the entire world. -Neither you nor the Starlight Order would want that story. That ce would be a battlefield of the stars. A war between the stars wanting to kill Arthur¡¯s sessor and those wanting to protect him. -There would be no winner in that war. -Unless you reach the realm of a Sword Master and possess a star, in the current situation, that¡¯s how it is. Both the sect and Najin would only face ruin. -But, the order would fall first. What¡¯s certain is that the order¡¯s downfall woulde faster than Najin¡¯s. Losing everything they¡¯ve built. Merlin argued that the Lighthouse wouldn¡¯t choose such a path. -I still don¡¯t quite get this situation. -I thought it was the order¡¯s own doing, but at this point, they must know too, right? Knowing yet still intervening in this affair. Merlin scoffed at the thought. -Even if they could excuse it as the lower ranks acting out of turn, why engage in such a matter? -Is it an attempt to provoke the Round Table? Some religious zealot possessed by mere eight stars? The Lighthouse I know isn¡¯t that audacious. Listening to Merlin, Najin spoke. ¡®In the end, what needs to be done remains the same.¡¯ The target doesn¡¯t change. Apart from the Lighthouse Keeper, there are no Sword Master-level powerhouses in the order. What¡¯s left are only thoseparable to Sword Seekers. Didn¡¯t Ivan also say it? Once you reach the realm of a Sword Seeker, even the order can¡¯t ignore your existence, and they¡¯ll have to negotiate. Of course, the situation has changed a bit, but the essence of the n remains unchanged. ¡®To reach the realm of a Sword Seeker.¡¯ Not just to grasp a fragment but to move beyond. To reach the realm of a Sword Seeker, one mustpletely deconstruct and reconstruct their sword aura. Only through this process can one obtain an optimal form of sword aura that encapstes their essence. Where does he stand now? He has touched the fragment, but he hasn¡¯t achieved the reconstruction of sword aura. He¡¯s outmatched by aplete Sword Seeker. A stroke of luck like the fight with Kapman Theosis would be hard toe by again. ¡¸I am just the beginning.¡¹ ¡¸They¡¯lle after you, over and over again.¡¹ Kapman had clearly stated that. More people would target him, and at times, he must be prepared for battles against multiple opponents. Among them, there could be those as strong as Kapman or even stronger. This won¡¯t do. He needed to ascend to the realm of a Sword Seeker. And the sooner, the better. *** The benefits provided to Red rank adventurers were numerous, and among them was ess to personal training rooms. Managed under the Central Guild, these personal training rooms were a privilege only Red rank adventurers and above could enjoy. The facilities were so well-equipped that even knights affiliated with noble families were said to envy them. And, of course, finding a ce where one could train without worrying about prying eyes or the leakage of techniques was rare. Often, a good secluded spot would be a popr training site crowded with people in just a few days. Therefore, Red rank adventurers frequently made use of the personal training rooms. They would gather in the lounge-cum-corridor, lined with doors to the training rooms, to chat and share stories. ¡°So, you see.¡± And today. The adventurers gathered in the lounge had their attention fixed on one particr training room. They nced at the firmly shut door and continued their conversation. ¡°He¡¯s been at it since yesterday?¡± ¡°Yesterday? Buddy, he¡¯s been at it for a whole week.¡± A middle-aged adventurer, his back scarred from countless battles,ughed mockingly. ¡°You know I use the training room early in the morning, right?¡± ¡°Of course. You¡¯ve been saying for years you like to tear up some muscles before heading to your mercenary group.¡± ¡°Right. So, usually, when Ie to the training room in the early hours, I¡¯m the first one there, right? It takes about an hour or so before others start trickling in.¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Well, for the past week, that young man has always been there first. The light in that training room is always on. One time, I came an hour earlier than usual, and he was already there.¡± An adventurer who had been eavesdropping joined the conversation. ¡°That guy is there at night too, you know?¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s so loud when he¡¯s training. I use the room next to his, and the noise is unbearable. It¡¯s chilling just hearing the way he swings around so violently.¡± The nature of the noise was self-exnatory, as it was audible even now. The relentless sounds of something being smashed and splintered echoed continuously from beyond the sturdy door, despite the soundproofing. ¡°All week long?¡± ¡°Seems like it.¡± ¡°A real piece of work, that one.¡± The adventurers shook their heads in disbelief. They were somewhat aplished themselves and understood what it meant to be immersed in training. There were days when they wanted to clear their minds through intense practice, spending a day or two locked up in the training room. But¡­ It was unusual to do it so intensely for a whole week. ¡°His name was¡­¡± ¡°Ivan, I believe.¡± ¡°The one who recently became a Red rank¡­¡± The adventurers mulled over the name of the young man using the training room. His recent exploits in the adventurer city had made him quite well-known, so there wasn¡¯t anyone who hadn¡¯t heard of Ivan. But why was he training so intensely? ¡°For what reason is he training like that?¡± ¡°Well, you know what happened recently.¡± ¡°Kapman, that fellow¡­¡± Kapman Theosis, a White rank adventurer. Amidst the uproar caused by his publicized death and Cambria¡¯s ensuing turmoil, Ivan, who had embarked on a simr mission, had been holed up in the training room for over a week. The adventurers vaguely spected that Kapman¡¯s death must have had a significant impact on him. Screeeech. As they were gossiping, the door to the training room opened. A gust of warm air rushed out as Najin emerged from the training room. Wiping off sweat, he refilled his empty water bottle and headed back to the training room. During this brief interlude, the adventurers caught a glimpse of the inside. Beyond the ajar door. Najin¡¯s training room. It was filled with sword scars. The room was covered in marks from frenzied sword swings. The ceiling, the walls, the ground, and especially the central wall, which served as the target, were significantly gouged. Considering that the room was cleaned and repaired daily by the maintenance staff and that the central wall was made of a notoriously hard mineral, it was truly astonishing. The adventurers were momentarily speechless. Eventually, someone said, ¡°He¡¯s insane.¡± No one disagreed. The scene they witnessed through the open door was not something a sane person would create. *** Late at night, well past midnight, Najin finally stepped out of the training room. As he walked, breathing in the cool air, he thought to himself. A light meal, a brief rest, and then back to it. Merlin, overhearing his monologue, couldn¡¯t help but interject. -Enough already. How long are you nning to keep this up? ¡®I need to reach the realm of a Sword Seeker, don¡¯t I?¡¯ -I know, but¡­ this isn¡¯t helping. You can¡¯t reach that level by brute-forcing your training like this. ¡®It has to be of some help, though.¡¯ -This is driving me insane. Even as he was heading home and conversing with Merlin, Najin kept his senses sharpened to their utmost. Prepared to respond instantly if an assassin were to strike. He was in a state of constant vignce, not just in the training room but even while asleep, always keeping his sword within arm¡¯s reach¡­ In essence, he wasn¡¯t truly resting. It was just like when he first left the Underground City. Merlin clicked her tongue as she observed that his once-rxed alertness had not only returned but intensified. This could lead to his downfall. Yet, this wasn¡¯t a habit that could be broken overnight. Najin. The boy who grew up in the Underground City. The nature of a hound that grew up in the streets, where abandoned children flocked even within a forsaken underground city, doesn¡¯t easily fade. Even when working as Ivan¡¯s hunting dog, any minor mistake, any threat to his life, any encroaching death, would lead Najin to obsessively sharpen his senses through rigorous training. It was what kept him alive. It was what led him to victory over stronger opponents. Those intense experiences from his youth remained indelibly imprinted on Najin. They might be forgotten momentarily, but never truly discarded. As these memories shed through Najin¡¯s mind, Merlin sighed. Rustle. Still clutching his sword, Najin drifted off to sleep, and at the crack of dawn, he was already on his way back to the training room. ¡°You¡¯re busy even before dawn.¡± Najin stopped in his tracks. The streets were still dark, with the sun yet to rise. ¡°It¡¯s hard to catch a glimpse of your face.¡± Someone was sitting on a bench ced in front of the training room. She stood up, shedding her deeply hooded robe, revealing light brown hair that fluttered in the breeze. ¡°Really, it would be nice if you came to see me first once in a while. Didn¡¯t I wish you a safe trip? When you return, you should at leaste to say you¡¯re back, right?¡± She grumbled as she stepped on the fallen leaves, making her way towards Najin. The woman, with her drowsy yellow eyes, finally stood before him. ¡°Don¡¯t you agree? Najin.¡± She whispered the name, ensuring no one else was around. ¡°What brings you here at this dawn? The Trading Company¡­¡± ¡°Name.¡± ¡°¡­Dieta.¡± ¡°Must there be a reason to visit? We¡¯re not so distant, are we?¡± Dieta shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much.¡± She then pulled at Najin¡¯s arm. ¡°Come with me somewhere.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go together.¡± Dieta tugged at Najin¡¯s arm more forcefully. Despite being able to easily shake her off, Najin found himself unable to do so. They ended up in front of a carriage. Standing in front of the carriage, Dieta twirled her index finger through her hair. ¡°¡­It¡¯s a date invitation.¡± Even as she said it, her face flushed with embarrassment. Chapter 85 Chapter 85 ¨C A Midday Date (2) Kidnapped at the break of dawn, Najin found himself whisked away in a carriage, destination unknown, deeming the situation more than sufficient to be called an abduction. -Abduction? With your strength, you could shatter this carriage and escape in seconds. ¡®Still counts as an abduction, doesn¡¯t it?¡¯ -Well, fancy that. A man near the level of a Sword Seeker, getting abducted. No denying that. Exhaling shortly, Najin sank into the carriage seat, conceding the point. Technically, it was an abduction, but hadn¡¯t he also not resisted? Silently, he gazed across. Dieta fidgeted with her knees, her head slightly bowed, seemingly unprepared for what came aftermandeering the carriage. ¡°So, where is this carriage headed?¡± ¡°Yes, what?¡± ¡°I asked where we¡¯re going.¡± Dieta straightened up, smoothed her chest, and began, ¡°To the Empire¡¯s capital, Camelot.¡± ¡°¡­Camelot?¡± ¡°Yes, I have business in Camelot. Besides my knight escort, I could bring one more. Thought it¡¯d be nice to have you along.¡± The Empire¡¯s capital, Camelot. Najin slowly nodded. ¡°But why me?¡± ¡°¡­You¡¯re asking?¡± Dieta sighed and crossed her arms. ¡°Kapman, on a simr mission, perished. Rumors are rife about a dark mage¡¯s workshop discovery and a visit by the Order¡¯s Inquisitor General. Do you know how worried I was?¡± ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes, it is. Don¡¯t look so surprised. Of course, I was worried.¡± It made sense, upon reflection. Hadn¡¯t he beenvished with support, serving as the face of the Trading Company? A figurehead dying abroad would certainly spell significant losses. While Najin pondered this, Dieta squinted at him. ¡°You¡¯re thinking, ¡®As a model, my death would indeed be a loss for the Company,¡¯ aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°Good grief. Yes, well, it would be a loss for the Company, but do you think that¡¯s the only reason?¡± Dieta let out a long, very long sigh, looking slightly disappointed at Najin. ¡°We¡¯re not just acquaintances from work, are we?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well¡­ even if not close friends, we¡¯re at least that, right? I thought so.¡± The front part of her statement was lost on him, but he caught thetter. Silenced by Dieta¡¯s words, Najin pondered. The concept of friends was foreign to him. Growing up in the Underground City, he had no ce for friends. Competitors, perhaps. Or targets to be eliminated. If not, the rtionships were mostly one-sided. In Artman, people either admired, envied, or feared Najin. The only real rtionships he had were with Ivan, Offen, and perhaps Master Hogel, but¡­ ¡®They feel more like elders or mentors than friends.¡¯ So, what does being friends feel like? ¡®What¡¯s the definition of a friend?¡¯ -What¡­? Najin, rubbing his chin, posed the question to Merlin. She retorted incredulously, and Najin, slightly bowing his head, mulled over it. Friends, friends¡­ ¡°Are you seriously pondering what a friend is right now?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯ve never had one before. Do you have any, Dieta?¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite a rude question. But to answer, of course, I¡­¡± Dieta too fell silent. Friends seem straightforward. Chatting, shaking hands, hanging out ¨C that¡¯s friendship, right? But Dieta¡¯s idea of a friend was different. Someone you can talk openly with. Someone in front of whom you can drop all pretenses. By that definition, she¡¯d never had a friend. Her tumultuous childhood didn¡¯t allow for such luxuries. If the man before her denied their friendship, it meant she¡¯d never had one. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t have any either.¡± Suddenly, Dietaughed. Two people in their twenties, sitting and earnestly discussing the definition of friendship ¨C it was absurd. With a thin smile, Dieta said, ¡°I thought we were friends, but if you thought otherwise, I¡¯d feel a bit disappointed¡­¡± Extending her hand, Dieta offered, ¡°Shall we start being friends then?¡± ¡°What role does a friend y?¡± ¡°Just someone you can talk openly with. Someone whosepany is enjoyable andforting enough to share your feelings with?¡± ¡°In that case¡­¡± Grasping Dieta¡¯s hand, Najin considered. Indeed, he felt somewhat at ease with Dieta. He wasn¡¯t sure why. ¡°It seems right. Friends.¡± ¡°Right?¡± epting Najin¡¯s handshake, Dieta mused. To her, Najin had always been perfect and capable. In swordsmanship, disguises, escapes, diplomacy,bat ¨C he was a wless mercenary. But seeing him earnestly contemte and feel unfamiliar with the term ¡®friend¡¯¡­ It was like encountering a new side of him. Naive in terms of rtionships. After all, he always seemed a bit reclusive. ¡®Is he weak in this aspect¡­?¡¯ Dieta swallowed hard. Exploiting psychological nuances for gain was a trader¡¯s virtue. Even without friendship experience, this was her area of expertise. Her greedy eyes fixed on Najin. ¡®If I manipte him this way or that.¡¯ Could I make him look only at me? Starting with daily greetings, sharing meals, and then¡­ ¡°Friends.¡± As Dieta schemed, Najin suddenly spoke up. Though it seemed like a murmur, it was loud enough to catch Dieta¡¯s attention. Drawn by his voice, she looked at Najin¡¯s face. He was smiling faintly, as if fond of the resonance the word ¡®friend¡¯ brought. At that sight, Dieta¡¯s mind went nk. She swiftly turned away to look outside, pressing down on her racing heart, trying to steady her breath. ¡­In rtionships, or rather, in matters of love, isn¡¯t it said the one who falls first loses? If that¡¯s the case, she¡¯s already marked as a loser, stepping onto the battlefield with abel on her forehead. Reversing the roles of victor and vanquished wouldn¡¯t be easy with just resolve. ¡®It¡¯s going to be a tough battle.¡¯ So, start with friendship. They say starting is half the journey. Having started, it¡¯s as good as done. If she¡¯se this far, that¡¯s quite the progress. So, for today, she should take it easy¡­ ¡°¡­¡­¡± Dieta¡¯s escort, Pasion, ncing back, shook his head. Whatever conversation happened inside, judging by his master¡¯s flushed ears, it seemed to have gone awry. Stay strong, Dieta. Murmuring internally, Pasion drove on. The journey to the Empire¡¯s capital took a considerable amount of time. Throughout the carriage ride, Najin remained on high alert, which Dieta found peculiar. His demeanor suggested he was being pursued or cornered. Sharp, alert eyes. Hands always resting on the sword hilt. Just like when she first saw him. Back then, in the alley, Najin had the same look. Dieta thought to broach the subject but decided it was too soon and held her tongue. ¡°Regardless of who.¡± As they neared the Empire¡¯s capital, Camelot, after several days, Dieta turned to Najin. ¡°You won¡¯t be harmed in the Empire¡¯s capital. If blood is shed in the heart of the Imperial City, that person won¡¯t stand idly by.¡± ¡°Who might that be?¡± ¡°Sword Master, Sir Gerd.¡± The advice to rx. Hearing this, Najin blinked. Realizing his constant vignce had been noticed, he gave an awkward smile. ¡°¡­Is it that obvious?¡± ¡°Even when talking or sleeping, your hand¡¯s on your sword. How could it not be?¡± Dieta let out a bitterugh. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about thister.¡± Saying so, she gestured ahead. ¡°We¡¯ve arrived.¡± Before them stood a massive gate. ¡°The Empire¡¯s capital, Camelot.¡± *** The Empire¡¯s capital, Camelot, encircled by towering walls, is the heart of the myth-entwined Empire of Britannia. As Najin stepped out of the carriage, the expanse before him took his breath away. The city¡¯s core, known as the world¡¯s center. Looking up, the sight is dominated by towering spires. Seven Magic Towers encircle the capital, yet none cast a shadow. Special treatments allow the towers¡¯ walls to let sunlight through, ensuring the Empire¡¯s every corner is evenly lit. An endless, boundless city. At its heart, and its highest point, sits the Imperial Pce, covered in tinum. Gazing at its peak, there¡¯s a void in the sky, dark as night despite the daylight, but not devoid of light. Through the breach, a star was visible. A constetion of thirteen stars. The first Emperor of the Empire, The rightful ruler of Britannia, The great hero, the King of Knights, Arthur¡¯s star. Day or night, Arthur¡¯s star shone from the Empire¡¯s core, illuminating everything. Overwhelmed, Najin couldn¡¯t help but sigh. -It¡¯s been a while, this ce too. Merlin, gazing at Camelot through Najin¡¯s eyes, smiled wistfully. The Camelot she knew had changed too much. Britannia wasn¡¯t always an Empire. Nor was Camelot always this grand. Originally, Britannia was just a shelter established by Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table for refugees. Camelot, now the capital, was merely an old castle back then. -They¡¯ve grown it so much. From those humble beginnings, Britannia has be an empire dominating the continent, and the old castle of Camelot transformed into a vast capital, encircled by seven Magic Towers. Merlin sighed with mixed emotions. ¡°This way.¡± Led by Dieta, Najin arrived at a street lined with buildings, each flying its own g, representing various houses or groups. Among them stood a building with Dieta Trading Company¡¯s emblem, modest and unassumingpared to the others, with just a g hanging from an otherwise in building. Thud. Stopping before it, Dieta turned to Najin, her smile indicating she took great pride in this building. ¡°This is ourpany¡¯s building.¡± She marked her territory in front of the building. Opening the door, Dieta gestured inside. inviting him to follow. Najin followed Dieta into the building, still bare and stark. The cleanup seemed iplete, with dust in ces. Climbing the ¡®creaky¡¯ stairs after Dieta, Najin reached the top floor. Though it was only three stories high. At the highest point of the building, Dieta flung open a window. Beckoning Najin to her side, she tapped the windowsill. Unable to resist her gesture, Najin joined her by the window. ¡°This is the Merchant¡¯s Quarter of Camelot. It can¡¯tpare to the merchant¡¯s street in Cambria, can it?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°Owning even one plot here signifies a sessfulpany. See those gs? Locktide, Corneld, the continent¡¯s renownedpanies. Vastly more significant than mypany.¡± Pointing outvishly decorated buildings and their towering presence, Dieta continued, ¡°Yet, starting from the City of Opportunities and erecting a building in the Empire¡¯s capital is a first for ourpany. By ¡®our,¡¯ I mean mine. It¡¯s a remarkable achievement, don¡¯t you think?¡± ¡°Is it?¡± ¡°For now, it¡¯s just this modest building.¡± Turning to Najin, Dieta smiled. ¡°But I n to devour that building.¡± Pointing at the tallest building in the street, the Corneld family¡¯s banner flying high, sheughed. ¡°Like in Cambria, engulf the entire street, making it mine¡­ and then.¡± Next would be there. Extending her finger, she pointed at the pce. Around the pce stood five towers, resembling towering watchtowers. People referred to these as the Empire¡¯s Five Pirs. The Empire¡¯s Five Pirs, the Imperial Pentagon. Towers granted to the five, excluding the Emperor, deemed the greatest in the Empire. Najin knew one of these housed Sword Master Gerd. ¡°Owning one of those towers.¡± Pointing at a tower, Dieta dered her goal. ¡°That¡¯s my objective. Thanks to you, Najin, a goal I can dream of.¡± Dieta¡¯s eyes sparkled a bright yellow as she looked at the tower. A snake¡¯s gaze, hungry for gold, and Dieta¡¯s gaze. ¡°Toe all the way to the Empire¡¯s capital without much reason¡­ I just wanted to see it with you. How does it seem? Daunting, right?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look easy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not something you should say.¡± Dieta smirked. ¡°Your goal is right there, isn¡¯t it?¡± Following her gaze, Najin knew where she meant without her pointing. He looked at the star hanging above the pce. The highest star. The greatest, Arthur¡¯s constetion. Looking at that star, Najin smiled faintly, feeling the long road ahead. ¡°It¡¯s a long journey ahead.¡± ¡°I know. Just looking at those gs makes me sigh. I need to knock them all down to ascend there, but I¡¯m already weary.¡± Turning away, Dieta leaned against the window, sweeping her hair back. ¡°So.¡± Reaching out, she grabbed Najin by the cor. Firmly gripping his cor, she pulled him closer. Despite her slender fingers and the ease with which he could escape, Najin allowed himself to be drawn in. Close enough to share breaths, Najin and Dieta locked eyes. Her pale yellow gaze met his dusk-lit eyes. From this proximity, Dieta whispered as if sharing a secret. ¡°Don¡¯t rush, or you¡¯ll spoil even what¡¯s meant to be.¡± Chapter 86 Chapter 86 ¨C A Midday Date (3) Their gazes locked from a distance close enough to share breaths. Held by the scruff, Najin gazed into Dieta¡¯s eyes. Those iridescent yellow eyes, known within the Arbenia ducal household as ¡°golden eyes¡± or ¡°coin eyes.¡± In those eyes, Najin saw his own reflection. Eyes reddened with fervor, shadows cast beneath them. Facing his reflection, a face he often encountered in the Underground City of Artman, Najin swallowed hard. Thud. Dieta released her grip on his cor and took a step back. Najin remained silent for a while. Had he been walking around with such a face ever since his encounter with Kapman? ¡®Merlin.¡¯ -Yes? ¡®Have I been walking around looking like a ghost?¡¯ -You look somewhat better now, if you ask me. Merlin sighed. -You¡¯ve been walking around with a face ready to tear someone apart. The adventurers kept their distance from you, why do you think that was? Najin remained silent. It was a habit left over from his days in the underground city, living as a hunting dog. Indeed, whenever his life hung by a thread due to a mistake or a moment of carelessness, Najin had always moved ¡®in this manner.¡¯ ¡®It definitely helped, but¡­¡¯ Ivan did not approve. Whenever Ivan saw Najin with his eyes wide and his body tense, he would click his tongue. ¡¸You¡¯re not someone who¡¯s lived only a day or two.¡¹ ¡¸Walking around like that will get you in trouble. Loosen up. Tsk, not loosening up? Look at this one, flexing his muscles.¡¹ Ivan would then throw his arm around Najin¡¯s neck, tapping his head. He would also threaten to kill Najin if he didn¡¯t rx his tensed shoulders. ¡¸Come with me. We¡¯re going for a drink.¡¹ ¡¸It¡¯s broad daylight, Ivan.¡¹ ¡¸Man. Daytime drinking is the best. And apetent and cool-headed boss like me needs to get drunk periodically and cause a scene. That¡¯s what makes us human.¡¹ ¡¸You don¡¯t need to go that far to¡­¡¹ ¡¸Tsk. Juste without any backtalk.¡¹ Whenever Najin reluctantly rxed, Ivan would lead him to a tavern, arm in arm. He would sit Najin, who was too young to drink, next to him and ruffle his hair while rambling nonsense. Because of those times¡­ Najin was afraid of Ivan, but he didn¡¯t hate him. Remembering those times, Najin fell silent. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Those were times he could never return to. Every time Najin tensed his shoulders, Ivan was no longer there to p them down and ease the tension. The boy who left the underground city had to be an adult, one who had to look after himself without anyone¡¯s help. ¡°Huff¡­¡­¡± Najin exhaled deeply, a very long breath. It was right to be on guard. It was also right not to neglect training. He was in a situation where he could be attacked at any time and his life threatened. But¡­ he had to admit that this level of vignce wasn¡¯t really helpful. ¡®It¡¯s not like this will get me up the ranks of the Sword Seekers.¡¯ Exhaling, Najin rxed his shoulders and eyes. As the tension eased, fatigue rushed in, and his shoulders ached. Loosening the tightly wound muscles, Najin suddenly looked at Dieta. She was fanning her face with her palm, her back turned to him, looking hot despite the chilly breezeing through the open window. Najin opened his mouth and called her name. ¡°Dieta.¡± ¡°Yes, yes?¡± Looking at Dieta, whose demeanor hadpletely changed from when she was gripping his cor, Najin bitterly smiled. ¡°We¡¯re friends, right?¡± ¡°¡­We promised in the carriage, didn¡¯t we? To be friends from now on.¡± ¡°Right. That means Dieta is my only friend¡­¡± Only, as in the sole one. As Dieta¡¯s eyes sparkled at those words, Najin continued. A friend is someone you can confide in, right? ¡°Would you mind listening to a friend¡¯s troubles?¡± ¡°Of course. Come sit here.¡± In a building belonging to the tradingpany, stark without any furniture, Najin and Dieta took their seats in a corner. ¡°So, what¡¯s troubling you?¡± ¡°Before I start, I should say¡­ just listening might be dangerous. My background is a bitplicated. Are you sure you¡¯re okay with this?¡± ¡°¡­How dangerous are we talking?¡± ¡°Enough to get assassinated by someone of Sword Seeker rank.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Dieta let out a short exmation. ¡°That¡¯s no small feat. Did youmit some crime?¡± ¡°I was born a criminal, I suppose.¡± ¡°Are you the illegitimate child of a rebel? Or a direct descendant of a traitor?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like my parents were that remarkable, but it seems I did something to offend the Order.¡± ¡°So, the Order is your enemy.¡± As Dieta pondered Najin¡¯s story, she rubbed her chin and hummed, closing her eyes. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes and nced at Najin. ¡°We¡¯re friends, right?¡± ¡°¡­Dieta just said we were.¡± ¡°Then it looks like I¡¯ve made Najin my first friend, and I don¡¯t want to keep my distance from my first friend. It won¡¯t be easy, but I¡¯ll take the risk.¡± That is, she said. ¡°Tell me what¡¯s going on.¡± Najin looked at Dieta. There was no hesitation in her eyes. ¡­Of course, there was no guarantee that Dieta was an ally. Though they maintained a good rtionship, there was no certainty she would remain an ally after hearing everything. After all, they hadn¡¯t spent much time together to build such a close rtionship. ¡®But¡­¡­.¡¯ Even if it hadn¡¯t been long, the time was sufficient to understand Dieta. And she said they were friends. Najin wanted to believe that her words were sincere, not deceit or falsehood. So, this might be a gamble. ¡°Do you know about the Underground City of Artman?¡± For the first time, Najin spoke of his origins in front of someone else. *** Najin shared his circumstances with Dieta, excluding any details rted to ¡®Excalibur¡¯. Mentioning ¡®Excalibur¡¯ would expose Dieta to dangers far beyond those posed by mere Sword Seekers. As Najin continued his story¡­ Dieta listened silently. ¡°¡­And that¡¯s how I ended up here.¡± After finishing his story, Najin looked at Dieta. Her expression hadn¡¯t changed from before she heard the story. As Najin waited anxiously for her to speak¡­ ¡°I had suspected you had an extraordinary background, but it¡¯s moreplicated than I imagined. This was beyond my wildest thoughts.¡± Dieta murmured as if she was slightly amazed. ¡°But thinking about it, if you¡¯re from the underground city, things start to make sense. The feeling of being somewhat disconnected from the world, theck of any proper identity information¡­¡± Muttering to herself, Dieta nodded emphatically, as if she had convinced herself of something. It seemed as if she had resolved some long-standing questions, looking almost relieved. For Najin, her reaction was unexpected. ¡°¡­Is that all?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°I was expecting a bit more¡­ a different reaction.¡± A reaction like confusion, distance, a frown upon learning of his underground city origins, such typical responses. Or, at the very least, a change in the way she looked at him. But there was none. Dieta looked at him just as she had before hearing his story. ¡°Could it be¡­¡± With a yful smile, Dieta tilted her head. ¡°You thought I¡¯d be scared of you or look down on you for being from the underground city?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Wow, no response. Seems like I was right. I¡¯d be disappointed if you saw me that way.¡± Dieta frowned. ¡°What does it matter where you¡¯re from? What does it matter if your background isplicated? Regardless of your past, the fact that you saved me hasn¡¯t changed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s because¡­¡± ¡°Because we promised, and keeping a promise is the natural thing to do. You¡¯d say something like that, right? I know. That¡¯s the kind of person you are.¡± She covered her mouth, chuckling. ¡°You, who speak of the unnatural as if it¡¯s natural, who leaps into actions that make no sense without considering loss or gain. That¡¯s who you are.¡± And yet, Dieta nced at Najin. ¡°You don¡¯t expect such things from others, though. You don¡¯t expect others to treat you the same way you do them, expecting nothing in return. It¡¯s admirable in a way, but¡­¡­.¡± Closing the gap slightly, Dieta moved closer to Najin. ¡°But you can have expectations of a friend, right? You need at least one person who can ¡®naturally¡¯ show you the ¡®unnatural¡¯. That way, you¡¯ll realize how extraordinary and bewildering your actions have been.¡± How do you feel now? Dieta prodded Najin¡¯s side, asking. ¡°Surprised? Confused?¡± ¡°¡­Honestly, yes. That¡¯s how I feel.¡± ¡°Imagine how shocked I was that day. Well, it¡¯s like that. Your story is definitely surprising, but it¡¯s not a reason for me to distance myself from you. Even less so to despise you.¡± Najin fell silent, and Dietaughed. ¡°We¡¯re friends, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡­.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Moved? Do you find me precious or something? Just kidding. Why so serious¡­?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°I said that¡¯s how I feel.¡± Dieta¡¯s face turned bright red. Najin looked at her and smiled. ¡°Friendship is indeed wonderful. I feel somewhat relieved after sharing all this.¡± ¡°Ah, uh¡­¡­.¡± ¡°Thank you. For saying that.¡± As Dieta, struck by an unexpected blow, stumbled for words, Najin rxed. Ever since escaping the underground city, Najin had always been tense. The fact that he was chosen by ¡®Excalibur¡¯. The fact that he carried the lives of Ivan and Offen. These truths kept Najin from rxing, but at least for this moment, that wasn¡¯t the case. His expression became more natural, and his voice and manner of speaking changed slightly. ¡°Talking about it makes me want to just barge in instead of waiting for an attack. Wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea, right?¡± ¡°Yes¡­? Uh, Najin. You do know the Order of the Lighthouse has a Sword Master-level powerhouse, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m kidding. If I went now, I¡¯d beautifully lose my head, and I¡¯m not that foolish.¡± With a shrug, Najin elicited a blink from Dieta. A joke? A joke, really? This was the first time Dieta had seen Najin talk this way. The lighter tone. The rxed face. This was a far cry from the stiff and expressionless Najin she was used to. But, in fact, Najin¡¯s natural demeanor and way of speaking were closer to this. He had always talked like this in the underground city. He was just adjusting it because he thought it wasn¡¯t suitable for a knight. After a brief moment of confusion at Najin¡¯s changed demeanor, Dieta spoke up. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ve listened to your story.¡± She said. ¡°Now we need toe up with a n.¡± Najin had not anticipated this at all. *** ¡°There are a few things I¡¯ve thought about.¡± ¡°At the very least, ways to ensure you¡¯re safe from assassination within Cambria¡­ I¡¯ll talk about them on the way back after I¡¯ve sorted them out.¡± ¡°For now, we¡¯re on a little vacation. Let¡¯s rest easy while we¡¯re in Camelot, shall we?¡± Mulling over Dieta¡¯s words, Najin strolled through the streets of Camelot. Dieta had some business rted to the tradingpany and said she¡¯d see him in the evening, so he needed to kill time until then. So, for now, he aimlessly wandered. Everything was unfamiliar. The attire of the people passing by differedpletely from Cambria, and the lined-up shops were all new to him. As befitting the capital of the empire, everything sparkled no matter where he looked. ¡®The most fascinating thing, though, are those.¡¯ Najin looked up. The towering magic towers came into view. Even from a distance, the presence of the magic towers, visible from anywhere in the empire, was truly remarkable. And, just as much, if not more so, in presence. The five towers surrounding the imperial pce caught Najin¡¯s eye. Symbolizing the empire¡¯s five pirs and dedicated to the pirs of the empire, one of these towers housed the empire¡¯s Sword Master, Gerd Isabalt. ¡®The empire¡¯s Sword Master.¡¯ The First Pir of the Empire. The old man known as the emperor¡¯s sword, despite Sword Seekers being unaffected by aging and maintaining their prime physical condition, this unique individual moved with the body of an elderly man. What kind of person is he, and what kind of sword does he wield? A curiosity sprang up, but Najin soon shook his head. By some chance, he had encountered two Sword Masters, but naturally, Sword Masters were not beings one could easily meet. Leaving it as a mere curiosity, Najin continued his walk. As he roamed the streets, he found himself standing in front of a cksmith¡¯s shop before he knew it. -For heaven¡¯s sake, how did you manage to find a cksmith¡¯s shop in a ce full of sights? You came all this way just to see a cksmith¡¯s shop¡­? Merlin¡¯s grumbling echoed in his ears. But what could he do when he had ended up finding it? From afar, the sound of a hammer striking a sword had drawn him here. As Najin inspected the swords disyed in the cksmith¡¯s shop, that¡¯s when it happened. ¡°¡­¡­¡± He felt a gaze. Turning his head slightly, he saw a young girl sitting in front of the cksmith¡¯s shop ring at him. The girl had a sword at her waist and wore light armor. And on her light armor¡­ Was a symbol Najin recognized well. Two swords and a shield covering the swords. The symbol representing the knights of Atanga. Come to think of it, he had seen this girl somewhere. Was it after the battle with the demon knight Verheigen, when he encountered the knights of Atanga? Clink. That¡¯s when it happened. The bell attached to the cksmith¡¯s shop¡¯s door rang, and a knight emerged from the shop. The knight who hade out of the cksmith¡¯s shop and Najin locked eyes. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s you?¡± The knight of Atanga, Argo. The knight who had encountered Najin during the demon knight purge recognized him and widened his eyes in surprise. Chapter 87 Chapter 87 ¨C A Midday Date (4) Knight of Atanga, Argo. In the heart of the Empire¡¯s capital, Argo¡¯s face lit up with joy upon encountering a familiar face. The young man known by the alias Ivan. Though they had promised to meet again after bing knights, chance encounters were beyond their control. ¡°Good to see you, nameless young man.¡± ¡°Pleased to meet you, Sir Argo.¡± Argo was aware of the alias Najin, but since he hadn¡¯t heard it from Najin himself, he refrained from using the name Ivan. Instead, he simply greeted the young man with a cheerful smile, calling him a nameless youth. ¡°I¡¯ve heard quite a bit about you. You¡¯ve been causing quite a stir, haven¡¯t you? I heard you even had a hand in something with Sir Griffin.¡± ¡°It just turned out that way.¡± ¡°Just turned out that way, huh? Sounds like you.¡± Argoughed heartily. ¡°What brings you to the capital of the Empire?¡± ¡°I apanied a friend who had business here, partly as a guard and partly for sightseeing.¡± ¡°Sightseeing, huh? But why a forge? There¡¯s much more to enjoy in Camelot.¡± ¡°Well, about that¡­¡± Najin gave a bitter smile. ¡°I was drawn by the sound of hammering metal and found myself in front of this forge.¡± ¡°True, the sound of the forge¡¯s owner working the metal is quite lively.¡± Argo nodded vigorously. Then he gestured to a girl sitting in front of the forge. The girl, who had risen from her seat, now stood beside Argo. ¡°This is my squire, nsh.¡± Argo said, ruffling nsh¡¯s hair. ¡°I stopped by the forge to have a sword made for this child. Now that I can engrave the Atanga crest, I thought I should gift her with at least one sword.¡± Najin looked at nsh with a brief expression of admiration. The emblem of crossed swords and a shield engraved on the girl¡¯s shoulder pauldron was a stylish design and one that Ivan held dear. Amidst their conversation, a piercing gaze was felt, and upon slightly turning his head, Najin saw nsh¡¯s eyes staring intently at him. While Najin felt puzzled, Argo gave a bitter smile. ¡°Ha, my squire seems quite interested in you. She always squints her eyes whenever she hears about you.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Indeed. On that day, pursuing the Demon Knight was her first mission. Having met you then, it¡¯s no surprise you left a strong impression.¡± nsh still gazed intensely at Najin. Argo squinted his eyes and gently tapped nsh¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Apologize, nsh.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Not to me, to him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± nsh bowed her head towards Najin, and amidst this, Argo stroked his chin. His squire showing keen interest in Najin and their chance meeting made Argo ponder before he spoke up. ¡°If it¡¯s alright with you, could you perhaps take a look at this child¡¯s sword?¡± *** Damano¡¯s Forge. This forge was under exclusive contract with the Knights of Atanga, and naturally, there was a space behind the forge suitable for testing swords. Upon recognizing Argo, the cksmith dly opened the way to the back. Arriving at the sparring ground. Argo¡¯s squire, nsh, warmed up while facing her opponent. A man standing across from her, loosening his shoulders, was someone she had first encountered during the Demon Knight Verheigen subjugation battle, and since that day, he had not left nsh¡¯s mind. At first nce, the man appeared to be her age. However, nsh knew that this man had single-handedly subdued Verheigen. Verheigen was a feared Sword Seeker-level adversary, yet how? nsh couldn¡¯tprehend this. ¡¸A genius.¡¹ ¡¸He could surpass even Sword Saint Karan, possibly breaking his records. A once-in-a-lifetime genius.¡¹ ¡¸At the tender age of seventeen, he¡¯s nearing the realm of a Sword Expert. It won¡¯t be long before he reaches the Expert level.¡¹ The stories she had heard. The world called her a genius, and by objective standards, nsh was indeed a genius. There was no one in her age group who could match her, and she had a natural talent for wielding a sword. nsh was aware of her own genius and thepulsion to surpass everyone else her age. To her, Najin was an anomaly. Someone around her age, yet far surpassing her own realm. nsh was troubled by Najin. ¡°Knight of Atanga, Argo¡¯s squire, nsh.¡± nsh pointed her sword at Najin. ¡°I ask for your guidance.¡± The conditions of the duel were simple. A pure sword fight, with neither mana nor sword aura involved. In such a rule, nsh was confident. She wouldn¡¯t lose. Pure swordsmanship. The realm of technique. That was her domain. nsh had been swinging a sword since she could walk, a practice spanning 12 years. She didn¡¯t rest on her talents and had always practiced her swordsmanship more diligently than anyone. ¡®I don¡¯t underestimate you, but.¡¯ nsh was certain she wouldn¡¯t be outmatched in the realm of pure swordsmanship. She had faced the swords of numerous formidable opponents, mastered various sword techniques, and even managed draws against Sword Seekers under such rules. Thud. Thus, with confidence she wouldn¡¯t at least lose, nsh took a step forward. She dashed forward, closing the distance and swung her sword. The sword sliced through the air with a clean trajectory. And Najin. ¡°¡­¡­¡± He watched nsh¡¯s sword trajectory with an expressionless face and then casually swung his sword. Thud, and then ng. nsh¡¯s eyebrows furrowed as her sword was easily deflected, but she calmly continued her sword strikes. The sword moved smoothly, drawing sleek trajectories. Yet, the result was much the same. Thud, and ng¡­¡­ The process repeated several times. Throughout, Najin barely swung his sword, only lightly flicking it aside or using a snap of his wrist. Ching! When a swift thrust, using the body¡¯s sticity, was also parried, nsh¡¯s eyes wavered. She knew her opponent was stronger, but this was uncanny. ¡®How?¡¯ A strange sense of dissonance. nsh suddenly looked into Najin¡¯s eyes and found the answer. As she swung her sword, Najin¡¯s eyes were precisely following the tip of her de. Reading the trajectory of the sword and interrupting the strike before its force peaked. Realizing this, nsh felt a chill run down her spine. ¡®Somewhere¡­¡­¡¯ She had experienced a simr situation before. It wasn¡¯t difficult to recall when it had been. About 2 years ago. To nsh, who was making a name for herself as an unparalleled genius, a swordsman had suddenly appeared. A swordsman who had single-handedly invaded the Knights of Atanga. Brushing aside the swords of the tense knights with his bare hands, he approached her and requested a duel. That swordsman, too, had swung his sword just like the man before her. Not too fast, nor too slow, just the right speed. A sword swung in sync with nsh¡¯s pace. But her strikes were deflected all too easily. The exact same situation as back then made nsh grind her teeth. That¡¯s why the memory had resurfaced. ¡¸This is disappointing.¡¹ That day, the swordsman had looked at her with cold eyes and said that. ¡¸Ordinary. No different.¡¹ ¡¸Merely faster than others.¡¹ The swordsman, who had left murmuring in disappointment, waster revealed to be Sword Saint Karan. That incident had left a deep wound on nsh¡¯s pride. And now, a simr event was repeating. With a swordsman of a simr age. nsh couldn¡¯t ept that fact. She boldly charged at Najin. The speed of her sword increased, and she varied the trajectory of her strikes. The prowess she demonstrated was not befitting of someone nearly a Sword Expert. Najin narrowed his eyes. Then, whoosh. For the first time, he took a step forward and assumed a stance. *** ¡°What¡¯s so interesting that you¡¯re watching?¡± ¡°I¡¯m observing the duel.¡± The owner of Damano¡¯s Forge. The master cksmith, Damano, sat on the fence of the forge, with a cigarette dangling from his lips. Flick, he lit his cigarette and took a deep breath. Then, whoosh. He exhaled a long stream of smoke, stretching his gaze. The sound of shing swords echoed loudly from where Argo was watching. ¡°One of them is nsh¡­ Who¡¯s the other?¡± ¡°A young man making a name for himself in the adventurer¡¯s city, a key figure in the Demon Knight subjugation battle.¡± ¡°Ah, that Ivan fellow?¡± Damano squinted as he watched the duel. ¡°Huh.¡± He let out a long sigh. ¡°If I¡¯m not seeing things, nsh seems to be on the losing end? Without using mana or sword aura.¡± ¡°Seems so to me as well.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t she a child who wouldn¡¯t fall behind even the mid-rank priests of the Order of the Sword in pure swordsmanship?¡± ¡°Indeed. She¡¯s extremely talented and hardworking.¡± No one denied that nsh was a genius. The world buzzed about her talent beingparable to that of a Sword Saint. But¡­¡­ Damano, his cigarette extinguished, focused on the duel between nsh and Najin. ¡°Then what¡¯s up with that young man?¡± ¡°I wonder about that too.¡± No matter how intricate nsh¡¯s sword trajectories were, they couldn¡¯t reach Najin. He cut through, blocked, and deflected her strikes before they were fully formed. Such a feat could be dismissed as chance once or twice¡­¡­ ng! But when it repeats over a dozen times, it¡¯s hard to call it mere coincidence. To achieve this, one would need to understand exactly what sword techniques nsh had learned and mastered, an almost impossible feat. nsh had mastered nearly dozens of sword techniques. Empire¡¯s swordsmanship, Atanga¡¯s sword, the Order of the Sword¡¯s techniques, the Imperial Hero Aigar¡¯s Guardian Sword¡­¡­ It was impossible to fullyprehend all these techniques. Especially since Aigar¡¯s Guardian Sword was a technique exclusively passed down to nsh. ¡®Then.¡¯ Is he mimicking the Sword Saint? Damano, having never crossed swords with the Sword Saint, couldn¡¯t know, but Argo did. It was something the Sword Saint often did. ¡°Tsk.¡± Damano clicked his tongue as he continued to watch the duel. ¡°nsh will take this quite hard.¡± ¡°She needs it.¡± ¡°Needs it?¡± ¡°Stimtion, the frustration of defeat. It¡¯s good nourishment, isn¡¯t it? It¡¯s necessary for progressing forward.¡± Argo smiled contentedly. For his squire, who had been keenly aware of this young man, this would be a good opportunity. Especially for nsh, who could becent in her environment, this duel would serve as a good vent. That¡¯s when it happened. nsh assumed a stance. The moment Argo saw it, he frowned. It was a stance for executing Atanga¡¯s swordsmanship. In herpetitive zeal, she was about to resort to techniques she shouldn¡¯t. ¡®This needs to be stopped.¡¯ Just as Argo was about to step in to halt the duel, Najin moved first. Before nsh could execute Atanga¡¯s swordsmanship, Najin¡¯s sword traced a clean trajectory and struck nsh¡¯s sword. Straightforward, and determinedly direct. A strike that shattered the opponent¡¯s stance. It was a technique that required in yet precise control of power, and Najin executed it wlessly. The moment their swords shed, nsh¡¯s stance crumbled¡­¡­ ng! ¡°Ugh¡­!¡± Eventually, nsh¡¯s arm was flung upwards, and she lost grip of her longsword. The sword she dropped nged as it hit the ground. ¡°¡­¡­¡± With her lips tightly pressed, nsh spoke. ¡°I concede defeat.¡± As she acknowledged her defeat, Argo stood still, eyes wide open. After a moment, he burst intoughter. ¡®To think I¡¯d see this again.¡¯ The swordsmanship Najin had just disyed. A strike that demolished the opponent¡¯s stance and pressed down. Those distinctive moves and footwork were also in Argo¡¯s memory. They were the same techniques that had defeated him several times when he was a squire. The technique Najin had used as if by habit, was undoubtedly tinged with Ivan¡¯s remnants. Facing those remnants, Argoughed pleasantly. He had never imagined he would see his oldrade¡¯s techniques again. *** ¡°Well done. This is my gift to you.¡± Argo handed Najin a small chest, and upon opening it, a pair of leather gauntletsy inside. The leather was well-crafted, indicating they were high-quality. ¡°Gauntlets are as important to a knight as swords and armor. Do you know why?¡± When Najin shook his head, Argo grinned and mimed throwing his glove. ¡°It¡¯s traditional to throw your glove before a duel. The louder the sound it makes when you p it down, the better the atmosphere.¡± Najin chuckled. ¡°I gratefully ept.¡± ¡°Good. And, thank you for crossing swords with this child. It was a big help.¡± nsh bowed her head to Najin. There was something different in nsh¡¯s gaze, both before and after their duel. Najin smiled at nsh. ¡°You are impressive. Your sword is fierce. I look forward to shing sword auras next time.¡± At Najin¡¯s words, nsh¡¯s eyes widened. Seemingly surprised, she fumbled with her lips before whispering in a barely audible voice. ¡°Th-Thank you¡­¡± As Najin was about to leave, receiving their farewells, he touched his neck. He had felt a gaze on him for a while. ¡®A subtle gaze.¡¯ He could sense the gaze, but couldn¡¯t pinpoint its origin. Even as he looked around, he found nothing. As Najin¡¯s gaze settled on a distant tower, one of the five surrounding the imperial pce, he felt as if the gaze might have originated there. After staring at the tower for a while, Najin shook his head. It must be his imagination. He had been overly sensitivetely¡­¡­ *** The old man stroked his white beard. His hair was white from the ravages of time. His skin was wrinkled, but age hadn¡¯t bent his back or waist. The old man slowly rose from his chair. He looked towards a certain direction for a while. For there, he could hear the resonance of swords. The sh of swords, resonating even from afar. Sword Song, the only sound that could stir the old man¡¯s soul. ¡°Berlot.¡± ¡°Yes, sir.¡± ¡°Grey hair. Adventurer¡¯s attire. Sunset-hued eyes. Investigate the young man who visited the city today.¡± ¡°Yes, understood.¡± The Empire¡¯s First Pir. The Empire¡¯s foremost champion. The apex of humanity bearing the Seven Stars. ¡°Interesting.¡± Gerd of the Empire smiled. Humming the pleasant Sword Song that had just caressed his ears, he watched the young swordsman who hade to the Empire for a while. Chapter 88 Chapter 88 ¨C A Midday Date (5) As the sun set, evening arrived in Camelot. However, darkness did note. With the setting sun, the street lights were lit one by one. The magic stonenterns hung in front of every shop sparkled, and the light leaking from the stores painted the streets in vibrant colors. It was a sight of the imperial capital vastly different from the day. Walking through such streets, Najin headed towards the promised location. ¡°Indeed, the capital of the Empire is quite different.¡± Najin clicked his tongue as he looked around. He had never seen buildings of such style, not even in the Underground City Artman, the City of Opportunities, Cambria, or any other noble¡¯s territory. He suddenly thought that the technological gap seemed to be at least several decades ahead. -There¡¯s a magic tower, you know. ¡°Excuse me?¡± -The ce where a mage stays is naturally progressive. Not to mention where there¡¯s a magic tower. But here, there are seven of them, aren¡¯t there? Najin nodded, and Merlin spoke with a strangely forceful voice. -It¡¯s not just because I¡¯m a mage, but there¡¯s hardly any profession that contributes to technological advancement as much as mages do. So, what I¡¯m saying is¡­ As Merlin began a lecture on ¡®the corrtion between mages and technological advancement,¡¯ Najin rapidly lost interest. Having spent nearly half a year with Merlin, Najin, who had been with Merlin all day except for sleeping hours, knew all too well that ¡°not everything Merlin says is worth listening to.¡± He listened with one ear and let it out the other. ¡°She is truly a remarkable person, though.¡± An archmage who had lived for over a thousand years. The Grand Constetion with eleven stars. Many mages pray to the stars in the sky just to hear Merlin¡¯s voice once, but after spending about half a year with her, those thoughts might change. -When talking about this, I can¡¯t leave out the time I first built a magic tower¡­ Merlin was fundamentally a chatterbox, fond of boasting about herself, and would often jump from one topic to another, usually ending up talking about her own experiences. ¡°What do they call this kind of conversation?¡± The kind that always ends with ¡®back in my day.¡¯ Trying to remember what people call those who engage in such conversations, Najin shook his head. After all, he had received a lot of help from Merlin. It would be too harsh to think of her that way¡­ -Back in my day. Maybe not. -Really? Najin yed along with Merlin¡¯s words as they walked. Before they knew it, they had arrived at their destination, a clothing store. Dieta, who had been sitting in front of the store, waved at Najin. ¡°Am Ite?¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re right on time.¡± Dieta grabbed Najin¡¯s wrist and pulled him. ¡°Let¡¯s go inside.¡± *** ¡°I¡¯ve reserved a restaurant, and there¡¯s a dress code. So, let¡¯s get you properly dressed before we go.¡± ¡°Clothes, you mean?¡± ¡°Yes, you don¡¯t have anything else to wear, right? Take this chance to get one. You¡¯ll be going to formal asions more often in the future.¡± More often in the future? As Najin wondered, Dieta called over a store employee. After a short conversation and handing over a few tinum coins, the employee quickly dashed off somewhere. And after a while¡­ Guided to a private VIP room, Najin began changing into the plethora of clothes the employee had brought. The outfit was simr to what he had worn at the ball but differed in minor details. ¡°Is this supposed to be draped over the shoulders?¡± With the employee¡¯s help, Najin somehow managed to change. As he stepped out of the changing room, Dieta, who had been waiting outside, slightly parted her lips. After a moment of silence, Dieta spoke. ¡°Tell me honestly, you¡¯re an illegitimate child of a noble family, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I told you I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Just kidding. Clearly, you have good proportions, so anything looks good on you.¡± Dieta approached Najin to straighten his tie and adjust his clothes. Normally, this was the employee¡¯s job, but Dieta had secretly instructed them to ¡®leave it be.¡¯ ¡°¡­¡­¡± As Najin looked down, he could see the top of Dieta¡¯s head, so he awkwardly looked straight ahead instead. After Dieta finished adjusting his clothes, she pointed to a chair. ¡°Why don¡¯t you sit over there?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± As Najin sat down, Dieta untied the worn-out hair tie he used to tie his hair and used a ring with the Dieta Trading Company¡¯s emblem engraved on it to tie it back. ¡°Okay, all done.¡± Satisfied, Dieta patted Najin¡¯s shoulder and went into the changing room, asking him to wait a moment. After a short while, Dieta emerged from the changing room, looking quite different. Her hair, which had been loosely tied, was now neatly tied in a single braid, and herpany uniform had been reced with a dress. With her hair tied in the same way as Najin and wearing a shawl of the same design that covered Najin¡¯s shoulders, Dieta turned around once in ce as if to show it off and smiled at Najin. ¡°Do I look good?¡± ¡°You look great.¡± She smiled contentedly. Dieta extended her hand to Najin, and he, now ustomed to the gesture, escorted her. ¡°Have you gotten too good at this?¡± ¡°It just happened to turn out this way.¡± ¡°But, you know, this is more like escorting a master, not a partner, right?¡± A partner should be like this. Dieta linked arms with Najin. Dieta, sticking close to Najin¡¯s side, slightly lowered her head. Her flowing auburn hair revealed ears that had turned bright red. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± *** A date. Couple¡¯s outfit. Arm in arm. With these words swirling in her head, Dieta felt a sudden flush on her face. She took a deep breath to calm her pounding heart. Really, there was no progress like this. ncing over, Dieta looked up at Najin. As they walked arm in arm, Najin appeared calm, unlike Dieta, which she found a bit displeasing. She had thought he would be a little flustered by being so close. ¡°But still¡­¡± Najin¡¯s rxed face. Seeing the face that Najin only showed to her, not in front of others, Dieta smiled slightly. There was some progress, after all. She knew Najin was clumsy with human rtionships, had heard about his background, and had established a friendship, opening up to each other. Even if Najin seemed uninterested in romantic rtionships between men and women for now¡­ Humans, being creatures of desire, tend to crave more as they get used to something. Once ustomed to friendship, wouldn¡¯t one crave the next step? ¡®Build it up slowly.¡¯ There were no rivals, and even if there were in the future, she held the title of the first friend. Dieta had no intention of giving up this advantage. ¡®Monopoly.¡¯ The eyes of the snake that swallows gold glittered with desire. Slowly, steadily, but surely. Just as Dieta was organizing her ns in her mind. ¡°Dieta.¡± ¡°Hic!¡± At the whisper in her ear, Dieta¡¯s mind went nk. She reflexively tried to distance herself from Najin, but the linked arms made it impossible. ¡°Dieta?¡± ¡°Yes, yes. What is it?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t answer when I called.¡± Najin pointed to a building. They had arrived in front of the restaurant without realizing it. Dieta, feeling her ears burning, fiddled with them and nodded. She really had to brace herself. Her opponent was a top-level swordsman who could strike unexpectedly and unconsciously. Moreover, as their rtionship had progressed to ¡®friends,¡¯ his attacks became sharper. Whether he suddenly smiled, lookedfortable, or whispered ¡®Dieta¡¯ in a rxed voice¡­ ¡°Isn¡¯t this good enough?¡± Dieta gasped for breath. She almost felt satisfied. pping her cheeks, Dieta regained herposure. Her goal was higher than this. She wasn¡¯t a woman content with just a friendship. ¡°I must stay sharp.¡± She would smoothly deflect the attacks and push in counterattacks that could shake Najin¡¯s heart. With that resolve, Dieta entered the restaurant with the mindset of heading to battle. *** ¡°¡­Huh.¡± When she came to her senses, the meal was over, and desserts and teacups were ced on the table. Dieta blinked nkly. She thought she had entered the restaurant with a firm resolve, but all she could remember was enjoying herself. She had been excited by Najin¡¯s responsive conversation and had rambled on¡­ This wasn¡¯t what she had nned¡­? As Dieta felt confused, Najin, who had sipped his tea, spoke up. ¡°Thanks to you, I had a great day today.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I experienced new things, tasted various foods, and thanks to you, I feel a bit refreshed.¡± Najin spoke frankly about his feelings. Thanks to Dieta, he was able to let down his guard and rx for the day. His mind, which had felt foggy, seemed to clear up. ¡°Thank you, Dieta.¡± ¡°¡­Um, well.¡± Dieta mumbled, then took a deep breath and exhaled long. She smiled bitterly. ¡°This wasn¡¯t what I had in mind¡­¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°But I can¡¯t deny that I enjoyed it too.¡± She had forgotten her ns and had a fun conversation,ughing at Najin¡¯s stories. The taste of the food they shared was indescribable. Just talking was enjoyable. The time spent dining together was satisfying. Though she acted as if she was adept at interpersonal rtionships, Dieta herself had never had a friend. The act of having afortable conversation with a friend provided her with a significant sense of fulfillment. ¡°Having a friend is nice.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± Dieta and Najin looked at each other and smiled. ¡°Now that we¡¯ve rested well¡­¡± Dieta set down her tea cup. ¡°Shall we move on to work-rted discussions? Like, ways to prepare for the attackers.¡± *** High Priest Ond reviewed the list. Four Sword Seekers. One 5th Circle mage. Fifteen Sword Experts. The hounds that Ond could move without borrowing the Order¡¯s influence. An overwhelming force for a mere individual. While he could mobilize even more by using the Order¡¯s name¡­ ¡°That would be meaningless.¡± There was no certainty ofplete control over the Order¡¯s power, and there were too many variables. In contrast, the individuals on this list were those who would roll on the ground and lick the dirt at a single gesture from Ond, given the leverage he held over them. Ond sent a signal to all of them. It was confirmed that the individual named ¡®Ivan¡¯ operating in the adventurer¡¯s city was the thief who had eluded them that day with Excalibur. The incident with Kapman solidified this conviction. Then, there¡¯s no need for further consideration. There was no need to conserve manpower either. Deploying all the avable hounds at once to ensure a thorough conclusion was the right decision. Although it was an overkill to capture a swordsman who had not yet reached the realm of Sword Seeker, it was better to err on the side of excess. ¡°Drive him into a corner.¡± Ond tapped the table. ¡°If we can make him draw Excalibur¡­¡± That would be the end. Excalibur, the Sword of the Stars. The moment the boy exposes the light that should not belong to him, his downfall is sealed. For that, the had been cast. Contemting the several ns he had prepared, Ond smiled. He was grateful for the opportunity to alleviate the Goddess¡¯s worries. Chapter 89 Chapter 89 ¨C Golden Fishing Hook (1) ¡°The attackers targeting you.¡± Dieta began, her arms crossed, inside the carriage returning to Cambria. ¡°Within Cambria, the only threats to you are adventurers of the White rank, right?¡± Najin nodded. Apart from Sword Seekers, there were no threats. Even if dozens of Sword Experts were brought in, it would be dangerous, but Najin had means to respond if such arge group moved together. So, it would be a hit and run. Fleeing and pursuing, then turning the tides with a counterattack, was Najin¡¯s specialty. ¡°There are five White rank adventurers in total. With Kapman Theosis dead, that leaves four. And out of them, three will absolutely not target you.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°First, Roselin Ascalo. You¡¯ve met her, right? She¡¯s pure, for better or for worse, not the type to engage in such dirty schemes.¡± Dieta folded one finger. ¡°Second, the formermander of the Zenobel family¡¯s knights, Rihard Polsen. He¡¯s someone the Order could never recruit. He has connections with the royal family, and his every action is reported to them¡­ He wouldn¡¯t engage in such acts.¡± Another finger down. ¡°Third, Baschen Korte. A White rank adventurer who hasn¡¯t disclosed his information, but he despises the Order to the extreme. He was stripped of his knightly title for allegedly killing a high priest of the Order. Again, the likelihood of him being involved is low.¡± Above all, she continued. ¡°Baschen Korte is an exclusive adventurer of our tradingpany. We might be able to get help from him in this situation.¡± Three candidates were eliminated. Pointing to the remaining finger, Dieta continued. ¡°Grizel Parmelt. This person¡­ there¡¯s almost no information avable, so I can¡¯t be certain. If someone within Cambria city targets you, Grizel would be the prime suspect.¡± ¡°What¡¯s their preferred weapon?¡± ¡°A halberd.¡± A halberd, a weapon Najin hadn¡¯t faced before. ¡°But this is all spection¡­ I think the threat wille from outside the adventurer¡¯s city, rather than inside.¡± ¡°I have simr thoughts.¡± ¡°Moreover, if I were the Order, I would unleash all the hounds this time. Kapman has already been taken down. The Order must be certain now that you are not someone to be trifled with.¡± What now? Muttering to herself, Dieta tapped her forearm with her index finger. ¡°For some reason¡­ The Starlight Order said they ¡®never move the Holy Knights directly,¡¯ right?¡± ¡°That would be the case. They wouldn¡¯t want to get caught.¡± ¡°Assuming that¡¯s true, there aren¡¯t many routes for external forces to enter the city.¡± Dieta spread a map. ¡°If someone of Sword Seeker caliber wants to ¡®legitimately¡¯ visit the city, they have to go through a reporting process. And an unjustified visit would be obvious. It would also be recorded. They wouldn¡¯t opt for this method.¡± She pointed to the back door instead of the main gate. ¡°They¡¯d either disguise themselves and enter through the back door or scale the walls. But in that case, targeting you wouldn¡¯t be easy. Your residence is close to the Central Church, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°That area is only essible to adventurers of Green rank or higher. Those with uncertain identities can¡¯t enter.¡± In other words. ¡°It won¡¯t be easy to assassinate you within Cambria, especially considering your skills. If a fight breaks out in the central city, adventurers will join in, and the situation will escte.¡± ¡°Certainly¡­ That makes sense.¡± ¡°So, they will try to lure you out.¡± Out of the city. Najin stroked his chin. Should he stay inside the city for a while then? But if that¡¯s the case¡­ ¡°However, you don¡¯t have to just sit back and take it.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten?¡± Dieta shrugged her shoulders. ¡°I¡¯m the head of a major tradingpany that dominates Cambria. When ites to the cirction of gold and goods within the city, no tradingpany surpasses mine.¡± She flicked a tinum coin from her bosom. Just as a swordsman wields a sword, an archer fires an arrow, and a mage disperses mana, a merchant snapped the coin from the air. ¡°Gold can make many things possible.¡± The snake that swallows gold smiled. A day after returning to Cambria. The first thing Najin did was move his residence next to Dieta¡¯s tradingpany. Dieta had strongly insisted, saying, ¡°That ce is good too, but it¡¯s better to move closer.¡± ¡¸Coincidentally, there¡¯s a very cheap but good property ¡®about toe up¡¯ near mypany. How about moving there?¡¹ ¡¸It¡¯s close to thepany, so we can see each other often! Juste with yourself. I¡¯ll have people move your stuff in advance.¡¹ There seemed to be reasons beyond just ¡®safety¡¯, but Najin couldn¡¯t deny Dieta¡¯s im that the ce was safe. After moving, Najin briefly greeted Dieta and set off. With Dieta¡¯s help, he made a few ns. But, at the end of the day, what mattered most was Najin¡¯s personal strength. In the final moment, the only thing to rely on would be the sword in his hand. The need to ascend to Sword Seeker as soon as possible remained unchanged. ¡®But¡­¡¯ Thanks to Dieta, he had some breathing room. With this newfound leisure, Najin could reflect on his past training and concluded that mindlessly swinging a sword wasn¡¯t much help. His swordsmanship and physical abilities were already close to that of a Sword Seeker. What he needed was something else. Knock knock. To understand what hecked, Najin sought advice from someone who could provide it. Conveniently, there was a suitable person. After knocking and waiting for a moment, the door creaked open. ¡°What¡¯s this about, so early in the morning¡­?¡± A figure with disheveled hair emerged. Roselin Ascalo, a White rank adventurer, recognized Najin and widened her eyes in surprise. ¡°What is it? What brings you here, kid?¡± ¡°I¡¯vee to use the one-time request I mentioned before.¡± ¡°Suddenly?¡± ¡°Yes, suddenly.¡± Despite the abrupt visit, Roselin told him to wait a moment and went back inside. After a few minutes, she reappeared, casually dressed, and wearing slippers. ¡°So, what do you need, kid?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to request a sparring match. As close to a real fight as possible.¡± ¡°With me?¡± Roselin chuckled. ¡°Look at this guy. Hey, I¡¯ve been a Sword Seeker for over ten years now. I¡¯m quite skilled, you know.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± ¡°And you want it to be as close to a real fight as possible?¡± ¡°I think that¡¯s how I¡¯ll get a feel for it.¡± Roselin blinked. A feel? Now that she thought about it, she had heard rumors that he survived a sh with Knight Commander Griffin and came back alive. Roselin narrowed her eyes. ¡°Are you in the process of Metamorphosis?¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you know Metamorphosis?¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Sigh. It¡¯s about awakening the fragments of your Imagery.¡± Najin silently lifted his sword. A constetion of pure white stars blossomed above his sword aura. It was a sword aura that had transcended the realm of Sword Experts and was nearing that of Sword Seekers. ¡°Huh, you crazy kid.¡± Roselin let out a dryugh. To think he was this close to bing a Sword Seeker at his age? Wasn¡¯t he just an Expert until recently? To have grown so much in just a month or two¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s start by stating what¡¯s going on.¡± Roselin crossed her legs and sat down on a bench, lighting a cigarette. As she smoked, she listened to Najin¡¯s story. After Najin finished exining. ¡°Well¡­ I get it.¡± Roselin nodded as if she expected as much and scratched her chin. ¡°To ascend to Sword Seeker, you know you have topletely dismantle and reconstruct your sword aura, right?¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware.¡± ¡°Yeah. That process is often called metamorphosis because it¡¯s like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon¡­ or shedding.¡± She brushed back her hair. Her ck strands swayed with her fingers. ¡°That process varies from person to person. Some are incredibly quick, and others are incredibly slow. Know why?¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because the pace at which a soul matures differs for everyone.¡± Between the fluttering locks, red eyes emerged. Najin felt a chill just like thest time he confronted those eyes, as if Merlin was gasping beside him. ¡°Sword Expert, Sword Seeker, Master¡­ Ultimately, all these stages signify one thing: purifying the soul and achievingpleteness. Ascending and reaching transcendence.¡± ¡°Transcendence¡­¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s not noticeable at the Expert level, but from Seeker onwards, the soul significantly influences it.¡± Roselin drew her sword. With a light flick of her finger, fierce sword aura bloomed on the de. It resembled the ws of a beast. ¡°It¡¯s inevitable. A Sword Seeker is someone who can imbue their Imagery into their sword aura, projecting the form of their soul into their de. If the soul is immature, naturally, the process will take longer.¡± Roselin pointed at Najin with her sword tip. ¡°From what I see, you¡¯re exactly in that situation. If you¡¯ve awakened the fragments of your Imagery but can¡¯t progress, it means something¡¯s holding you back.¡± ¡°Holding back?¡± ¡°Yeah. Maybe it¡¯s a lingering attachment, or maybe it¡¯s thoughts that interfere with crafting your Imagery.¡± She sheathed her sword and exhaled deeply. ¡°I know because I¡¯ve been through it. It took me 3 years to ascend to Sword Seeker after awakening my Imagery. For most people, it¡¯s a process that takes a few months at most.¡± Roselin chuckled wryly and stood up from the chair. ¡°So, in this case, I can help. Shall we take a look at your sword?¡± The duel continued for a while. As they exchanged blows, both Najin and Roselin experienced their own surprises. For Najin, the astonishment came from realizing Roselin was stronger than he had imagined. Duke Arbenia¡¯s Knight Commander, Griffin. Demon Knight, Verheigen. Ranger, Kapman Theosis. Najin had faced several Sword Seeker-level opponents before. Among them, Griffin was the strongest, and Najin was certain he couldn¡¯t win against him even now. ¡®But¡­¡¯ Roselin before him was stronger than Griffin. Although he couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly how, he felt she was a step above Griffin. The speed at which her sword prated, the trajectory it traced, and above all, the freedom of her sword aura were iparable to Griffin¡¯s. Unknown to Najin, his intuitive assessment was urate. There are three stages a Sword Seeker must undergo to be a Sword Master: Germination, Blossoming, Full Bloom. Roselin Ascalo hadpleted Germination, cing her at a higher level. Screech! Her sword aura, like a beast tearing its prey apart, carved through space. It spread like a, ensnaring and shredding its catch. The intricate control of her sword aura was astonishing to Najin. ¡®Look at this kid.¡¯ Roselin, too, was amazed, particrly by Najin¡¯s response to her techniques. He was a promising youngster when she first saw him, but now he was on a different level. Back then, he was just a Sword Expert with exceptional skills. A young prodigy with notable talent¡­ Now, he was on the verge of bing a Sword Seeker, a formidable opponent who could soon stand shoulder to shoulder with her. His physical abilities and reaction speed were already on par with an average Sword Seeker. ¡®All this in just two months?¡¯ It was an unbelievable pace. ¡®This kid is insane.¡¯ She had taken his concerns about having no further progress despite awakening the fragments of his Imagery seriously¡­ From her perspective, it seemed like the problem was due to his excessively rapid growth. Different from her own experience. Roselin felt a hint of bitterness at that thought. After all, who else had half their soul tarnished? Who else carried such a cursed lineage? ¡®But still.¡¯ Roselin clicked her tongue. Najin¡¯s movements, darting in swiftly, seizing the blind spots, and escaping the of sword aura, weren¡¯t just the result of talent. ¡®What kind of bastards did he fight with in such a short period?¡¯ Experience. She could sense the experience. Najin¡¯s movements were imbued with the experience of facing numerous strong opponents. After the duel, Roselin wiped the sweat from her forehead. ¡°Wow, this kid is really something.¡± She approached Najin with a pleased smile. Najin, having nted his sword into the ground, was catching his breath. Roselin knelt beside him. ¡°From what I can see, what you need isn¡¯t more swordsmanship or physical training. Instead, you need to take time for yourself, to meditate and organize thendscape you envision.¡± A person who had spent three years in solitary reflection. Roselin Ascalo patted Najin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Think about it. The answer might be closer than you think.¡± Chapter 90 Chapter 90 ¨C Golden Fishing Hook (2) The answer, surprisingly, was closer than expected. Roselin Ascalo, who had been trapped within a cocoon for three years but ultimately achieved Metamorphosis, said so. However, Najin found her words difficult toprehend. It had been a little over a month since Najin became aware of fragments of his Imagery, and he was approaching the second month. Two months. Sixty days. Those who be aware of their Imagery typically ascend to the realm of a Sword Seeker within 40 days. After all, the crucial part in ascending to the realm of a Sword Seeker was bing aware of one¡¯s Imagery, not the subsequent process. However, despite bing aware of his Imagery, Najin had been unable to advance for nearly two months. Of course, it wasn¡¯t a long stagnation, but for Najin, who had grown at a rate nearly ten times faster than others without any hindrance, the feeling of being stagnant was unfamiliar. ¡®What¡¯s the reason?¡¯ Metamorphosis. Shedding. The reconstitution of sword aura. Najin couldn¡¯t quite grasp the process. It was like trying to catch clouds. Roselin had said that it would be good to reflect on oneself. -Indeed, it¡¯s a logical point. Merlin¡¯s voice echoed in his ears. -It¡¯s natural for you to take longer than others. Why? Because you have two focal points in your Imagery. Najin closed one eye. What he saw was thendscape settled in his Imagery: a star high above and another star below. -People usually harbor only one Imagery. One focal point. But not you. Your Imagery has two focal points. This is strange¡­ Merlin said. -And also fascinating. ¡®Then what should I do?¡¯ -This isn¡¯t something I can teach you. In fact, nobody can teach you this. You must find the answer yourself. Only then will it be meaningful. Only then can it have meaning, Merlin said. Najin let out a long sigh. -But if I were to give you a hint. Within Najin¡¯s Imagery. Looking at the star in the sky, Merlin said. -Neverpromise. Believe that the world you harbor, not the world you see, is the true one. The transcendent archmage said. -Trust only in yourself. This is the virtue that one walking the path toward transcendence must possess. It may seem selfish, dogmatic, and even harsh. Merlin whispered so and smiled. ¡°Alcohol is the lubricant of life.¡± Leaving Najin, who hadpletely exhausted himself and was spread-eagled in the field, to his own devices, he continued. ¡°Even a dry life, or a fucking miserable one, gets somewhat better with a shot of alcohol. That¡¯s why I like alcohol. Unfortunately, these days, I hardly feel the buzz.¡± Sipping his drink as the breeze blew, he wiped his mouth with a satisfied expression and popped a piece of dried meat into his mouth, looking as if he owned the world. Najin nced at the bottle of cheap alcohol and the piece of jerky in the man¡¯s hand. Cheap alcohol avable anywhere. A piece of jerky that was just dried and salted meat. Common things, but from the moment the man in front of him enjoyed them, they became umon. With great effort, Najin managed to get up, looking at the man. The master of the Order of the Sword, Sword Saint Karan. Najin smiled at the sight of the Sword Master with six stars, enjoying cheap alcohol and jerky as snacks. ¡°You seem to enjoy it quite simply.¡± ¡°Simplicity has its meaning. Do you want a drink too?¡± ¡°No, thank you. I¡¯ll just take a piece of the jerky.¡± Receiving a piece of jerky from the Sword Saint, Najin chewed it and stretched his sore shoulders. Karan had promised to check his sword every month or two, and today was that promised day. ¡®I must have swung it for half a day.¡¯ His shoulders and arms screamed in pain. It was natural for his body, which had been overworked, to scream, having charged at an opponent who could not be reached despite pouring everything into each strike for nearly half a day. ¡°The sword has be much sharper. Your movements have improved too. Seems like you¡¯ve met a decent opponent?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure if they were decent, but I nearly died several times.¡± Karan burst intoughter at Najin¡¯s response and took another sip of his drink. Putting down the bottle, Karan gestured with his chin, encouraging Najin to continue talking. ¡°I crossed swords with the Knight Commander of the Arbenia ducal family, Sir Griffin.¡± ¡°Ah, the one who wields the Trigadian sword. A knight who swings a stubborn and upromising sword, breaking through that stubbornness is extremely difficult.¡± ¡°Then, I fought with Fauve, a 4th circle dark mage who owns the masterpiece ¡®Shadowme¡¯¡­¡± ¡°A dark mage who owns a masterpiece, that¡¯s interesting.¡± ¡°I also shed with Kapman Theosis, a former ranger of Techo Mountain Range. Ah, that was probably the most dangerous. I nearly died a few times.¡± ¡°Heh¡­¡± Karanughed as if he found it absurd. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be one to talk, but you live quite a dramatic life. Meeting such formidable foes in such a short period isn¡¯t easy. Did you go around challenging people to duels?¡± ¡°It just turned out that way. There are quite a few people who want to kill me.¡± Karan merely shrugged at Najin¡¯s words. He had made it clear that he was only teaching Najin the way of the sword and had no intention of involving himself in Najin¡¯s life. ¡°Well, all those experiences be flesh and bone. There¡¯s nothing as valuable as diversebat experience. Take this opportunity to train as much as you can.¡± ¡°Surviving is what makes it an experience, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°If you die, that¡¯s all you were capable of. Surviving is part of the growth process itself. There are experiences that can only be umted at the boundary between life and death.¡± Najin chuckled. Every time they talked, he felt it, but ording to Najin, Karan wasn¡¯t normal either. He had a battle-crazed temperament. ¡®If anyone else said it, it would just be nonsense¡­¡¯ Charging at strong foes repeatedly. Jumping into the battlegrounds of the stars and the boundary of Cann, living life on the edge between life and death, Karan¡¯s words couldn¡¯t be simply ignored. ¡°That¡¯s quite a radical approach.¡± ¡°And also, the correct one.¡± Karan fiddled with his sword hilt. ¡°Me, Sir Gerd, and even Yuel, we all reached transcendence this way. Risking our lives without care, we stepped onto countless battlefields.¡± He grinned at Najin. ¡°Does just anyone be a Sword Master? Only the mad be Sword Masters.¡± ¡°Including you, Sir Karan?¡± ¡°Of course. I consider myself sane, but by the standards of the world, I¡¯m just another lunatic. I have no intention of denying that¡­¡± Karan shrugged. ¡°Among the Sword Masters active on the continent, I¡¯m probably the most normal.¡± Sword Saint, Karan. The Executioner, Yuel Razian. The Empire¡¯s Supreme, Gerd. Among the three Sword Masters, he imed to be the most normal. Considering Yuel Razian was light-years away from normal, the onlyparison left was Gerd¡­ Najin tilted his head in confusion. ¡°Isn¡¯t Sir Gerd the Supreme of the Empire?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a significant power holder, central to the Empire¡­ And you¡¯re saying you¡¯re more normal than him?¡± ¡°How do you see me?¡± Karan seemed incredulous. ¡°That¡¯s something you can say because you don¡¯t know Sir Gerd. That man knows nothing but the sword and the empire. In some ways, he¡¯s even more of a madman than Yuel Razian.¡± The sword and the empire. The two values that constitute Gerd. ¡°For the empire, he killed his own daughter and son with his hands. He killed all his kin, including his wife. They were traitors, after all, but that¡¯s not all. For the sword, he gave up everything, including his humanity, because it interfered with his swordsmanship.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Transcendence, the path to perfection, paradoxically, ispleted by what one discards. It¡¯s the same for me and even Yuel Razian. But Sir Gerd¡­¡± Karan paused for a moment. He let out a long breath and said, ¡°He has discarded more than he possesses. He reached transcendence by stripping away everything except for the sword and the empire. It¡¯s a terrifying obsession.¡± ¡°That¡¯s definitely¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to call such a being human. Well, not to mention Yuel Razian. What do you think? Don¡¯t I seem a bit more like a sane person sitting before you now?¡± Najin let out augh. ¡°I can¡¯t deny that.¡± ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Yes, especially when I recall my encounter with Yuel Razian.¡± ¡°What? You met Yuel?¡± ¡°After the battle with the dark mage, I encountered Miss Yuel Razian, who came to assess the situation.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Karan turned pale. ¡°You were close to death. Truly.¡± ¡°Yes, I nearly died. Truly.¡± ¡°If you met Yuel, she must have taken a particr interest in you¡­ You¡¯re going to have a hard time in the future.¡± He sent a sympathetic look Najin¡¯s way. ¡°If it had been revealed then that you were my disciple, a nicely wrapped head would have been delivered to the Order of the Sword. Truly a dreadful thought.¡± Najin inwardly muttered that it was good he had kept his meeting with Karan a secret and nodded. ¡°Sir Karan.¡± Then Najin spoke up. This was the main point, after all. ¡°Do you know about Metamorphosis?¡± ¡°I know. It¡¯s been over ten years since I crossed that path.¡± Karan narrowed his eyes. ¡°Come to think of it, it seemed like you were aware of your Imagery. Are you undergoing Metamorphosis?¡± ¡°Exactly, I¡¯m stuck. I can¡¯t grasp what the reconstitution of sword aura is.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He slowly rose from his seat. ¡°Metamorphosis. Shedding. The reconstitution of sword aura. It soundsplicated when said, but in reality, it¡¯s simple and clear.¡± In the vast expanse of the field. Karan drew his sword atop it. ¡°A sword is but a brush.¡± The Sword Master spoke of the sword. ¡°Sword aura is the paint that colors the brush.¡± Sword aura blossomed atop Karan¡¯s sword. Najin could neither see norprehend the sword aura that Karan conjured. The vast gap in their realms distorted even cognition. ¡°The sword is the brush, the sword aura is the paint, and the paint is ultimately the Imagery you harbor. Your Imagery is your world.¡± Yet, the moment the Sword Saint swung his sword. The moment that sword advanced a mere few feet. ¡°Swinging a sword is, in a way, the process of oveying your world onto the existing one.¡± Najin¡¯s eyes saw it. Thendscape painted along the path of the Sword Saint¡¯s sword. It was the Imagery harbored by the Sword Saint, the color of his soul. With a swift motion, the Sword Saint lightly swung his sword. Following the trajectory of his swing, the world was painted anew. Najin couldn¡¯t fully grasp the scene unfolding before him, but he had a rough understanding of what the Sword Saint was doing. ¡°This is the ultimate destination that those who walk the path of the sword must pursue. And a Sword Seeker is a seeker on the path of the sword. They might not be able to color the world with their swings, but¡­¡± Karan smiled, sheathing his sword. ¡°Their sword aura creates their own world wherever it reaches. What¡¯s needed for that, more than anything, is unwavering self-confidence.¡± The Sword Master looked at Najin. ¡°From what I see, you¡¯re confining yourself. That¡¯s not necessarily bad. Refining one¡¯s conduct ismendable and deserves praise.¡± But, he said, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t lead to the denial of oneself. You mustn¡¯t deny your true nature. Don¡¯t try to change everything at once. The stairs toward perfection cannot be leaped in a single bound.¡± Karan poked Najin¡¯s chest with the sheath of his sword. ¡°First, break the cage, boy.¡± Then a new path will open. ¡°That¡¯s all the teaching for today.¡± Karan waved his hand as he walked away. ¡°I hope to see you as a seeker of the sword next time we meet.¡± In the heart of the city of opportunities, Cambria, where the central guild and the merchants¡¯ street are adjacent. In a ce rightfully called the heart of this city, the building of the Dieta Trading Company towers tall. And at the top of that building sits a snake coiled up. The Snake that Swallows Gold, Dieta Arbenia. Surrounded by maps, documents, contracts, trading proofs, statements, and countless numbers and sentences in her office, she narrowed her eyes. Her golden eyes, resembling gold coins, absorbed the light from the magicmps and shimmered brightly. Money moves people. People move money. And where money moves, traces naturally remain. Information remains. Apetent merchant must know the path the gold has taken and the path it will take. In that sense. The snake that swallows gold, Dieta Arbenia, is an unprecedented merchant. Her achievements are not the result of mere luck or a few coincidences. She built them up gradually, from the ground up, remarkably fast and urate. How was that possible? Her eyes follow the gold. They precisely pinpoint where the gold has flowed, where it will flow, and where it gathers. This is the talent she was born with and has honed over the years. ¡­And, if one understands all these processes. It¡¯s not difficult to artificially create a flow. Chapter 91 Chapter 91 ¨C Golden Fishing Hook (3) Weeks had passed. During that time, Najin seemingly wasted time without undertaking any significant assignments. To be more precise, he acted in a way that seemed wasteful to others. A coward afraid of an unexpected assant. To those aware of the inner situation, Najin yed his role so as to appear ¡®just so.¡¯ However, the weeks spent in such pretense were anything but wasted for Najin. Mulling over his conversations with Karan, Roselin, and Merlin, Najin reflected. On his inner self and his Imagery. Najin had undergone rapid changes over thest six months. A single event had turned his life upside down, shattering the rules he had lived by for 18 years andpelling him to break free from his long-standing nest and take flight. His body had kept up with these swift changes. But Najin¡¯s soul had not. The disconnect between soul and body was what held Najin back, and it was what he needed to ovee. What caused this disconnect? After weeks of contemtion, Najin finally reached an answer. The outline became clear. It felt within reach. Yet, Najin knew all too well that enlightenment, the answer, was not easily obtained. Simply sitting cross-legged in a secluded room and meditating wasn¡¯t enough to grasp it. Human growth always required dramatic circumstances. ¡°I¡¯m just the beginning.¡± ¡°The Order has many hounds to unleash. Many. And they will tirelessly seek your life.¡± A good opportunity was presenting itself. What had been a crisis until recently, Najin now saw as an unparalleled opportunity. ¡°Najin.¡± Najin opened his eyes that had been closed. ¡°Are you ready?¡± Upon opening his eyes, he saw a girl with golden eyes sitting before him. Dieta. Her lips curved into a gentle arc as she posed the question, and Najin nodded. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± Kapman Theosis had said, No one knows who the hunter is and who the prey is. Najin truly believed that statement. He was ready. Now, it was time to reverse the roles of prey and hunter. ¡°One, Jerold Orton.¡± Dieta spread her fingers. ¡°Originally a demon hunter active in the demonnds. Retired from the battlefield for some reason. His whereabouts were unknown after retirement, but he has been confirmed to be working as a bounty hunter.¡± Four documents wereid out on the office table. Each document contained a portrait along with brief information, and Dieta was pointing at them as she spoke. ¡°Sword Seeker in realm. Armed with a greatsword.¡± She spread a second finger. ¡°Two, us Aten. Formermander of the cavalry of the Prollea Kingdom. Disappeared after the disbandment of his unit. Armed with ance about 3 meters long. Realm equivalent to a Sword Seeker.¡± A third finger. ¡°Three, Basaus Malek. A soldier who served on the front lines adjacent to the demon realm. Armed with twin swords. Realm of a Sword Seeker.¡± Andstly, the fourth. ¡°Four, Tyler Verkaniman. Leader of a disbanded unit created to execute deserters. Armed with a greatbow. Realm of a Sword Seeker.¡± After a brief introduction of the four, Dieta exhaled shortly. Tapping the documents on the table with her finger, she continued. ¡°This is roughly the number of individuals identified so far. There are about a dozen others showing suspicious movements, but they are not of Sword Seeker realm. Those who have reached the realm of a Sword Seeker ¡®must¡¯ report their realm and information to the empire¡­ But there was no such report for them.¡± She handed Najin another document. It featured a portrait of someone wearing a robe, their identity unknown. ¡°This individual is somewhat noteworthy, but there¡¯s no information avable. Identity and realm unknown.¡± With a long sigh, Dieta¡¯s expression was one of incredulous amusement. ¡°At least four Sword Seekers, and about ten Sword Experts? Even a considerable noble family¡¯s knight order wouldn¡¯t mobilize this many. The Arbenia ducal family has three Sword Seekers, and this is¡­ well¡­¡± She let out a hollowugh. ¡°They¡¯re determined to kill you, going to such lengths. I didn¡¯t expect them to y such a strong hand.¡± Dieta shook her head, surprised by her investigation¡¯s findings. Watching her, Najin too was astonished, albeit in a different direction. ¡°¡­How did you find all this?¡± How she managed to uncover all this information was beyond him. During this time, Najin had sensed ¡®suspicious movements¡¯ and gazes, but at most, he had detected a few experts and only one Sword Seeker. And that was only possible due to his superhuman senses. Yet Dieta had seeded in urately fishing out even more individuals than Najin, despite not possessing his keen senses. ¡°I told you, this is my domain.¡± To Najin¡¯s astonishment, Dieta simply shrugged it off. ¡°My tradingpany holds the most influence in Cambria. The gold I distribute can circle the city in a single night. It took me five years to build such a distributionwork and to dominate the city¡¯s resources.¡± The cast by the gold-swallowing snake. ¡°Collect rumors, throw bait, gather informants, and then distribute gold among them to create more rumors. Repeat this process a few times, and you¡¯ll filter them out. Roughly.¡± She rolled a tinum coin in her palm. ¡°Even if they are Sword Seekers, in this case, they are individuals not affiliated with any group. Even if they have means ofmunicating with the Order, it would be limited. No matter how exceptional they are¡­¡± Dieta smirked, tapping her eyes and ears. ¡°You only have one pair of eyes and ears, right? How many informants do you think act as my eyes and ears? And they don¡¯t even realize they¡¯re informants.¡± The entire city was her eyes and ears. That¡¯s what Dieta was saying. Hearing how she ¡®fished¡¯ them out, Najin was impressed. -Najin. ¡®Yes, Merlin?¡¯ -I don¡¯t usually say things like this, but you better not make an enemy out of the girl in front of you. ¡®I think so too.¡¯ Najin agreed with Merlin. He felt fortunate that Dieta was an ally and his first friend. He was certain that having Dieta as an enemy would have been extremely troublesome and unnerving. ¡°I¡¯m really d Dieta is my friend.¡± ¡°Suddenly?¡± ¡°Yes, suddenly.¡± Dieta chuckled. ¡°Well, anyway¡­ Once you¡¯ve caught them, obtaining further information is easy. Gathering information on a Sword Seeker is surprisingly simple.¡± ¡°Simple, you say?¡± ¡°Sword Seekers are considered potent threats. From a national standpoint, even if they¡¯re not strictly managed, they need to be ¡®known.¡¯ A Sword Seeker wreaking havoc could easily destroy a territory in no time.¡± That¡¯s why whether they aremanders of knight orders or leaders of units, there¡¯s always an attempt to ce a cap on them and keep them under control. As Dieta shrugged, she continued. ¡°Once someone reaches the realm of a Sword Seeker, records of their activities, identity, and personal details are as clear as day. Just scratching the surface reveals a lot. Well, the empire¡¯s Royal Guards, front-line special forces, and rangers are exceptions¡­¡± Dieta spoke nonchntly. ¡°Even they be an open book once they retire. Take Kapman Theosis, for example; as soon as he retired, all his information was disclosed. It¡¯s a form of deterrence, a warning not to engage in untoward activities. And active Royal Guards and special forces¡­ the Order wouldn¡¯t be able to touch them no matter what tricks they use.¡± Fishing for the bait took time, but wrapping things up afterwards was quick, she exined. ¡°So, what¡¯s the n?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°Even if you¡¯ve ascended to a Sword Seeker, you¡¯re up against at least four Sword Seekers and about a dozen Sword Experts. Facing them alone is exceedingly difficult.¡± It was a fact Najin had to acknowledge. The Order had sent more than he anticipated, and he couldn¡¯t possibly confront them all. ¡°That¡¯s why we made a n.¡± ¡°Right. If you had said you¡¯d face them alone, I would¡¯ve grabbed you by the cor right then.¡± Najin gave a wry smile. As Dieta was setting the bait and beginning to fish, Najin had been nning with her. Now, which of those ns was the best course of action? Both exchanged knowing smiles, certain they were thinking the same thing. ¡°Of course, this still poses a danger. Ultimately, it all depends on how you handle it.¡± She flicked the tinum coin she¡¯d been rolling in her palm. ¡°But it¡¯s worth the gamble, isn¡¯t it?¡± Najin caught the coin Dieta flicked. ¡°Anyway.¡± With an exasperated look, Dieta regarded Najin. The fact remained that Najin would be risking his life, and all Dieta could do was increase his odds of sess as much as possible. Dieta and Najin stood up. It was time to act ording to their agreement. Before moving forward, Dieta took a step towards Najin, straightening his disheveled attire. She then pressed against his chest with the back of her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t get hurt, okay?¡± ¡°Considering the opposition, that might be difficult.¡± ¡°Ah, how did I end up dealing with someone like you¡­¡± Dieta grumbled. After a deep sigh, she looked up at Najin. ¡°Don¡¯t die. Can you promise me that?¡± ¡°I think I can promise that.¡± ¡°Then, that¡¯s enough.¡± Dieta stepped back. ¡°Take care. And don¡¯t forget toe back and say hello.¡± ¡°They¡¯re on the move.¡± The Order¡¯s hounds hidden within the city whispered. They were scattered throughout Cambria, collecting information while moving along the city¡¯s outskirts. Though the number of these operatives reached twenty, they never gathered in one ce. Instead, they formed small groups of two or three, sharing information and passing it down the chain. Five formidable individuals led the hounds. A natural hierarchy and chain ofmand had formed. Those inmand had amassed countless experiences on various battlefields and knew precisely how ambushes and assassinations should be executed. Therefore, they waited for their moment in the shadows. ¡°The target will head north along Ahmeti Road on the 12th night, presumably on a mission. He¡¯ll be apanied by adventurers, but they won¡¯t pose a problem.¡± Having obtained the list of those participating in the mission, they knew there were no individuals to be wary of. ¡°We¡¯ll strike here. There must be no variables. The Order has warned us. Beware of individuals capable of turning the tide despite the disparity in strength.¡± Inexperienced fools not yet Sword Seekers. To capture one such fool, five operatives of Sword Seeker caliber were deployed. Yet, these five did not question the Order¡¯s judgment. Whether bound by enmity or some other fate, they knew all too well the severity of High Priest Ond. If he had made such a decision, There must be a reason. They cross-referenced the information they gathered, paying particr attention to any involvement by the Dieta Trading Company. ording to the information provided by the Order, the mission¡¯s target was in a favorable rtionship with the head of the Dietapany. ¡°Nothing here.¡± ¡°Same on this end.¡± However, no involvement from thepany was confirmed. The mission had been issued by the Central Guild, and the young man named Najin was venturing outside the city to fulfill the minimum mission quota required to maintain his ¡®Red rank.¡¯ A mission reluctantly undertaken. And inquiries into Najin¡¯s movements over the period revealed no connections with the head of thepany. Although they couldn¡¯t ess the city¡¯s center, Najin was well-known in Cambria, making it easy to track his movements. Information about Najin flooded in from all corners, and they collected it diligently. Of course, one must not ce too much trust in the deluge of information. That¡¯s why they periodically met to cross-verify and confirm the data. And when all twenty operatives had ¡®identically¡¯ confirmed their findings, they were ready to act. The prey had left its nest. It was time for the hunters to make their move. They considered themselves the hunters and didn¡¯t fundamentally doubt this fact. Though notcent, they believed they had the upper hand. But they were unaware. Unaware that all the information had been manipted. Unaware that they were being swept away by a current someone else had created. Unaware that a golden fishing hook was already embedded in their necks. Unaware that the roles of hunter and prey had already been reversed. Chapter 92 Chapter 92 ¨C Golden Fishing Hook (4) The twilight had given way to dusk when the target, emerging from the heart of the city, boarded a carriage. The assants witnessed his boarding and confirmed the direction of the carriage¡¯s movement matched their intelligence. There were no changes to the n. The attackers, dispersed throughout the city, began to move one by one, their actions shrouded in stealth. Their expertise as Sword Seekers and Experts wasn¡¯t the sole reason for their stealth. Each assant had their own desperate circumstances driving them. Some fought to rescue a loved one, others to save their child, and yet others for personal honor. Driven by desperation, they were meticulous in their approach. Fifteen Sword Experts, four Sword Seekers, and one 5th circle mage¡ªa total force of twenty. Gathering all at once would certainly expose them, so they maintained a certain distance while moving to the city¡¯s outskirts. Blending naturally into the crowd and concealing themselves within the caravan, their movements were so covert that no one noticed their deliberate intent and direction. It was the day of the decisive battle. The pursuit team chasing the carriage, the standby team waiting along the path the carriage would take, and the attack team, centered around the mage, ready to block the carriage¡¯s path, were all divided into several groups. Like hunters with their sharp daggers concealed, they held their breath. It was supposed to be an easy task. So much effort and intricate nning had gone into this operation. There could be no variables. As the sun dipped below the horizon and twilight embraced thend, a gentle rumble spread across Ahmeti Road¡ª it was the sound of an approaching carriage. The rough rolling of the carriage¡¯s wheels and the tter of the horses¡¯ hooves filled the air, and the attackers steadied their breaths, tuning into every sound. They hid in shadows, thickets, dense foliage, and undting terrains, waiting for the right moment. And then it arrived. The carriage appeared. Upon closer inspection, the silhouette of the pursuit team maintaining a distance behind the carriage was also visible. The moment the standby team signaled, the attack team blocked the carriage¡¯s path. The 5th circle mage, Sirchel Cravelin, led the attack team. When she mmed her staff into the ground, five rings emerged behind her. A 5th circle mage is typically categorized as a siege weapon capable of castingrge-scale annihtion spells. At this moment, Sirchel had alreadypleted the incantation. The spell, kept in standby, was now fiercely charged at the tip of her staff, along with the swirling circles. It was powerful enough to obliterate a carriage without a trace. A ze erupted. mes red brightly. Yet, they hadn¡¯t put all their hopes on just one spell. us Aten, who had been keeping his distance while pursuing the carriage, suddenly surged forward with incredible speed. With a thunderous boom, us, a formermander of a cavalry unit, exhibited his exceptional strength. Even without his warhorse, he could perform ance charge, a testament to his formidable power. As he swung his arm, his concealed weapon extended, forming a 3-meter-longnce. Thence, cutting through the wind with a piercing sound, came from behind. In front, a 5th circle mage prepared a massive annihtion spell, while attackers on the sides drew their swords, closing in. There was nowhere to escape. First, a gigantic fireball was set to incinerate the carriagepletely. If anyone escaped the fireball, they would be impaled by us¡¯snce from behind or torn apart by the swordsmen rushing in from the sides. The attackers were certain of their victory. They were convinced there were no variables in their n. The sound of hooves, the vibration created by the carriage wheels, the noise of the zing fire at the tip of the mage¡¯s staff, and the clouded judgment from their certainty of sess¡ª all these elementsbined¡­ ¡­made them oblivious. Oblivious to the fact that someone had hidden here ¡®before¡¯ them in preparation for the attack. They didn¡¯t notice Roselin Ascalo pulling out her twin daggers and leaping into action. Unaware, they couldn¡¯t prepare. From behind the attackers, Roselin Ascalo made her move. With a burst of eleration, her tied-back ck hair fluttered with each step she took. Roselin Ascalo is a mercenary. A veteran of countless battlefields, she knew better than anyone whom to target first. The mage. In any battle, mages are always the priority target to be neutralized. The first to notice her approach was Jerold, standing beside Sirchel with his greatsword. His widened eyes quickly turned as he grabbed Sirchel by the nape and swapped ces with her, a correct decision. As Jerold swung his sword the moment he exchanged positions, Roselin, who had closed in, shed with her twin des. Although there were five Sword Experts beside them, none could match the speed of their engagement. With a resounding sh, Jerold¡¯s greatsword met Roselin¡¯s twin des. The unusually loud noise echoed, and only after it did the experts notice Roselin¡¯s fleeting figure and widened their eyes in shock. But it was already toote. Only Jeroldprehended the situation. His eyes widened at the echoing noise. The sound of Roselin¡¯s twin des ringing. The moment those des began to resonate, Jerold gritted his teeth and assumed a defensive stance, hiding behind his greatsword. Then, the ¡®Echo¡¯ resonated. The echoes generated by the ¡®Echo¡¯ reverberated. The 21st masterpiece, Echo. Its imbued mystery is resonance. Roselin¡¯s sword aura, carried by the Echo, swept across the battlefield. The bodies of the five experts beside her were sliced into dozens of pieces. Jerold¡¯s greatsword trembled violently from the direct hit of the Echo, and a red barrier emerged around Sirchel, who had been hiding behind him. The resonating Echo repeatedly struck Sirchel¡¯s barrier. Forced to use the me, prepared at the tip of her staff, for defense. The front line was breached in an instant. As if waiting for this moment, the carriage carrying Najin elerated, and its back wall shattered. Najin emerged from the destroyed back of the carriage. Tightly bound to the carriage with ropes, he adjusted his stance atop the moving vehicle. His gaze fixed on us, the knight charging towards him with ance. Najin¡¯s eyes moved rapidly, calcting us¡¯s speed, their distance, and the optimal moment for engagement. The answer came to him. All that remained was to act. As his sword aura surged, Najin leaped from the carriage. us¡¯s charge was linear, aimed directly ahead. As is typical for ance charge or cavalry assault, changing direction mid-charge is exceedingly difficult. Therefore, Najin struck from above us, swinging his sword towards the knight¡¯s crown. It was a situation us hadn¡¯t anticipated. An exact vulnerability targeted at the perfect moment. Yet, even in this unexpected scenario, us reacted. As a Sword Seeker of considerable prowess, us stomped the ground with almost superhuman reflexes, redirecting his forward-facingnce to swing at Najin. Thence, about 3 meters long, sliced through the air, its cutting sound menacing as it bore down on Najin. And Najin, Seemingly having anticipated this, swung his sword with all his might towards thence. The sh between Najin¡¯s sword aura and the aura encircling us¡¯snce resulted in a repulsion. Naturally, Najin, suspended in the air, was pushed back. Propelled by the recoil, Najin¡¯s body floated mid-air. And at that moment, he twisted his body in mid-air, grabbing and pulling on the rope tied around his abdomen. The rope, connecting him to the carriage, was taut at just the right moment, pulling Najin¡¯s body sharply towards it. His movement was as if he had nned this entire scenario. That¡¯s how seamless Najin¡¯s disengagement was. ¡°Huh.¡± us, witnessing the sequence, let out a scoff. Initially, his role was to collide with the carriage from behind, shattering it. But at this moment, that n had dissolved into nothingness with just one exchange. The carriage had moved far ahead, and it was toote to chase after it now. The encirclement they had meticulously set up was breached. What about the attack team that was supposed to shatter and block the carriage alongside us? They were incapacitated by Roselin Ascalo¡¯s assault and couldn¡¯t afford to do so. The magic they had prepared was used up in defending against her attack. ¡®And the standby team set to ambush from the sides¡­¡¯ Since the carriage wasn¡¯t destroyed but instead picked up speed, they missed their chance to stop it. The carriage sped past them, breaking through the front lines and veering off Ahmeti Road into a different direction. Only then did us realize, And not just us. Everyone present came to the same realization. It was a trap. Their opponent was aware of this ambush. As us gritted his teeth watching the carriage now far ahead, he remained silent. Sword Seekers of considerable strength. The eyes of themanders on site met. Their gazes eventually converged on one point. There stood Roselin Ascalo. She had torn through the battlefield and opened up the front lines. As if having aplished her primary goal, Roselin loosened up, cracking her neck and stretching her limbs. Sensing the eyes on her, Roselin smirked. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± She adjusted her grip on her twin daggers, as if inviting them toe at her anytime. However, the attackers hesitated to make the first move, well aware of the fact. Roselin Ascalo is a formidable opponent. Among the Sword Seekers present, she stood out as a particrly strong adversary. None there could face Roselin Ascalo alone. Having ascended one of the three steps towards bing a Sword Master and possessing a masterpiece weapon to boot, she was not to be underestimated. Of course, they could potentially overpower her by attacking in numbers, but that would consume too much time. ¡®What if it drags on?¡¯ us¡¯s gaze followed the carriage as it sped away, its course altered. Departing from the road, it headed in apletely different direction than its intended destination. The carriage was lost, and the ambush had failed. Where was the carriage heading? What was its goal? Reinforcements? Or was it to report the situation? Was Roselin the only support they had? It was unclear. Any scenario seemed usible. They couldn¡¯t discern the enemy¡¯s intentions. Letting the carriage escape could lead to unpredictable consequences, especially now that their ambush had been exposed. ¡®Retreating¡¯ was no longer an option. ¡®What should be done?¡¯ The constraints of manipted information, limited circumstances, and the pressure of time weighed heavily on them. Faced with restrictions and deceit, they grew anxious, realizing they had been thoroughly outyed. At that moment, us gritted his teeth in frustration. A decision had to be made. Quick judgment was essential. ¡°us.¡± Someone broke the silence. ¡°Chase after them with Jerold. We¡¯ll handle things here.¡± The speaker was a man wielding twin swords. Basaus Malek, a Sword Seeker who had spent years as a soldier on the battlefield. He stepped towards Roselin, indicating his readiness to engage. As he moved, he spoke. ¡°Take her down and join us. If you¡¯re dyed, we¡¯lle to assist.¡± us nodded in agreement. Jerold and us, the two with the best mobility on-site, acted on Basaus¡¯s decision without objection. Roselin casually acknowledged the two as they set off in pursuit of the carriage. Then, turning to face the soldier blocking her path, she smirked. ¡°You think you can kill me?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing impossible about it.¡± Basaus Malek tightened his grip on his twin swords, as fierce sword aura emanated from them. Roselin Ascalo, nonchntly whistling, twirled her masterpiece, Echo, with its de resembling the teeth of a wild beast, emanating menacing sword aura. Basaus Malek, armed with twin swords. Tyler Verkaniman, wielding a greatbow. Sirchel Cravelin, with circles of magic at her disposal. Three Sword Seeker-level adversaries bared their fangs at Roselin. Yet, even in the face of their collective might, Roselin remainedposed, calmly regting her breathing. ¡°What brings the leader of a famed mercenary band to a ce like this?¡± At Basaus¡¯s taunting, Roselinughed. ¡°Are you asking because you don¡¯t know? Mercenaries move for one thing only. Money.¡± Over honor, she valued freedom. Over freedom, gold. And above gold, pleasure. These were the values Roselin Ascalo lived by. She owed Dieta a debt, and Dieta had offered her a substantial sum for this task. It was an opportunity to clear her debt while getting paid¡ª there was no reason to refuse. Moreover, she was curious. Curious about the situation itself and about the predicament faced by this ¡°Ivan¡±d. After all, it resembled situations she had encountered in her past, being pursued by those damn Inquisitors. Remembering her past, Roselin¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What are you waiting for, you dickless wonders?¡± She sneered, her lips curling into a taunt. ¡°Come on, then.¡± Her ominous red eyes, unlike other red-eyed individuals, swirled menacingly, almost beast-like in their intensity. Najin saw the figures chasing after the carriage. Jerold Orton, the demon hunter with a greatsword. us Aten, the knight with a 3-meter-longnce. And seven Experts following them. Roselin had, as promised, taken on two of the Sword Seekers. Najin was grateful for that. Although he still faced several Sword Seekers, it wasn¡¯t a hopeless fight. Above all, this was a wall he had to ovee. The carriage had now entered the forest, the prearranged location advantageous for Najin. The sun had set, and darkness began to envelop the forest as the carriage moved forward, with the pursuers closing in by the second. Inside the jostling carriage, Najin steadied his breath. Then, he slowly rose. The opening he had made in the carriage¡¯s wall earlier served as a makeshift railing for him to step onto. He then cut the rope tying him to the carriage with his sword. The distance from Roselin was now sufficient. It was time for him to stake his own life. Najin leaped from the carriage. Left behind, the carriage sped off into the distance. The sudden sight of Najin jumping from the carriage caused the pursuers to furrow their brows. Was there an ambush set up here? For a moment, they halted, surveying their surroundings cautiously. Then, Najin extended his sword. In the dimly lit forest, a white sword aura radiated from Najin¡¯s de. It was only after a brief moment that the pursuers realized there was no ambush waiting. Najin was alone. As if dering he would take them all on by himself, Najin pointed his sword, charged with sword aura, towards them. The attackers couldn¡¯t help butugh at the absurdity. To make such a choice here? A mered not yet a Sword Seeker, intending to face two Sword Seekers and seven Experts alone? It was madness. Najin was no stranger to this fact. Yet, he had chosen this path. Najin tossed aside his gauntlets, hitting the ground as if issuing a challenge. The eyes of the knights among the attackers narrowed. ¡°Najin.¡± Najin pronounced his own name. ¡°A Knight of Atanga, offspring of Ivan.¡± He dered the only affiliation he had. The bare minimum conditions for a duel were met. Najin gripped his sword tighter. Although a duel seemed meaningless in such circumstances, it was a constraint and a vow he imposed on himself. A knight does not flee from a duel. Here, I will defeat you all. A vow made to himself. The moment he uttered Ivan¡¯s name, it became a ¡®must-achieve¡¯ for Najin. Chapter 93 Chapter 93 ¨C Metamorphosis (1) Casting his gauntlet aside and dering his name and affiliation signified a clear intent. To all present, it was understood as a call for honorablebat. Should blood be spilled this day, it would be by each other¡¯s weapons alone, a testament to their mutualbat. This deration, steeped in ancient tradition, underscored an honorable challenge. Upon hearing Najin¡¯s words, the attackers narrowed their eyes. Some frowned, others sighed, and us, once a knight of a kingdom, let out a bitter chuckle. ¡®An honorable duel.¡¯ Such a deration seemed out of ce in this context, yet its incongruity lent it a profound weight. us exhaled deeply. They were dishonorable attackers, a fact undeniable. Stalking, eavesdropping,ying traps, ambushing¡­ actions far removed from honor had been their recourse, often ganging up against a single target. There was no honor in such an assault. ¡®A true knight should¡­¡¯ Feel dishonored by such actions, and thus, be ashamed. However, there are times when humans must bear dishonor and shame to achieve a greater purpose. Everyone gathered here had their reasons. Some were ckmailed with hostages, others had their lives on the line, and yet others stood to protect the honor of their lords orrades. Even if it meant bing detestable hounds or assassins, they had something worth defending, and so they stood here. Of course, that was their burden to bear, not something the young man before them could understand. To him, they were nothing but cowardly attackers. Yet still, Najin dered this to be an honorable duel. Even if it was merely to steel his own resolve, there was a duty among knights to respond to that call. With a thunderous impact, us mmed hisnce into the ground. Striking his chest over his heart with a fist, he dered loudly, ¡°I am us Aten!¡± If one bore the title of knight, If one had ever been a knight, Then it was their duty to answer the young man¡¯s call. ¡°The Fifth Wing of Prolea Kingdom, Commander of the Blue Wing Cavalry, us Aten.¡± Though my battlegrounds have ended, And myrades lie in the mire, branded heretics and stripped of honor under the guise of divinemand, ¡°Knight of Atanga, Ivan¡¯s offspring, Najin!¡± The saga of the Blue Wing Cavalry cannot end with a period. I would dly cast aside my own honor to reim theirs. I am prepared to plunge into the depths of disgrace. ¡°I ept this duel.¡± Pointing his raisednce at Najin, us acknowledged the challenge. Though this battlecked honor, they each had something to uphold, a sufficient cause to cross spears. One by one, those who had once been knights, who had once held honor, announced their allegiances and charged towards Najin, shouting their intent. And Najin, Merely steadied himself, watching those who rushed towards him, his stance unyielding. Amidst the shallow darkness settling over the forest, sword aura, aura, and mana shimmered in the night. A Sword Master once said, Sword Seekers have transcended human bounds but have not reached the realm of transcendence. While this might be scoffed at from a Sword Master¡¯s perspective¡­ In other words, Sword Seekers are beyond ordinary human measures, defyingmon sense with their strength. Proof of this was unfolding before Najin¡¯s eyes. With a sound akin to an explosion, the ground shook violently. It wasn¡¯t a bomb that had detonated, but us Aten¡¯s powerful stomp. Each step he took caused the earth to tremble and roar. Themander of the cavalry, A knight who needed no steed, The swift us Aten, His might was beyond imagination. The moment us struck the ground, he became as formidable as a cavalryman charging into battle, a chariot sweeping across the battlefield. Najin¡¯s eyes widened as he threw himself aside, opting for evasion over confrontation in the face of us¡¯s unprecedented speed. It was the right decision. As us rushed past, the swirling air pressure forced Najin to roll on the ground. The dyed sound of towering trees snapping and crashing down followed. Rising from his roll, Najin saw the path of destruction left by us: ancient trees shattered, the ground scarred with his footsteps, and the distant rumbling as us charged again. But Najin faced more than just us. The moment Najin¡¯s reflexive sword strike met Jerold¡¯s, the demon hunter and Sword Seeker, he felt an overwhelming force. The impact made Najin feel as if his knees were giving way. Twisting his sword, Najin escaped Jerold¡¯s pressure. As their des disengaged, Jerold¡¯s sword sliced through the air with rming speed. Then, with a screech, A massive tree, several paces away from their sh, split apart. As it copsed, the ground trembled, kicking up clouds of dust. However, such tremors were insufficient to halt a Sword Seeker¡¯s advance. Jerold advanced through the dust, and us, breaking through fallen trees, charged once more. And Najin, Having chosen this battlefield himself, exhaled. With the release of his breath, his eyes zed with intensity, his heart racing beyond its usual pace. The coursing blood throughout his body elerated¡­ His sword aura surged wildly. Stars twinkled around the swirling sword aura, illuminating the dark forest with fragments of his spirit. Pushing beyond physical limits, His sword shone with the fragments of his spirit. Najinunched forward with a smooth first step, but his subsequent strides were fierce. He sprinted, kicking off the trembling ground and tumbling trees. Towering trees, Splinters from split trunks, Branches spreading in all directions, This was the perfect environment for Najin. If there was one area where he could outshine the Sword Seekers, it was in utilizing such chaotic and unpredictable terrain. Najin had always excelled in navigating suchndscapes. With a trail of white luminescence, he leaped again and again. Jerold, furrowing his brow, stamped his foot down. The ground roared. Immediately, a fierce sword aura burst from Jerold¡¯s de. The broadsword, seasoned in ying demons, scattered afterimages as it swung. The sheer force behind the strike, transcending human limits, cleaved through the trees. The area wasid to waste. The tree Najin had been standing on copsed, and he lost his bnce, falling. But there were those who wouldn¡¯t miss this chance. Seven Experts charged at Najin. They had made their judgment early on. They couldn¡¯t kill Najin themselves, so they aimed to trap him, to rob him of his mobility and buy time. That was their best course of action. Once that decision was made, they acted. They lunged at Najin, aiming to grab his ankles, believing that even a second¡¯s dy would allow us¡¯s spear to impale Najin. They thought so, and so did us and Jerold. But they overlooked something. Najin twisted in mid-air, as if he had never lost his bnce. Landing gracefully, he swung his sword in one fluid motion with his descent. Swords of the Experts, along with their enveloping sword aura, were sliced through. Their broken weapons, their shattered encirclement, and the exposed vulnerabilities. Najin then moved with blinding speed, leaving behind only afterimages. ¡°Ugh!¡± ¡°Argh!¡± By the time they regained their senses, they were already struck by the sword, kicked, and thrown into the trees and ground. With bones broken or limbs severed, they were rendered incapable of continuing the fight. All this in just a second. Having eliminated the Experts from the battlefield, Najin took a brief breath and lowered his stance. Then, he sprinted towards the charging cavalryman, us. Charging head-on at the oing cavalryman was madness. He was sure to be crushed. Watching Najin approach directly, us couldn¡¯t help butugh. Come at me. Try to stop my spear. As if shouting, us increased his speed even more. The aura around his sharply pointed spear, akin to sword aura for a swordsman, took the form of a giant drill. Thendscape embedded in us¡¯s spirit was reminiscent of the valiant charges of cavalrymen he witnessed in his youth. As if he himself had be a spear. The aura charged with us¡¯s spirit surged. In response, Najin also stomped the ground. At his peak speed, Najin stomped down, lowering his stance, and swung his sword at us. The sh of spear and sword sent sparks flying. Their auras shed ferociously. Najin, pushed back by the force, dug his feet into the ground, sending up clouds of dirt. As he was relentlessly pushed back, he gritted his teeth and twisted his sword. The spear¡¯s tip and the sword¡¯s de misaligned. Sparks flew as the spear and sword crossed. A tearing sound echoed as us¡¯s spear grazed Najin¡¯s side, leaving a gaping wound from which blood spurted. But Najin wasn¡¯t the only one bleeding. As us, who had just passed by Najin, turned sharply with a hiss, he clutched his side andughed. ¡°Ha!¡± In the moment their weapons crossed, Najin had targeted us¡¯s spear-holding hand. Had us not shifted the trajectory of his spear, he would have lost half his hand along with his thumb. us was amused by Najin¡¯s strategy of sacrificing his side to take his opponent¡¯s hand. us forcefully clutched his deeply gashed side, crushing the flesh to close the wound, and red at Najin. The sh during the carriage ambush. And now, Najin¡¯s disyed movements. us Aten revised his assessment of Najin. The young man before him wasn¡¯t just an Expert close to a Sword Seeker. In all aspects except for sword aura, he was on par with a Sword Seeker. He wasn¡¯t just close. This young man was a Sword Seeker-level powerhouse. us wasn¡¯t alone in this realization. Jerold felt the same. With the seven Experts already out of the fight, only the two of them remained. ¡°Jerold.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Their gazes met. They both understood. This young man hadn¡¯t recklessly sought battle. He truly believed he could win against two Sword Seekers, which is why he stood there. Then, they should respond. A sacred duel had been dered. There was nothing left to hold back. us twisted the hand holding his spear. With a series of clicks, the three-meter-long spear shortened to half its length. Not as a cavalryman sweeping through the battlefield, But in a stance to take down the enemy before him. Feeling the shift in atmosphere, Najin exhaled. Something was within reach. Just one more step, and he could grasp it. With that thought, Najin focused on us and Jerold. Whether this duel would be the loser¡¯s folly, Or the victor¡¯s confidence, Lay in his sword. As always, a swordsman is defined by what they prove with their sword. Najin¡¯s sword aura, more intense than ever, zed around his de. Wielding twin swords, Basaus Malek was drenched in sweat. Each sh with the sword drained him further. ¡®I knew.¡¯ He gritted his teeth and swung his sword again. ¡®I knew Roselin Ascalo was strong. I knew, but¡­¡¯ Blood soaked the ground where he stood. His clothes were drenched in red. Pushed back significantly, Basaus gasped for air. He hadn¡¯t imagined it would be this intense. Just as Roselin stepped towards the weakened Basaus, arrows and spells flew towards her. Each attack was formidable, but¡­ With a spin and a sh of her daggers, Roselin nullified them all. The echoing harmony of her des disarmed the projectiles. The amplified sword aura from Echo tore through the iing attacks. A Seeker-level archer and A 5th circle mage, Even with their support, they could only manage to restrain Roselin. Realizing this, Basaus clenched his teeth. To ascend to Sword Master, one must climb three steps, and he had only taken the first, Germination. Yet, the gap between them was immense. ¡°Expecting more from a Sword Seeker wielding twin swords, this is rather disappointing. Anything else to show?¡± Roselin approached Basaus nonchntly. ¡°This is a letdown, isn¡¯t it? What else do you have?¡± ¡°Ha¡­¡± Basaus responded with a scoff to her taunt. ¡°You¡¯re not in a position to be so rxed, Roselin.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°My goal was always to bind you. If I can dy, I¡¯ve achieved my objective.¡± Their victory conditions differed. ¡°If you can¡¯t join the fray, that young man will die. Surely, he¡¯ll be dead. Perhaps, it¡¯s already over.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°If anyone should be rxed, it¡¯s not you, but rather¡­¡± ¡°What the hell are you talking about?¡± Roselin tilted her head, genuinely puzzled. ¡°Why would I go there? Why would I join? You¡¯re severely mistaken about something¡­¡± Before the operation began, Roselin had encountered Najin once more. And then, she saw¡­ ¡®He was alreadyplete.¡¯ Just one step. Truly, just one step away. The cocoon enveloping Najin was already cracked. It meant he was just one step from emerging, from undergoing metamorphosis. ¡°That kid,¡± Roselin smiled. ¡°Even before bing a Sword Seeker, hecked nothingpared to one, except for sword aura.¡± A monstrous kid. An Expert who seeks to surpass Sword Seekers. If such a kid were to reach the realm of Sword Seekers¡­ ¡°You¡¯d all be in trouble. Not him, but you. You all.¡± It would be¡­ An entity entirely distinct from the conventional Sword Seeker. Roselin Ascalo was convinced of this. Chapter 94 Chapter 94 ¨C Metamorphosis (2) The sun had set, and the night deepened. The battle had dragged on longer than expected. In the forest nketed with shallow darkness, the demon hunter Jerold gasped for breath. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his forearms were marked with scars as if shed by a de. From his forearm to his wrist. From his wrist to the back of his hand. From the back of his hand to his fingers, and from his fingers to the hilt of his sword¡­ Blood dripped. Staring at the flowing blood, Jerold let out a long breath. Truly, it was a dreadful adversary. It never willingly surrendered its flesh. It seemed as if it wouldn¡¯t be satisfied unless it tore a chunk of flesh from its opponent as well. ¡°Huff¡­¡± Jerold gasped for air and nced to his side. There stood us Aten, his clothes also stained dark with blood. He was bleeding. Jerold couldn¡¯t quite grasp the situation. ¡®Wasn¡¯t he a Sword Expert?¡¯ He had merely approached the Sword Seeker. Wasn¡¯t the target said to be a Sword Expert? But how could any expert withstand two seekers? It was an impossibility by any standard logic. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Jerold looked ahead. There, Najin, gasping for breath with his sword drooping, had lost more blood than Jerold and usbined. A hole was pierced through his side, and his body was covered in wounds. If their wounds slowed them down a bit, his condition made it difficult for him to even move. At best, he might have one or two moves left. The end was near. The victor would obviously be them, but from Jerold¡¯s standpoint, it was an unsatisfactory victory. To win by attrition against one expert with two seekers? ¡®Damn it¡­¡¯ This wasn¡¯t what he wanted. It would have been better if it had ended with the first ambush. It would have been better if that young man had died before they realized who he was, before crossing swords. A dirty and ugly victory was no different from defeat. Yet, there was a reason they had to win. Jerold stomped the ground, hoping to finish Najin with his sword before the young man copsed from excessive blood loss. Ferocious sword aura erupted from Jerold¡¯s sword. This is the end. Jerold closed the distance in an instant, swinging his sword at Najin, who couldn¡¯t even maintain his stance properly. Until the moment Jerold swung his sword, Najin hadn¡¯t moved. Perhaps he had no strength left to react. That¡¯s what Jerold thought. The greatsword sliced through the air. In the moment the greatsword was about to cleave Najin in two. The gusting wind made Najin¡¯s hair flutter. Between the strands of his fluttering hair, Najin¡¯s eyes were revealed. The moment Jerold locked eyes with him, he involuntarily gasped. Calm, sunset-hued eyes. Despite his battered body, those eyes alone remained tranquil. Immediately after, Najin moved. His drooping sword moved with a trace of afterimage, striking Jerold¡¯s greatsword with unbelievable speed. It was so swift it was hard to believe he had reacted sote. Kaaaang! Sword aura shed against sword aura. At the moment of the sh, Jerold had no doubt about his victory. Until now, he had always had the upper hand in the sh of sword auras. Najin had been struggling just to dodge and deflect. But this time¡­ Kiiing! It was different. A fierce bacsh. A bacsh strong enough to make Jerold¡¯s hands tremble. Jerold¡¯s eyes widened in shock, his face painted with astonishment. Unable to withstand the recoil, Najin was pushed back, but he wasn¡¯t the only one. Jerold¡¯s greatsword, failing toplete its arc, was deflected in the opposite direction. And so were his boots. Jerold stared at his retreating legs in disbelief. How? But more than that, the sword aura that had shone so brightly just before¡­ Jerold Orten. us Aten. Stared wide-eyed at Najin. The distantly pushed-back Najin slowly lifted his head, gasping for breath, with a smile on his lips. ¡°¡­Caught you.¡± Najin muttered softly. A vague outline of an answer he had been seeking. The one step he had beencking. Now, he had finally grasped it. Crack. The sound of Najin¡¯s sword aura shattering resembled that of a cocoon breaking apart. He was born where no stars could be seen. Born low, he lived like trash. He was a sinner from birth, not even permitted to dream. For the boy, the Underground City, Artman, was a prison. A vast prison. A prison he thought he¡¯d never escape. Even after leaving that prison, the boy still considered himself a prisoner. That¡¯s why he thought he had to change. A prisoner can¡¯t be a hero. A knight must shine. Even though he had gained freedom. Even though he had crossed the line. Even though he had broken through the bars and escaped the prison. The boy was still shackled by something. His speech and expressions became stiff, and his shoulders naturally tensed. He was a rotten hunting dog from birth, a sinner, so he believed he had to start over from scratch. Denying himself. Even after leaving the prison, the boy unconsciously still saw himself as a prisoner, still wearing the chains on his ankles. He realized this btedly and smiled. ¡°I was wrong.¡± The boy thought. ¡°I¡¯ve been wrong from the start.¡± Najin exhaled deeply. The Underground City, Artman. His damned hometown and the prison he was trapped in. He hated it, and wanted to hide his origins, but now he had to acknowledge it. Najin closed his eyes. When he closed his eyes, he saw thendscape of the underground city. However, as he remembered, the city wasn¡¯t entirely dark. There were two stars there. A high star and a low star. The stars that the boy dreamed of were there. Looking at the low-hanging star, Najin smiled bitterly. Who was the first knight he ever admired? It was Ivan. The Knight of Atanga. The knight who nted dreams in him. The mentor who pushed him forward. He said, run beyond the line, run far. Run freely. You are now free. Thest words of the knight he served. How could he proudly im to be Ivan¡¯s kin if he didn¡¯t keep them? ¡°I was mistaken, Ivan.¡± Najin raised his sword. The moment he raised his sword, Jerold and us could only close their mouths. They couldn¡¯t take a single step towards Najin. To approach rashly was to die. That intuition shed through both their minds. The tide had turned. The air around them churned. Yet, contrary to the swirling currents, the white sword aura settled peacefully. The violently churning sword aura was nowhere to be found. The softly glittering sword aura was iparably tranquil. Najin lowered his sword. The white sword aura dispersed. Like a cocoon shattering or threads that were entangled unraveling. As the sword aura scattered, darkness crept into the forest. Najin still had his eyes closed. With closed eyes, he looked within himself. A space barely ten steps across at most. Yet, that space was now tumultuously stirring. Thendscape began to expand. Buildings rose along the outskirts. Thendscape of the city Najin had wandered, the alleyways where he had scavenged through trash, dirty and dark though they were, clearly ces where Najin had lived, appeared one after another. Najin did not deny any of them. He simply smiled, looking at the bright white star shining in the center of the city. ¡®Ivan, you taught me so much. Indeed, as you said.¡¯ ¡¸Take it easy, kid.¡¹ ¡¸Try smiling a bit.¡¹ ¡¸How can you live like that? It¡¯s exhausting.¡¹ ¡®I find myself tensing up again. I think I must do this. I try to take on the weight. Even now, it¡¯s the same. Your life and honor weigh on my shoulders. Not just yours, but Offen¡¯s, old man Hogel¡¯s, and the weight of all those who have helped me.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s truly heavy. I keep thinking that this is not the way to live.¡¯ ¡®I pulled out the Excalibur. I must be a hero. The great constetion of Merlin in the night sky watches over me. She whispers to me that I will be a hero. Yes, I must be a hero. I naturally think of King Arthur.¡¯ ¡®I must be like Arthur. That¡¯s what I keep thinking.¡¯ ¡®More dignified. A bit more knightly. Just a bit more, a bit more¡­ It was an unconscious thought. My expression stiffened, and my speech became more formal. The hunting dog of the Underground City Artman, I gradually faded.¡¯ ¡®But where could my essence possibly go?¡¯ ¡®I won¡¯t deny it. Just as Ivan did. Above all, have I not made a promise?¡¯ ¡®I swore in a ce where no stars could be seen.¡¯ ¡®To engrave my star in the sky.¡¯ ¡®Because it was a promise made in a ce where stars could not be seen, it holds value. I have no intention of tarnishing that value. Born in a ce without stars, I dream of stars, and I will surely hang them up in the sky above.¡¯ ¡°Phew¡­¡± Najin exhaled deeply. The tension left his shoulders, and his posture rxed. Naturally, his breathing lightened as well. The imagery that had expanded far and wide. Najin slowly rose from his ce. There stood Merlin. In Merlin¡¯s hand was a small birdcage. She threw the birdcage towards Najin. A birdcage crudely made. Looking at the birdcage, Najin smiled. Smiling, he swung his sword. He swung his sword lightly. Surprisingly smooth and natural movement. When he swung the sword, sword aura did not surge forth. It didn¡¯t even draw the flow. Only the tip of the sword shone. The tip of the sword shone. At the tip of the sword, a bright white star formed. In reality, the sword split the void, but in the imagery, the swung sword cut through the birdcage. The cage was so easily severed. Watching the copsing cage, Najin opened his eyes he had closed. The cocoon was shattered. The cage was smashed. The boy had reached metamorphosis. ¡ºPapapapapapapapapak!¡» Light shed in the void as if exploding. The light started from the tip of Najin¡¯s sword and connected onwards. The connected and continuing light took on the form of constetions. The sword aura waspletely dismantled and reassembled. It was no longer the sword aura of a Sword Expert. Not even the sword aura that merely contained fragments of imagery. Apletely new form of sword aura. sword aura that fully encapsted the imagery, belonging only to Najin. The eyes of the boy who opened his eyes shone with a tinum hue. Sword Seeker. A seeker and a wanderer of the sword¡¯s path. Havingpleted metamorphosis, the boy had reached the realm of a Sword Seeker. ¡°Metamorphosis¡­¡± us muttered absentmindedly. Metamorphosis. A process that must be undergone to reach the realm of a Sword Seeker, or something akin to it. He had gone through a simr process himself. The sensation of the imagery expanding and the aura wrapped around his spear beingpletely restructured. us, who had felt this sensation in the midst of battle, recalled his past and saw the present. Before him stood a young man who had just undergone metamorphosis. us gazed at the constetion swirling around Najin¡¯s sword tip as if enchanted. The constetion form of sword aura. Had there ever been such a form of sword aura in history? Although the sword aura of a Sword Seeker varies, there are usually some ovepping elements. However, us had never seen such a form of sword aura before today. Jerold, who had faced countless strong opponents, felt the same. The sword aura that Najin emitted shone brilliantly even in the dark forest. The radiant constetion drove away the darkness. A constetion drawn with a human¡¯s sword. Before this unprecedented sword aura, the corners of Jerold¡¯s mouth twitched. He gripped his greatsword tightly and let out augh. He had an intuition. The tide of battle had turned. The advantage and disadvantage had reversed. Before him stood a Sword Seeker. A formidable opponent who had reached the clear realm of a Sword Seeker. Jerold wasn¡¯t the only oneughing. us also burst out in hollowughter. Metamorphosis in such a situation! Trials imposed on humans usually end in death, but this young man had ovee the trial and achieved growth. ¡®Amazing, truly.¡¯ Even in the midst of a life-threatening duel, us purely admired the sight. As he admired, he felt a cold sweat run down his spine. The swordsman who had been perfect in every aspect except for sword aura had now acquired a formidable sword aura as well. From now on, it wasn¡¯t about making the opponent bleed with each attack, but rather ensuring their own bodies weren¡¯t torn apart. Although the situation had turned, the flow itself hadn¡¯t changed in the slightest. It was a matter of a single strike. The battle would be decided in one blow. us steadied his breath. His imagery surged and wrapped around his spear. Jerold took a firm step forward. His imagery, stronger than ever, was deeply imbued in the greatsword that had ughtered countless demons. A single strike. The moment would determine the oue. Chapter 95 Chapter 95 ¨C Metamorphosis (3) In the darkness, constetions shone brightly. However, the constetions were not suspended in the vast night sky but were hanging from the tip of a swordsman¡¯s sword on the ground, radiating light. The constetion shining from a human¡¯s sword tip was tranquil and brilliantly luminous. The Sword Seeker, Najin. Having reached the realm of a Sword Seeker, Najin raised his sword. The constetions moved along the de, and where the sword point stopped, there stood Najin¡¯s worthy opponent. ¡°¡­Ha.¡± Jerold burst intoughter as he looked at the sword tip pointed at him. Truly, what a formidable opponent. The slight difort he had felt just moments ago was nowhere to be found now. From the moment his opponent had ascended to the realm of a Sword Seeker, the distinction between the weak and the strong had be meaningless. ¡°us.¡± Jerold spoke as he exhaled a long breath. ¡°I hate to say it, but I¡¯ll take the first strike. This is something I cannot yield.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pity. I was about to say the same.¡± There was no helping it since he had been preempted. Saying so, us stepped back, while Jerold stepped forward instead. Their actions seemed to imply a sequence for challenging each other. This would normally negate the numerical advantage, but¡­ In this case, it wasn¡¯t necessarily so. A Sword Seeker-level powerhouse is akin to a walking army. A single individual could do the work of dozens, if not hundreds¡ª this wasn¡¯t apletely wrong analogy. And naturally, such a formidable person¡¯s movementse with constraints. Swinging his sword to split a giant tree, cutting through the area, and with each step, sweeping the surroundings¡ª that¡¯s what Sword Seeker-level powerhouses do. Had they not synchronized their actions beforehand, and had they not stood side by side on the battlefield for a long time¡­ they would likely interfere with each other. If they charged at the same time, they could be swept up by each other¡¯s sword aura and energy. That¡¯s why they had been somewhat restrained. It was the same for both us and Jerold. If they shed with all their might, they would sweep up their allies. They would interfere with each other, and the advantage of numbers would vanish. ¡®But now that it¡¯se to this.¡¯ The numerical advantage was meaningless. Hesitating would only lead to destruction. The battle had been prolonged, and what would decide the oue was ultimately a sufficiently powerful strike. ¡°No, no.¡± Jerold shook his head. No, if they attacked together, they could still manage. By distributing their strength properly and surrounding the enemy, they might even have an advantage. But he did not want to do that. The swordsman who hadpleted his Metamorphosis. The one who had made constetions bloom at his sword tip had clearly stated it. This was an honorable duel. Although Jerold currently had no right to proim honor or hold pride. ¡®Still, for that final strike.¡¯ For just thatst exchange. He wanted to exchange a strike fitting for the honorable duel dered by the swordsman. Even if it cost him his life in the process. Both Jerold and us thought so. Foolish. It was foolish, but¡­ With Najin¡¯s deration, this was neither an ambush nor a war, but merely a duel. Then they should join in, shouldn¡¯t they? It was their duty to uphold, having once been knights. Jerold took arge step forward. He unleashed his sword aura with more ferocity than ever. His right foot firmly nted on the ground, his left foot braced at an angle. His breath regted. Thus, he was poised to unleash his renowned Shatter Sword technique¡ª a sword technique that had shattered countless demons and contractors of demons. Though the swordsman before him was not a demon. Nor was he wicked or malicious. He was, nheless, an opponent that required full force. There was no need for dialogue. Jeroldunched forward. With each step he took, the ground thudded and trembled. Like a charging bull, at every step he took, trees split and debris scattered. Shatter. Destroying everything it touched, Jerold charged towards Najin. And Najin, with his sword drawn, waited for Jerold. Without retreating or dodging, as if to say, ¡®Come at me all you want.¡¯ A smile leaked from the corners of Jerold¡¯s mouth. What a prideful swordsman. Even in this situation, he does not back down! He shouts that he will take on a full-force strike head-on! In this era, he was thankful even to a swordsman who retained such purity. And then, the sh. The moment Jerold took hisst step, the ground cracked loudly. The weight of the charge was fully borne by his greatsword, which Jerold swung. The sword aura contained the imagery of a charging bull that destroys everything in its path. Crack, thud, boom¡­ Though the sword did not follow a perfect trajectory, the nearby trees were split. The surging air pressure kicked up dust, and the air churned. All of this was directly faced by Najin, whose clothing fluttered in the wind pressure. His skin split open, and blood spurted out. Yet, Najin did not retreat. Facing the onught of Jerold¡¯s greatsword, he swung his own sword. The sh of a greatsword and a longsword. Normally, the greatsword should crush the longsword and even the person holding the longsword. But the rules of a Sword Seeker-level fight do not apply here. When the swords collided, a tremendous noise erupted. Sword aura against sword aura. Najin¡¯s sword, wrapped in constetions,pletely withstood Jerold¡¯s sword aura and did not yield. No, it even pushed back. The twinkling constetions ¡®clinked!¡¯ and scattered bright white light. A moment of silence. A brief deadlock. What felt like dozens of seconds was merely a second in the eyes of an onlooker. And then, the bnce was broken. Najin gritted his teeth. He straightened his knees, which had almost buckled under the weight, and swung his sword with all his might. Then, a scraping sound came. The previously halted sword of Najin moved forward. The advancing sword cut through the sword aura, and through the greatsword, and split the technique Jerold had executed. The sword swung first, followed by the scattering constetions. A light burst forth along the trajectory of the sword. This light was a mass of sword aura. As Jerold watched the twinkling constetions before him, he let out a hollowugh. It was a perfect strike, and it was his defeat. Immediately, the recoil of the sword aura struck Jerold. Boom! The steps he had taken that had split the ground were rendered meaningless as Jerold was lifted into the air. Swept up by the recoil of the sword aura, Jerold was flung away. After flying for a while, he shattered severalrge trees beforeing to a stop. Spitting out blood, Jerold copsed. Najin took a deep breath. The constetions still wrapped around his sword did not lose their light. There were still foes to be felled. Lifting his head, Najin looked ahead. There stood his final adversary. us Atten. The Fifth Wing of the Kingdom of Prolea. The Last Blue Winged Cavalier stood before Najin. ¡°Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect him to fly off like that.¡± us grimaced with a bitter smile. He pulled out a spear that had been stuck in the ground. In this situation, us felt amazed. Was this boy really just experiencing his Metamorphosis now? Metamorphosis, the act of breaking out of a cocoon. Many struggled to adapt right after their Metamorphosis, unable to follow the restructured flow of their sword aura and mana. us had been the same, but what about the swordsman before him? ¡®It¡¯s as if he has been a Sword Seeker for years, naturally wielding his sword aura.¡¯ How absurd this seemed. The order had told him this young man was surely only 18 years old. It was almostughable, beyondprehension. A once-in-a-generation genius, something that couldn¡¯t even be fully described with such words. ¡°Perhaps, this is an honor.¡± us exhaled. Facing the sword of a boy who would soon reach the zenith was indeed an honor. Inappropriately, us found himselfughing. A duel, what a thrilling resonance it brings. Now, as a one-on-one confrontation approached, us smiled. If his life, tainted by the muck, would end in such a duel, he would dly ept it. Whether he won or lost this fight, us nned to end his own life. For a knight who had lost both honor and pride should not live. Thest of the Blue Wing Cavalry must end not with execution, but by his own hand. From the day he lost all hisrades four years ago, us Atten had been as good as dead. It was just that his death had been indefinitely postponed until he could restore hisrades¡¯ honor. And now that time hade. The time to put a period on the life of a walking corpse had arrived. Gloriously, the individual to put that period would be a prideful swordsman. A foe worthy enough to sh with all his might. us truly understood why Jerold had burst outughing. How could one notugh? How could one not rejoice? ¡°Najin.¡± ¡°us Atten.¡± They called out each other¡¯s names. That was enough. us lifted his spear and lowered his stance. He seemed ready to spring forward at Najin any moment. ¡°I aming.¡± ¡°Come.¡± Aura red up around us¡¯s body. The swirling aura wrapped around the tip of his spear. The branches it touched crumbled to dust without a trace. Constetions gathered around Najin¡¯s sword. The elongated constetions wrapped around his longsword, making it seem like a sword of stars. Both us and Najin took their positions. And then, without anyone starting first, they charged at each other. us Atten is running. He has no g. He can no longer bear the glory of proving himself as the fifth wing of the kingdom. He has no horse. On the day hisrades were buried in the mire, his beloved steed too met its death. He has norades. The Blue Wing Cavalry was annihted. They faced a dishonorable and prideless death. Yet us Atten runs. No g is needed. For the memory of running with hisrades is etched in his imagery. No steed is necessary. For his own legs can kick off the ground. Norades are required. For us Atten is still a Blue Winged Cavalryman. Merely amander defeated in battle. A knight who has lost all honor and pride. us Atten runs. He races for hisrades¡¯ honor. Though his eyes are open, he sees his imagery. Cavalrymen dashing across vast meadows. Ah, they charge through the battlefield, bearing the emblem of the blue wings. He stands at the forefront. It seems he can hear the sound of horse hooves from behind. The robust roars of hisrades echo. us speeds up. If he were a valiant Blue Winged Cavalryman, hisrades would surely follow. So, he runs with all his might. elerating, and then elerating again. us Atten eyes his foe who he must pierce. He sees the prideful swordsman. This man too is running towards him. Straightforwardly, honorably, intending to shatter his spear. Let him try. By all means. His speed increased. The swiftly passing scenery fades from us¡¯s vision. His eyes only see Najin. He only watches the sword that Najin intends to swing. That¡¯s why us realizes it. The technique Najin is about to disy. us knows this technique. Isn¡¯t it the technique of the Knights of Atanga, among knights? Had that boy introduced himself as a squire to a knight of Atanga? Is that so. Is it the sword of Atanga that will decide the fate of one who has lost all honor and pride? Yes, it¡¯s a fitting end for me. But then us¡¯s eyes widened. No, that wasn¡¯t it. The sword of Atanga, used to execute knights, doesn¡¯t charge forth like that. It doesn¡¯t swing in such a manner. That is not a sword meant for execution. It signifies recognition of you as a worthy opponent. A sword implying that you possess value worth shattering with all might. At this realization, us burst outughing. Then let me meet those expectations. As themander and vanguard of the kingdom¡¯s Fifth Wing, the Blue Winged Cavalry, us thrust his spear. Najin, the squire of Ivan from Atanga, swung his sword. In that moment when the spear and the sword intersected, nothing else intruded upon their duel. Background, affiliation, order¡ªeverything became utterly meaningless. Just one cavalryman and one swordsman, each unleashing a powerful strike against the other. To determine the oue of the duel. To seize victory. Chapter 96 Chapter 96 ¨C Metamorphosis (4) Warriors who honed themselves often say, A single strike, shing with all one¡¯s might in a single strike to determine victory or defeat, is the ultimate conclusion they yearn for. Yet, at the same time, they realize, Such an end is rarely granted. Duels, battles, life-risking fights¡ªby their very nature¡ªdo not amodate such exchanges when there¡¯s a power disparity, and the situation hardly changes even with equals. Mind games, grappling, traps, minor mistakes. Such elements decide the victors and the vanquished, the living and the dead. It¡¯s ludicrous. Fights that end before one can fully employ a lifetime of honed skills are all toomon. It¡¯s often these trivial things that determine the oue. Thus, exchanging all-out strikes and deciding a fight is something you¡¯d expect in tales of heroes. Reality isn¡¯t so forgiving. But at this moment. At this very moment, that has be the reality. Ah, us sighed. He, performing his all-outnce charge, felt a thrill coursing through his body. With each step he advanced, his counterpart, the swordsman, also stepped forward. They are charging at each other. There is no embellishment in their rush. No giving in, nopromise, no retreat. Just pure power! Only a full-powered sprint and all-out strikes exist here. How beautiful this scene is. It is the finest conclusion, both as a knight and a warrior. ¡®Come, as much as you want, as much!¡¯ Themander of the Blue Wings, us Aten, burst outughing. Thisst charge of one swordsman could be so beautifully tragic. Squeak! And thus, one cavalryman thrust his spear. Cutting through the air and slicing the wind, the spear moved forward. Facing it was a sword swung by another swordsman. The constetion-wrapped longsword did not aim for the sides or strike from above. Unyielding and head-on. The end of the spear thrust straight. Simply met with full force. Because it was the sword of Atanga. Because it was a tribute and respect sent by a Knight of Atanga to a worthy opponent he acknowledged. The constetion-wrapped Najin¡¯s longsword swung horizontally. The moment the de met the spear¡¯s tip, a burst of light exploded in all directions. Crack! The imagery imbued in the charging cavalryman¡¯s aura, and the imagery of the stars risen from the Underground City collided. The moment of collision burst into stars. The swirling auras vibrated the air. In an instant, dozens of shes urred in less than a second. It was a collision created by auras and sword energy, not mere metal. The aftermath sttered, ripping through us and Najin¡¯s skin. Blood sprayed. St! Amidst the spurting blood, both sword and spear pushed forward. As if to say, the sh of spear and sword was merely an interruption. Finally, for a brief moment, the auras and sword energy sheared off from the metal. The missing parts sought to replenish in that instant. The instant split into a mere fraction of time. Crossing all hindrances, the spear and sword faced each other. That confrontation was brief. And victory is always decided in an instant. Boom¡ª¡ª A heavy footstep echoed. In the final moment, Najin stepped forward again. And so, Najin¡¯s sword advanced one step further. That decided the victory. Tick, tick, tick¡­ In the slowly unfolding scenery, us saw it. Najin¡¯s de splitting the spearhead and advancing forward. The spear he had been with all his life wasing to an end. Scrape. Najin¡¯s swordpleted its trajectory. Splitting the spear in half as it advanced, the longsword also split the hand of us holding the spear. The de first drew its path, and the constetions scattered afterward. The spurting blood. The halved spear. The rapidly flickering constetions before his eyes. ¡®A perfect defeat.¡¯ In the final moment, feeling a sentiment simr to Jerold¡¯s, us burst intoughter. An impably perfect strike. A strike that utterly shattered the enemy¡¯s full force right in front¡ª such is the sword technique only permissible to the knight among knights, us soliloquized. If the sword of Atanga is to mark the end of his life, it would be a satisfactorily lived one indeed. The scattered constetions exploded. Thrown back by the recoil, us spat blood and crashed against a great tree. He coughed up blood as he slumped against it and closed his eyes. Blink. us slowly blinked his eyes. His body felt heavy. His mind was sluggish. He must have been embracing death, yet here he was¡ª was there an afterlife in this world? If so, was it heaven or hell he was destined for? Surely it must be hell¡­ Such profound contemtion was his at the moment. ¡°Are you exining this right? Come on, I¡¯m no wizard.¡± A voice hovered near his ear. Too rough for an angel¡¯s voice, too kind to be a demon¡¯s. Most importantly, it was a familiar voice. Groaning, he blinked again. ¡°Ah, never mind.¡± Sizzle! The sound of flesh burning. Even in his dulled senses, he could distinctly feel the pain, causing us to snap his eyes wide open. His mouth agape, a scream escaped him. ¡°Arghhhhh!¡± ¡°Uh, are you sure this is correct? It¡¯s supposed to hurt, right? Sigh¡­¡± The pain made him wide-eyed. With a suddenly clear mind, us looked ahead. There stood Najin, looking down at him as if talking to someone else, muttering to himself as he noticed us¡¯s open eyes. ¡°Oh, are you feeling a bit more lucid?¡± ¡°What have you done¡­?¡± ¡°Nothing much, just what needed to be done.¡± Najin casually tapped his neck. ¡°You know the mark on your neck. If left alone, it could explode, right? I¡¯ve seen quite a few people explode, and it¡¯s not a pleasant sight.¡± A mark? Could it be the one the Starlight Order had branded? us hurriedly felt his neck. The mark that should have been there was gone. ¡°How?¡± ¡°The greatest archmage and the master alchemist, armed with Merlin¡¯s knowledge and Dieta¡¯s support, had a hand in it¡­ or so they say. Just received some impressive help.¡± Najin shook a potion bottle in front of us. A potion crafted with Merlin¡¯s knowledge and Dieta¡¯s support. ¡°The mark was made to recognize you as ¡®dead,¡¯ and to ¡®misfire¡¯ as if triggered¡­ that¡¯s what I heard. The Order now thinks you¡¯re dead.¡± Those were Najin¡¯s words. us blinked as he processed the situation. It was hard to keep up, but he could understand what Najin was implying. ¡°Why¡­ would you keep me alive?¡± The boy had chosen to spare him. The attacker who had attacked him. us couldn¡¯t grasp why. ¡°Because there¡¯s no need to kill you.¡± ¡°What¡­?¡± ¡°Obviously, the Order had some leverage over you. Maybe a hostage, or your honor was at stake¡­ Based on my own judgment, you were disillusioned with being the Order¡¯s hound. Am I wrong?¡± us did not deny it, and Najin continued speaking. ¡°Besides, you failed your mission. The Order thinks you¡¯re dead. If they had hostages, they might decide to kill them now. That¡¯s unfortunate. Sorry, but I can¡¯t just die for them.¡± Najin stated calmly. ¡°But I can make you an offer.¡± ¡°An offer?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll give you a chance to take revenge on the Order.¡± Revenge. ¡°I am Najin. Eighteen years old, and today I reached the realm of the Sword Seeker. How do you rate my skills?¡± ¡°A devilish question indeed.¡± us grimaced as he chuckled. ¡°Strong. Unbelievably so.¡± ¡°Yes, and I n to be even stronger.¡± ¡°For what purpose?¡± ¡°To hang a star at the highest point of the night sky. And to bring down the Order.¡± Najin grinned, a smile ying on his lips. ¡°I will ascend to the realm of a Sword Master. I will be a force capable of single-handedly dismantling the Order. I must reim the honor of my mentor, the knight I served, from the Order.¡± A far-fetched goal. However, having received Najin¡¯s de, us could not scoff at that goal. It felt tangible. ¡°I will definitely bring down the Order. I will thrust my sword into the heart of High Priest Ond, who watches over the world from the top of the Lighthouse.¡± But, Najin added, ¡°In that process, I won¡¯t stop anyone who wishes to follow me. If their revenge is justified, I might even spare an arm of Ond.¡± ¡°Just an arm¡­¡± ¡°Yes, unfortunately, that bastard¡¯s heart is mine to take.¡± us burst outughing. ¡°So, you¡¯ll spare me? Me, who tried to kill you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°On what do you base your trust?¡± ¡°On your pride.¡± Najin replied, and us fell silent for a moment. ¡°I saw pride in you. The pride of someone who wishes to remain a knight. That is not something a mere hound possesses. I believe in that.¡± And with that, Najin shrugged his shoulders. ¡°Even if I¡¯m wrong, it doesn¡¯t matter. If you want to cling to the Order again, try. I will face you, as many times as needed.¡± Najin tapped his sword hilt. ¡°But next time, I might not spare you like now.¡± ¡°Arrogant, but I can¡¯t call it unjustified, not after being defeated so thoroughly.¡± us gave a bitter smile. He waspletely defeated. It didn¡¯t seem likely that he would win if he tried again. Najin offered his hand to us, who was still chuckling. ¡°Make your choice. To die by my sword here and now¡­¡± If not that. ¡°Or to choose the path of vengeance against the Order.¡± us looked at Najin¡¯s extended hand. He had no hostages. Hisrades were already dead. us had cooperated with the Starlight Order only because it was the Starlight Order that could remove the heretic mark branded on hisrades. The Starlight Order had branded them. Despite hating and cursing them, he had no choice but to follow theirmands. A mere defeatedmander could not bring down the Starlight Order. ¡®But¡­¡¯ us looked at the boy before him. Surviving a duel to the death was a disgraceful thing. Yet, if there were depths to which he could fall, there were things that needed to be aplished. ¡°Huff¡­¡± After a moment of silence, he exhaled deeply. A bitter smile formed on his lips. ¡°The victor has the right to show mercy and to make an offer¡­¡± us spoke of the sacred duel¡¯s rules. Najin took up the next part of the ritual. ¡°The vanquished has the duty to ept.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Because it is a duel.¡± ¡°And so?¡± ¡°I ept. With gratitude.¡± us grasped Najin¡¯s hand and slowly rose to his feet. Using the potion Najin provided, he staunched the bleeding and took a deep breath. ¡°What about the others?¡± ¡°They haven¡¯t died.¡± Najin nced sideways. Therey Jerold, barely alive, along with a few Experts. ¡°Not all of them may agree to my offer. Persuade them, or sort it out as you wish. I leave them in your hands.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a tough role to assign.¡± ¡°You were the strongest among them.¡± Najin said, and usughed. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I have no choice but to try.¡± With that reply, he slowly exhaled. Stabilizing his breathing, he raised his heavily bleeding arm, pain be damned. With that lifted arm, he thumped his chest. Blood sttered. Amidst the spurting blood, us¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°I thank you for elevating a dishonorable assault to a duel. For shattering with full force my full force. For showing mercy to the vanquished, for giving a chance for revenge.¡± Gratitude. ¡°I, us Aten, do not forget a favor.¡± He slowly knelt and bowed his head. ¡°Thest of the Blue Wing Cavalry will always answer your call, and on the day your de points at the Order, I will charge ahead of all others, I swear upon the honor of my fallenrades.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, I¡¯ll be leading the charge. I can¡¯t give you the vanguard role.¡± ¡°That¡¯s regrettable. Then, I shall follow a step behind you.¡± Thest of the Blue Wing Cavalry smiled. His spear could now be held by one who knew honor and pride. ¡°Bring those who share your resolve to this ce. The Dieta Trading Company can offer assistance.¡± Najin, along with a potion for erasing marks, handed us several documents. As us received them and listened to the exnation, he stroked his chin. ¡°There is one problem.¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°Those deployed on this mission, like me, are hounds with no direct ties to the Order. But I doubt that slippery character wouldn¡¯t have ced at least one watchdog.¡± us clicked his tongue. ¡°There will be watchers. It¡¯s highly likely there are those observing this situation from afar. They might have already witnessed you joining me. And currently, I am marked as a heretic by the Order. That means¡­¡± ¡°They could frame it as associating with a heretic. A religious persecution following an armed assault.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. That¡¯s more the Order¡¯s style.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve thought about that aspect already¡­¡± Najin chuckled. ¡°This matter won¡¯t leak to the Order.¡± ¡°What? What do you mean¡­¡± ¡°My coborators are much morepetent, thorough, and frightening than you might expect.¡± The Snake that Swallows Gold, Dieta. Her is cast much wider than this. She has mercenaries at her disposal beyond just Roselin Ascalo. ¡°By now, things have likely been taken care of.¡± The Order¡¯s sent watcher was found nailed to a tree, limbs severed. Dangling from the tree, the watcher¡¯s eyes darted around. There stood a woman,ying out various torture tools, tending to them. A woman who, in an instant, had seen through his presence from a distance and subdued him. The watcher knew her name well. The White-rank Adventurer of Cambria. Former heretic inquisitor, Bashen Corte. A mercenary under exclusive contract with the Dieta Trading Company. She loathed the Order to the extreme, entangled in a bad history with High Priest Ond. She exhaled deeply, ring at the watcher. In the dimly lit forest, her crimson eyes gleamed like those of a beast. ¡°Seven.¡± She spoke. ¡°There were seven watchers, including you. Four are dead. No need for too many mouths. I intended to keep two for cross-examination, but¡­¡± Bashen rolled something in her hand. It was a plucked eyeball, a severed tongue. ¡°They insisted I should kill them instead. So, I did. That leaves a blind man with his eyes gouged out, and you, rtively intact.¡± The watcher felt a chill run down his spine. Bashen Corte had been an inquisitor. She knew hundreds of ways to torture and coerce speech. ¡°No need for eyes to talk. Can you read Braille? It¡¯s essential for a priest of the Order. Then you won¡¯t need ears either. No need to hear words. Oh, but your arms are gone, so that won¡¯t be easy.¡± Muttering, Bashen approached the watcher. Then, with a jerk, she grabbed his hair and shoved her face close to his. Madness swirled in her beast-like crimson eyes. ¡°Looks like you won¡¯t be needing eyes either.¡± Bashen reached out her hand. Screams echoed through the forest. Chapter 97 Chapter 97 ¨C The Youngest Sword Seeker (1) Najin showed mercy to the attackers. Jerold, who came to his senses btedly, also agreed to Najin¡¯s proposal, and the experts were no different. Even afterunching an attack and losing the duel, the opponent was shown mercy. No one was unaware of its meaning. However, understanding and agreeing are different things. ¡°Merely death.¡± Not everyone epted Najin¡¯s proposal. Someone, realizing their mission had failed, took their own life. With the hostage dead, they felt no reason to live anymore. With a bitter expression, us closed the man¡¯s eyes. The attackers were not the only ones here; there were others holding back Roselin Ascalo. ¡°At least one agrees. I¡¯m not sure about the remaining two; we couldn¡¯t talk much.¡± Saying so, us, Jerold, and Najin moved to where Roselin might be. To make an offer. But the moment Najin arrived at the destination, he realized. There was no need to make an offer anymore. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Blood scattered everywhere. Roselin was flicking her dagger while trampling over the finely divided body of a mage. ¡°Oh, you came?¡± Roselin turned slightly and smiled. Najin nced around her. Right next to Roselin, Basaus Malek was biting his lip, stemming the bleeding from his severed arm. ¡°It seems you¡¯ve thoroughly smashed things up? Persuaded some in the process too?¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it turned out. How about you, Lady Roselin?¡± ¡°Well, I thought there was no need to kill necessarily, so I was going to let it go at one arm¡­¡­¡± Roselin Ascalo was a strong opponent, and a strong person had many ways to defeat their opponents without killing them. However, at Roselin¡¯s feety a finely chopped body. A 5th-circle mage, Sirkel Kravelin. Roselin looked down at her body with a displeased look. Roselin clicked her tongue and kicked the head of the body with her toe. ¡°That woman and that man were hopeless. You have to talk a little rudely.¡± The body was not alone. Upon closer inspection, another head was rolling on the floor. Basaus Malek survived by losing an arm, but the mage Sirkel and archer Tyler did not. ¡°Those who dared to speak of a witch in front of me, those who called me a witch, didn¡¯t you know what became of them? I guess not, so I informed them.¡± Muttering so, Roselin Ascalo turned her head. Her eyes swirling red as she gazed at Najin. Then, with a sly smile, Roselin said. ¡°Congrattions on bing a Sword Seeker.¡± She smiled contentedly and patted Najin¡¯s shoulder, leaving him with a word to buy him a drink sometime. Najin stood next to us, who looked quite stunned as he watched her walk away. ¡°A fearsome woman indeed.¡± Jerold nodded heavily in agreement. The incident was finally settled. Late at night, Najin returned to the city and received only simple treatment from the physician before heading straight to his lodging. The physician tried to dissuade him, noting that the injuries were not minor enough to be treated with just first aid, but Najin had no choice. ¡°Being caught with abnormal healing abilities wouldn¡¯t be beneficial.¡± Dragging his heavy body, Najin returned to his lodgings. He was physically and mentally exhausted. He gulped down a pre-prepared potion and poured another on his wounds, exhaling deeply. Never a day without injury, truly. Every fight seemed to punch a hole or two in his body, and scars filled his skin, although they would disappear after about a week. ¡°This one won¡¯t fade away.¡± Najin fingered his shoulder. The scar was left by Ivan. It was from before he had obtained Excalibur, and therefore, it would never heal. Najin sneered bitterly. ¡°Anyway¡­¡± Najin, slumping in a chair, exhaled deeply. Sword Seeker, seeker of the sword. Having achieved the goal Ivan had once talked about, Najin felt aplex mix of emotions. Until yesterday, Najin had been a Sword Expert, just like Ivan. Of course, he had be stronger than Ivan had been back then¡­ ¡°Now¡­¡± The realm Ivan hadn¡¯t reached. Stepping into apletely new realm, Najin felt a bittersweet yet refreshingugh. Despite having be much stronger, Ivan was still a towering figure within Najin. ¡°If Ivan knew I had be a Sword Seeker, I wonder how he would react. He might burst outughing, or curse me as a crazy bastard and pat my shoulder, or perhaps we¡¯d raise a toast at the usual pub.¡± Imagining such a scene, Najin sighed deeply. He missed the Underground City a bit. He hadn¡¯t expected to miss that city. Images of the Underground City passed through Najin¡¯s mind. Ivan¡¯s office, the square, the clearing where he trained with Offen, and Hogel¡¯s forge¡­ Pondering these in his mind, Najin chuckled. There was no need to just imagine. Najin closed his eyes and focused on his inner self. Stepping into the imagery created within was enough. Blink. Najin opened his eyes that had been closed. In reality, Najin was closing his eyes, but inside, he was seeing with open eyes. When he looked around, he saw the expansivendscape of the underground city. Thendscape had significantly expanded. The space that was just a few steps wide was now extending far beyond where the eye could see. And¡­ Thump, softly. Someone tapped Najin¡¯s shoulder. Turning his head, there was Merlin with her flowing blue hair. Merlin, now more vivid and with a clearer presence, gave Najin a teasing smile. ¡°How about it. It¡¯s clearer now, isn¡¯t it?¡± Najin nodded affirmatively. Definitely. ¡°The space has expanded a lot too.¡± ¡°The stars are shining brighter.¡± ¡°And there are two of them now.¡± Stars hung in the sky and on the ground, both shining brightly in their respective ces. Najin looked around thendscape and exhaled deeply. ¡°Now what do we do about this?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Merlin tilted her head, and Najin chuckled. ¡°When I first set foot in this city, you said that, Merlin.¡± Najin held up two fingers. ¡°Sword Seeker, we¡¯ll set a two-year target for the White rank, since it took Arthur that long.¡± ¡°That was¡­ right?¡± ¡°And I said, what about two years? One year would be enough.¡± Merlin¡¯s expression started to stiffen. She slyly avoided Najin¡¯s gaze, but Najin didn¡¯t let her escape it. He followed the direction Merlin had turned her head. ¡°But here we are. It only took half a year.¡± ¡°Wait, half a year? It was seven months. Exactly seven months and twelve days, to be precise.¡± ¡°Hmm, that¡¯s also true. There¡¯s a big difference between half a year and seven months and twelve days.¡± Najin nodded with a hint of a smile. ¡°But there¡¯s still a big gap between seven months and a year, and two years.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°I won the bet.¡± Merlin groaned painfully. ¡°Fine, I lost. Anyway¡­¡± She grumbled, giving Najin a sidelong nce. As if something was off. ¡°But you, were you always like this? You seem a bit different.¡± ¡°I was closer to this originally.¡± Najin shrugged. Merlin seemed to pinpoint what was different. The lighter mood. The yful tone. And the cheeky behavior. In fact, this was closer to the real Najin. ¡°I had been too rigid. Logically, a youngster who hung out with thugs in the underground city couldn¡¯t be so solemn.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ true.¡± ¡°Do you dislike it?¡± ¡°Not at all?¡± Merlin grinned. ¡°I like this side more, actually. People don¡¯t need to be serious all the time.¡± ¡°I think simrly. Be serious when it¡¯s time to be serious.¡± Having ascended to the realm of the Sword Seeker. It wasn¡¯t just about physical and martial growth. It also meant a step forward mentally and spiritually. Merlin nced at Najin with a faint smile on her lips. ¡°Speaking of which,¡± Najin looked up at the sky. ¡°Now that I¡¯ve achieved the goals of this city, what should we do next?¡± The goals in Cambria. Reaching the realm of the Sword Seeker. Now that he had achieved this, Najin was pondering what to do next. There was no intention to rest on hisurels and be content. ¡°The path ahead is still long. I¡¯m just at a new starting point.¡± ¡°What are you talking about? You¡¯ve achieved all your goals except one.¡± Najin raised an eyebrow at Merlin¡¯sment. ¡°One left?¡± ¡°Have you forgotten? The legend of this city.¡± She said. ¡°The ce where two dragons are buried. The Tomb of Dragons.¡± Another name for Cambria. Long ago, starting his journey in this city, Arthur achieved a feat that is still talked about hundreds of yearster. It¡¯s why it¡¯s woven into the constetions in the night sky. ¡°In Cambria, Arthur and I brought down two dragons. We sealed them beneath this city.¡± The first chair, the human who brought down a dragon. The first star that Arthur embedded in the night sky. ¡°Dragons are by nature immortal, the first andst being Narok¡¯s dragon. Until Excalibur was thrust into the vitals of a dragon, they could not die. They could be sealed but not killed. They will inevitably resurrect.¡± Merlin whispered to Najin. ¡°You get what I¡¯m hinting at?¡± Najin¡¯s heart thumped. He understood what Merlin was suggesting. ¡°Now it¡¯s about time you earned a star of your own.¡± The long-desired star. The time to im that star was drawing near, Merlin suggested. ¡°From now on, it¡¯s crucial.¡± Several days had passed since the incident. In that time, Najin recovered from his injuries, and Dieta had secured the identities of those who had joined under Najin and arranged for their disguised identities. After the incident had settled down. Visiting her office to discuss the next steps, Dieta said to Najin. ¡°So far, the Order has only used hunting dogs that are unrted to the order and could be used without repercussions. But that¡¯s about to change. Things have shifted.¡± She exined. ¡°The Order might get directly involved now. I¡¯m not sure why they¡¯re so fixated on you, but if it¡¯s for the reasons you¡¯ve mentioned¡­¡± Dieta clicked her tongue. ¡°They might move even at a loss now. We¡¯ve gone beyond the point where things can be handled cleanly. So, from now on, it¡¯s crucial.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve thought about that part.¡± ¡°Probably, you¡¯re thinking along the same lines as me?¡± Najin nodded. They had discussed this matter before the operation, and even before that, he had discussed it with Ivan. Be too big for the Order to handle easily. Ivan had said that, and they had set the standard as a Sword Seeker. At that time, he didn¡¯t fully understand, but now he did. He knew the weight a Sword Seeker carried. ¡°A Sword Seeker must be reported to the empire¡­¡± ¡°And they are given a statusmensurate with their skills. Being a Sword Seeker is a guarantee in itself.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly it.¡± Dieta handed Najin a document bearing the emblem of the Dieta Trading Company and the Cambria Foundation. ¡°It¡¯s time to shed the fake identity.¡± The document that would be thrown into the heart of the empire. The time hade to reveal the name Najin, not the false name of Ivan, to the world. Chapter 98 Chapter 98 ¨C The Youngest Sword Seeker (2) Sword Seeker, the sword¡¯s wanderer. I dere here that the beasts so-called must be thoroughly managed. Their force is too dangerous for a single individual to possess. They can face dozens of knights alone. Dozens, indeed! No one could forget the incident when a lone Sword Seeker infiltrated and massacred the Lord of Arhebts, his vassals, and all his knights¡ª an act utterly condemnable. Ah, Arhebts! Remember Arhebts, a loyal servant of the Empire! Alone, facing dozens of knights and sweeping trained soldiers by the squad, these are the Sword Seekers. Can they even be called individuals? They are a walking army! Just as the private troops a noble can own are strictly limited and managed by the Empire, so too should the Sword Seekers be under the Empire¡¯s supervision. At the very least, their presence must be recognized. Herein, I propose the enactment of the Arhebts Special Law. The content of the proposedw is as follows: To prevent the tragedy of Arhebts from recurring, thew will force the disclosure of identity and strength for those of Sword Seeker caliber. Those who have stepped onto the maind, not just the forefront of the Demonic Battlefield, must ¡®necessarily¡¯ disclose their information. Should this be refused, You will realize why it is called an Empire. This is both a warning and a mercy. If you know honor and pride, step forth into the heart of the Empire¡­ ¡°¡ª¡ª¡ªThat marks the end of the Arhebts Special Law.¡± Dieta closed the history book of the Empire as she spoke. ¡°It was aw established by ¡®Calitz Pendragon,¡¯ the Empire¡¯s fourth Emperor. Thanks to thisw, those of Sword Seeker caliber must disclose their information.¡± ¡°What kind of information?¡± ¡°When they became a Sword Seeker, what weapons they use, what form their Sword Aura takes. Right after thew was proposed, it included weaknesses among all information disclosed, but hundreds of yearster, that¡¯s no longer the case,¡± she said. She tapped on the table lightly. ¡°Basic name, age, weapon used, and the time they reached their level. That¡¯s pretty much what¡¯s kept track of now. The original purpose of thew was to draw out ¡®hidden strong ones¡¯.¡± At that time, the Empire was in chaos. Hidden strong ones everywhere, causing both major and minor issues. That¡¯s why thew was established, Dieta exined. ¡°As unmanaged raw force can be as dangerous as anything from the perspective of a state.¡± Najin nodded quietly as he listened. ¡°So most Sword Seekers voluntarily disclose their information and level. Nothing is as frightening as being branded a ¡®dangerous person¡¯ by the Empire. Even a famed Sword Master wouldn¡¯t dare turn their back on the Empire.¡± Yuel Razian is an example of this. Najin thought back to a conversation they had once. Even when he saw the Empire¡¯s capital, it felt like a huge wall. ¡°And in your case, it¡¯s special.¡± While Najin thought this, Dieta continued. She tapped on the documents that had recorded Najin¡¯s activities over the past half-year. ¡°Suddenly appearing in the City of Opportunities, Cambria, you¡¯ve quickly built up achievements and rumors. Demon Knight subjugation, a duel with the Knight Commander of the House of Arbenia, a dark mage Fauve subjugation¡­¡± And reaching the youngest ever Red rank. One remarkable incident after another. ¡°There are rumors that you¡¯ll soon rise to a Sword Seeker. Hiding it any further would be too difficult. It¡¯s only a matter of time before the core of the Empire takes interest in you.¡± She was right. Up until now, Najin¡¯s identity had been tied to Cambria, protected by the Cambria Foundation, hence no intervention. But once Najin rises to a Sword Seeker, that changes. ¡°They might already be moving. The attack a few days ago was cleaned up without witnesses, but if the Empire digs in, evidence might emerge. Then your level would be revealed.¡± The strong ones who had attacked Najin were Sword Seekers. They had either disappeared long ago or were currently engaged on the battlefield, hence untraceable. ¡°It¡¯s hard to be sure.¡± It was an uncertain situation, and who knows how the order might react. ¡°The order might use any means to pressure you. And, to counteract that¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make the first move.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Dieta snapped her fingers. ¡°You¡¯re in the spotlight, and more than that, you¡¯re young. I don¡¯t know your exact age, but you¡¯re definitely not thirty yet, right?¡± Under a false identity, twenty-eight. And the youngest ever Sword Seeker was thirty. The moment Najin¡¯s rise to Sword Seeker is revealed, the attention on Najin would be unpredictable. ¡°Even the Sword Saint who was called a once-in-a-lifetime genius was thirty when he rose to a Sword Seeker. That itself broke a record that had stood for hundreds of years.¡± And now, a new record-breaker had appeared. It would be a major incident enough to upheave the Empire. ¡°The Order of the Sword, all the nobles, themanders of the battlefields, the core of the Empire will all be watching you. That way, the order can¡¯t easily mess with you.¡± If they messed up, the focus on Najin would shift straight to the order. No matter how massive the order¡¯s influence, they couldn¡¯t escape the gaze of the Empire. ¡°For now, that¡¯s all.¡± Dieta trailed off. Having finished exining, she narrowed her eyes and watched Najin. Her pupils were full of suspicion. ¡°With all that said, shouldn¡¯t you tell me? Najin, just how old are you really?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t actually younger than me, right? You are at least twenty, aren¡¯t you?¡± Najin avoided her gaze. Dieta¡¯s pupils wavered. ¡°Really?¡± Arhebts Special Law. Najin faithfully followed the procedures of thew. Having risen to the level of a Sword Seeker, he notified the Central Guild and sent a letter to the core of the Empire through the Cambria Foundation. And Najin could realize. Just how quickly the Empire could act in such cases. He sent the letter and within just half a day, a carriage arrived at the entrance of Cambria. Considering it takes three days from Britten to Cambria when hiring an ordinary coachman, this was indeed astonishing speed. But the surprising part didn¡¯t end there. A carriage at the entrance of Cambria. That carriage bore the crest of the Britten Empire along with the royal emblem. Arhebts Special Law, aw overseen by the royal family. Naturally, the royal family would be involved in the execution of thew. Adventurers murmured among themselves at the sight of a carriage bearing the royal emblem. How often would one see a carriage with the royal emblem? Who? What business did the royal family have here? What in the world was happening? The voices of the puzzled adventurers grew louder. Even the armor of the knight standing guard by the carriage bore the royal emblem. None were unaware that only one force was permitted to bear that emblem. Royal Guard. The Empire¡¯s loyal sword. With the Royal Guard and the royal carriage, the adventurers realized this was no ordinary event. Their gazes slowly converged on one spot. There, cutting through the crowd and approaching the carriage, was a figure. Red rank adventurer, Ivan. He crossed the crowd and stopped before the carriage, then knelt and bowed his head before the knight representing the royal family. A gesture of respect. The Royal Guard nodded in satisfaction and opened the door of the carriage. As all eyes were on him, Najin stepped into the carriage. The carriage departed, and even as it became out of sight, the adventurers remained gathered at the city¡¯s entrance. One of them muttered. ¡°A White rank adventurer will soon rise.¡± Royal Guard, Soltis. Soltis was not particrly pleased with this situation. Having served the royal family for many years, he knew well that the Arhebts Law wasn¡¯t typically carried out so ostentatiously, nor so swiftly. That was the natural order of things. The level of a Sword Seeker isn¡¯t achieved overnight, nor can one ascend to such a level without any precursors. Thus, when someone reports having reached the level of a Sword Seeker, the royal family would move only when the time was right. But this case was different. There were no precursors, and no precedents either. A Sword Seeker appearing out of nowhere. Moreover, the individual registered with the Cambria Foundation was only twenty-eight years old. It was only natural for the department responsible for the Arhebts Law to be turned upside down. ¡®Of course, the information registered with the Cambria Foundation is likely not entirely urate.¡¯ In the City of Opportunities, identity registration is rtively liberal, and identity falsification is not umon. Thus, his true identity would need to be re-verified by the Magic Tower, but¡­ if by some chance that identity was urate. This would be an event significant enough to upheave the Empire. That¡¯s why the Empire dispatched forces hastily and decisively, even deploying the Royal Guard in an unprecedented move. Such was the magnitude of the event. ¡°¡­¡­¡± And now, the protagonist of that event sat across from him. Soltis looked at the young man sitting opposite. Was he a young man, or still a boy? As is usual with those who have reached the level of a Sword Seeker, it was difficult to determine his age based solely on his appearance. But he had information rted to this individual. Subjugation of the Demon Knight, a duel with the knightmander of the Arbenia ducal house, subjugation of the dark mage Fauve¡­ He reviewed the significant incidents while internally praising them. ¡®Not bad.¡¯ Especially the part about subduing the Demon Knight. The Knights of Atanga had defended the young man? That was remarkable. While on his way here, he nced over the documents again, reassessing the youth. Had he knelt and shown respect earlier? Despite his displeasure with the situation, his impression of the young man before him wasn¡¯t bad. ¡°Though it¡¯s ill-timed for small talk.¡± With that in mind, Soltis spoke up. He liked the young man enough to offer a word or two of advice. ¡°It would be wise to speak only the truth at the Magic Tower. Even if you¡¯ve disguised your identity, there you¡¯ll need to reveal your real age and name.¡± Probably not his real age and name. Identity falsification is a serious crime, but in cases like this, starting a journey from Cambria, exceptions are sometimes made. This young man¡¯s case would likely be the same. Twenty-eight, Ivan. This was clearly a false identity. Even the great Sword Saint hadn¡¯t ascended to a Sword Seeker at the age of thirty. It was unthinkable that someone who would break that record would appear out of nowhere. Soltis was certain of that. ¡°If you dere a false identity even at the Empire¡¯s Magic Tower, the severity of your crime will increase. Bear that in mind.¡± ¡°I will remember that.¡± ¡°Still, you can¡¯t avoid reprimand. It would have been better to have sent your real age along with the documents, wouldn¡¯t it? After all, an identity bound to be uncovered only brings harm to you.¡± ¡°I hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead. I was too delighted by the fact that I had ascended to the level.¡± Najin smiled sheepishly. After all, he was a person who had reached the level of a Sword Seeker without proper backing. It wasn¡¯t likely he had many around him capable of offering advice. Soltis nodded emphatically. It seemed he was indeed using a disguised identity. While Soltis was dispatched here just in case, it was, after all, just in case. It was something that wouldn¡¯t ordinarily happen. ¡®That he ascended to a Sword Seeker out of nowhere is surprising enough, but breaking the youngest record? An imusible story.¡¯ It was probably just an overreaction by the responsible department. With that thought, Soltis closed his eyes. Of course, this was a misunderstanding on his part. They had reasons to judge so, but Soltis had only been provided with basic information due to the haste of the mission. ¡®But, if this is true¡­¡¯ Alone in the rocking carriage, Soltis could only imagine. If the young man before him truly had ascended to a Sword Seeker at the age of 28? The Empire would be overturned. And a summons would be issued. To scrutinize an unprecedented talent. ¡®Who?¡¯ The Empire¡¯s Sword Masters. Those who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship. Of course, such an event was unlikely, but imagining the scene where the three Sword Masters gathered together, Soltis chuckled. There would be no grander spectacle. Chapter 99 Chapter 99 ¨C The Youngest Sword Seeker (3) The capital of the Empire, Camelot. Just about a month ago, Najin, who had stopped by the capital as a tourist, now ventured deeper into it, to ces where normally one could not tread. Thud! The gate guards, upon spotting the carriage bearing the royal emblem, saluted with a stomp. They cleared the way allowing the carriage to pass without stopping. There was no need to check identities; the royal emblem on the carriage was proof enough. Thus, the carriage advanced deeper into the capital without halting, passing high-rise buildings towards the center, then deeper towards the center¡­ Until the scenery changed. It had entered the heart of the Imperial City. The core of the Empire, thoroughly protected by all manner of artifacts and magical devices. As he passed through the magical barrier, Najin realized the air had changed. Immactely clear air. The mana in the atmosphere was perfectly controlled. Looking out the carriage window, towering towers came into view. Magic Towers, as they are called. The towering Magic Towers greeted Najin, signifying his arrival at the Empire¡¯s core. And the carriage headed towards one particr Magic Tower. The tinum Tower, manned solely by court mages loyal to the royal family, awaited them. Najin alighted from the carriage and silently looked up at the towering tinum Tower. ¡°It feels overwhelming.¡± -He really splurged on gold. Such a waste of money. Tsk tsk¡­ Merlin¡¯s clucking tongue was heard. Soon she began muttering, ¡°A true mage must gain enlightenment from hunger and desperation, but this is why the modern ones¡­¡± However, Najin half-listened, letting it go in one ear and out the other. ¡°This way.¡± Following Royal Guard Soltis, Najin walked on. After passing through severalyers of security barriers, Najin was finally able to traverse the dimensional gate connecting the upper and lower floors of the Magic Tower. sh. Passing through the bluish dimensional gate, what weed Najin was a vast space. At the center of the space stood a woman with long blond hair. Cipria Gachevskaya, the Archmage of Eight Circles. tinum Tower Master, Cipria Gachevskaya. The Empire¡¯s Archmage looked at Najin with weary eyes, as if she had been dragged out of herboratory where she had been buried until just moments ago. Her expression was one of annoyance at the whole world. ¡°Sigh¡­¡± She exhaled deeply and brushed her hair back. As the Royal Guard stepped back, she flicked her finger at Najin. It was a gesture for him toe forward. Arhebts Special Law is a royal decree. Disying such an attitude in its execution was highly disrespectful, but Royal Guard Soltis maintained his silence. Any ordinary mage would have been scolded¡­ But Cipria Gachevskaya was an exception. For her alone, specialws were established. Considering that she had created and managed 40% of the artifactsid out in Camelot, it wasn¡¯t really anything special. ¡°Stand there. Don¡¯t move.¡± Following hermand, Najin stood right in the center. Looking down, he saw intricate circuits intertwining like sophisticated gears meshing together. Click. Cipria snapped her fingers. Gears within gears meshed, creaking as a me ignited before Najin. The burning me shifted from ck to red, and from red to white. ¡°It¡¯s like looking at Cambria¡¯s ranking chart.¡± -It¡¯s simr. When distinguishing the levels of the soul, we often use that sequence of colors. ¡°The levels of the soul?¡± -Yes. Merlin affirmed. -Ascending through realms is ultimately a process of the soul¡¯s transcendence. It¡¯s not that the soul¡¯s colors are exactly those, but we just make it easy to differentiate. From ck to white to tinum. The soul approaches the stars as it transcends, so it¡¯s not entirely a wrong expression, Merlin muttered. -ck, red, white, tinum. Broadly, these are the four categories, checking if you have reached the realm of a Sword Seeker. Najin looked ahead. The me before him was white. -If it¡¯s white, that means you¡¯ve reached the realm of a Sword Seeker. As Merlin muttered, Cipria nced at him. She looked at the empty space and nodded slightly, as if to move on to the next step. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Narrowing her eyes to focus, Cipria¡¯s gaze seemed to indicate an area obscured by an inhibiting barrier or something simr. With that thought, Najin turned his gaze back. But then he caught Cipria¡¯s eye, and she looked at him with a somewhat sour expression before quickly exhaling sharply. She sighed deeply and clenched the air. Suddenly, she was holding a staff. Raising the staff, she mmed it down. Thump! A clear sound rang out, and circles rose behind her. Eight circles. The gear-like circles slowly rotated, and she aimed her staff at Najin. Waves spread from the tip of the staff, wrapping around Najin. Creak, creak¡­ The gears wrapped around Najin began to turn. As each gear moved an inch, letters started forming above it. This gear reads the information carved into the soul, right? Najin thought inwardly. ¡°Is this going to reveal Excalibur?¡± -What? Merlin responded incredulously. -Hey, how many circles do you see in front of that girl? ¡°Eight.¡± -Right. Eight circles. Merlin spoke triumphantly. Although she didn¡¯t close her eyes, she probably had her arms crossed and shrugged his shoulders. -I have ten. Ten, you hear? And mind you, the difference between the 8th and 9th circles is huge, but the difference between the 9th and 10th circles is even more so. ¡°Really?¡± -Of course! Nine represents imperfection, but ten symbolizes perfection. I¡¯m a perfectly wless Archmage. Think that kid can break through my perceptual inhibition? If so, I¡¯ll gracefully admit it and retire. I¡¯m serious. To break through my perceptual inhibition, you¡¯d have to bring the Witch of Cann right up to your nose. Merlin chuckled to herself. -Well, still¡­ Merlin said. -Your age will probably get revealed. It must be some spell intended to verify your age. ¡°That¡¯s likely.¡± -Once your age is revealed, there¡¯s no turning back. You know that, right? I know. Once my age is revealed, all sorts of attention will start to focus on me. But that¡¯s something I¡¯ve already prepared for. ¡°I might as well get used to having Excalibur exposed from now on, right?¡± -You always talk a good game. Merlinughed. Meanwhile, letters began to emerge above the gears. -Ready? Ready, indeed. From the moment I left the underground city, I was as good as prepared. Najin silently answered the question, and just then, the letters above the gearspleted. The result was a two-digit number. Eighteen. Cipria Gachevskaya¡¯s eyes widened. tinum Tower Master, Cipria Gachevskaya. She was incredibly tired. Not only had she not slept properly for days, but there was also a backlog of artifacts that needed tuning. She wanted to finish her work quickly and rest, but then a summons had unexpectedlye. -The enforcement of Arhebts Special Law? -Yes, directed personally from the department¡­ -Why leave it to me? -The subject of thew is quite special, they said. Cipria was aware of the existence of Arhebts Special Law. But to employ someone of her stature for its enforcement seemed unnecessary. Like using a sword to kill a chicken, no, like using a great Archmage to hunt a goblin. So she made it very clear she was annoyed. Muttering, she asked if it really had to be her. But still, the department responsible for the management of Arhebts Special Law came with the emperor¡¯s approval. When they examined the target¡¯s information and records, they concluded that ¡®the disguised identity might actually be the real age.¡¯ ¡°What a fuss.¡± Cipria clicked her tongue. The time of the tinum Tower Master is exceedingly valuable. If it turned out to be just a fuss, she would formally protest to the responsible department. That would surely bolster the budget of the tinum Tower. With that thought, she flicked her finger. The young man before her had been confirmed to have reached the realm of a Sword Seeker by the soul¡¯s me. What remained was his age. The age on his disguise was twenty-eight? A Sword Seeker of such caliber at 28. ¡°Such nonsense.¡± Cipria scoffed. How could the level of a Sword Seeker be so easily attained? When the unparalleled genius Sword Saint Karan reached the realm of a Sword Seeker at 30, the world was in uproar. Simrly, when she, called the magic-loved girl, reached the 6th circle at 34, the magicalmunity was greatly shaken. But in his twenties? And they seriously considered it? ¡°Did this field seem easy?¡± Such nonsense. It must be a disguised identity, she thought, waiting for the result to emerge. Information began assembling above the gears. No signs of artificial maniption on the soul, pure white. No mana detected¡­ One by one, information appeared. And finally, the time engraved on the soul emerged. Eighteen. See? Definitely not the manipted identity. 28 years old, no, wait, what? ¡°¡­¡­¡± Cipria blinked. She looked again at the number that had appeared before her. The number remained unchanged. Eighteen. Eighteen. ¡°Uh¡­¡± ¡®Could it be? Did I overdo the all-nighters? It must be because I¡¯m tired from not sleeping. I must be seeing things.¡¯ Cipria shifted her gaze. There, beyond the inhibiting barrier, were the supervisors watching. Their faces were not just pale, but ghastly white. Eighteen, eighteen, as they muttered under their breath, Cipria¡¯s head slowly tilted. tinum Tower Master, Cipria Gachevskaya. To question her magic was an enormous discourtesy, a rudeness. Thus, the supervisors could not bring themselves to voice any doubts, but they were bulging their eyes out¡­ ¡°No, this doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± Cipria herself could not ept it. She took a deep breath and mmed her staff down again. The gears wrapped around Najin once more, this time with more precision and without even skipping the magical chant. Thirty secondster. Again, only the number eighteen appeared above the gears. The assembly was engulfed in silence. It was not that they couldn¡¯t hear the murmurs of the supervisors behind the inhibiting barrier; they were truly silent. A shock beyond words leaves one speechless. Archmage, Royal Guard, and the supervisors who had been in charge for decades, all fell silent. ¡°My real name is Najin.¡± Just Najin. ¡°I am eighteen this year.¡± He answered with augh. At such an innocent tone from Najin, the Royal Guard Soltis pped his forehead with the palm of his hand. Eighteen years old and a Sword Seeker. An unprecedented major event. It took less than a day for the rumor to spread and the Empire to be turned upside down. ¡°What? Eighteen?¡± The core of the Empire. The highest ce in the Britannian Empire. ¡°Wasn¡¯t the youngest Sword Seeker 30 years old if my memory serves right? I remember it was Sir Karan who reached that age.¡± The man seated on the throne widened his eyes. His question was affirmed with nods from his vassals. ¡°The youngest Sword Expert as well, was 23 years old and it was Sir Karan who held that record.¡± That was also urate. The records for the youngest Sword Expert, Seeker, and Master were all held by Sword Saint Karan. 23 years, 30 years, 47 years. Those were the records left by Karan. Even then, the Empire had been turned upside down. This story is unbelievable. Karan was supposedly a bioweapon produced by the magic tower, wasn¡¯t he? Manipted. A lie¡­ Hadn¡¯t there been such rumors at the time? The man blinked several times and read the report again. The number written there had not changed. Eighteen years old and a Sword Seeker. Najin. Not even in his twenties. A teenager as a Sword Seeker? ¡°Ha¡­¡± He let out a hollowugh. Ironically, the first possibilities he thought of were three: a homunculus, a demon contractor, or arva from Cann. But all three were dismissed. The soul was pure white. No artificial traces. No mana detected. After re-examining with 57 different artifacts, the results were consistent. It was a report submitted by tinum Tower Master Cipria Gachevskaya. Her words were trustworthy. But still, it was a matter hard to believe even with one¡¯s own eyes, so the man stroked his face. ¡°ce of origin?¡± ¡°Unknown. He says he cannot answer.¡± ¡°Lineage?¡± ¡°No matching records within the Empire.¡± ¡°I see.¡± The man made a quick decision. If he does not disclose his ce of origin, there is no need to press further. If there is no matching lineage within the Empire, it¡¯s likely he is of foreign origin. Or perhaps of an indiscernible origin. Either way, it was unnecessary to know. What the Empire sought was a capable individual loyal to the Empire. As long as his origin was not from Cann or thend of demons, it hardly mattered. ¡°Let¡¯s bury that matter. It would be wise to dispatch a quiet, discreet investigative team.¡± If he was of foreign origin, other countries might use that as a pretext to secure his identity. Therefore, this matter must be handled discreetly. ¡°But what is most important.¡± The man stood up from the throne. His tinum-blond hair, reminiscent of starlight, flowed with his movements. The Emperor of the Empire, a being above all, smiled as he fluttered his sleeve. ¡°I shall see this person with my own eyes.¡± I will verify it myself. Summon him here. With that deration, the Emperor shifted his gaze. There, always steadfastly holding his position, stood the Empire¡¯s sword. The Empire¡¯s First Sword. The Empire¡¯s first pir, Gerd, smiled back at the Emperor. ¡°Sir Gerd.¡± ¡°Command me.¡± ¡°Summon the Sword Masters. At this historic moment, it¡¯s only fitting that the Empire¡¯s three Sword Masters are together.¡± The summoning order was given. It was the first such summoning since the ¡°Thousand Moons¡± extermination campaign that took ce 21 years ago. Chapter 100 Chapter 100 ¨C The Youngest Sword Seeker (4) ording to the Arhebts Special Law, the information of a self-reported Sword Seeker is disclosed throughout the Empire. This serves as both a check and a form of publicity for the individual. ¡°I wield such and such arms.¡± ¡°I possess such and such skills.¡± Announcing this acts as a form of advertisement. A Sword Seeker is a top-tier asset eagerly sought by all sorts of groups, with no ce where they are not utilized. The mere disclosure of their information brings letters flying in from all quarters, begging them to join. Of course, quite obviously, such things do not happen overnight. There are no individuals who reach the realm of a Sword Seeker in a single day. It is typical for rumors of someone nearing the realm of a Sword Seeker to spread far and wide, and even after those rumors disperse, it usually takes several months for one to actually ascend to that level. During those months, various groups, noble houses, and orders prepare to scout the individual. They conduct thorough background checks to present an offer appealing enough to satisfy the subject. Thus, when the list of powerful Sword Seekers is updated, groups present their prepared offers, thinking, ¡®Ah, has that person finally ascended?¡¯ But this time was different. An unexpectedly updated list. And the individual listed¡ªa person who was somewhat known through rumors but had not been significantly noticed because it was considered too early to make contact, given they were known to be at Expert level and had started their activities less than six months ago. Suddenly a Sword Seeker? Had they been hiding their true skills? Information about this individual was scarce. It was unclear what could be offered. asionally, hidden masters would emerge in this manner, but this was not amon urrence. Each group reviewed the information with a sense of disbelief¡­ ¡ºReal Name ¨C Najin.¡» ¡ºFormer Activity Name ¨C Ivan.¡» ¡ºArea of Activity ¨C Cambria.¡» ¡ºRealm ¨C Sword Seeker¡» At the moment they read thest piece of information, ¡ºAge ¨C 18 years old.¡» The entire Empire was turned upside down. Those gifted with the sword and who received ample support. On average, the age range for Sword Experts iste twenties to early thirties. The average age for Sword Seekers has been measured to be in thete fifties. This has beenmon knowledge for over a millennium since the foundation of the Empire. Of course, asionally geniuses appear who rewrite the records, but they do not change by arge margin. This is natural. Ascending realms is akin to elevating one¡¯s soul¡¯s status. It takes a long time to refine oneself, to cleanse and sublimate the soul¡ª regardless of talent, it takes a long time to elevate one¡¯s realm. ¡ª¡ª¡ªThus, Sword Saint Karan was an anomaly. He ascended realms far too quickly. He advanced without hindrance, obliterating all previous youngest records as he raced forward. Initially met with jealousy, suspicion, and doubt, by the time Karan reached the realm of a Master, those looks had turned into admiration and envy. A once-in-a-millennium genius. A genius that would not appear again for a thousand years. It had not even been a decade since Karan received such praises. Amidst this, the Empire was once again shaken by a startling event. ¡ºAscended to Sword Seeker at the age of eighteen.¡» ¡ºAdventurer of Cambria, Najin.¡» A boy had appeared who ascended to Sword Seeker at just eighteen. He had cut down Karan¡¯s record by a staggering twelve years and shortened the average by nearly forty years. ¡°It¡¯s impossible!¡± ¡°Something is wrong!¡± Many raised their voices. Among them, the loudest were the historians of the Empire, those who had also raised their voices during the Sword Saint¡¯s time, those who believed they were the living history of the Empire. ¡°It¡¯s time to revise the history books again. Just like during the Sword Saint¡¯s era, it¡¯s maddening for them to have to rewrite numerous histories again.¡± ¡°The results are erroneous. This goes against reason, it¡¯s an aberration!¡± ¡°The influence of heresy should be suspected.¡± ¡°The examination was wed. A re-examination is necessary¡­¡± Although their expressions were somewhat harsh, their opinions resonated with the public. Logically, it made no sense to update records in such a manner. ¡°Even that Sword Saint, even the once-in-a-millennium genius grew with the support of the Order of the Sword. He had a solid foundation. But this boy? He has no foundation. He appeared out of nowhere. Even his ce of origin is unclear!¡± ¡°It¡¯s all too suspicious!¡± ¡°He¡¯s only been active for half a year. Could he be a homunculus created by a Magic Tower?¡± Many imed something was wrong. As the public outcry grew, the Empire disclosed the details of the examination and the information of those responsible. Those who had raised their voices apuded, ready to attack the supervisors, but¡­ ¡ºCipria Gachevskaya.¡» Upon seeing the name of the supervisor, everyone had to shut their mouths. Those who had doubted and questioned the skills of the supervisors turned pale, an added bonus. The great Archmage of the Empire. The Empire¡¯s Fourth Pir. Cipria Gachevskaya, the Eternal Radiance. No one was unaware of what it meant to doubt her skills. That if she expressed displeasure, even a significant group could be vaporized. Consequently, the Empire was enveloped in silence. Then was it all true without a single lie? Really, had someone ascended to the realm of a Sword Seeker at just eighteen? Was such a thing even usible? As confusion reigned, the decisive blow fell. The Emperor had summoned the Sword Masters. It was a pretext tomemorate a historic moment. From the moment the Emperor personally intervened, everything became true. ¡­Najin was summoned to the royal court. No further details could be known until the royal court released new information. Countless waited with bated breath for the news toe. Meanwhile, the news quickly spread throughout the Empire. To announce the arrival of the youngest Sword Seeker. Master of the Trebache, Count Edelmar stood up and apuded as soon as he saw the words ¡®Youngest Sword Seeker, Najin¡¯ emzoned on the letter. ¡°Bravo, bravo!¡± See? The young man I had my eye on. Weren¡¯t my eyes urate! Didn¡¯t I say he was a young man who would make a big ssh! Shouting so, the Count guzzled down a bottle of wine he had been saving and ordered the troupes he sponsored. Make a y out of this immediately. Produce a y about the tale of Najin and Dieta. This was an opportunity for Trebache to step forward as a tourist destination. This time, even his knights could not stop the Count. In reality, the House of Trebache was the noble family that had first made contact with Najin, now receiving all the attention. It was an opportunity for Count Edelmar to earn a reputation as a genius investor. Sword Seeker, Roselin Ascalo. She already knew Najin had ascended to the realm of a Sword Seeker, so she wore a rxed expression amidst the noisy adventurer city. ¡°Sister, did you see that?¡± ¡°Yeah, kid, I know. I could tell just by looking. Didn¡¯t I say that guy was going to cause a big stir?¡± ¡°Did you foresee all this from that time?¡± ¡°Of course, dude. Is being a leader something anyone can do?¡± ¡°That Ivan guy¡­ even his age, eighteen?¡± ¡°Of course¡­ what? Wait, what?¡± Roselin snatched the newspaper her subordinate was reading. Then, seeing the words ¡®Ascended to Sword Seeker at the age of eighteen¡­¡¯ emzoned there, she widened her eyes. Eighteen? Eighteen? I thought he¡¯d be at least in his mid-twenties? Roselin blinked in stupefaction. Amidst her confusion, the adventurer city awaited Najin¡¯s return, spending a noisy time. The Snake that Swallows Gold. Dieta, the head of the Dieta Trading Company, hummed a tune as she entered the meeting room. She couldn¡¯t help but be joyful. Herpany¡¯s stock prices were soaring in real-time. It was well known that Najin and Dieta had a very close rtionship, both publicly and privately. Thanks to this, not only within the adventurer city but also from outside, people came seeking information from her. She was a merchant, and she well understood that sometimes intangible information could also hold immense value. Thanks to the gold coins she pocketed, a smile never left her lips. ¡®Well, that¡¯s that.¡¯ Just the fact that the man she had marked was doing well was enough to please her. Seeing the attention pouring in from all directions was a bit painful, but what of it? ¡®The first spot is mine.¡¯ The first investor and the first friend. Wherever you go, the value of being first is tremendous. And she nned to take other first spots as well. With these thoughts, Dieta spread the newspaper she brought across the desk in her office. Thinking about it, he never did tell me his age, did he? Now was the time to check. With a fluttering heart, Dieta checked the newspaper¡­ ¡°What?¡± She gasped for breath. After a few coughs, she thumped her chest and checked the newspaper again. Eighteen. The number hadn¡¯t changed. Dieta was twenty years old. That meant Najin was two years younger than her. ¡°He was younger? Really?¡± Dieta widened her eyes, and the knight Pasion standing beside her did the same. For two reasons. One was Najin¡¯s age, and the other was that his mistress¡¯s eyes could be so wide. Both stared wide-eyed at the newspaper. Sword of the Order, Sword Saint Karan. He straightened his attire for the first time in a long while, donning the formal uniform of the Order. Normally, he preferred loose robes and often disappeared on a whim, but given the asion, such casualness wouldn¡¯t do. The Emperor had issued a summoning order for the Sword Masters. While Sword Masters immersed in the Starbattle or the Demon Realm were exceptions, those like Karan, active within the maind, had to respond to the summons. Of course, even without obligation, he would have dly attended. ¡°Thatd¡¯s name was Najin, huh.¡± Karan chuckled. To be a Sword Seeker at eighteen; he had expected the youth to be young, but this was beyond imagination. Karan burst intoughter at the fact that his record had been shattered. In a way, he was an unofficial mentor. He ought to celebrate his disciple¡¯s debut. ¡°Going empty-handed won¡¯t do.¡± With a flick of his fingers, Karan summoned the Grand Priest, who brought a sword. This year¡¯s masterpiece forged by a master of the Order of the Sword. This would be suitable as a gift. Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect, Yuel Razian. She, who had once stormed into a hideout of demon contractors alone, smiled as she read the hastily delivered telegram. ¡°It has finallye.¡± Yuel was already aware of Najin¡¯s age and realm. Even back then, he was close to bing a Sword Seeker, and now, in just one month, he had ascended. ¡°Impressive,¡± she murmured, swinging her sword. With every swing of her de, blood sttered. The meticulously crafted spells of the demon contractors tore like paper, and their bodies were finely dissected. She sent a carrier pigeon with a reply stating she wouldply with the summons, then tipped a bottle to her lips. Enjoying the drunken buzz, she gripped her sword anew. Slicing through heretics was enjoyable, but meeting that boy seemed even more so. The screams of the demon contractors echoed. Amidst the echoing screams, Yuel¡¯s sword shed brilliantly. The Empire¡¯s First Sword, Gerd. After dispatching letters to the Sword Masters as instructed by the Emperor, he returned to his personal meadow and swung his sword. Even as the Empire was turned upside down, the old man¡¯s routine remained unchanged. The old man simply swung his sword. As he always had, silently. Najin was blindfolded and led somewhere. The blindfold was inscribed with various magical sigils, and though he blinked inside it, the surroundings appeared only as blurred shapes. ¡°It seems like I can see¡­¡± If he strained his eyes, the scenery became clearer, but the sigils on the blindfold made a loud ¡®Chiiiiik!¡¯ noise, so Najin just closed his eyes. How long had they walked? The leading Royal Guard stopped. Then, with a deep, sonorous sound, a door opened. As they stepped inside, the Royal Guard removed Najin¡¯s blindfold. Najin blinked several times to adjust to the dazzling lights. Once his eyes opened, Najin looked around. The space seemed part courtroom, part duel arena. Standing in the center of the circr area, Najin raised his head to see those looking down at him. The Sword Saint, Karan. The Executioner, Yuel Razian. The Empire¡¯s First Sword, Gerd. The three Sword Masters came into view. Karan shrugged his shoulders at Najin, and Yuel, quite openly, waved at him, although her face remained expressionless, making it a somewhat awkward gesture. And then, Gerd. The elder of the Empire¡¯s First Pir narrowed his eyes as he watched Najin. Even more devoid of emotion than Yuel¡¯s gaze. ¡°So then¡­¡± Najin raised his head further to look at the person seated above the Sword Masters. A man with hair like starlight. There was no need to ask who he was. Only one person could sit above the Sword Masters in the Empire. ¡°I see the Sun of the Empire.¡± Najin knelt and bowed his head. Just as he was about to bow deeper, a voice rang out, ¡°That will be sufficient.¡± Only after receiving permission to raise his head did Najin look up. ¡°You know why you have been summoned.¡± The Emperor smiled. ¡°You have proven with the quality of your soul that you have ascended in realm. However, you are a pathfinder of the sword, a swordsman.¡± He waved his arm. His robes fluttered, scattering beams of light. ¡°A swordsman, is one who uses the sword as a brush to narrate oneself. One who proves oneself with the de.¡± The scattered beams of light shone on Najin. ¡°Show your proof before the proud Sword Masters of the Empire.¡± In essence, he was asked to demonstrate the proof of being a Sword Seeker. Was this why they hadn¡¯t confiscated his sword even during an audience with the Emperor? Najin straightened up from his kneeled position and stood. ¡°Willingly.¡± Najin drew his sword. Under the watchful eyes of the three Sword Masters, Najin focused more than ever on each movement. The tip of his raised sword traced a clean trajectory toward the ceiling. A sword aligned vertically with the sky. With the sword, Najin covered half his face. The Sword Courtesy taught by Ivan. With his eyes closed, Najin focused inwardly. He depicted a star with the tip of his de. A star dreamed of in a ce where no stars could be seen. As Najin opened his eyes and lightly swung his sword, Whisssht! A stream of gold and white light followed the tip. The gold light gathered into a small circle, and the white formed lines connecting the circles. What resulted was a constetion made of white and gold. The beams that had illuminated Najin were now obscured by the light he had created. Only the light from Najin¡¯s Sword Aura filled the space. And then. The sight had the three Sword Masters and the Emperor widening their eyes. They could do nothing else. White and Gold. Two colors coexisted to form a constetion. The form of the constetion resembled by sword aura. While the two colors did not mix to form tinum, what the young man had drawn was a sword aura infinitely close to starlight. No one present was ignorant of what that meant. Likely, no one in the Empire would be. The young man¡¯s sword aura¡­ resembled that of King Arthur¡¯s sword aura. Chapter 101 Chapter 101 ¨C The Youngest Sword Seeker (5) Sword aura existed in both white and gold. Najin could have mixed the two, but he intentionally separated the colors to demonstrate his control. Revealing a tinum-colored sword aura would leave no room for excuses. ¡°I could unify it to white, but¡­¡± That would cause the form of the sword aura to waver. While the wavering would be subtle enough for most to miss, Najin was currently under the intense scrutiny of three Sword Masters. Sword Masters. Transcendents who have mastered the weapon known as the sword. With senses far surpassing those of ordinary humans, they would undoubtedly perceive even the slightest fluctuation in Najin¡¯s sword aura. And they would realize immediately. ¡°Ah, thisd is concealing his strength.¡± The Emperor had eximed, ¡°Show us your worth.¡± To deceive by concealing his power in front of him would justify immediate execution without question. Therefore, Najin chose to separate the colors within his sword aura to ensure its form remained stable. ¡®Still, it¡¯s undeniable it resembles King Arthur¡¯s sword aura.¡¯ -That may not necessarily be the case. Merlinmented. -Arthur¡¯s symbol is the tinum sword aura. However, the existence of gold and white sword auras isn¡¯t historically unprecedented. No one has possessed both at once, though¡­ Anyway. She sighed deeply. -Your sword aura, it¡¯s different from Arthur¡¯s. I can guarantee that. I, who have observed Arthur¡¯s sword aura up close, can assure you. It¡¯s fundamentally different. Most people are distracted by the striking tinum color and don¡¯t notice¡­ but. From the moment he had drawn his sword aura, Najin felt as if Merlin was standing right beside him. This was no illusion. Merlin¡¯s figure, albeit faintly, was visible to Najin¡¯s eyes. The transformation upon ascending to the realm of a Sword Seeker. Only visible to Najin, Merlin¡¯s form. She pointed a finger at the Emperor, the Sun of the Empire, who was watching intently with wide eyes. Pointing at him, Merlin continued. -The Emperor sitting there is different. Even if not directly descended from Arthur, he hails from the line chosen by Arthur himself, the Wise King. The wise blood thinned over time. If it hadn¡¯t stagnated and decayed through the ages. -He¡¯ll recognize it. The most important quality for a ruler is the insight to see through all things. What if he fails to recognize it? If he fears the emergence of Arthur¡¯s descendant and tries to suppress us? As Merlin pondered this to herself, she scoffed coldly. -Then it must be reimed. What? -Pendragon¡¯s name and Britain. Emperor of the Britannian Empire, Elwin Pendragon. He stood up abruptly, his eyes wide. Though it was usual for the Emperor to engage in exaggerated actions depending on the situation, this was not an act. He was genuinely startled, moving instinctively. ¡®tinum sword aura!¡¯ No, that wasn¡¯t quite it. It was a sword aura existing in both white and gold. However, the constetion formed by the boy¡¯s sword aura bore the appearance of tinum. And the shape of a constetion. Anyone would associate it with the stars of the night sky, and what a starry sword aura symbolized needed no exnation. Historically, only one person had ever possessed such an aura. ¡®The true master of Britain, the great hero, Arthur.¡¯ The sword aura the boy had produced resembled his. Had a true descendant of Arthur appeared here, crossing a millennium? As the Emperor¡¯s mind whirled and his eyes threatened to flicker: Thump, with a single heartbeat. The Emperor¡¯s heart turned ice cold. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Suddenly, the Emperor¡¯s eyes narrowed. His body had moved on its own in surprise, but he quickly steadied his breath. He cooled the turmoil in his head and swiftly assessed the situation. It was a habit instilled since childhood. The sovereign above all must never show panic or excitement, as taught by his predecessors. Having calmed himself, Elwin quietly observed Najin¡¯s sword aura. His blue eyes moved slowly, and after a few seconds, Elwin made his judgment. ¡°If one is distracted by the color, one might think it resembles [Arthur¡¯s]. But if one looks at the foundation¡­¡± It was different. The form of Arthur¡¯s sword aura, as recorded in history, was distinctly different from the boy¡¯s. The sword aura embedded in the artifacts passed down through the royal family had a different shape. The boy¡¯s sword aura formed a constetion. But Arthur¡¯s was simply a star. The great King¡¯s sword aura consisted of a single, brilliantly shining, tinum star. One and all, all and one. In contrast, the boy¡¯s sword aura did not symbolize the singr. ¡°However.¡± It was undeniable that it resembled it. Seeing the boy¡¯s sword aura, the world would first think of King Arthur. That fact was incontestable. The Emperor exhaled deeply. ¡°Retract your sword aura.¡± Najin sheathed his sword. He slid the de into its scabbard and knelt again, bowing his head¡ª a perfect disy of knightly etiquette. There was no one so petty as to criticize someone who was not a knight for performing such an act. The Emperor felt a throbbing headache. When he first heard of the youngest Sword Seeker, he apuded, thinking a treasure had rolled into the Empire. But upon closer examination, what was this? ¡°18 years old. The youngest Sword Seeker. Active for only half a year. Possesses a sword aura reminiscent of King Arthur.¡± Half a year. A smile leaked from the Emperor¡¯s lips. ¡°What an uncanny half-year.¡± Half a year ago, a monumental event shook the heavens and the earth¡ª a historical event in which someonepleted the Trial of Selection. Half a year ago, Excalibur was drawn. By someone unknown. One of the ind Sword Masters had drawn Excalibur, and the rumor was that the Empire was hiding this fact, but that was incorrect. Even now, half a yearter, the Empire had not identified the owner of Excalibur. They were merely pretending to have done so. This was a fact shared only by the Emperor and his closest confidants. ¡°But¡­¡± The Emperor looked at the boy before him. An 18-year-old who set an unbelievable record as the youngest Sword Seeker, who started his activities half a year ago, and who possessed a sword aura simr to Arthur¡¯s. It was indeed a coincidence that everything ovepped with this individual right in front of him. It was a reasonable suspicion. Could this boy be the owner of Excalibur? This was not a suspicion held by the Emperor alone. Many others would have the same thought crossing their minds. Of course, it was just a strong suspicion; there was no concrete evidence. ¡°No constetion noticed, and the meticulous examination by the tinum Tower Master found no connection to Excalibur.¡± But sometimes, a strong suspicion is enough. From the Emperor¡¯s standpoint, the boy was an extremely dangerous being. What was thought to be a treasure of the Empire turned out to be a bombden with gunpowder. He could potentially possess legitimacy that surpasses the Emperor. Even without concrete evidence, suspicion alone can create a cause. If the rebels got hold of him, the boy could threaten the imperial authority. Lacking a proper foundation. Of unknown origin. Not sworn to loyalty to the Empire. There was no element of trust. He was full of elements that could sow massive discord. The politically correct decision here would be to leash the boy or eliminate him on the spot. Any ruler of a kingdom or a federation would surely make and execute such a decision without hesitation. That would be the right decision for a ruler. However. For the Emperor of the Britannian Empire, it was clearly the wrong answer. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The Emperor sat down. He rested his chin on his hand and looked at Najin. While his mind was rapidly sorting through information and eliminating options, in reality, only a few seconds had passed. Emperor Elwin Pendragon reminisced. The will left to the Emperors of Britain¡­ to those who inherited the name Pendragon. ¡°I merely borrowed His name.¡± ¡°I merely held Britain on His behalf for a while; I am not the true master of Britain.¡± ¡°The sole master of the Britannian Empire is Him alone.¡± The first Emperor, Arthur Pendragon. The second Emperor, called the Wise King, who had received the empire along with the name Pendragon from that great Knight King, left a will to his descendants. That will had been etched into the heart of the empire for over a millennium. ¡°The great Arthur Pendragon.¡± ¡°One must never tarnish His name. Be righteous. Be just. Be kind. Know honor. Live with pride. Though we are not linked by blood, we are descendants of the great hero. Do not forget this fact.¡± ¡°If you do forget.¡± ¡°The Round Table will strip you of all qualifications.¡± It was a contract, a covenant, and a warning. The moment one acted unworthy of the name Pendragon, the celestial Round Table would intervene directly and strip everything away. Therefore, the Emperor of the Empire always had to be righteous and just. Imperial authority could be stripped away at any time by the stars above. ¡°Refine yourself.¡± Do not forget honor and pride. That was the fate of those who inherited the name Pendragon. Recalling the cries that had nearly made his ears bleed since childhood, Elwin smiled bitterly. Really, being an Emperor was damned difficult. ¡°Raise your head.¡± Najin lifted his head as he knelt. Elwin met Najin¡¯s gaze. The moment he met those sunset-colored eyes, the Emperor felt as though he was being seen through, as if a tremendous being was watching him from behind. ¡°The eyes of a mere mortal are not.¡± After all, who would call someone who reached Sword Seeker at 18 a normal human? ¡°I have not yet heard your name in person. I have only read it in lines of text. Speak your name.¡± ¡°My name is Najin.¡± ¡°Yes, Najin. I must confess to you that I am in great torment.¡± The Emperor smirked. ¡°Your sword aura resembles that of the great King Arthur. Although the underlying nature may differ, it is sufficient to evoke Arthur. You are not unaware of this¡­¡± The Sword Masters gasped at the Emperor¡¯s words. They had thought the same, but speaking it in front of the Emperor was another matter entirely. Bringing up such a topic in front of the Emperor could lead to exceedinglyplex issues. However, the Emperor had spoken it first. ¡°If you belonged to a certain family or group, they would have a cause. It bes a risk. Of course, the current Empire is peaceful and far from strife, thanks to the efforts of the previous kings.¡± The Emperor smiled. ¡°But the mes of rebellion, the discord, start from the smallest of ces. And in my view, you are a me. A me that might burn down the Empire.¡± Whether or not the boy possessed Excalibur, the fact remained. He already had too many simrities with Arthur. ¡°So.¡± The Emperor looked at Najin. ¡°Convince me. Exin why I should not see you as a me.¡± Normally, regardless of Najin¡¯s wishes, he should have be a knight of the royal court. That would have been the greatest mercy the Emperor could offer. However, the Emperor gave him a chance. He told him to try to convince himself. Najin was well aware of this. He heard Merlin¡¯s whistling near his ear. She murmured that there was no need to mention the covenant. Najin took a deep breath. This was the moment. Najin was certain that his life would once again be decided here. The conversation held here would surely be recorded somewhere and engraved in the empire¡¯s history books. It would inevitably be mentioned when telling his life story in the future. To dere his ambitions to the world. It was an inevitability for a hero. This ce was too small to be called the world. The only audience for his story was four individuals and one Constetion. Yet considering the presence of each of these individuals, this ce was as good as a world to Najin. Master of the Order of the Sword, Sword Saint Karan. Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect, Yuel Razian. The Empire¡¯s First Pir, Gerd. Emperor of the Empire, Elwin Pendragon. The Archmage of the Lake, Merlin. Three were Sword Masters, one was a Constetion, and another was the Emperor of the Empire. They were all heavyweights enough to be called so. It seemed unlikely that he would get another chance to dere his ambitions in front of such figures. Najin felt his heart racing inappropriately for the situation. Isn¡¯t this like a scene from a hero¡¯s tale? Still, Najin was a boy who idolized hero tales. ¡°To the Sun of the Empire, I dere.¡± In this moment. He chose the words that would be written into history. ¡°I have no intention of belonging to any group. If there is a ce I must belong to, if there is something that should be called before my name.¡± How could his heart not race? ¡°That is¡ª¡ª¡ª¡± Chapter 102 Chapter 102 ¨C The Youngest Sword Seeker (6) ¡°To the Sun of the Empire, I dere.¡± Raising his head, Najin looked towards the Emperor seated at the highest point. Najin¡¯s sunset-hued eyes shone brightly. ¡°I have no intention of belonging to any group. If there is a ce I must belong to, if there is something that should be called before my name¡ª¡ª¡ª¡± Thoughts he had pondered over many times. Words he had fantasized about repeatedly. Thus, the sentences he had memorized, Najin pronounced. ¡°It would none other be than the title of a knight. The knights spoken of here are not those who follow a particr family or lord.¡± Ho, the Emperorughed, seeming to understand what Najin was talking about. ¡°A knight for knights. A knight for humanity. A knight who does what must be done. I mean the honorable knights who, led by King Arthur a thousand years ago, crossed the continent.¡± ¡°A true knight, an Atanga.¡± This was not about the existing Knights of Atanga. It referred to their original beings. History had bestowed upon the honorable knights who rode across the world with King Arthur the name ¡®Atanga.¡¯ ¡°Indeed, it is so.¡± Najin affirmed the Emperor¡¯s words. Affirming, Najin continued speaking. ¡°What I desire is the qualification to be called Atanga. And that qualification cannot be given by anyone else. I must prove it myself.¡± No noble, no group, not even the Emperor himself can confer the name of Atanga. The Knights of Atanga themselves only refer to themselves as Knights of Atanga; they do not merely use the word. If there is a qualification to be called Atanga, it would be granted by the world and history. ¡°Hence, no group holds any meaning for me. It is meaningless.¡± ¡°It means you intend to walk alone. Then, where do you intend your steps to lead? You have not yet told me. Where do you aim to go, what do you aim to achieve?¡± Tell me. Point me to the path you will take. The Emperor eximed so, and as if he had been waiting just for that, Najin smiled. ¡°Though I belong to Cambria now, I have no intention of staying in Cambria forever. At most, a few months. I will leave Cambria and head beyond the continent.¡± Beyond the continent. ¡°Before long, I will head to the Demon Realm. I will cut down the demons that threaten the Empire and humanity. Eventually, I will point my sword at the great evil known as the Demon King. And it won¡¯t stop there.¡± ¡°What next?¡± The Emperor asked. Najin replied. ¡°I will step into the Battlefield of the Stars. I will bring down the tainted stars. And, I n to hang my own stars in the sky, just as the great hero did a thousand years ago.¡± ¡°What is next on this journey?¡± ¡°It must be destined.¡± It was a rather irreverent tone, but the Emperor did not point it out. Instead, he burst into loudughter. ¡°Just as you say. It must be destined. Thends of Narok, Cann.¡± By staying silent, Najin affirmed. The Emperor understood what Najin was trying to say. He understood and thusughed. He is saying he will walk the same path as Arthur. The path that countless heroes have walked. It is a path so treacherous that even calling it a thorny path is an understatement. It is a path so filled with great hardship and trials that death itself seems a light ending, too great for a mere human to endure. ¡°It¡¯s a harsh and rough path.¡± Elwin smiled wryly. ¡°Why choose such a path? Many would pay a fortune to have you. If you wanted, you could have gold, beauties, power¡­ all the sweet things within your grasp?¡± ¡°Those things are not sweet to me.¡± Najin asserted. There was not a hint of hesitation. ¡°They are too insufficient to quench my thirst. What I desire is only honor and pride.¡± That which an Atanga must possess. That which a hero and knight must hold. ¡°And stars alone.¡± The Emperor nced at Gerd. Gerd nodded. It meant there was not a single lie. If you lie before Gerd¡¯s eyes, you could never escape his senses. Thus, the Emperor purely admired. It was a vain statement. A vain ideal. Yet, there was someone who truly spoke those words. It was a human ideal that had gone extinct in this era. While surprised by this fact, the Emperor remained silent. Words alone hold no value. Even if all this was sincere, a string of unproven words holds no meaning. But the Emperor knows. There is one value that Najin has proven. It can be found in the deeds Najin has left behind over the past half year. The case involving the Knights of Atanga. The royal guards delved deeply into that case and received ¡®several testimonies¡¯ from the Knights of Atanga. ¡°He knows pride, that boy.¡± ¡°It¡¯s rare to discuss the knightliness of the old knights. It¡¯s even rarer for someone to sincerely speak of it. And even more so for one to act upon it.¡± The one who encountered the boy. Knight of Atanga, Argo, testified with a smile. ¡°But he was there.¡± ¡°The boy held pride. Though he did not possess honor, he knows what honor is. This is guaranteed by me, Argo of the Knights of Atanga.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this testimony sufficient?¡± The testimony of a Knight of Atanga. The Emperor knows how much value that holds. Their word can be trusted. It meant that the minimum conditions had been met. The Emperor, Elwin Pendragon. He looked at Najin with a thin smile. After a moment, the Emperor spoke. ¡°I have heard your aspirations well.¡± Elwin exhaled deeply. ¡°But there is a w in your words. You know it, right? As you said, you stillck qualification. You have not proven it through your own life.¡± Najin remained silent. It hit the mark. Najin had stated his aspirations. But they were just aspirations, none of which had been proven yet. ¡°Unproven words. Ambitions full of vigor. The vain words of an unqualified man do not warrant my trust. This position is too heavy for such a man.¡± Elwin smiled bitterly and gestured towards the throne. The position of Emperor was too heavy to make decisions based on personal likes and dislikes. The gesture carried that meaning. Najin agreed with this opinion as well. The Emperor stepped back sufficiently. Now it was his turn to offer apromise. As Najin was about to speak, the Emperor continued, as if his words were not yet finished. ¡°Therefore, I will give you an opportunity.¡± The Emperor smiled. ¡°You will be observed. Not only by myself. The entire continent will watch and judge you. The public¡¯s judgment will be my judgment, my choice.¡± And, the Emperor exhaled. ¡°If you fail to prove your worth, if you choose the wrong path, if you do not keep the words you have spoken here today and give up the path of the knight, I will immediately put a cor around your neck.¡± The royal knight, or perhaps a hound. ¡°But if you prove your worth, if you finally obtain the right to be called Atanga¡ª¡ª¡± Elwin smiled. As if he truly looked forward to that day. ¡°I promise you the title of a free knight and the right to engrave the emblem of Britain. You know what that means?¡± The free knight recognized by the Empire and the royal family. One who need not follow any lord¡¯smands, but only do what they themselves deem right. The title once given to those who followed Arthur, gathered under the name of the ¡®Round Table.¡¯ Najin¡¯s eyes widened. It was an offer he had not imagined. Despite showing no evidence, the Emperor ced no constraints. He merely said he would watch. Najin bowed his head and expressed his gratitude to the Emperor. Not merely as a formality, but sincerely. ¡°As I said before, a knight proves with a sword. You, you must prove with your sword.¡± ¡°As youmand.¡± ¡°I will watch. Remember that the Empire is watching you.¡± With those words, the Emperor stood up from his seat. ¡°The Empire will be noisy.¡± Walking down the corridor, the Emperor muttered. Following a step behind him, the Empire¡¯s Sword Master, Gerd, spoke. ¡°Is it wise to let him off so freely?¡± The Imperial First Pir. An old man who only believes in the values of the sword and the Empire, he spoke frankly to the Emperor. ¡°He is a dangerous individual. Utterly so.¡± ¡°I am aware, Sir Gerd.¡± ¡°It would have been better to have set at least a minimum safety measure.¡± ¡°Your words are correct. I will not deny that.¡± Originally, at the very least a blood oath, a soul pledge, something to serve as a shackle should have been ced. But the Emperor did not do so. ¡°That boy is a seed of discord.¡± ¡°Listen, Sir Gerd.¡± Elwin spoke softly. An individual who ascended at a young age. He respected Gerd, who had served the previous and the one before that Emperor. Out of respect, the Emperor spoke in a gentle voice. ¡°I have said I am aware. I am saying that I acted knowing that.¡± Gerd bowed his head in silence. It was an apology for his presumptuous remark. The Emperor waved his hand dismissively and smiled bitterly. ¡°If the imperial authority was wavering and signs of division appeared in the Empire, I would have done as you said. But the current Empire is steadfast. After the Great Purge 150 years ago and several incidents, is not the imperial authority stronger than ever?¡± As he moved, he spoke. ¡°Is not the Empire¡¯s sword, you, upholding the Empire? Is the current Empire so frail that it would burn up at just such a me?¡± ¡°Certainly not.¡± ¡°Right. I am the Emperor of the Empire, but before being Emperor, I am Elwin Pendragon. How could I, shouting the name Pendragon, doubt the words of a boy dering to be a hero and put shackles on him?¡± Elwin Pendragonughed. ¡°But if you are still worried, monitor him yourself. What, I told the boy that the Empire would watch him. If you, the Empire¡¯s sword, are not the Empire, then who is?¡± The Emperor pped his sleeve. It seemed like his body was getting quite heated, go see that boy if you¡¯re going to. Gerd, with a bitter smile, bowed at the young Emperor¡¯s gesture. ¡°It has been decided.¡± ¡°Enough. Just go and see him.¡± Once again blindfolded and led out of the imperial pce and into the reception room, Najin exhaled deeply. It felt as if all the energy had been drained from his body. ¡®How well it went.¡¯ -Indeed. This Emperor seems quite decent? Najin agreed. He hadn¡¯t expected it to go this well. Even if it became known that he possessed Excalibur, it seemed likely the Emperor would remain an ally. -Still, it¡¯s too early. ¡®That it is.¡¯ Najin smiled wryly. Having the Emperor as an ally would certainly be reassuring, but it was still too early to reveal Excalibur. After all, revealing Excalibur would spark a great war. The Empire advocates unity, but not everyone follows the Emperor¡¯s orders. Not all sword masters rally under the Emperor¡¯s banner. Those plotting in the shadows, those scheming rebellions, those colluding with demons exist in every era. They are merely waiting for the right time. When the timees, they will rise up. While it¡¯s reassuring to have a strong ally, even the Empire cannot stop a great war. The moment the owner of Excalibur is revealed, the fallen stars will gain a cause. The cursed ones of Cann will stir, and demons and dragons will sing of rage. The beginning of a war that splits the world. And even as a Sword Seeker. An individual is powerless before a war. Only those who transcend humanity can maintain their ce in the face of war. Beings like saints or superhumans. He had revealed himself as a Sword Seeker only to some extent, but he had no intention of revealing Excalibur yet. ¡®Of course, I will be suspected.¡¯ -Without concrete evidence, the stars cannot move. If only the stars do not move, there should be no problem. Right? Najin nodded. ¡®But still, the road ahead is long.¡¯ -The youngest Sword Seeker sure talks a lot. At Merlin¡¯s tease, Najinughed. How long had he waited in the reception room? The person who had summoned Najin to the reception room opened the door and appeared. It was the person he had expected. ¡°Pleasant to see you. It¡¯s been a month.¡± Sword Master, Yuel Razian. She looked at Najin and waved her hand, holding a bottle of liquor. She set the liquor bottle down in front of Najin with a thud. ¡°Care for a drink?¡± ¡°I respectfully decline.¡± The potent liquor that even a Sword Master would find painful, hadn¡¯t you mentioned itst time? If Najin drank it now, his esophagus would likely sear. ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate.¡± Her expression was anything but regretful. Yuel maintained her expressionless face as she clumsily pulled out a liquor cup and side dishes. Her movements were exceedingly swift, and for some reason, Karan came to mind. Karan, who used to gulp down cheap liquor wrapped around jerky. However, what Yuel brought out were top-quality liquor and side dishes. All sorts of snacks offered to her by variouspanies were spread out as Yuel began to drink. It was strange to see someone start drinking immediately upon calling someone over, but knowing that Yuel was such a person, Najin silently waited. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Yuel put down her liquor cup and exhaled deeply. ¡°Najin. Your name was Najin, huh. You must have lied to me back then. Two lies at that.¡± Yuel narrowed her eyes. Her blood-colored pupils ominously shone. ¡°One was your name, the other was affirming that the first Sword Master you met was me. Karan already knew you. And, ording to the imperial intelligence, he had made contact with you before me.¡± Yuel Razian smiled. ¡°Exin yourself. I¡¯ll give you a chance.¡± It was a very beautiful smile, and a dangerous one at that. Chapter 103 Chapter 103 ¨C Battle for Supremacy (1) Sword Master, Yuel Razian. Words describing her, holding a position equivalent to the High Priest of the Starblood Sect, are invariably brutal. Assassin, madwoman, mass murderer, executioner¡­ These epithets serve more to emphasize her danger than to describe her. It¡¯s unavoidable. Objectively, Yuel Razian is a dangerous individual. Given a suitable cause, she willingly draws her sword. Willingly kills. There¡¯s no hesitation or obstacle in her murders. She merely contemtes briefly, ¡°Can I kill this person without repercussions?¡± ¡ºShe¡¯s a lunatic.¡» ¡ºA madwomanpletely detached from the world¡¯smon sense!¡» ¡ºThat such a person represents the will of the stars, the Starblood Sect has really gone too far¡­¡» Though none would dare say this to her face, numerous powerholders have discussed Yuel¡¯s temperament, generally in a negative light. ¡ºHowever, if we discuss her appearance¡­¡» But if the topic shifts slightly. For instance, to a discussion on the appearance of Yuel Razian, negative opinions evaporate cleanly. ¡ºShe could truly be called a peerless beauty.¡» ¡ºWhite hair, red eyes, an endlessly cold face. Her expressionlessness might seem lifeless at first, but even that bes part of her charm.¡» ¡ºIt¡¯s as if one is enchanted by her. There are rumors that the corpses of those she has executed wear mesmerized expressions.¡» ¡ºShe embodies contradiction. The inside and outside arepletely different, aren¡¯t they? Inside is a bloodthirsty murderer, yet outwardly, she is a peerless beauty.¡» ¡ºIsn¡¯t that part of her charm?¡» ¡ºYes, I agree there.¡» Such discussions about the beauty of a Sword Master known as a murderer ur often among nobles behind the safety of social gatherings. After all, speaking thus in her presence would surely lead to decapitation. ¡ºEven without expression, she is like a work of art.¡» ¡ºWhat if that liveliness were enhanced by a smile?¡» ¡ºI¡¯ve heard that she smiles if one offers her a very expensive drink.¡» ¡ºIt would need to be of Starblood Wine grade, wouldn¡¯t it?¡» And, some have poured gold coins to catch a glimpse of Yuel Razian¡¯s smile. ¡°If you present her with top-tier wines and spirits, she might grace you with a faint smile, and it¡¯s well worth it,¡± say the nobles who have seen her smile. In Yuel Razian¡¯s smile. There is the worth of hundreds of tinum coins. Amidst such rumors circting among the powerholders, there stood a young boy. Before him was Yuel Razian, smiling brightly. Although her smile was indeed beautiful¡­ ¡®This is fucked.¡¯ The boy, Najin, couldn¡¯t feel the beauty of that smile. He sensed the deep murderous intent behind it instead. Cold sweat ran down his spine. ¡°Exin. I¡¯ll give you a chance.¡± Still, Yuel Razian was smiling. To some, it was a smile worth hundreds of tinum coins to see, but to Najin, it was a smile that made him want to flee the scene immediately. The sound of Merlin¡¯sughter echoed in Najin¡¯s ears. If he squinted, he could faintly see Merlin holding her stomach andughing uproariously. -You really got yourself into it, heh, heh heh¡­ While Najin was seriously considering his excuses, was it really appropriate for his guide to act like this? Najin looked at Merlin with a cold gaze. Regardless, Merlin was now chuckling even harder than before. ¡°Technically, there¡¯s no need to exin.¡± As Najin remained silent, Yuel began to speak. As if the murderous intent she had shown till now were just casual greetings exchanged in conversation, it vanished in an instant. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard your name, but I know your age, and since that¡¯s true, I¡¯ll let it slide. I¡¯m somewhat displeased you met with the Sword Saint first¡­¡± She spoke while munching on some snacks. ¡°I¡¯ll let that pass too, given what you showed today.¡± ¡°What I showed?¡± ¡°Your sword aura. The one that takes the shape of constetions. It was beautiful. Yes, truly beautiful.¡± Yuel repeated opening and closing her fist in the air. Najin understood what that gesture meant. It was the motion to summon her weapon, the Starblood Greatsword. ¡°I almost drew my sword impulsively. When I see something beautiful, I want to cut it. Fortunately, I restrained myself because two Sword Masters and the Emperor were watching¡­¡± With her blood-red eyes filled with murderous intent, Yuel nced at Najin. She licked her lips while looking at the sword at Najin¡¯s hip. ¡°It¡¯s still tempting. What do you say? Won¡¯t you duel with me? I¡¯d like to cut that sword aura of yours. I¡¯d also like to dissect it.¡± ¡°I thought you said we¡¯d postpone it?¡± ¡°I did, but words tend to bounce here and there, don¡¯t they?¡± ¡°I respectfully decline.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a pity.¡± Yuel sipped her drink. As the ufortable time continued, someone knocked on the door of the reception room. At that moment, Yuel¡¯s eyes narrowed. She wasn¡¯t usually an authoritative person, but this was apletely different issue. She was the first visitor. Here she was, a Sword Master and an Inquisitor of the Starblood Sect, engaged in a major discussion with the young boy, and someone dared to intrude on this valuable time? Just as her eyes narrowed momentarily from the interruption, the door opened and the person who entered made Yuel¡¯s eyes widen slightly. The person who stood there was worth the disruption. ¡°Ah, we have a prior guest here.¡± Master of the Order of the Sword, Sword Saint, Karan. He scratched the back of his neck as he entered the reception room. Naturally, Karan and Yuel had a somewhat ufortable rtionship. Who would like someone who was always ready to kill them? Yet, his presence here, even knowing Yuel was present, was to assist Najin. Karan gave Najin a casual shrug. Like amb that had found its savior, Najin nodded towards Karan. Karan grimaced with a smile and sat down on the sofa in the reception room. ¡°Mind if I join you, Yuel?¡± ¡°Of course. You have that right. Would you like a drink?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pass. That liquor tastes terrible.¡± ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°It¡¯s only poisonous, isn¡¯t it, the taste. What pleasure is there in drinking something that feels like it¡¯s burning down your throat¡­¡± While Yuel red at Karan with wide-open eyes, Karan casually looked away and nced at Najin. ¡°Your name was Najin, right? You¡¯re even younger than I thought. Anyway, congrats on bing the youngest Sword Seeker, boy.¡± Saying this, Karan tossed a sword towards Najin. It was a sword with the emblem of the Order of the Sword. ¡°As the Master of the Order of the Sword, Sword Saint Karan, this is a gift representing the Order and a personal gesture of goodwill.¡± Najin caught the sword and looked at it. He slightly pulled the sword from its sheath, revealing a jet-ck de. It was forged from ¡®rare metal,¡¯ a material only master smiths could handle. Truly a top-tier item. Najin widened his eyes and looked at Karan. Karan grinned and spoke. ¡°The Order of the Sword celebrates the birth of its youngest Sword Seeker. A swordsman who has marked a new chapter in the history of swords deserves a de worthy of his reputation.¡± ¡°Thank you. I truly appreciate it.¡± ¡°Keep your old longsword and visit the Magic Towerter. Rare metal has the property of absorbing and enhancing refined metals¡­ perhaps it could bebined with your current sword.¡± Najin alternated his gaze between the sword he usually wore at his waist and the one he had received from Karan. The sword that Master Hogel had made for him. It had been getting dull and damaged, and he had been reluctant to rece it, but now¡­ ¡®But now¡­¡¯ A smile spread across Najin¡¯s lips. ¡°I¡¯m d. I wanted to keep it a bit longer.¡± ¡°It¡¯s natural to grow attached to the first sword tailored for you. I understand. The sword I¡¯m using now also contains the first sword I received from my master.¡± Karan tapped his sword hilt andughed. While the twoughed, Yuel silently sipped her drink. After a while, she mmed her drink down with a loud thud. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Karan and Najin¡¯s gaze turned towards Yuel. As if asking if she had anything to say. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I haven¡¯te empty-handed either. I have my own position to consider.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°I am an Inquisitor of the Starblood Sect. While the High Priest and I use each other, I am still affiliated with the sect, so I have duties to perform.¡± She pulled out a letter from her attire. ¡°Considering what you vowed before the Sun of the Empire, you¡¯re not nning to join any particr group. So, the letter sent by the sect probably won¡¯t mean much to you¡­¡± Yuel produced five letters. Mumbling that they were meaningless, she flicked her finger, and four of the letters turned to dust. She then handed the remaining letter to Najin. ¡°In recognition of your achievements in the eradication of the dark mage Fauve and the Demon Knight, the Starblood Sect grants you the right to own a masterpiece.¡± The handed-over letter was inscribed with ¡®Masterpiece Ownership¡¯, and the emblem of the Starblood Sect was engraved on it. ¡°From ancient times, the Starblood Sect, along with the Empire¡¯s core, has managed and overseen masterpieces. If the Empire has the ¡®Masterpiece Granting Right¡¯, the right to own them, the ¡®Masterpiece Ownership Right¡¯, is held by the Starblood Sect.¡± Yuel pointed at the letter in Najin¡¯s hand. ¡°This grants you the right to deal with or subdue anyone possessing an unlicensed masterpiece, or to own any new masterpieces you discover.¡± For instance, had you had this ownership right when you subdued Fauve, you could have owned the masterpiece ¡®Shadowme¡¯. Exining this, Yuel exhaled briefly. ¡°You will encounter many owners of masterpieces in the Demon Realm. The high demons that rule the Demon Realm possess masterpieces. It will probably be helpful.¡± What is the reason for giving this to me? Najin looked at her with questioning eyes, and Yuel shrugged. ¡°Haven¡¯t I said? The Starblood Sect highly values your contributions. This is provided as a sort of bribe to assist you in hunting demons and dark mages in the future.¡± Well, she said it. ¡°Whenever you have the time, visit the main church of the Starblood Sect and seek out High Priestess Milcentia. It seems she has a great interest in you.¡± As rumors spread that Najin had emerged from the imperial pce and was staying in the reception room, countless people directed their steps towards his location. The youngest Sword Seeker, Najin. An individual who had achieved incredible feats and whose future prospects were bright. If Najin had been affiliated with the imperial knighthood, any thoughts of recruitment would need to be cleanly abandoned, but the pce had yet to make any additional announcements. Thus, this was an opportunity. If the boy was still deliberating, now was the perfect time to snatch him up! Holding that thought, numerous groups stationed in the imperial city began sending their people. Those stuffed with bribes headed towards the reception room where Najin was staying. The Magic Tower, guilds, knighthoods, mercenary bands¡­ The great groups of the empire dispatched their personnel. All of them were individuals who wouldn¡¯t be embarrassed anywhere. If news that they had sent people spread, even notable nobles would jump in fright and treat them as honored guests. Therefore, while they schemed to recruit Najin, they maintained their dignity as they arrived at the reception room. However. The moment they arrived at the reception room. None of them dared to knock on the door, and they had to widen their eyes in shock. They had no choice. Inside the reception room were two transcendent beings. Sword Saint Karan of the Order of the Sword and Inquisitor Yuel Razian of the Starblood Sect. With two Sword Masters already present as the first visitors, who could dare to knock on that door? In front of transcendent beings, no group could assert its dignity. Therefore, they stood silently outside for hours, unable to even announce their presence. Thud. As they aimlessly spent time outside the door, footsteps were heard from somewhere. They raised their heads to look towards the source of the sound. ¡®Another one to wait.¡¯ As they were about to check which group the new guest belonged to, they widened their eyes in shock and immediately knelt down upon recognizing the neer¡¯s face. Thud. Without giving a second nce to those who had bowed their heads, the old man stopped in front of the door. No one could dare to knock on a door where transcendent beings dwelled, but the individual who had stopped was an exception. He too was a transcendent being. The Empire¡¯s First Pir. The Empire¡¯s First Sword, Gerd, knocked on the door of the reception room. Chapter 104 Chapter 104 ¨C Battle for Supremacy (2) The door to the reception room, which had been firmly closed, swung open. The reception room, provided by the imperial household forfort, was overly spacious and ornate for just a few people to sit in, but considering the individuals upying it, it was hardly excessive. It was far too cramped to contain three transcendent beings. As the door opened, Karan chuckled and muttered, ¡°He finally arrives.¡± Yuel silently turned to look behind her. There, just entering through the door, stood an old man. Yes, an elderly man. If themon world regards the elderly as wise beings bearing the passage of time¡­ In the world of warriors and mages, ¡®elderly¡¯ merely referred to those who had lost to the passage of time, a word used for losers. Subjects not of reverence but of ridicule and mockery. This was because the moment one reaches the realm of a Sword Seeker, they bepletely free from aging. They are liberated from aging, Their bodies remain in their prime, And their lifespans significantly extend. Thus, in their world, the term ¡®elderly¡¯ simply referred to losers who had aged without reaching the realm of a Sword Seeker. However, there are always exceptions in the world. ¡°¡­¡­¡± The elderly man standing there now was one such exception. His hair was pure white. If Yuel¡¯s white hair was like beautiful silk, the old man¡¯s hair was like sand rolling across a wastnd. And not just his hair. The wrinkles on his face and skin were telltale signs of the passage of time. But that was it. The old man¡¯s back was not hunched. His shoulders were not rolled forward, and his eyes were not clouded. He was not a victim of time¡¯s flow but a giant who staunchly held his ground within it. That was the impression Najin got from the elderly man. Indeed, he was also physically robust. ¡°Make way.¡± The Empire¡¯s Sword Master, Gerd, spoke up. ¡°Would you step aside, Yuel, Karan?¡± At his request, Karan shrugged and stood up. They had enjoyed and conversed enough. Yuel also silently stood. Both respected Gerd. This was the Empire, And Gerd was a pir of the Empire. Though transcendent beings stood on the same level, it was customary among them to give Gerd the highest respect in the heart of the Empire. Conversely, within the headquarters of the Order of the Sword or the Starblood Sect, Karan and Yuel received respective honors. A consensus reached to reduce friction among transcendent beings. Following this rule, Yuel and Karan made way. ¡°Don¡¯t scare him too much, Sir Gerd.¡± Muttering this, Karan left. As Yuel and Karan departed, Gerd waved his hand lightly. Just that gesture evaporated the smell of liquor vibrating through the room. In an instant, the air cleared. ¡°This ce is too cramped.¡± Gerd murmured. Before Najin could respond, Gerd stomped his foot on the ground. With a deep, resonating sound, Swoosh. Something overpainted the scenery above the reception room. Najin¡¯s eyes widened. As if new paint had been sprinkled over a finished painting, a newndscape was oveying the old one in the reception room. Despite the doors being closed, wind howled in. The rushing wind made Najin frown. His hair wildly tossed about. Following the wind came a sh of light. Slowly opening his eyes, Najin found himself no longer in a confined reception room. An open in stretched to the horizon. The sound of the footstep boomed, Followed by mana bursting from within the reception room, shaking the building. Those outside, unable to withstand the mana, copsed one by one, while only two reacted to it. Sword Saint Karan and Inquisitor Yuel. Both turned their heads simultaneously. Their swords drawn instinctively, not through deliberation but an unconscious reaction. Realizing they were outside the affected area, they exhaled briefly. ¡°Gee¡­¡± Karan frowned. ¡°He¡¯s really going overboard with his territory. As always, what a foul-tempered old man.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Yuel responded expressionlessly. ¡°It¡¯s explicitly illegal to expand a sword domain in the heart of the Empire. Even if the First Sword of the Empire holds extralegal powers, it¡¯s an abuse of authority that could be challenged depending on the circumstances.¡± ¡°Who in the world would actually hold the First Sword of the Empire ountable?¡± ¡°The Sun of the Empire could.¡± ¡°The old man must have moved because the Emperor permitted it. That¡¯s the kind of person he is.¡± Karan appeared visibly displeased as he flicked his sword tip, scattering thendscape that had formed on the de¡¯s edge. Yuel performed a simr action. Had the space attempted to engulf them as well, Yuel and Karan would not have hesitated to swing their swords. This was clearly a provocation, an act of aggression. But the space was confined to within those doors. While still displeased, there was no concrete reason to formally protest. Karan exhaled deeply and sheathed his sword. There was only one reason Gerd would cause such a disturbance. ¡®He¡¯s trying to see the bottom.¡¯ Karan had been subjected to this before. The old man had a penchant for scraping the bottom and seeing it with his own eyes whenever he encountered talented individuals. That was why he had warned him to scare him just enough. ¡°As expected, it went in one ear and out the other.¡± Karan clicked his tongue. While he respected the old man¡¯s reverence for the sword, he did not admire his personality. A madman who knew nothing but the Empire and the sword. Karan reaffirmed his assessment as he shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s why they say I¡¯m the most normal one.¡± ¡°Excuse me? What did you say?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Karan silently looked at Yuel. One was a blood-thirsty murderer. The other, a madman obsessed only with the Empire and the sword. Being lumped together with them brought a fresh sense of injustice. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Karan sighed and trudged away. As he walked, he suddenly looked back and chuckled. ¡®Looks like he¡¯s trying to check the bottom¡­¡¯ His unofficial apprentice. Karan snorted as he thought of Najin, whom he had taught swordsmanship a few times. ¡®It won¡¯t be that easy.¡¯ Would that fledgling really let himself be so easily unraveled? If underestimated, he might just deliver a surprising blow. With that thought, Karan left the scene. It seemed his help wasn¡¯t needed anyway. Blinking, Najin saw an expansive in. He took a deep breath. The air was different from before. It wasn¡¯t an illusion. Or perhaps it was a high-level illusion spell¡­ -That¡¯s not it. If it were some trickery, Merlin would have sensed it. That left only one possibility. The exclusive realm of transcendent beings who had reached the realm of a Sword Master, known by many names, as Karan had once exined. Painting one¡¯s mind upon the world. Standing in one¡¯s own crafted world. Najin exhaled deeply as he looked ahead. There stood the owner of this world. Gerd was gazing at Najin with cold, sunken eyes. ¡°You¡¯re not surprised.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen too much to be surprised anymore.¡± Najin quickly responded, Feeling somehow that he shouldn¡¯t be overwhelmed. He steadied his breathing and stood upright. The exits? A way out? It likely wasn¡¯t possible for Najin at this moment. ¡®He¡¯s not nning to kill me.¡¯ The First Sword of the Empire. The Emperor¡¯s intentions would not involve such actions. Nor did it seem likely that the Emperor would approve of such things behind the scenes. There was simply no need for such tactics. So then, ¡°May I ask why?¡± Najin faced Gerd squarely. Meeting his gaze, Gerd began to speak. ¡°The Emperor said he would watch you.¡± ¡°I remember. He did say that.¡± ¡°And I am the First Pir of the Empire. When the Emperor says the Empire, that includes me too.¡± It wasn¡¯t incorrect. But it wasn¡¯t quite right either. Najin frowned. There was nothing to gain from being too forward in front of the Empire¡¯s Sword Master, but he wasn¡¯t inclined to just bow his head either. ¡°What have I done? I haven¡¯t done anything yet. Aren¡¯t you being a bit hasty?¡± ¡°Better early thante.¡± ¡°What do you want to see from me?¡± ¡°What you¡¯re hiding.¡± The old man pointed at Najin. ¡°You haven¡¯t shown everything to the Emperor. I sense it. That you¡¯re hiding something. I need to see it.¡± Essentially, he wanted to shake him down. Watching someone so openly express this desire, Najin couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Why does everyone seem so eager to shake him down? -Being a genius, one inevitably attracts others¡¯ envy and jealousy¡­ ¡®Merlin said the same.¡¯ -I¡­ it was different¡­ It wasn¡¯t jealousy. I just had to check, and I apologizedter¡­! Aren¡¯t you being a bit too sensitive? ¡®Just kidding. I know.¡¯ As Merlin grumbled in a hurt tone, Najin narrowed his eyes. Something hidden? Of course, there was. But it was something he could never show. ¡®Is this a person I can reason with?¡¯ At a nce, he seemed more normal than Yuel. Najin carefully selected his words. ¡°Everyone has secrets they live with. The value of strength lies in its concealment.¡± ¡°Fair point.¡± ¡°Therefore, I cannot show you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not denying you¡¯re hiding something?¡± ¡°Denying it would be pointless, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Gerd nodded. As if he appreciated the response. ¡°The oath you shouted before the Emperor was sincere. Even if one day your convictions may waver, for now, you are acting to uphold that oath. The vigor, spirit, and resonance of your soul when you spoke that oath. I trust that.¡± A friendly tone. Gerd¡¯s eyes were gentle. ¡°But this is a separate matter.¡± The old man narrowed his eyes. At that moment, a murderous intent overwhelmed Najin. Unlike Yuel¡¯s indiscriminate, unconscious killing intent, it was a massive intent focused on crushing a single target. Najin¡¯s eyes zed. Thud. Najin instinctively stepped back and gripped his sword hilt. And then, as if he had been waiting for that moment, Gerd, who had withdrawn his killing intent, pointed at Najin holding his sword. ¡°The stance of holding a sword. Your hand that moved in an instant. The hand that stretched back as you stepped back.¡± Gerd pointed with his fingertip. Najin had grasped the sword hilt with his left hand, but Gerd was pointing at Najin¡¯s right hand. And Najin¡¯s right hand was aimed at the air, as if ready to draw something from it at any moment. ¡°You add to my suspicions.¡± The Empire¡¯s Sword Master exhaled deeply. The old man standing firmly on the shaking in questioned. ¡°Are you the owner of Excalibur?¡± Are you the owner of Excalibur? Hearing that question, Najin was not flustered. Until now, no one had suspected him, but the situation had changed. Anyone could doubt him now. He had made enough of a mark to warrant such suspicion. ¡®Though the action was a mistake.¡¯ It could still be salvaged. Najin steadied his breath and lowered his hand. How should he act? How should he escape this situation? His mind raced. The First Sword of the Empire, Gerd. What kind of person was this old man? ¡ºA man who has thrown everything away for the sword and the empire.¡» ¡ºThe old man¡¯s only revered values are the sword and the empire. He gave up his lover, his children, his life, all of it.¡» Words Karan had once spoken. Records about Gerd seen in books. A human who only revered the sword and the empire. Thus, the sword. A person who had dedicated his life to the sword. A swordsman. Using this as a basis, Najin crafted his sentences. Historically, devising ways to survive against strong opponents had been Najin¡¯s specialty. The opponent¡¯s interests. Convictions. Values. Using these to navigate the situation. ¡°Sir Gerd.¡± ¡°I asked a question. Answer it.¡± ¡°I may be insignificantpared to you, but I am also a swordsman.¡± Najin smiled. ¡°When has a swordsman ever settled matters with words rather than a sword? If you have a question, ask with your sword. That is the way of a swordsman.¡± Gerd¡¯s eyes shifted. Though he did not speak, his lips moved. Najin did not miss that movement. ¡°While there¡¯s a vast difference between you and me, aren¡¯t we both swordsmen in the end?¡± Najin fiercely drew his sword. ¡°I challenge you to a duel.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes, you, Sir Gerd, not as the First Sword of the Empire, but as a swordsman who has reached a transcendent state.¡± At Najin¡¯s challenge, Gerd could no longer contain hisughter. Najin was not challenging the First Sword of the Empire, who sought to evaluate variables for the safety of the Empire. He was approaching out of mere interest, wanting to sh swords with a talented individual, the swordsman Gerd. ¡®Want to see the bottom?¡¯ Then ask with your sword. Isn¡¯t that the way of a swordsman? That¡¯s what the boy in front of him had said. Gerd understood the intention. He found it absurd, and because it was absurd, it was interesting, and because it was interesting,ughter escaped his lips. Challenged to a duel? Me? How long had it been since he had been challenged to a duel after reaching a transcendent state? ¡°Hah.¡± Withughter, Gerd¡¯s expression broke. The mask he had worn shattered. Hidden behind the mask was a madman who had thrown his life away for the sword. Facing the madman, Najin smiled. ¡°But it can¡¯t just be a trampling duel for me to show my bottom cards, can it?¡± ¡°Right. Are you asking to set terms?¡± ¡°If you could refrain from using only the exclusive rights of a Sword Master, that would be sufficient.¡± Gerdughed. ¡°You¡¯re quite cunning.¡± ¡°I¡¯d appreciate being described as clever.¡± The Empire¡¯s Sword Master drew his sword. The situation seemed enjoyable to the old man as he smiled, but as he drew his sword, Najin felt every sensation in his body sharpen. It was chilling. Terrifying. His instincts screamed. ¡®If you¡¯re looking to uncover my bottom cards.¡¯ But Najin smiled. ¡®You¡¯d better be prepared to be uncovered as well, Sword Master of the Empire.¡¯ Chapter 105 Chapter 105 ¨C Battle for Supremacy (3) ¡°There will be a few conditions.¡± Gerd, the Empire¡¯s Sword Master. He wanted to see what Najin was hiding. Excalibur, a masterpiece, or the blessing of the stars. Gerd was certain that the boy before him had something concealed. ¡°As you proposed, I will not use the exclusive powers of a Sword Master, nor will I rely on extraordinary senses or authority.¡± If the boy still refused to reveal anything, Gerd would have to push him into a corner to find out. If he was driven to the verge of death, he would eventually reveal all to save himself, but killing him outright would be meaningless. This was only for confirmation. Thus, Gerdid down the conditions. ¡°I will swing my sword with intent to kill, but I will give you three chances. If you can make me take a step back before using all three chances, then you win.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this too advantageous for me?¡± ¡°A strong man should show magnanimity. At this level, I can also enjoy the duel, just as you suggested.¡± Gerd slowly raised the sword he held. ¡°If you lose to me, you must reveal everything you¡¯ve been hiding. I will then report it to the Emperor. Moreover, if the Empire requires you, you must answer the call without hesitation.¡± ¡°Understood. Then, if I win?¡± ¡°I will not press you for anything. Even if you reveal your hidden strength and defeat me, I will not inform the Emperor. I alone will remember. But if you somehow manage to win while still hiding your full power¡­¡± Gerd twisted his lips up, as if daring Najin. ¡°I will grant you whatever you wish, by my oath on my seven stars.¡± As the First Sword of the Empire, a transcendent who held seven stars, his promise to grant anything was not made lightly. He truly had the power to grant almost any wish. ¡°Do you mean to let me borrow Sir Gerd¡¯s sword?¡± ¡°Sword, position, power, wealth, anything. As long as it¡¯s not outright rebellion against the Empire.¡± It was a favorable offer. Najin smiled. ¡°I ept.¡± On the wide in with the wind blowing, Najin fixed his posture atop Gerd¡¯s crafted scenery. Ahead stood the Empire¡¯s Sword Master, holding his sword. The Empire¡¯s Sword Master had drawn his sword. Najin understood the weight of that single line. His whole body trembled, his intuition screamed, and the hand gripping his sword tingled. But it was only momentary. With a deep breath, Najin steadied his grip. His sword tip no longer wavered. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Watching Najin in silence, Gerd twisted his lips into a smile. The old man also settled into his stance. He had no need toply with the duel proposed by the boy or ce any restrictions on himself. Yet, he willingly responded to the boy¡¯s spirit. Before being the First Sword of the Empire, Gerd was a swordsman. His sword had not lost its luster to the point of refusing a challenge from a talented junior. How long had it been since thest duel? How long since he had faced a bold challenger like this boy? A smile formed on the old man¡¯s lips. Show me. Show me your sword. The Empire¡¯s Sword Master, Gerd. What kind of sword did he wield? Gerd had mastered the sword that became the basis for the Empire¡¯s swordsmanship, the same style passed down from Aldemund Basaglia, the national hero and previous First Sword of the Empire. The Triumph Sword. A sword that won every battlefield, bringing only victory and glory to the Empire. Only two people in this world, including Gerd, had mastered this swordsmanship. Thus, the features of the Triumph Sword were not well known to the world. But imperial history books described it as: An imprable fortress. A sword containing the weight of a thousand years of the Empire. ¡®I wondered what that meant.¡¯ ng! At the moment their swords collided, Najin¡¯s body was pushed far back. He twisted andnded, sliding to a stop as he clicked his tongue. He understood the descriptions of the Triumph Sword the moment their des shed. It was heavy. So very heavy. Gerd wielded the sword alone, yet it felt as though hundreds of knights swung their des in unison. Squinting, Najin lowered his stance. He kept his gaze fixed on Gerd, who aimed his sword at him as if daring him toe closer. One man stood alone on the wide in. This in was undoubtedly Gerd¡¯s mindscape. That was why Najin had felt puzzled when he first saw it. Why would the mindscape of an old man obsessed with the Empire and the sword be a wide in? Najin only solved that question now. From afar, Gerd raised his sword, as if he didn¡¯t need to take a single step. He lifted it high into the sky and shed down. In that moment, Najin widened his eyes and instinctively threw himself to the side. sh. The ground split cleanly in a straight line. It was a phenomenon created without using sword aura. Gerd had simply swung his sword and split the distant ground. This made Najin chuckle. ¡®There was no need for scenery of the Empire or swords on this in.¡¯ The old man standing there was the Empire itself. The sword he wielded was the same as the one wielded by the Empire. Thus, he was the Empire¡¯s First Sword. Watching Gerd swing his sword, Najin was in awe. He didn¡¯t use sword aura or any miraculous footwork. He simply swung his sword. Resolutely. Even so, the old man¡¯s sword tip split the scenery far away. His presence couldn¡¯t be hidden, even with restraint. This was the level Gerd had attained. Najin felt pure reverence for this mastery. If Karan¡¯s swordsmanship conveyed the precision of being endlessly honed, the old man before Najin exuded relentless determination. A man who had reached transcendence by stubbornly pursuing a single thing. ¡®But.¡¯ Thud. Najin stomped the ground. ¡®I didn¡¯t challenge you to watch some spectacle of scenery-splitting. I didn¡¯t ask for this duel just to stand in awe.¡¯ Najin lowered his stance and widened his eyes. ¡®The Sword Saint gave me a sword. The Inquisitor gave me the right to own a masterpiece. So, I should also take something from you.¡¯ With a heavy thud, Najin¡¯s heart pounded fiercely. Had us Aten been present, he would have been astounded. Najin¡¯s stance matched exactly that of us Aten, the Blue Winged Cavalry¡¯s vanguard leader. Their stances matched. Their heartbeats synchronized. As Najin stomped the ground and dashed forward, a loud boom resounded. How to sprint with all one¡¯s might. How to be a spear that pierces the battlefield. How to pour the momentum of a charge into one¡¯s weapon. us Aten had taught this to Najin, whether he intended to or not. Thus, the charging Najin surprised even Gerd. For the first time since the duel began, Gerd frowned as he red at Najin. ording to the records, Najin had only reached the realm of a Sword Seeker a few weeks ago. But was that really the work of a newly ascended warrior? To the Empire¡¯s Sword Master, it certainly wasn¡¯t. Najin hadplete control over his sword aura. He knew exactly where his physical limitsy and when to focus his strength. He precisely understood how his physical and mana structures had changed upon reaching his new state. These movements were only seen from warriors who had remained in the realm of Sword Seeker for a decade. It was absurd. Here stood a boy who gave the middle finger to the world¡¯smon sense. ¡®Interesting.¡¯ He was even more curious now. Whaty at the bottom of this boy¡¯s depths? Gerd wanted to see it. He blocked the boy¡¯s swording at him head-on. Despite the momentum packed into it, Gerd did not budge. ¡®Show me more.¡¯ He was finally getting excited, so he hoped the boy wouldn¡¯t waste his three chances too quickly. Najin wasted his first chance when their swords shed for the seventeenth time. Gerd¡¯s sword had sliced into his shoulder, exploiting a gap in Najin¡¯s posture. Najin¡¯s sword tip aimed at the sky, unable to reach Gerd or even point in his direction. Without swinging the sword deeper into his shoulder, Gerd merely said, ¡°That¡¯s one.¡± His face was expressionless. He wasted his second chance on the forty-third sh. Gerd¡¯s sword was pressed against the nape of Najin¡¯s neck. Though Najin¡¯s sword was also poised in front of Gerd¡¯s shoulder, there was a second¡¯s difference between them. And a second was more than enough time to kill several times over. ¡°That¡¯s two,¡± Gerd said, his lips curling into a faint smile. Najin used up his third chance. Their swords collided seventy-three times, and Gerd didn¡¯t say ¡°three¡± afterward. It was too ambiguous to dere outright. Gerd¡¯s mindscape shattered. By then, the two had returned to the reception room, where Najin was thrown against the door by the impact of the final strike exchanged within the mindscape. The door shattered as he flew into the corridor outside. Screeeech! Najin slid along the floor, his sword buried in the ground, finallying to a stop at the end of the corridor. He slowly picked himself up, a smile on his lips. ¡°Sir Gerd.¡± Najin looked back at Gerd, who stood inside the reception room. ¡°In this case, whose victory is it?¡± Gerd stood there in the reception room, a single step backward from where he had nted his foot. He had taken a step back, and thus his mindscape had shattered. This meant that their final strikes had met each other¡¯s conditions simultaneously. Najin had used up all three chances. But he had also fulfilled Gerd¡¯s condition. He had won but also lost, and lost but also won. How should this be judged? Najin asked Gerd this question, and Gerdughed aloud. Hisughter filled the corridor, echoing from the reception room. It was a joyousugh. ¡°Of course, I lost.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it a draw?¡± ¡°A draw means I lost.¡± Even while admitting his loss, Gerdughed. It was clear that he was pleased with the process and oue of the duel. He exhaled deeply. ¡°Whose swordsmanship was that final strike?¡± ¡°It was my first teacher¡¯s sword.¡± ¡°You had a fine teacher. A stubborn yet upright sword, beautiful in its uprightness.¡± The old man stroked his beard. ¡°It was a good duel. The ending of a good duel should also be beautiful. I do not forget the promised reward. Knock on the First Sword¡¯s door whenever you wish.¡± The First Sword, the name of the tower where Gerd resided. With those words, the old man patted Najin on the shoulder and left. Only then did Najin let out a deep breath he had been holding. He had swung his sword so much that his shoulder was stiff. ¡®Somehow, we made it through.¡¯ -Well done, but I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll have time to rest. Merlin grinned. She waved her fingers as if urging Najin to look around. Following her gesture, Najin finally realized what situation he was in. ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± The people gathered to recruit Najin. Countless representatives sent by various groups were staring at Najin with wide eyes, their gazes filled with shock. Having fainted under the wave of pressure Gerd released, they had barely managed to wake up, only to see Najin fly out the shattered reception room door into the corridor. Even that alone was shocking enough, but afterward? Gerd had admitted his defeat before Najin. From the context of the conversation, it seemed a duel had taken ce inside, and the winner was Najin. This meant that he had won against the First Sword of the Empire. Of course, the duel must have had limitations. But that was irrelevant. What mattered was that the boy had gained the favor of the First Sword and that the Empire¡¯s Sword Master had acknowledged his victory with a smile. The stern, famously expressionless Sir Gerd hadughed aloud. And thatughter was genuine. The people gathered in the corridor werepetent and knew exactly what this meant. The 18-year-old who had ascended to the realm of a Sword Seeker, the youngest ever, now had another title added to his list of unbelievable achievements. Acknowledged by the First Sword of the Empire. Or perhaps, the youngest Sword Seeker to receive his favor. Najin¡¯s already soaring reputation skyrocketed further. The groups gathered in the corridor had to throw away their original negotiation ns and devise new ones on the spot. Immediately, they rushed towards Najin. To secure this unbelievable asset. Chapter 106 Chapter 106 ¨C Battle for Supremacy (4) In the Empire and surrounding nations, the authority of warriors who reached the level of Sword Seeker was well respected. Regardless of their humble backgrounds or origins, those who ascended to the realm of Sword Seeker were given the authority equivalent to at least that of a knight. In other words, they need not kneel before nobles or bow to show respect. ¡®That means¡­¡¯ Najin looked ahead. There stood representatives dressed in uniforms from various groups. Normally, Najin would have had to bow to them, but not anymore. He held his head high as he faced them. They, too, treated Najin with minimum courtesy as they spoke to him. Though the reception room bore the scars of battle and was in a mess, the room still sufficed for conversation. ¡°The Schulet Mercenary Corps promises Sir Najin the position of Deputy Commander. For a one-year contract, we offer three hundred tinum coins and an additional thirty for upkeep. In addition, mission rewards will be calcted separately.¡± The first to offer Najin their card was the Schulet Mercenary Corps. Schulet was one of the top three mercenary corps in the Empire, known for their guarantee of sessfulmissions. Offering Najin the Deputy Commander position in such a corps was astonishing to the others watching. And three hundred tinum coins? An unparalleled offer. Since the door of the reception room had been destroyed during Najin¡¯s duel with Gerd, the conversation inside was heard clearly outside. Those waiting outside swallowed nervously upon hearing Schulet¡¯s offer, while Najin opened his mouth. ¡°I refuse.¡± An outright rejection without hesitation. Was this offer insufficient? What kind of proposition would be enough? The Schulet Mercenary Corps member left their business card behind and left the reception room, dejected. Next to step up was a knight of House ncia. ncia was a renowned warrior family that had produced countless knights. Even six Sword Seekers belonged to this household. ¡°The Duke of ncia¡­¡± The knight read out the duke¡¯s letter and ryed the terms of the contract. He had been given permission to modify the conditions at his discretion to recruit Najin at any cost. Thus, he offered better terms than the Schulet Mercenary Corps. Four hundred tinum coins, plus a title. But Najin¡¯s response was no different this time. Before the knight could finish speaking, Najin curtly said, ¡°I refuse.¡± ¡°I refuse.¡± He also rejected the Rempon Knights. ¡°I refuse.¡± And the offer from Rocktide Trading¡¯s exclusive adventurers, one of the most prestigious merchant associations in the Empire. ¡°I refuse.¡± The Tower, adventuring groups, knight orders under noble houses, influential military forces in the Empire, guilds from the city-states, the Holy Fortress Sect¡­ ¡°I refuse.¡± Najin rejected every proposal. No matter how lucrative the offer, his answer never changed. He shook his head, seemingly uninterested in such things. Najin then left the reception room. No one could stop him. When the scouts returned to their groups to report this news, their leaders were left with a lingering question. He hadn¡¯t epted any offer? Then who could have managed to secure him? The first suspicion fell on the knight orders under the imperial household. However, Najin returned to Cambria, and there was no movement from the imperial family. There were no rumors of him joining the Royal Guard or the Imperial Knights. Next on the list were the Order of the Sword, the Starblood Sect, and the knights under Gerd¡¯smand. When the scouts arrived at the reception room, Najin had already been conversing with two Sword Masters, and Gerd hadter joined them. So, could it be that one of the three Sword Masters had recruited him? But this, too, proved false. Najin did not approach the Starblood Sect, the First Sword¡¯s group, or the Order of the Sword. He simply returned to Cambria, and there were no further exchanges. ¡ºThen who is it?¡» The boy who ascended to the realm of Sword Seeker at 18. While his current value was high enough, a few more years would see his worth increase further. And if he reached the level of a Sword Master? His worth would be impossible to measure. So they needed to secure him now. Who could have taken him? After a few days, they obtained some information. Najin was still unaffiliated but had two groups supporting him. The leaders of these groups had been interacting with and supporting Najin since before he became a Sword Seeker. Dieta, Head of the Dieta Trading Company. Now Marquis, Edelmar, Master of the Cambria Foundation. Among them, attention centered on the head of the Dieta Trading Company. Her name was familiar. Many remembered the incident involving her and House Arbena a few months ago. It was a rare incident in these times, ending in a romantic fashion. The story of a girl abandoned by her family and the mercenary who was willing to risk his life to confront the family¡¯s knight captain for her. Some who recalled that story widened their eyes. While they hadn¡¯t paid much attention to that mercenary back then, now the story was different. ¡ºSend someone to investigate Cambria.¡» ¡ºHis alias back then was Ivan.¡» ¡ºFocus on the rtionship between Head Dieta and this individual.¡» When they sent someone to Cambria, they discovered that the young man known as Ivan was the mercenary involved in that incident. And that he was personally close to Head Dieta. When the leaders realized this fact¡­ As if waiting for this moment, a y opened at the Trebache territory governed by Marquis Edelmar. A y centered on Najin, the youngest Sword Seeker. The Marquis began attracting audiences from all over the Empire, and the leaders of various groups chuckled. They realized that some had foreseen the star¡¯s light and secured their positions before it shone. ¡ºThe victor of thepetition is the head of the Dieta Trading Company.¡» ¡ºThe one who secured the youngest Sword Seeker is Cambria¡¯s great merchant. Be wary of her.¡» Along with Najin¡¯s name, Dieta¡¯s name also began spreading among the Empire¡¯s power holders. ¡°Call me Dieta, the investment genius who earned the favor of the youngest Sword Seeker over a meal.¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense is that?¡± Najin tilted his head as he looked at Dieta, who smiled brightly before him. Recently, she hadn¡¯t stopped smiling, looking like she couldn¡¯t contain her joy. ¡°I found a coin on the ground, but it turned out to be tinum¡­ no, diamond¡­ no, not even diamond! What should I call this? A star?¡± Najin smiled as he nced at the cheerful Dieta. He could guess why she was so happy these days. From what he heard, her guild¡¯s stocks were reaching new highs day by day. The title ¡®one of the top three merchant guilds in Cambria¡¯ had long since been reced with ¡®the leading merchant guild in Cambria,¡¯ and their advance into the Empire¡¯s capital was steadily progressing. ¡®In one or two months.¡¯ He heard they would expand their scale in earnest after moving to the capital. Even while she juggled a hectic schedule in preparation for that, Dieta smiled like she was having fun. ¡°Well, anyway¡­¡± Dieta wiped the smile from her face. She took a deep breath and half-closed her eyes. ¡°Najin, you.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not twenty-eight or in your early twenties. What is this?¡± She pointed at the frame hanging on her office wall. It was a frame holding a cutout of a newspaper, which contained arge photograph of Najin with the headline, ¡®Najin, the youngest Sword Seeker to reach the realm at 18.¡¯ ¡°Unless my eyes are wrong, it says eighteen here, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°You¡¯re avoiding eye contact again¡­!¡± When Najin nced away, Dieta mmed the table and pointed her finger at him. ¡°You said we were the same age!¡± ¡°I never said that.¡± ¡°You said we weren¡¯t far apart¡­!¡± ¡°Two years isn¡¯t much of a difference, is it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ well¡­ jeez.¡± Dieta brushed back her bangs. ¡°You¡¯re two years younger than me¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it turned out.¡± ¡°I thought you were older.¡± Muchter, much, muchter¡­ When their rtionship blossomed, she had imagined he¡¯d call her ¡®oppa.¡¯ Dieta had smiled smugly to herself, lying in bed before sleep. Remembering this, her face turned bright red. ¡®Not ¡®oppa,¡¯ but he¡¯d call me ¡®noona¡¯¡­ Oh?¡¯ That doesn¡¯t sound too bad either? Dieta covered her mouth with her hand. Imagining it for a moment, she decided it didn¡¯t sound too bad. ¡°Dieta?¡± ¡°Y-Yes?¡± Dieta¡¯s shoulders flinched at Najin¡¯s call. ¡°Sorry for hiding my age. I felt like I¡¯d missed the moment to reveal it¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing to apologize for. I was just surprised.¡± Dieta smiled softly. ¡°Anyway, congrattions, Najin.¡± She handed Najin a letter. These were letters that had arrived for him while he was away in the imperial capital. She pointed at the two letters on top of the pile. ¡°One¡¯s a congrattory letter from the Emperor of the Empire.¡± A letter bearing the imperial emblem. ¡°And the other¡¯s from the Knights of Atanga.¡± A letter bearing the Atanga emblem. Both were congratting Najin for reaching the realm of Sword Seeker. Najin epted the letters and remained silent for a moment. He now felt the weight of the fact that he had truly ascended. He was born in the starless underground city. A ce where his name was unknown. Where his existence wasn¡¯t even recorded. Najin had been no different from someone who didn¡¯t exist. But not anymore. Not anymore. His name had spread throughout the Empire. The name Najin would be recorded in imperial history along with the title of the youngest Sword Seeker. He had left his mark on the Empire¡¯s history as proof of his existence. ¡®But this is just the beginning.¡¯ He would leave many more records from now on. He didn¡¯t intend to be satisfied with just a few lines in history. He would rewrite entire pages. And not just history books. Even the myths of King Arthur would have to be rewritten. He would make it so. With his own sword. Najin smiled as he looked at the letters. The vast underground city. Within his now much-expanded mindscape, Najin sat atop a wall. Looking down below, he could see ake that didn¡¯t quite belong. Ake Merlin had begged for. Having finally recreated it upon reaching the level of a Sword Seeker, Merlin sshed around with her feet in theke. Najin nced at her and spoke. ¡°Merlin.¡± ¡°Hmm? What?¡± ¡°The dragon you and Arthur fought.¡± The two dragons sealed beneath Stonehenge. ¡°Can you tell me more about them?¡± ¡°I was nning to, even if you didn¡¯t ask.¡± Merlin twisted her lips up into a smile. ¡°You¡¯ve reached the level of a Sword Seeker and established your foundation. Now it¡¯s time to stand at the starting point, right?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t I already at the starting point?¡± ¡°No, no. You need at least one star before it really starts, don¡¯t you think?¡± She waved her finger in the air. Droplets of water trickled off her fingertip. ¡°One is a White Dragon, and the other is a Red Dragon.¡± Droplets dyed red and white. ¡°They were the dragons Arthur and I once struck down.¡± The two dragons that had once terrorized Cambria. Merlin reached out as she began exining the dragons. Her white finger pointed at Najin. ¡°The dragons you will have to strike down once again.¡± Chapter 107 Chapter 107 ¨C Beyond the World, Ound (1) What is a dragon? Dragons existed from the earliest times, through the Age of Chaos, and into the Age of Myths when countless heroes, led by Arthur, emerged. They awakened at the dawn of the world and closed their eyes only when its end arrived. Unchanging, immortal, eternal beings. That¡¯s what dragons are. Yet some would im that dragons are nothing more than mere beasts, reveling in the thrill of devouring and burning life,beling them as monstrous creatures. These people pointed their fingers at dragons, calling them vile monsters. ¡°That¡¯s not entirely wrong.¡± A wizard who lived through the Age of Myths, when dragons first began their corruption, sighed as she rested her chin on her hand. ¡°Dragons were originally noble creatures. Although not all of them were, some were indeed noble and pure. But that was before the Dragon of the Abyss appeared.¡± The Archmage of the Lake, Merlin. ¡°The race of dragons cannot defy their main lineage. The first andst dragon, the primeval and final dragon: The Dragon of the Abyss. When that monster sought the world¡¯s end, it was inevitable that all dragons would begin to lose their minds.¡± She shook her head in exasperation. ¡°The problem is that even if they have degenerated into mere beasts, the mystique of the dragon race still hasn¡¯t disappeared.¡± ¡°Mystique?¡± ¡°Yeah, remember when I mentionedst time that mystique usually resides in certain races or objects?¡± Najin nodded. He remembered how Merlin had pointed out Yuel Razian, a human imbued with mystique. ¡°Dragons are one of those races.¡± ¡°So, what kind of mystique do dragons possess?¡± ¡°Unchanging, immortal, eternal.¡± Unchanging, meaning not changing. Immortal, meaning not crumbling into dust. Eternal, meaning not bound by time. ¡°When I defined the concept of mystique, dragons were one of the three races that left me dumbfounded. The other two are witches and giants. These bastards are simply cheating by existing. They¡¯re scamming the whole world with their race-level fraud.¡± Merlin clicked her tongue. ¡°They are born perfect and live eternally as such. The scales covering those lizards deflect most sword energy andpletely repel all magic below the 5th circle. And that¡¯s not even the worst of it.¡± Merlin opened her mouth and mimicked a roar. Najin gave her a puzzled look, which prompted her to twirl her hair sheepishly. ¡°And then there¡¯s the breath attack, which is equivalent to at least a 6th circle spell. They spew fire that can melt entire walls without any cost, merely because they were born that way. When ites to the Dragon of the Abyss¡­ I don¡¯t even want to think about it.¡± And what about its mouth? Once you¡¯re swallowed, it¡¯s over. The dragon¡¯s mouth connects to apletely different world. Merlin stretched as she murmured this. ¡°Anyway, that was a long exnation.¡± Merlin moved next to Najin and twirled her fingers. The water droplets floating in the air moved to hover in front of Najin¡¯s nose, dyed in white and red. ¡°The dragons you¡¯ll face next, the Red Dragon and the White Dragon, are basically simr. The key is finding a way to temporarily separate them from their mystique¡­ but I¡¯ll exin that in more detailter.¡± ¡°Wait, Merlin.¡± Najin interrupted Merlin¡¯s exnation. He was fine listening to how to hunt the dragons, but there was one thing that needed rification. ¡°Hunting dragons sounds good, and so does getting a chance to earn a star. But tell me something.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°The White Dragon and Red Dragon are sealed, aren¡¯t they? Under Stonehenge. ording to the tales of heroes, Merlin, you¡¯re the one who sealed them there.¡± Najin had read The Chronicles of Arthur multiple times. In its very first chapter, the White Dragon and the Red Dragon were defeated by Arthur and dropped beneath the ground, where Merlin sealed them under Stonehenge. So how could they hunt two dragons that had been sealed? ¡°Are you nning to release them from the seal?¡± Najin frowned. He wasn¡¯t fond of the idea. If he had to pull out sealed dragons just to hunt them, it would be a staged show. He didn¡¯t believe he could earn a star from such a farce. ¡°No, why would I release them?¡± Merlin tilted her head at Najin¡¯s question. ¡°They¡¯ll break free on their own.¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°You pulled out Excalibur, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Though they don¡¯t know that it was you specifically, the world knows that the Holy Sword was pulled. The news has spread across not just the maind, but beyond the world and even to Cann.¡± On the day Najin had drawn Excalibur, the constetion of Arthur had led the night sky, which swirled in turmoil. The stars flickered, and their tremors were enough to awaken those who had been sleeping. ¡°Time, which had been frozen for a thousand years, has begun to move.¡± Merlin¡¯s blue eyes gazed at Najin. ¡°As a new myth begins to be written, how can the beings of the mythic age that were lying dormant not awaken? The White Dragon and Red Dragon are only the beginning. More and more will rise. Those who Arthur defeated and those who Arthur caused to fall will start to rear their heads.¡± She pointed a finger at Najin. ¡°To kill Arthur¡¯s descendant.¡± Two days after Najin and Merlin had discussed and begun nning the dragon hunt, a summons came from the Central Guild. It was regarding his promotion, but this time, no separate exam was required. Najin had already been acknowledged as a Sword Seeker in front of three Sword Masters and the Emperor himself. Holding another test would have been an affront to the Emperor¡¯s authority. Besides, rumors were swirling around Najin¡¯s affiliation both inside and outside Cambria, so it was also in the guild¡¯s interest to promote him quickly. Thus, Najin¡¯s promotion ceremony progressed at an unprecedented speed. Najin was an adventurer of the Red rank, and only one rank existed above the Red rank. The White rank. White-rank adventurers are considered to be at the pinnacle of the adventurer city. Although the position wasn¡¯t particrly appealing for someone like Najin, staying under the protection of the Cambria Foundation was beneficial enough that Najin had no reason to refuse. ording to Cambria¡¯s tradition, the promotion ceremony was held in front of all the adventurers. Arge crowd gathered in front of the Central Guild, and even people from outside Cambria flocked to catch a glimpse of Najin, the youngest Sword Seeker. ¡ºThat guy is the youngest Sword Seeker.¡» ¡ºHe¡¯s younger than I thought.¡» ¡ºHe¡¯s young, but his eyes are sharp. They¡¯re the eyes of a warrior.¡» ¡ºHe¡¯s experienced countless battles. He¡¯s wellposed.¡» Among them were famous knights and mercenaries who chatted among themselves as they looked at Najin standing on the podium. Tock. At the promised time, a noble ascended the podium. Since the White rank represented Cambria itself, it was tradition for a noble from the Cambria Foundation to attend the promotion ceremony. In this case, Marquis Edelmar stood on the podium as the Foundation¡¯s representative. He was both close to Najin and the highest-ranking noble within the Foundation, making him a suitable host for the ceremony. ¡°Congrattions on your promotion.¡± He took out a namete from a wooden box. Unlike other nametes, this one was made of a rare metal and gleamed brightly in the sunlight. On its pure-white surface was engraved Najin¡¯s name instead of Ivan¡¯s. Marquis Edelmar presented the namete and medal to Najin, who knelt on one knee with his head bowed. With this, Najin became a White-rank adventurer. On his eighth month in Cambria, Najin had reached the pinnacle of the city. Amid the thunderous apuse, Najin stood up. He stepped down from the podium, receiving the attention of many adventurers and outsiders. The youngest Sword Seeker and the youngest White-rank adventurer. It was tradition to bestow titles upon White-rank adventurers, but Najin was already so famous that adventurers didn¡¯t even need to give him one. The world had already started calling him by an alias. The New Star. It was the perfect title for the boy who suddenly appeared and shattered every record. Najinter heard about the title from Dieta andughed. ¡°I¡¯m not even a star yet, and they¡¯re calling me the New Star.¡± Heughed but couldn¡¯t deny that he liked the title. However, he was well aware that not everyone used The New Star in a positive way. While it meant a star that suddenly shone brightly, it also implied a star that vanished after a single gleam. A title with a double meaning. Which meaning would prevail would be determined by Najin¡¯s future actions. Of course, Najin had no intention of flickering and disappearing. Instead, he aimed to im a real star in line with the title. And so, right after attaining White rank, a confidential letter arrived. The secretive letter was a White rank Summons, a request from the Central Guild for arge-scale quest. In other words, it was about the hunt for the two dragons that would soon awaken. Deep within the Central Guild, beyond strict security, was a meeting room. It had five seats, three of which were already upied when Najin arrived. Bashen Corte. Rihard Polsen. Roselin Ascalo. All three were White-rank adventurers, and Najin was acquainted with two of them. Bashen Corte had a brief conversation with Najin while dealing with the Order¡¯s assants, and Roselin frequently interacted with Najin. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s a surprise to see you here, kid. Good to see you.¡± After Najin became a Sword Seeker, Roselin initially called him ¡°Ivan,¡± but after learning his age, she started calling him ¡°kid.¡± When Najin once questioned this: ¡ºEighteen, huh? What else should I call you if not a kid?¡» ¡ºIf you want to be called by your name, get stronger than me first. Then I¡¯ll even add an honorific.¡» That was all she had to say. Recalling that, Najin smirked and nodded, looking for his seat, but Roselin patted the seat next to her. ¡°Where are you going? Sit here.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s not my seat.¡± Najin pointed at the namete on the seat, which bore the name Grisel Paramelt. His own seat was across from it. After checking the namete, Roselin frowned and threw it to the opposite side. ¡°Seats can be switched. I don¡¯t like sitting next to that kid, Grisel. He creeps me out.¡± Najin picked up his namete and sat down next to Roselin, who finally smiled and whispered into his ear. ¡°By the way, kid, I heard you went up against the First Sword of the Empire. Rumors are spreading everywhere.¡± ¡°Yeah, that happened.¡± ¡°So, how did it go? You also met Karan, didn¡¯t you? Who¡¯s stronger between them?¡± Roselin¡¯s eyes gleamed with curiosity. It was like a child asking who would win between a lion and a tiger. But for Najin, answering this was tricky since he hadn¡¯t fought either of them at full power. As Najin struggled to answer, the meeting room¡¯s door opened. Two people stepped through: the Guildmaster who had summoned the White-rank adventurers, and¡­ Grisel Paramelt. He was a White-rank adventurer shrouded in mystery. Najin looked at Grisel, a man who seemed oddly out of ce. Once Grisel took his seat, the Guildmaster spoke. ¡°I have gathered you White-rank adventurers here, as mentioned in the letter, to discuss the dragons sealed under Stonehenge.¡± Two dragons sealed beneath Stonehenge, the central legend of the city of Cambria. ¡°The sealing sigils carved into Stonehenge have worn out, and since eight months ago, they¡¯ve been gradually losing their power. The Empire has concluded that in one month, the seals will bepletely broken and the two dragons will be freed.¡± Najin already knew this from Merlin. Well, there¡¯s no way the Empire wouldn¡¯t have noticed the seals breaking. Looks like they caught on. As Merlin mumbled this, the Guildmaster continued. He spoke of Cambria securing the rights to the hunt, of the Empire¡¯s cooperation, and of how the matter was to be kept confidential. After the Guildmaster finished these formalities, he disclosed the details of the hunt. ¡°The Empire will provide knights to support the hunt, which will be conducted by a small elite group. The hunt will be led by the five White-rank adventurers gathered here and the Royal Knights.¡± Each was handed a document. After skimming through it, Najin looked up. If the hunt proceeded this way, then¡­ He nced around the room. He wasn¡¯t the only one; all the White-rank adventurers were staring at each other. The meaning in their eyes was clear. While it appeared that they were supposed to work as a team, in reality, it was far from that. Competition. This was apetition disguised as a hunt. Who would earn the most acim? Who would im the glory of felling the dragons? And it was clear that none of them intended to back down. Chapter 108 Chapter 108 ¨C Beyond the World, Ound (2) This wasn¡¯t an extermination; it was apetition. The four White-rank adventurers gathered here held this view for good reason. They weren¡¯t fools ignorant of the terror of dragons. Even though most dragons vanished a thousand years ago with the end of the mythical era, their majesty still lived on in history. While each dragon varied, it was practically impossible for a single Sword Seeker to hunt a dragon alone. That¡¯s right. ¡°Normally,¡± that is. The Red Dragon and White Dragon, sealed beneath Cambria, were not your average dragons. Originally one, they had been split into two, struck down by Arthur and sealed by Merlin after losing much of their power. They were once great dragons, but had lost their glory after falling underground. Everything about the Red Dragon and White Dragon was already known¡ªtheir characteristics, strategies, and even their weaknesses. Sealed for ages, they had weakened further. Was there anything more to say? Five Sword Seekers would have no problem hunting them down. The important question was, who wouldnd the final blow? The adventurers gathered here made their judgment. There might be some risk, but the reward was worth it: the dragon¡¯s skin, bones, blood, and heart were all precious, top-tier materials. Every adventurer knew the astounding artifacts crafted from dragon materials. Adventurers are people who weigh gold against danger. For them, this dragon hunt was an enticing opportunity. The guildmaster of the Central Guild understood this and took the hunting rights. He must have thought the benefits outweighed the risks. The Royal Guards were just a safety measure. The adventurers here should be enough for the hunt¡­ -That¡¯s probably what they¡¯re thinking. Merlin shrugged her shoulders. -If things had gone as usual, it wouldn¡¯t be a wrong judgment. About two hundred years ago, the Red Dragon and White Dragon were resurrected again. ¡°This isn¡¯t the first time?¡± -Yeah, every couple of centuries, they slip through the cracks of the seal. Perfect seals can¡¯t exist in this world. Anyway, each time, a few Sword Seekers hunted them easily, so they¡¯ll think this time will be the same. She perched on the conference table and crossed her legs. Of course, Merlin was only visible to Najin, so to the other White-rank adventurers, he seemed to be staring into empty air. -But this time is different. Merlin lowered her head to look at Najin. -They¡¯ve made two mistakes. She held up two fingers. -First, they think a weakened dragon will emerge. This time is different. The seal will breakpletely. The dragons they¡¯ll face aren¡¯t the weakened ones but the dragons from the mythical era that Arthur and I fought. She folded one finger down, then wiggled the other. -Second, they think that even if a fully revived dragon appears, they can still hunt it down. How na?ve of them, right? This misconception has persisted for a thousand years. Merlin snickered in amusement. A thousand years ago, when the dragons were struck down, Merlin was a 6th circle mage, and Arthur had reached the level of Sword Seeker. -They believed that since Arthur and I managed to strike down two dragons by ourselves, many Sword Seekers could handle them easily. Howughable that was. She couldn¡¯t prove them wrong now that the dragons were sealed. Merlin sighed and propped her chin on her hand. -If it were that easy, anyone could earn a star. The stars could only be earned by achieving great deeds. Rolling her first star in her palm, Merlin looked at Najin. Her gaze wasn¡¯t that of someone watching the king she was meant to guide, but of a senior looking at a younger follower. -It¡¯s your turn this time. Merlin¡¯s blue eyes locked with Najin¡¯s dusk-colored gaze. -It¡¯s your turn to prove yourself in your own way. A thousand years ago, Arthur had cut off the dragon¡¯s wings and brought it down. How would Najin bring down the dragon? How would he imprison them underground? Merlin¡¯s eyes gleamed with anticipation. The boy was like Arthur but different. Merlin was eager to see how the boy would answer in this hunt, and what kind of star he would earn. But that answer would have to wait a month. Just as Najin could hear Merlin¡¯s monologue, some of Merlin¡¯s feelings flowed into Najin too. Many things had changed when he reached the level of Sword Seeker. Feeling Merlin¡¯s faint emotions, Najin grinned. ¡°You can look forward to it, Merlin.¡± He thought back on Merlin¡¯s advice andughed as he mulled it over. He already had some ideas of his own. After receiving the documents and information about the hunt from the Central Guild, Najin left. Every staff member he passed bowed in greeting, a privilege of the White-rank. In the City of Opportunities, Cambria, only achievements mattered. And the White-rank adventurers had the highest achievements. ¡°So, that¡¯s why they call them the nobles of Cambria.¡± Najin thought this as he walked. The Empire¡¯s calction for when the seal would break was a month away, and Merlin¡¯s estimate matched. So, that meant he had a month to prepare. What would he do for a month? He could take on small andrge requests, but Najin knew he was already under a ring spotlight. Whatever he did would be scrutinized, and his intentions questioned. ¡®I¡¯ve already received dozens of personal requests.¡¯ He felt sorry to say, but he had no intention of epting such transparent requests. Besides, he already had ns for the next month. ¡®Merlin¡¯ -Yes, what is it? ¡®You said I¡¯d go beyond the continent after catching the dragons, right? The Battlefield of Stars and the Land of Demons.¡¯ -That¡¯s right. Merlin nodded. -There¡¯s no better ce to build a reputation, achieve deeds, and earn stars. It¡¯s also where many heroes tread. The Battlefield of Stars and the Land of Demons. Najin remembered the illusion Merlin had shown him before. Thendscape had shaken his soul and once made him kneel. -I wanted to test you. You know that, right? I didn¡¯t mean to scare you¡­ well, maybe a little, but it was necessary. A strangely sullen voice. She still seemed concerned about when Najin had jokingly said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you do that too, Merlin?¡± during their encounter with Gerd. Najin chuckled. ¡®I know. It was a test, right?¡¯ -Exactly? Hearing Merlin¡¯s brightened voice, Najin wanted to tease her more but held back. ¡®Anyway, I¡¯ll be heading there in two months at thetest. I¡¯m thinking of checking it out beforehand.¡¯ -Now? Najin nodded. ¡®I should fight something like a dragon to catch one, but there¡¯s nothing suitable ind.¡¯ A creature simr to a dragon. One with a faint hint of dragon blood but without the same mystique: the wyvern. Najin had already picked it as a training target. -Wyverns are upper-tier monsters, so they¡¯ll be in the Demon Realm. So you¡¯re going to hunt them? ¡®I need to get a feel for it. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve fought anything that flies.¡¯ After some thought, Merlin nodded. -That¡¯s not a bad idea. And it¡¯d be a good show for those curious about your movements. Najin was aiming for that too. He wanted to show those watching him that he was testing the waters of the Demon Realm and nned to operate thereter. -It¡¯s not a bad idea, but¡­ Merlin trailed off, seemingly troubled. -It¡¯ll be shocking at first, you know? ¡®The wyverns?¡¯ -No, the Outer Land. Trying to exin, Merlin held back. -It¡¯s easier to show you than tell you. So, are you heading there now? Sooner wouldn¡¯t hurt. Factoring in the travel time, a month was already a tight schedule. Najin nodded and immediately hired a carriage. The edge of the continent. A carriage that would go directly to the border, known simply as ¡°The Boundary.¡± Beyond the continent, in the Ound). Some called it the Edge of the World, or the Outside, and that wasn¡¯t incorrect. Most of the rules that applied to the world were distorted or broken here. The line between the living and the dead was blurred. Corpses not properly buried would begin to move on their own after a night and wander as the undead. Time did not flow consistently. Some ces moved quickly, some slowly, and others were petrified and frozen. As a result, all seasons coexisted, or one repeated eternally. A ce where rules and order were in disarray, and where stunning vistas mixed with wastnds. Thus, the constetions who had long left this world could intervene here in the Outside. The Demonic Realm, home to demons and Najin¡¯s destination, was also here. -Some demons are on par with the constetions. Some even are constetions. After all, being a demon doesn¡¯t mean they can¡¯t be a constetion. ¡°Are they that powerful?¡± -The rulers of the Demonic Realm, known as Demon Kings, are. Baal, whom I incinerated, had at least nine stars. After listening to Merlin¡¯s exnation for days, the carriage suddenly stopped. The driver refused to go further, dropped Najin off, and turned back toward the continent. Left alone in the wilderness, Najin blinked and surveyed his surroundings. A stable-tavern named ¡°The Last Drink¡± stood nearby. ¡°Is this your first time here?¡± A man sipping alcohol outside the tavern asked Najin. When he nodded, the man pointed in a direction. ¡°You¡¯ll get there in about an hour.¡± With that, the man continued sipping his drink in silence. Najin turned to look where he pointed. Thendscape twisted endlessly, a wastnd stretching into the distance. Without a word, Najin began walking. He walked for some time before he stopped and looked up at the sky. He had to stop. The sky was shattered. Cracks ran through the blue sky and stretched far into the distance. -You¡¯re almost there. Merlin¡¯s voice prompted him, and Najin resumed walking. But he soon had to stop again. A boundary had been drawn across the ground, splitting the world in two. No one knew who had drawn it, but it stretched into the distance like it divided the world. -That was drawn by the first Sword Saint. Merlin smirked. -He saw Arthur drawing the boundary of Cann and decided to draw one himself. This is the result. A thousand-year-old sword scar remained. It was hard to imagine how a sword could leave such a mark. Najin studied the boundary for a moment, then took a deep breath. And stepped beyond the line. One step. One footfall. As Najin stepped into the Ound, ¡°¡­!¡± His eyes widened as his heart pounded violently and his mana surged madly. His pupils were bloodshot, and his senses were on high alert. The air had reversed. The flow of mana had inverted. His senses screamed in agony. Then, he heard a crack. Najin looked toward the sound. His skin was splitting. No, not just his skin. His body was slowly crumbling apart. -Cover yourself with mana. Najin quickly surrounded himself with mana, and the cracking stopped. -You must always be shrouded in mana here, or adapt your body to itpletely. You mightst a few months without mana, thanks to Excalibur, so try it if you want. Not that I¡¯d rmend it. While Merlin murmured, Najin took a steady breath. He was taken aback. Just one step had broken his understanding of the world. -That¡¯s just how things work here. Merlin stood next to Najin with a bitter smile. -You haven¡¯t seen anything yet. She pointed upward, prompting Najin to raise his gaze. Not just the atmosphere but the entirendscape had changed. The scenery inside the boundary was nothing like what was beyond it. The desert and vegetation coexisted. Snowstorms raged alongside parched wastnds. But the most striking features were the weapons, regardless of distance, clearly visible. Giant swords embedded in the ground, broken spears, arrows, chains, and scythes¡ªa chaotic array of weapons. -Those are the symbols of the constetions. They¡¯re warnings: ¡°Don¡¯t enter our territory.¡± Exining this, Merlin pointed upward again, as if to say, ¡°Look at the sky before you inspect the rest.¡± Najin obliged. He raised his head and looked up. And he understood why Merlin had wanted him to look. The sky was shattered, like a broken window, with the cracks dyed ck. Between the blue sky were patches of dark night, dotted with stars. Stars shining in various colors, and to Najin, they looked like eyes. -You¡¯re right. ¡°What?¡± -They are eyes. You¡¯re exactly right. Merlin shrugged and snapped her fingers. The barrier shrouding Najin¡¯s soul was lifted, and he gasped as countless sensations hit him at once. He felt the gazes. It wasn¡¯t just one. He felt dozens, hundreds, thousands of gazes. The stars themselves watched him from the sky, each twinkling star representing a set of eyes. Hundreds of stars focused on Najin. -The Ound. Merlin spread her arms wide. -Wee to thend of these damn stars. An ancient constetion, one who held the second most stars after King Arthur, smiled bitterly. Chapter 109 Chapter 109 ¨C Beyond the World, Ound (3) Hundreds of stars hung in the fractured sky. Najin silently watched the stars that had divided the shattered sky into their own territories. The sky, like a broken window, with the mingling of daytime blue and the deep ck of night, was eerie yet mysterious. Those stars adorned that sky. If Najin had seen this view without knowing anything, he might have found it breathtaking. However, he could not purely appreciate this otherworldly sky because the stars felt like someone¡¯s eyes. Dozens, hundreds of eyes. Hundreds of gazes were fixed on him. These were nothing like the looks from city adventurers or passersby. The gaze of these enormous beings conveyed a pressure, a sensation of being pierced. An unsettling feeling crept up Najin¡¯s spine. Clench. Najin bit the tip of his tongue, the sharp taste of blood swirling in his mouth. Only then did he calm his breathing and escape the confusion. He still felt those stares, but now he could bear them. -It¡¯s only their gaze for now since we¡¯re near the Boundary. Merlin spoke calmly. -The deeper we go, the more they can do. They might write messages before your eyes, whisper in your ears, ory trials upon you. Things like that. Near Cann, they might evene up from the ground and wander around. Muttering this, Merlin nced at Najin. Her gaze was moreposed than usual. -You haven¡¯t forgotten what I told you, right? ¡°With everything you¡¯ve said, I can¡¯t be sure what you¡¯re referring to.¡± -Be confident in yourself. Believe in yourself. Merlin pressed her fingertip against Najin¡¯s heart. Even though what Najin saw was just an illusion and her finger never actually touched his heart, he still felt a warmth. -There are countless things you need to know, but the most important thing is this: establish your own principles and act on what you believe is right. Merlin shrugged. -Don¡¯t let those constetions manipte you. It¡¯s not that dangerous yet, though. Najin slowly nodded. With the gaze of the stars upon him, he moved deeper into the Outer Land. Apletely new stage, a world where everything he knew no longer applied. A world where everything was unfamiliar. -You. Merlin¡¯s voice echoed in Najin¡¯s ear. When he turned his head slightly, she was staring at him with a puzzled look. -Why are you smiling? Najin touched the corner of his mouth and let out a chuckle. Why was he smiling? There wasn¡¯t much of a reason. ¡°It¡¯s the same.¡± What¡¯s the same, Merlin asked, and Najin answered: It was just like when he first left the Underground City. A newndscape, strange things, an endless ce he had never seen. Najin didn¡¯t mind this sense of expansion. Thud. Najin stepped forward with force, leaving his mark in the Ound. The Outside, the Ound. A ce where stars watched from above, strange beings wandered around, and extraordinary events urred daily, yet people still lived there. A nation built near the Boundary. Demon hunters who hunted demons. The army and knights who stopped the monsters and demons from crossing the Boundary into humannds. People of various backgrounds and factions. Where people could reach, and where people lived, they naturally gathered. After walking for a while, Najin arrived at a tavern. It was a tavern, supply depot, inn, and guild. Najin understood it as more of a ¡°base,¡± solving every type of need under the guise of being just a tavern. Supplies piled high in the tavern were transported across the Ound by coachmen. ¡°They¡¯re not horses, but monsters.¡± Ordinary horses couldn¡¯t function here, so only improved breeds or monsters drew the carriages. Watching this, Najin stepped into the tavern. Creeeak. As he pushed open the door, everyone inside turned to Najin, as if to see who had entered. He looked back at them. A wide variety of people gathered in the tavern. Knights d in armor, Mercenaries in light gear, Hunters pulling out tools to fix. Najin met their gaze. Their initial scrutiny turned into curiosity since he was a new face to them. ¡°Who¡¯s this? A rookie?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Maybe someone new to the ranks.¡± ¡°To the Eastern Front? Man, that¡¯s a tough ce.¡± ¡°Could be a knight.¡± ¡°Nah, can¡¯t be. No armor. Knights live for their armor crests. If not armor, at least greaves or shoulder guards.¡± Ignoring Najin, they chattered among themselves. Their voices droned on as he walked to the tavern keeper and handed him some gold coins. ¡°I want to hunt wyverns. Can you tell me where to go?¡± The keeper quietly looked at Najin, then took only two of the five coins and gave a brief reply. ¡°First time in the Ound?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Hunting wild wyverns is easy, but finding them is the hard part. If you¡¯re set on hunting wyverns, I could introduce you to a battlefield, but¡­¡± The keeper scanned Najin up and down. ¡°I can¡¯t rmend it.¡± ¡°May I ask why?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a dangerous ce, especially for a rookie like you. If youe back dead, it¡¯d ruin my mood, and those guys will curse me.¡± He smirked bitterly, pointing behind Najin. A group of men holding sses walked up and set them down next to Najin. ¡°Keeper, you were going to suggest the Hodgkin Front, right? That¡¯s where the wyvern squad frequently appears.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°But he can¡¯t go there. He¡¯ll die for sure.¡± ¡°Hey, rookie. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯ve done ind, but starting on the battlefield isn¡¯t a good idea. You don¡¯t know the habits of the monsters here. It¡¯s not easy.¡± Their advice was genuine, not territorial. Listening carefully, Najin then pulled out a ne from under his clothes and handed it to the keeper. A White-rank badge. Recognizing the badge, the keeper narrowed his eyes. This badge indicated that Najin was a powerful Sword Seeker and highly experienced. Suspecting something, the keeper frowned and questioned Najin. ¡°Your name?¡± ¡°Najin.¡± Upon hearing this, the keeper¡¯s eyes widened, and one of the men who had joined in the conversation slowly tilted his head. He muttered ¡°Najin¡± repeatedly before sighing. ¡°Najin¡­ The youngest Sword Seeker?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t Sir Karan the youngest Sword Seeker?¡± ¡°You¡¯re slow on the news. That record was broken a few weeks ago. Read the papers.¡± ¡°Broken? By how much?¡± ¡°Eighteen years old.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Eighteen.¡± The questioner fell silent. The men who had joined in the conversation, along with the tavern patrons sipping their drinks, turned their gaze to Najin. Even if the Outer Land residents didn¡¯t care about news from the continent, the youngest Sword Seeker was an exception. It had been a major event that rocked the Empire, drawing the interest of all warriors. ¡°The Hodgkin Front. Can you introduce me?¡± With an amused smile, the keeper brought out a few papers. ¡°So, you want to join our squad?¡± The wyvern-hunting squad at the Hodgkin Front. The squad leader, Gillet Reginfert, lit a cigarette as he studied the boy in front of him. Even though Sword Seekers maintained a youthful appearance, the boy still looked quite young. ¡°The youngest Sword Seeker, Najin.¡± The keeper¡¯s letter introduced this boy as the one who had stirred up the Empire recently. So, he didn¡¯t just look young, he was young. ¡°What an honor. The Empire¡¯s youngest Sword Seeker wants to join our squad. Why?¡± ¡°I want to experience hunting wyverns.¡± ¡°A clear reason. So, how many battles will you join?¡± Najin nodded, and Gillet burst intoughter. ¡°An oddball. Coming to the Outer Land just to hunt wyverns and immediately signing up for the army.¡± ¡°I want to know how to bring down flying monsters, but there¡¯s nothing suitable ind.¡± ¡°Nothing more thrilling than wyverns, that¡¯s for sure.¡± He muttered that he liked the clear purpose and signaled Najin to follow. ¡°If you¡¯re not staying with us for years, I can¡¯t teach you our techniques. You¡¯ll probably head back in about ten days, right?¡± Walking on, Gillet continued. ¡°This is a battlefield. It¡¯s not the ce to teach or babysit a rookie. I¡¯ll show you, but don¡¯t expect any special help.¡± He flicked away his spent cigarette and nced back at Najin. ¡°If you¡¯re in the way, I¡¯ll kick you out.¡± He would only allow Najin to stand on the battlefield with them, but nothing more. At that moment, bells rang through the front. The wyvern squad had appeared. Gillet clicked his tongue. ¡°Great timing. Let¡¯s go.¡± The Demon King, ruler of demons. Where there is a ruler, there is an army. The Wyvern Unit was one such force. And wherever an army appeared, it was, naturally, on the battlefield. ng, ng! ¡ºPush forward!¡» Crunch, crack. ¡ºAaaagh!¡» ¡ºPush! Push them back!¡» ¡ºLeft wing, iing from the left wing!¡» The shing of spears and swords. The loud roars echoed everywhere. The ce Najin had reached with Gillet was nothing short of a battlefield. Soldiers maintained the frontline, while knights roamed between them. ¡ºWyverns! The Wyvern Unit is here!¡» There, Najin also saw his target. Shadows draped over the ground, the wyverns flying high above, ridden by demons. This was the Wyvern Unit, their military force. Najin nced to his side. Alongside him stood the Wyvern Hunting Squad, led by Gillet. They were guerri fighters focused exclusively on handling the Wyvern Unit. ¡°We¡¯re going.¡± With a brief order, Gillet gestured. In response, some members ntedrge ballistae into the ground, while others dragged chains with a metallic clink. Stakes were attached to the ends of the chains. Najin watched them carefully. After all, the reason he came was to learn how to hunt ¡°flying targets,¡± and those who made a living hunting wyverns would make an excellent guide. Soon, the squad began moving one by one. Thwump! Najin didn¡¯t focus on those starting to intercept with the ballistae. He focused instead on those with the chains. How would they hunt those flying targets in the distance without ranged weapons? Unless a Sword Master, one couldn¡¯t cut down a target dozens of meters away or bring down flying monsters. A swordsman who hadn¡¯t transcended could only cut where the sword and sword aura could reach. An insurmountable gap between them. The gulf between the sky and the ground. How could it be bridged? Clink! A soldier standing next to Gillet showed Najin the answer. He grabbed the chain and ran across the battlefield, twirling it. Then, he kicked off the ground with a mighty leap and hurled the chain high into the sky. The stake flew swiftly and lodged itself into the wyvern¡¯s hide, and he shot upward using the chain¡¯s recoil. Wrapping the chain around him as he twisted in the air, the soldier ascended. He wasn¡¯t the only one. Every soldier twirled their chains and started running across the battlefield. The unit¡¯s mage focused not on the wyverns themselves, but on creating footholds for the soldiers to jump and leap from. Those manning therge ballistae anchored the chain-bound arrows into the cliffs. They set up a web, like a. The soldiers began running along this web. Some dashed across the battlefield, while others raced across the chains firmly fixed to the cliffs. The only distinguishing feature among them was the stake and chain in their hands. ¡°Hey, rookie.¡± Najin turned to see Gillet smirking at him, themander of the Wyvern Hunting Squad. He tossed a chain stake to Najin. ¡°If you can¡¯t unleash sword aura for dozens of meters, this chain stake is essential for hunting wyverns. You can borrow it.¡± Gillet shrugged. ¡°But it takes at least a month of practice just to twirl the chain, so it¡¯s not going to be¡ª¡± Before he could finish speaking, Najin brushed past him. Gillet bitterly smirked, thinking, ¡°Charging in with all that enthusiasm, huh?¡± ¡®It won¡¯t be that easy.¡¯ There was a reason the Wyvern Hunting Squad existed. Handling chain stakes wasn¡¯t simple, and hitting a wyvern mid-flight was even harder. Only soldiers who spent years mastering chain stakes could join this squad. People said the youngest Sword Seeker had turned the Empire on its head, but a battlefield demanded not talent, but skill and quick decisions. Just charging in won¡¯t cut it. Gillet was about to click his tongue when¡ª Clink, twirl. Najin began spinning the chain stake. Gillet narrowed his eyes at that moment. He stopped spinning his own chain and stared intently at Najin. The grip on the chain, the holding technique, the spinning speed, and the stake¡¯s angle¡­ The more he examined these elements, the more he squinted. Something felt off. This boy was on the battlefield for the first time and had just received a chain stake, right? So, what was that movement? Every action was precise. Refined. Not like a rookie. The boy looked like a veteran who¡¯d spent years with the Wyvern Squad. Was Gillet imagining things? But that thought quickly disappeared. Thwack! Thwump! Najin kicked off the ground and hurled the stake. It cut through the air and deeply pierced the wyvern¡¯s belly. Najin then used the chain¡¯s recoil to shoot upward. In the air, he twisted his body and wrapped the chain around himself, elerating. Every movement was wless. Even to Gillet, themander, there was nothing wrong. ¡°Heh.¡± Gillet Reginfert let out a hollow chuckle. ¡°Is he out of his mind?¡± Chapter 110 Chapter 110 ¨C Beyond the World, Ound (4) Najin pulled on the chain stake and thought to himself. The strategy was indeed effective. As expected of a squad that specialized in hunting wyverns, their tactics were perfect for this purpose. Wyverns, as creatures that shared some of the dragon¡¯s blood, had both high resistance and innate senses. They could detect the flow of mana and evade spells while airborne, making it difficult to hit them with magic. Large ballista arrows faced the same issue. They were tough to aim urately and, even if they hit, couldn¡¯t inflict significant damage. Only a marksman of Sword Seeker caliber couldnd such shots, but they weren¡¯tmon, so this wasn¡¯t a standard solution. ¡°So, their strategy is¡­¡± Closebat using chain stakes. Whether running up the chains or jumping after them and throwing the stakes, they aimed to approach as close as possible to the wyverns before throwing. The target was the wyvern¡¯s unscaled underbelly or the wing membranes. Once the stake was embedded, they could use the chain¡¯s recoil to leap onto the wyvern¡¯s back. It was dangerous and required considerable skill. But once on top, with the wyvern within reach of their des, it was then up to the warriors. Clench. Najin wrapped the chain around himself and grabbed the stake buried in the wyvern¡¯s underbelly. He didn¡¯t need to watch the Wyvern Squad to know how to move next. Hisbat experience told him what to do. Najin adjusted his posture, using the recoil of his body. Like a bat hanging from a cave ceiling, he gripped the stake with one hand while using both feet to step onto the wyvern¡¯s underbelly. The stance was precarious, but it didn¡¯t matter since he was about to stabilize. Holding the stake with one hand, he now needed to decide what to do with the other. Najin was a swordsman, and there was only one thing swordsmen did. Thrust. He plunged his sword in reverse grip into the wyvern¡¯s underbelly. Unscaled, the wyvern¡¯s underbelly was pierced easily by the sword wrapped in sword aura. ¡º¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!¡» Blood spurted as the wyvern screamed. But the wound was shallow. The wyvern¡¯s hide was thick, and the sword was too short to reach the organs inside. It would take a long time to kill it this way, and holding onto a rampaging wyvern bleeding profusely was no easy task. It was also inefficient. With dozens of wyverns flying around, this would be endless. Najin had no intention of getting bogged down in a battle of attrition. The sword was only used to keep his bnce. Blood sprayed, and the wyvern began to thrash. Ignoring that, Najin ran along the wyvern¡¯s underbelly. More urately, he leaped repeatedly. Pulling the sword out, plunging it back in, and repeating, he climbed up the wyvern. Thump. He crossed the underbelly and stepped onto the scales. It was done. The scales were bumpy, and there was no longer a need to stab with the sword. Finding gaps in the scales, Najin quickly ascended to the wyvern¡¯s back. ¡°¡­!¡± Najin locked eyes with the orc rider gripping the reins. The wide-eyed orc grabbed an ax from his back, but it was already toote. Slice. Najin¡¯s sword shed, and the orc¡¯s head rolled. Najin kicked the corpse off the wyvern and exhaled. The rider was down, but the wyvern continued to thrash. Its underbelly had been stabbed, leaving it in a frenzy. ¡°Next¡­¡± Najin turned his gaze to the wyvern¡¯s scales. He could feel the resistance in the shiny scales that disrupted sword aura. Although most magical creatures had natural resistance, the wyvern¡¯s scales surpassed Najin¡¯s expectations. It wasn¡¯t easy to inflict deep wounds with normal sword strikes. Najin, who had mainly fought humans, didn¡¯t know how to handle such arge creature. But he didn¡¯t need to worry for long. There was a clue close by. He looked around and saw a soldier on another wyvern, wielding a de. Najin watched how that soldier used his weapon. They persistently dug into a corner, pried off the scales, and widened the wound before delivering a final blow to break the bones. Najin silently observed and then adjusted his grip on his sword. sh, sh, sh! The sword aura wrapped around the constetion gleamed brightly. A red line appeared from the wyvern¡¯s spine to its nape, and blood sshed out. The wyvern thrashed even more violently. It twisted its body to throw Najin off, but¡ª Clench! With his sword plunged into its back, Najin ran down the wyvern. Scales fell off, and blood sprayed everywhere. As he twisted his sword, the wound widened, revealing the bones. Ah, so this is how it¡¯s done. Najin swung his sword at the bones leading from the spine to the neck. With a slice, the bone was cut, and blood vessels were severed. The wyvern¡¯s movement abruptly halted. The wyvern dropped. Leaping off its back, Najin twirled his chain stake. With the next target nearby, he didn¡¯t need to throw it far. With a solid grasp on things, Najin began to rampage. Gillet Reginfert,mander of the Wyvern Hunting Squad, looked up at the sky in a daze. There stood a lone swordsman making his presence known. ¡º¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!¡» The wyvern¡¯s scream echoed across the battlefield. Its anguished cries and the blood sprayed everywhere. A single soldier who brought down even one wyvern was praised, but that swordsman had already downed three and was still moving toward a new target. ¡®Who the hell is this kid?¡¯ Najin, the youngest Sword Seeker. Despite ying three wyverns, the boy wasn¡¯t worn out but was moving even faster. He hurled the chain stake and climbed onto the wyvern¡¯s back, quickly butchering it. As if he had gotten the hang of it. He shed through a wing and ran along the spine to sever the wyvern¡¯s neck. The first time, he cut the spine, but from the third wyvern on, he started cutting through the neck in one blow. ¡®That¡¯s not something you can cut easily.¡¯ Even as a Sword Seeker, it was tough to slice through the wyvern¡¯s scales and sever its neck in one blow. Though Gillet was also a Sword Seeker, he couldn¡¯t always cut through the wyvern¡¯s neck unless he got very lucky. A sword would have tond precisely between the scales. The state of the sword aura also had to be perfect. Watching this boy make such a difficult task seem so effortless, Gillet chuckled dryly. He felt something from Najin¡ªa feeling only a soldier like Gillet who had spent years on the battlefield could recognize. ¡®From living on the battlefield¡­¡¯ After staying on the battlefield long enough, you asionally see someone like him. Those who possess something beyond ¡°talent,¡± with an innate sense forbat itself. They instinctively make the best move in every situation. Without ever being taught, they intuitively choose the right answer. They leap over the skills and judgment that ordinary people hone for years with a single gut feeling. Most survivors on the battlefield were like that, and Gillet knew a few of them. With a bitter smile, he muttered, ¡°It makes the rest of us look like fools¡­¡± Difficult to learn. ¡°I¡¯ll kick you out if you¡¯re a nuisance.¡± Those warnings turned out to bepletely useless. Then again, he was a peerless genius who had broken the record of the monstrous Sword Saint. An extraordinary figure had appeared. Thinking this, Gillet looked up at the sky. By now, the Wyvern Unit was retreating. ¡°You did well.¡± After returning to the barracks following the battle, Najin found himself facing Gillet. Looking somewhat sheepish, Gillet rubbed the back of his neck before extending his hand. ¡°Thanks to you, we suffered fewer casualties, and the Wyvern Unit retreated faster than usual, which greatly helped us maintain the front line. We owe it to you.¡± Najin took Gillet¡¯s outstretched hand. After a firm handshake, Gillet smiled bitterly. ¡°You fought brilliantly, despite not being taught any of this. You¡¯re the only one who¡¯s ever brought down five wyverns in a single battle. The soldiers were dumbfounded.¡± Najin had chased after the retreating Wyvern Unit, bringing down one more wyvern. The soldiers had burst outughing at the sight of the wyverns fleeing. ¡°How long did you say you¡¯ll stay?¡± ¡°About ten days.¡± ¡°Ten days, right. To be honest, I wish I could recruit you into our army somehow¡­ but if the Sword Masters couldn¡¯t take you, there¡¯s no way we¡¯d be able to.¡± Gillet shrugged. ¡°I¡¯m Gillet Reginfert. I¡¯ll be counting on you for the next ten days.¡± ¡°Najin. I¡¯ll be in your care.¡± Gillet¡¯s gaze toward Najin had be friendly. Najin had proven his worth in battle, and from amander¡¯s perspective, apetent soldier was always wee. Even if Najin were just a mercenary temporarily staying on the battlefield, that fact didn¡¯t change. Though an outsider, Najin was recognized as part of the Wyvern Hunting Squad for those ten days. The soldiers treated him warmly, and whenever they had spare time, they taught him various tricks with the chain stakes. ¡°Grab the chain in the middle like this. You don¡¯t have to nt the stake. Just wrap it like this¡­¡± ¡°Like this?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ huh?¡± Seeing Najin quickly pick up techniques after just a few demonstrations, some widened their eyes, while others chuckled in disbelief. Najin repaid them by applying the skills he learned directly on the battlefield. Time passed that way. Gradually ustomed to the battlefield after spending several days there, Najin spoke to Merlin. ¡°Surprisingly, there¡¯s not much of a difference here.¡± When he first set foot in the Ound, it had felt like a chaotd where all manner of monsters roamed. However, after spending some time here, it didn¡¯t seem much different from the outside. Of course, that didn¡¯t count the constant gaze of the constetions and the fact that battlefields surrounded him everywhere. -We¡¯re on the outskirts. Merlin briefly answered his murmuring. -If you go a little deeper, you¡¯ll see a world of difference. But it¡¯s better not to head in there yet. You¡¯re not ready for that ce without a star. Let¡¯s get a feel for it here and then head back. Merlin¡¯s muttering didn¡¯t fully register with Najin. After all, hunting the supposedly notorious Wyvern Unit wasn¡¯t too difficult, and he hadn¡¯t encountered any particrly formidable foes despite the Outer Land¡¯s fearsome reputation. -Well, that¡¯s just because you¡¯re lucky. Merlin sighed at Najin¡¯s thoughts. -Variables always strike out of nowhere. And. Her grim prophecy came true. On the seventh day on the battlefield, Najin immediately sensed something was off. The enemy troops and the number of wyverns felt different. Their numbers were fewer. Only the bare minimum appeared on the battlefield. It didn¡¯t take long for the soldiers to understand why. The enemy¡¯s forces were barely a tenth of their usual strength, yet they seemed brimming with confidence rather than fear. The reason was clear. Among them was someone who made up for theirck of numbers¡ªa single entity who surpassed the entire army. A woman appeared in the midst of the scattered Wyvern Unit. Long, flowing red hair. Burning crimson eyes. Not on a wyvern but floating in the air atop a staff. Behind her floated seven crimson circles. When the soldiers realized these were the ¡°rings¡± or circles the mages spoke of, chaos ensued. ¡ºRetreat! Retreat!¡» ¡ºFall back! Mage units, to your positions!¡» ¡ºAaaargh!¡» ¡ºSummon Sir Kirchhoff! Signal him immediately! Get him here!¡» ¡ºA witch! The witch has appeared!¡» The battlefield was thrown into chaos. Commanders ordered a retreat, and soldiers and knights began to fall back, forgetting to maintain their ranks. They had to. This woman was a nightmare etched into the soldiers¡¯ memories. One who had allied with demons and joined the Demon King¡¯s army, just to burn humans. The demons called her Flicker. Humankind called her the Witch. -The Flickering Witch. Merlin¡¯s voice echoed in Najin¡¯s ear. -The Flickering Witch, Ermina. The battlefield was overturned the moment the witch appeared. She alone ruled the battlefield, bending the flow to her will. As the troops retreated, Najin saw it. Fwoosh. Behind the witch, the seven circles ignited. The ming circles spun like rings of fire, illuminating the sky in crimson. As the rings, wrapped in me, turned the sky red, the witch gestured. mes flickered from her fingertips. A 7th-circle spell, Fire Demon. A massive ze swallowed the battlefield. The fire didn¡¯t spare friend or foe, reducing everything to ashes. Dozens of humans and monsters alike turned to cinders in an instant. Ash fluttered. The heat made the scenery shimmer. Among the chaos, the witch and Najin locked eyes. The witch¡¯s crimson whirlpool of eyes met Najin¡¯s dusk-colored gaze. ¡°Well, shit.¡± Standing beside Najin, Gillet gritted his teeth. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll be retiring after twenty years.¡± Chapter 111 Chapter 111 ¨C Beyond the World, Ound (5) Witches, a race born from the mystical. They appear no different from ordinary humans at first nce, but there was a reason they were ssified as a special species known as witches. Although resembling humans, witches were fundamentally different. However, they were not initially referred to as witches. -A race beloved by magic. -Born from the mystical, the essence of mystery itself. -A race granted the right to perform miracles by the world itself. These were phrases used to describe them until a witch embodying the apocalypse appeared. Reflecting on the words Merlin once muttered, Najin looked up at the sky. There she was, the witch. Her red hair reminiscent of mes. Her red eyes. Her pale skin marred by soot. The woman, evoking mes and seated on her staff, floated in the sky, expressionlessly burning people alive. The heat generated by the mes, The shimmering heat haze, The remnants of people turned to ash. All of it felt as if it were part of the witch. Would this be what humans looked like if they were made of fire? Such a thought flickered through Najin¡¯s mind. -Run. A cold voice. Merlin¡¯s chilling voice echoed in Najin¡¯s ears. ncing sideways, he saw Merlin looking sternly at the sky. -She¡¯s not an enemy you can handle. Run. Don¡¯t even look back. Hurry. There are those whose voices grow colder and moreposed the more urgent the situation. Merlin was one of those people, and right now, her voice carried the lowest temperature Najin had ever heard. -Flickering Witch, Ermina. -A witch who had reached the 8th circle, the realm of the Archmage, a thousand years ago. I thought I had destroyed all the circles and stars back then¡­ Merlin clicked her tongue. -As expected, those loved by magic found a way. It¡¯s the worst. Run fast. There should still be time before her next spell. Najin slowly nodded. He knew Merlin wasn¡¯t someone who reacted this way without reason. He trusted Merlin, and trusting her, he quickly made a decision. Thud. Najin promptly turned his head and prepared to flee, joining the retreating soldiers. Just as he was about to step forward, he nced sideways. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Silently standing there was Gillet. He hadn¡¯t moved an inch and was still looking up at the sky. ¡°Sir Gillet.¡± ¡°Ah, rookie.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going? The order was to retreat¡­¡± ¡°I would like to, but¡­¡± Gillet grimaced. ¡°Someone has to stay behind to buy time.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± ¡°If we leave as it is, it¡¯s an annihtion. I know what that¡¯s like; I¡¯ve been through it a few times.¡± Gillet Reginfert. As a soldier who had lived on the battlefield for many years, he knew exactly what he had to do. He had been in simr situations often, watching how his superiors or seniors acted. ¡®It¡¯s my turn now, isn¡¯t it.¡¯ Just as his seniors and superiors had done before. Now it was his turn. It was just that simple. Damn, looks like I¡¯m retiring today. Gillet sighed deeply and roughly ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°Listen.¡± Gillet shouted. Not to Najin, but to the Wyvern Hunting Squad following hismand. As he whipped out his chain with a swish, he announced. ¡°From now on, our squad will distract the Flickering Witch, Ermina. Do not approach her. Forget about intercepting. Focus solely on distracting her and buying time.¡± They couldn¡¯t win against such an asymmetric power. So, at the very least, drag it out. Allow our allies to retreat and call for reinforcements while you hold the witch¡¯s attention. ¡°Until Sir Kirchoff steps onto the battlefield, our squad will hold her off.¡± Given the enemy had brought out asymmetric forces, Someone had to buy time until allied asymmetric forces arrived on the battlefield. That role had fallen to their Squad, as Gillet dered. The soldiers of the Wyvern Hunting Squad, resolute in their expressions, stood firmly beside Gillet. As they brandished their famed chain spikes, Gillet motioned to Najin. ¡°Hey, rookie.¡± Gillet held a cigarette between his fingers. No need to light it; the surrounding ash was enough to ignite it as he brought the cigarette to its end. As he smoked, he turned to Najin. ¡°Go on. You¡¯ve worked hard these past seven days.¡± He gave a wry smile. Najin was just a mercenary who hade to aid; he had no duty or obligation to risk his life on this battlefield. Thus, Gillet waved his hand, urging him to escape. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Najin remained silent. -Hurry. Merlin¡¯s urging, the roaring mes, And Gillet at the forefront with soldiers prepared to die. In contrast, soldiers fleeing, echoing screams, and voices continuously calling for retreat. ¡ºRetreat, retreat!¡» ¡ºHurry!¡» ¡ºRun away!¡» Caught in that flow, Najin was pushed forward. He had not yet reached the transcendent realm; on the battlefield, Najin was just an individual swept along by a vast current. Unlike the witch floating in the sky. Najin, unlike the witch, could neither dominate the battlefield nor wield a formidable presence like hers. The youngest Sword Seeker. A great achievement, but on the battlefield, Najin was nothing more than a remarkable soldier. That was the difference between a Sword Seeker and a Master who had reached transcendence. ¡®I know.¡¯ Boom, Najin stepped forward. Maintaining his bnce among the retreating soldiers, he stood firm, not allowing himself to be swept away by the current. ¡®I know it¡¯s right to run, that I¡¯m no match for her, that it¡¯s a fight I can¡¯t win.¡¯ He knew all this, yet. If you ask whether I¡¯ll run because of that, I cannot easily voice my answer. Do I always flee when faced with a formidable foe? Do I run and retreat because there¡¯s no chance of victory until I reach the Sword Master¡¯s realm? No, that¡¯s not it. That would be meaningless. Who would call such a person a hero? The Great Hero Arthur never fled in any battlefield. Arthur always struggled, resisted, and despite being utterly destroyed, he ultimately won. That¡¯s why Arthur was called a Great Hero. Najin wanted to be such a hero, not an ordinary human who seeks to survive by running away. -¡­¡­ Merlin no longer shouted for Najin to flee. His monologue, his emotions, had reached her. As she fell silent, Najin thought to himself. ¡®Merlin.¡¯ -Speak. ¡®What if I jump in, assuming I can just buy some time?¡¯ I know I can¡¯t beat the witch. But this isn¡¯t a duel; it¡¯s a war. Defeating the opponent isn¡¯t the only way to win. -Sigh¡­ Merlin sighed deeply. -Honestly, I don¡¯t rmend it. It¡¯s too dangerous. Do you understand? You could die. You¡¯re facing a witch, one who has lived since the era I was active. ¡®I understand.¡¯ -You understand, yet you still want to fight? Najin¡¯s silence affirmed his intent. Merlin, as if driven mad, brushed her hair back. Somehow, this situation felt familiar to her. -Arthur and you, neither of you know the value of life. Well, then¡­ She didn¡¯t finish her thought. Having vented enough, sheposed herself and looked at Najin with a settled gaze, saying, -The choice is yours. -Whatever you decide, finding the best path forward is my responsibility. -Go ahead and do what you want. Merlin chuckled. -I¡¯ll help ensure you don¡¯t die. ¡®Thank you.¡¯ -If you¡¯re grateful, do well, at least. Grumbling, Merlin began to exin how to confront a witch. Advice from the Archmage who had shattered countless witches¡¯ circles and unravelled their mysteries. Najin listened intently to her voice as he raised his foot, which he had nted firmly on the ground. The flow created by the retreating soldiers. Against that current, Najin took a step towards where the witch was. Though not yet strong enough to reverse the flow, he was at least able to resist it as if to say so. Gillet Reginfert. A veteran soldier who had survived decades on the battlefield and had reached the level of a Sword Seeker. He was aware that themanders of the ¡®Wyvern Hunting Squad,¡¯ often known as the Chain Squad, typically met grim ends. It was inevitable. The Chain Squad wasprised of elite soldiers used as a rapid response force. And, as is typical for such units, the Squad was tasked with immediately responding to unexpected situations. Just like now. Gillet puffed on his cigarette, contorting his expression. ¡®Never gets old, really.¡¯ A Sword Seeker is undeniably a formidable figure. However, staying in this ursed Ound teaches you that a Sword Seeker is nothing particrly specialpared to the ancient heroes, monstrous beings, and constetions that roam this ce. Legendary figures from mythical times. And creatures that appear as if plucked from legends. This Ound is such a ce. Just consider the witch currently hovering in the sky. Isn¡¯t she proof that Sword Seekers are merely small figures before such colossal entities? Yet even small beings can¡­ Whoosh. Draw the attention of these monstrous figures. Gillet knew this to be true. ¡°Now.¡± The moment the Flickering Witch, Ermina, was about to unleash another spell. Led by Gillet, the Chain Squad flung their chains towards the sky. Anchoring their chains on the battlefield¡¯s wall, they began to propel themselves upwards. The witch frowned and waved her hand lightly. mes followed her gesture, melting the chains and engulfing the airborne soldiers. While some turned to ck ash and fell, others managed tounch themselves up sessfully. They had forced the witch to waste a move. Considering that each of her gestures could sweep away dozens, if not hundreds of soldiers, this was not a bad trade. Gillet had to think this way; such considerations were necessary to endure on the battlefield. Swirl, and Gillet twirled his chain. He wasn¡¯t about to ask his subordinates to sacrifice themselves without doing the same. He, too, was prepared to die. Weaving through the air and drawing the witch¡¯s attention, his troops did the same. A single mistake could mean death. Even without mistakes, death was imminent. If so, they might as well struggle as much as they could. A massive wave of fire swept over the cliff. The wall melted down and softened like heated mud. Narrowly avoiding the mes, Gillet chuckled. After all, wasn¡¯t she a monstrous mage? ¡°A monster is matched by a monster.¡± If Sir Kirchoff arrives. If that monstrous man reaches the battlefield, then the tide will turn again. Until then, he would continue to struggle. With that thought, Gillet sprinted off the cliff. Whoosh! Each wave of intense heat that swept the area brought down more soldiers who had dared to ascend. To hold the witch¡¯s attention for just a few more seconds, a soldier¡¯s life had to be sacrificed. Gillet kicked off the wall. He kicked and kicked again. But even he had an end. As Gillet ran along his chain, he suddenly met the witch¡¯s gaze. She was looking right at him. Those ominous red eyes met his, and Gillet sensed his impending death. 5th circle Spell, Scorching Ray. Red mes surrounded the witch. Concentrated beams of heat shot forth. It wasn¡¯t just one beam. The number of circles shemanded indicated how many spells she could cast simultaneously. Screeching! Seven beams targeted Gillet. There was no escape. Evasion was impossible. As the beams rapidly closed in, the moment he sensed his death was upon him. Bang, he heard. It wasn¡¯t something exploding behind him; rather, someone had kicked off the wall and was rushing towards him. Something wasing from behind faster than the searing beams. And then, a sh. Gillet saw a light streak past him. It was a constetion of white and gold. Why was a constetion, which should be in the sky, right in front of him? Btedly, Gillet realized it was someone¡¯s sword aura, someone who had grabbed him by the neck and swung their sword. Screeching intensified! The sword aura collided with the beams. Sparks flew, and fragments of the sword aura scattered around. As he was flung backward by the neck, Gillet finally saw the owner of the sword aura. The youngest Sword Seeker, Najin. He had returned to the battlefield after being swept away with the retreating troops. Clenching his teeth, Najin swung his sword mightily. He managed to deflect three of the seven beams and quickly moved out of position. Screech! The remaining four beams pierced through where Najin had just stood. The wall melted down, forming arge hole, and Najinnded smoothly on the ground. ¡°You¡­¡± As Gilletnded and turned to look at Najin, he almost asked why he had returned. But before he could, Najin spoke. ¡°That Kirchoff person.¡± A brief mention he had overheard. A powerful ally who could turn the tide of the battle. Referencing the context of an allied reinforcement, Najin asked, ¡°When will he arrive? I think we need to know how long we need to hold out.¡± ¡°¡­About fifteen minutes at most.¡± ¡°Fifteen minutes, I see.¡± Najin took a deep breath. He raised his head to look at the witch. Meeting her gaze, Najin smirked. ¡°Let¡¯s give it a try.¡± At that moment, the witch pointed at Najin. Seven circles glowed simultaneously, turning the sky red. There was no time for a lengthy discussion. Gillet and Najin dispersed. Chapter 112 Chapter 112 ¨C Beyond the World, Ound (6) The Flickering Witch, Ermina. Little was known about the witch from the mythic era who had lived for at least a thousand years. It was known she had devoted herself to the Demon King¡¯s army. Her life¡¯s purpose was to incinerate humanity. And, that she was a 7th circle mage. Generally, a 7th circle mage was considered infinitely close to transcendence but had not achieved it. The gap between those who had transcended and those who had not was significant and could not be ignored. However, no one, not even those who had transcended, referred to Ermina, the Flickering Witch, as a mere mortal who hadn¡¯t transcended. The constetions that fell into her hands testified to her strength. -I¡¯ve already experienced transcendence as a mage. -I might have shattered all the circles, but that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ve forgotten how to handle magic and knowledge. Whatever method she used to restore her circles was unknown, Merlin sighed deeply. -What you see before you is a transcendent. Merlin asserted. 8th circle, unable to wield the transcended magic, but undoubtedly a transcendent, no different from a Sword Master. -And, a transcended witch is annoyingly troublesome. Remember? Witches are a race of cheaters. She pointed to the sky. There were seven circles in the sky, and the mes they created as they rotated dyed the sky red. -Experience it now. -After all, it¡¯s the battlefield you must stand on someday. The witch gestured. Her pale fingers shed through the air. While ordinary human gestures merely cut through the air in front of them, those of a transcendent could slice through thendscape. 7th circle spell, Fire Demon. The witch merely gestured lightly as if swatting away annoying insects, but the mes that rippled from her fingertips seemed slightly different. mes surged. mes undted. The crimson mes swept across the battlefield. Even a 5th circle spell was called a siege spell, but what should one call the spells above that? Najin could finally satisfy his curiosity at this moment. ¡°Crazy.¡± A wave of fire tens of meters high was rolling toward him. Fortunately, the mes did not target the retreating soldiers, but unfortunately, they were aimed precisely at Najin. Boom! Najin kicked off the ground and ran. The wave of mes chased after Najin as if it were alive. The ground burned. Rocks melted. Where the mes passed, not even soot remained. They either burned to ash or melted away without a trace. To be caught was to die. To touch it meant even body reinforcement would melt away. Najin was certain of this. Thus, Najin kicked off a wall and sprinted with all his might. Fire Demon was a spell meant to sweep over a wide area, and if he sprinted with all his power, he could escape its range. -That¡¯s just a id¡¯ spell. But of course. -It¡¯sing. Get ready. The witch couldn¡¯t possibly be unaware of this fact. Najin clenched his sword tightly as he ran. He felt it not with his sight but with his senses¡ªthe swirling mana above his head. 5th circle spell, Scorching Ray. 4th circle spell, Fireball. It wasn¡¯t just one spell. Two spells were cast simultaneously. Seven scorching rays and seven fireballs were fired at Najin. As he kicked off the wall and ran, he swung his sword without even looking. As Najin reached the pinnacle of the Sword Seeker¡¯s realm, his senses sharpened further, and he could sense where the swirling mana would head, even without using his eyes. Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeng! The scorching ray trying to pierce Najin¡¯s skull was blocked by his sword. The ray split into two, passing by either side of Najin. Seeing the melted cliffs, Najin clicked his tongue. ¡°Just a scratch, and it¡¯s a goner.¡± And there were seven of those scorching rays. He had only managed to deflect one so far. Feeling the clinging scorching rays, Najin clicked his tongue again. However, it wasn¡¯t just the heat rays he needed to block. Kwaaaaaaaaaaang! As Najin kicked off the ground, a fireball impacted where he had just been standing. The 3-meter-diameter fireball created a crater at its impact site, and the explosion sent rocks flying in all directions. And the fireball didn¡¯t stop at one. Fireballs targeted where Najin stood, where he could step, where he could flee to, all at the same time. Any hesitation or vulnerability would result in the chasing scorching rays piercing his body. And if he were to leap far in his escape? If he were to kick off a cliff and step on the ground? Then he would simply be swallowed up by the 7th circle spell Fire Demon waiting below. Is this how mages fight? Laying out a all around, reducing the space to step, driving into a corner. Truly, it¡¯s exasperating. ¡®Eventually, ites down to a choice.¡¯ Najin gritted his teeth. No space to step? No ce to flee? Then, just make one. Bang. Najin kicked off the ground and charged forward. Without thinking of dodging, he thrust his body into the path of the fireball. Kwaaaaaaaaaaang! With a loud noise, the fireball impacted Najin. Dust and dirt rose with the mes, but soon, cutting through the dust, Najin emerged. He had swung his sword at the moment of impact, minimizing the damage and escaping. He was not unscathed, of course. His body bore soot, and the palm holding his sword had melted and stuck to the hilt. He had simply made a choice. To minimize damage and find a way to survive. Brushing aside the mes, Najin gasped for breath, his eyes wide open. Blood rushed through his veins. His body elerated beyond its limits. Sliding down the cliff, he swung his sword. His sword, wrapped in constetions, shed brilliantly. Drawing a white trajectory, it sliced through the fireball and split the scorching ray. Kicking off the wall and charging forward, Najin countered each of the witch¡¯s spells one by one. At a nce, it seemed like he was holding his own against the witch¡­ Najin sensed it as he swung his sword. Somehow, the witch¡¯s gaze had started to follow ¡®him¡¯. She no longer saw him as just an annoying insect, but as a being to be pierced through and killed. Thud. The witch¡¯s hands, which had been dealing with Najin and a troop of chains, came to a halt. A moment of silence. Itsted only a second in time. When time moved again, it was when the witch¡¯s hands crossed. Her left and right hands collided. Snap, went the p. The sound that broke the silence was the moment that rang in Najin¡¯s ears. The swirling Fire Demon, the chasing spells, all of it scattered in that instant. But that did not mean they were gone. Just more efficiently utilized. The dispersed mes were split, divided, and disassembled, then reassembled. All of this happened in less than a second. If a mage had been there to witness this scene, they would have doubted their own eyes. A spell already cast. Now, that witch was disassembling and reconstructing it into apletely new spell. Magically impossible, defying rules, and mockingmon sense. This was an impossible feat even for the Archmage of the Empire, Cipria Gachevskaya. Yet, a being called a witch was effortlessly performing it. Because they are a race beloved by magic. Because they have been granted the right to break thews by the world itself. A spell reconstructed in less than a second. A 7th circle spell split into seven branches, then those split branches into seven more, and those seven into yet another seven¡­ Hundreds, thousands of me arrows. At that moment, faced with a vista filled with arrows wrought from fire, Najin couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. What it meant to receive the witch¡¯s attention, to be recognized as an enemy by her, Najin fully realized. Immediately. Thousands of arrows were fired at Najin. There was no ce to dodge. Surrounded on all sides by arrows, there was no escape. If that was the case, there was only one option left for Najin. Najin¡¯s eyes widened. Veins bulged in his eyes as his vision expanded. Holding his sword, Najin swung it repeatedly. There was no way to dodge, no means to block, so he struck as many as he could. That was the method Najin chose. With each swing of his sword, about a dozen arrows were split. Each individual arrow, fragmented again and again from the spell, was not very powerful. The problem was their number. He might have sliced through a dozen arrows with one swing. Papapapapak! Three missed arrows struck Najin¡¯s body. His skin burned. The searing pain shook his brain, yet Najin clenched his teeth and continued to swing his sword. He kept cutting down the arrows, but those he couldn¡¯t cut through pierced his body. There were over a thousand arrows. It wasn¡¯t just about slicing through the arrows; it felt like he was swinging his sword in front of a massive wave. In front of a wave, a mere human is powerless. Powerless, but not willing to be swept away by the wave. Swinging his sword, Najin constantly thought, adjusted the trajectory of his sword, and sought quicker and more concise movements. Screech, and thunk. Countless arrows were cut down, and countless arrows embedded in Najin¡¯s body. Protecting only his vitals, Najin swung his sword again and again. As if determined to cut through the wave itself, Najin did not retreat. ¡®Faster, more concise.¡¯ How much time had passed? A second? Ten seconds? It was indeterminable. All Najin did was focus on swinging his sword. He thought he had minimized his movements to their limit, but there was still room to pare them down further. Everything that could be reduced, was reduced. Thus, he swung his sword once more. Each time he swung his sword, the scattered constetions lingered like afterimages, and around Najin, it seemed as if stars surrounded him. And then, screech. Najin swung his sword broadly. The final wave split apart, and Najin¡¯s vision cleared. He gasped for breath, the breath he had been holding back. He had withstood a thousand me arrows. ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡± Of course, he was not unscathed. Dozens of arrows were lodged in his body. In his arms, legs, shoulders, corbones, abdomen, ribs¡­ He had avoided the vitals, but he looked no different from a porcupine. Skin melted. Flesh full of soot. Yet his eyes remained clear. Najin looked up at the sky. For the first time since the battle began, a change came over the witch¡¯s expression. With a frown, she watched Najin. ¡°You.¡± For the first time, the witch spoke. ¡°What exactly are you?¡± Ermina red at Najin. Displeasure, contempt, and irritation swirled in her red eyes. Receiving her gaze, Najin smirked. ¡°You¡¯re finally showing some interest.¡± A bug to be swept away. That was how the witch had regarded him, but now, she was addressing him directly. At this, Najin chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re crazy. It¡¯s a world full of crazy people, but you¡¯re in a league of your own. Strange. I¡¯m sure I¡¯ve never seen a human like you before¡­¡± Ermina¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°It feels familiar. What are you? Do you know me?¡± -I know you, crazy woman. Najin didn¡¯t respond, but Merlin did. Standing by Najin¡¯s side, Merlin curled her lips up and chuckled. -I crushed your circles into fine dust just the other day, how did you crawl back up? As always, living off your talent. Merlin raised her finger. Pointing from Ermina¡¯s shoulder to her calf, highlighting scars connected by past injuries, she muttered. -I should have pierced your heart back then. Her finger indicated the spot. Najin stomped the ground powerfully as he swung his sword. Naturally, the sword¡¯s reach wouldn¡¯t touch the witch floating in the sky. But Najin had seen it. The swords of Sword Masters that could cut distant targets without a sword aura. He had seen Karan¡¯s sword, Yuel¡¯s sword, and Gerd¡¯s sword. Picturing their movements in his mind, Najin swung his sword. Normally, it was not something that could be imitated by mimicry, movements that could not be followed. But now. Immersed in his sword, having swung it again and again until his senses were razor-sharp, Najin could mimic those movements, albeit slightly. Sssk! From Ermina¡¯s shoulder to her calf, a thin line traced the thousand-year-old scars Merlin had inflicted. Of course, the force was minimal, no more than a slight graze from the tip of the sword, and even that was blocked by the mes swirling around the witch. Compared to a Sword Master, it was a trivial strike. Yet, unmistakably, Najin¡¯s sword had reached the witch. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Ermina touched her shoulder where the scar was. A scar engraved by a monstrous mage a millennium ago. Looking at the swordsman who had followed the path of the scar with his swing, Ermina opened her mouth. ¡°Ahaha.¡± A smile formed at her lips. The witch burst intoughter. It was a mad cackle. Ermina stroked her face as sheughed crazily. ¡°You.¡± Then, thunk. Suddenly, theughter stopped. ¡°You won¡¯t die a pretty death.¡± The scar on her body. It was Ermina¡¯s critical weakness, and no human who had touched it had survived. Ermina snapped her fingers. Behind her, the eighth circle ascended. The eighth circle. A symbol akin to that of an archmage. The eighth circle that rose behind Ermina was charred, cracked, and some parts werepletely split. Essentially, it was a defective circle that could no longer function as one. A thousand years ago, it had been shattered by Merlin. Despite the passage of a millennium, Ermina had not been able to restore the eighth circle. Merlin had twisted Ermina¡¯s essence and trampled her mystique to ruins. Therefore, Ermina could never beplete. She had to retain her imperfection. She could not reach ascension. She would never touch transcendence again. Yet, she was an archmage who had already experienced transcendence, and despite losing everything, she had started from scratch and approached transcendence once more. Thus, she knew how to mimic transcendence. Stars twinkled in the sky. It was Ermina¡¯s star. Originally, of the five stars she possessed, four had been shattered by Merlin. Only one star remained. That one star illuminated Ermina¡¯s eighth circle. This was the solution Ermina had found. The shattered parts, the cracked sections, were reced by starlight. Thus, her lost eighth circle functionally returned, albeit temporarily. ¡°I don¡¯t know who you are or what you do.¡± Ermina¡¯s red eyes swirled. ¡°I¡¯ll burn your soul and all, you insolent brat.¡± 8th circle spell, Fluctuation. The sky churned. A massive torrent of mana swirled around her. Even the starlight seemed to burn in the witch¡¯s mes targeting Najin. And then, Najin, ¡°15 minutes.¡± Curled the corners of his mouth upwards. At the same time, the scenery split in half as someone intervened in the battlefield. Chapter 113 Chapter 113 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Beyond the World, Ound (7) 8th circle spell, Fluctuation. Eight fiery rings rotated fiercely. The sparks from the friction of the rings turned into fireworks, painting the sky red. From the moment the witch gestured, the sky was no longer blue or ck. Only red. A harsh, unrelenting red filled the sky. The sky, dyed blood red and seeming ready to melt at any moment, made Najin chuckle. Merlin was right. This was not an enemy he could face right now. How should he confront it? How should he defend against it? How should he evade it? Nothing came to mind. Even with the ability to foresee a short future, he couldn¡¯t think of a way. Even pulling out Excalibur wouldn¡¯t change the situation. Before the mes that could burn both heaven and earth, Najin was powerless. ¡®This is transcendence. This is a witch.¡¯ The witch standing alone under the red sky. Facing a transcendent who stood in a realm he could never reach at this moment, Najinughed. It wasn¡¯t augh of madness or hysteria. It was a sneer. A derisiveugh. Is this the realm you reached after carving away a thousand years? Did a thousand years ce you in that position? Yes, I acknowledge it. You are overwhelming. Right now, I can¡¯t see any way to reach you. But¡­ ¡°You¡¯re not much.¡± That¡¯s just for now. Don¡¯t think your thousand years willst forever. It only took 18 years to hold your thousand years for 15 minutes. -Yes, that¡¯s it. Merlin¡¯sughter. And the sound of someone kicking off the ground. Listening to that sound, Najin smiled. Najin had lost to the witch. His sword had not touched her, nor had he made her shed a drop of blood. It was aplete defeat, but it was not meaningless. 15 minutes. The time promised to Gillet. During that time, Najin had drawn the witch¡¯s attention, endured her gestures, and ultimately bought time. The time Najin bought was not in vain. Screech. Someone who would give meaning to that time appeared on the battlefield. With a quiet slicing sound, a line was drawn between Najin and the witch. A single line, along which a storm surged, pushing away the heat. Then, thud. Someone stepped into the battlefield between Najin and the witch. The step was light, but the presence was heavy. The moment the man appeared, the tilted scales bnced instantly. Sword Master of the Forgotten Kingdom, Kirchhoff. To face a transcendent, one must be a transcendent. A superhuman who reached transcendence with a single sword had arrived on the battlefield. Three hundred years ago, a country was destroyed by a fallen star. The destruction was silent, and the very existence of that country faded from people¡¯s memories. Such was the power of the star involved in the destruction. Oblivion and Erasure. A star with such powers destroyed a nation, wishing for its existence to vanish without a trace from the world. Normally, that wish would have been fulfilled. Memory, evidence, and trace. All should have disappeared. However, the star¡¯s wish was only half-fulfilled. The world forgot that the country had existed, but evidence of its existence did not vanish from history. Thus, the world remembered the country¡¯s existence through records and history. The forgotten country¡¯s name was Londinel. The Forgotten Kingdom, Londinel. The records of Londinel were notpletely erased because they were not regarded as mere fiction. This was all due to the existence of one man. Sword Master of the Forgotten Kingdom, Kirchhoff. The sole survivor of Londinel and the living proof that Londinel had existed. A Sword Master who, by wielding his sword, informed the world of that fact. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, witch.¡± Kirchhoff, who intervened in the battlefield, curled his lips into a smile. Najin, seeing the back of the man who appeared before him, instinctively realized that this was the ¡®Kirchhoff¡¯ Gillet had mentioned. ¡°¡­Kirchhoff.¡± Ermina, the Flickering Witch, frowned. She wrinkled her face and spat out the words. ¡°Get lost. My business is not with you but with that insolent brat standing behind you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to meddle in a fight, but¡­ well, that¡¯s what battlefields are for, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kirchhoff raised his sword. His eyes narrowed for a moment. ¡°And I always have business with you, Ermina. You know that, don¡¯t you?¡± The witch said no more. Clicking her tongue, she snapped her fingers. As her middle and thumb collided with a ¡®snap¡¯, the red sky fell. Fluctuation, the me that extinguishes starlight. Only then did Najin realize that the sky wasn¡¯t simply dyed red; the mes had covered the sky. The sight of mes falling from the sky was both mysterious and grotesque. ¡°A rough wee.¡± Under the falling sky. Kirchhoff merely raised his sword. As he steadied his stance, he turned to look back. ¡°Hey, boy.¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± ¡°Save your thanks forter. Run. I can¡¯t fight while protecting you.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯d like to, but¡­¡± Najin gave a bitterugh. ¡°My body won¡¯t move, unfortunately.¡± He had pushed his body beyond its limits. His body had reached its limit long ago, and with numerous me arrows embedded in him, even moving a finger was a struggle. ¡°Seems like you won¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± Kirchhoff smiled. Najin soon understood the meaning of that smile. With a clinking sound, a chain flew in from somewhere and wrapped around his arm. Whip! The chain tightened and pulled Najin¡¯s body back. The ce he was dragged to was where the chain unit, which had survived the battle with the witch, and itsmander, Gillet, were. ¡°Retreat, retreat!¡± Gillet started running, carrying Najin on his back. He aimed to get as far away from this battlefield as possible. As he was carried on Gillet¡¯s back, Najin looked back. There was the battle of the transcendent. There was the realm he must someday reach. Najin watched the swordsman swinging his sword at the mes covering the sky. With wide eyes, he watched the transcendent swordsman swing his sword. Screech. Kirchhoff swung his sword, and a single line of sword energy split the sky-high mes. As the split mes rushed to fill the empty space, he swung his sword again. Each time he swung his sword, a line was drawn. The lines crossed and connected. With each swing, a storm raged. With each line he drew, the mes split, and the heat was pushed back. Each time the sword advanced an inch, the red sky retreated an inch. ¡®¡­Ah.¡¯ Najin groaned. There was a swordsman who, alone, sliced through the mes covering the sky. A transcendent, untouched by anything, stood in the realm he must someday surpass. Someday. Certainly, in the not-so-distant future. The battlefield he must face again. For now, unable to stand on that battlefield, Najin only etched the battle into his eyes. He wanted to remember the raging storm, the current heat. After retreating to a safe distance. Najin and the chain unit joined the allied forces and arrived at a camp. They willingly provided a tent for Najin and lent priests for his treatment. Removing the embedded me arrows. Emergency treatment for burns and other injuries. Once the treatment was over and Najin could barely move, Gillet came to visit the tent. Behind Gillet stood the soldiers of the chain unit. ¡°Thank you.¡± The first words from Gillet were of gratitude. He bowed his head to Najin. ¡°Thanks to you, we survived. The allied forces retreated safely, and half of the chain unit, who were prepared for annihtion, survived. It¡¯s all thanks to the time you bought.¡± Gillet raised his head. His body was covered in soot, and one of his arms was missing. As Najin looked at it, Gillet shrugged. ¡°Losing an arm is a small price to pay. I was prepared to die, but somehow I survived. Bowing a hundred times wouldn¡¯t be enough.¡± ¡°¡­Is that so?¡± ¡°Of course. You don¡¯t seem to realize what an incredible feat you¡¯ve aplished¡­¡± Gillet gave a bitterugh. ¡°You saved me and the soldiers of the chain unit, and more broadly, the hundreds and thousands of retreating allies. Soldiers were wiped out by a mere gesture from the witch, but you endured it several times.¡± This is an unbelievable achievement. Saying this, Gillet patted Najin¡¯s shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s amazing. You saved the allied forces from annihtion. The 15 minutes you held out were more valuable than anything. We, the Wyvern Hunting Unit, and the surviving soldiers are proof of that.¡± Gillet spoke sincerely. Najin, not knowing how to react, remained silent. It felt awkward. He had experienced many battles, but this was the first time he had saved people. ¡®No, I¡¯ve fought to save people a few times¡­¡¯ This felt different. His efforts had saved people. Because he held his ground, hundreds of lives were spared. Najin felt the weight of those words. It wasn¡¯t his intention. He had just followed his conviction. He didn¡¯t want to run away. He didn¡¯t like it. Those were the reasons Najin stepped onto the battlefield. He might have had thoughts about saving them, but that wasn¡¯t the main focus. ¡®Something feels¡­¡¯ Perhaps that¡¯s why Gillet¡¯s gratitude felt ufortable. He hadn¡¯t swung his sword purely to save them. ¡°That¡¯s actually¡­¡± Najin began to speak, feeling he couldn¡¯t ept the gratitude in good conscience. As he spoke, Merlin stood beside him, smiling. ¡°¡­So, I didn¡¯t swing my sword purely to save you. I think your gratitude is a bit too much.¡± After hearing Najin¡¯s story, Gillet blinked and then burst intoughter. It was as if he found it absurd, as if he had never seen anyone like this before. ¡°Young as you may be, you really don¡¯t get it.¡± ¡°Excuse me? What do you mean¡­¡± ¡°What does intention matter? In the end, we survived because of you. That¡¯s what¡¯s important.¡± Gillet chuckled. He had lost an arm in the battle and suffered burns all over, but hisughter was genuine. It wasn¡¯t just Gillet. The soldiers of the chain unit also smiled at Najin¡¯s words. ¡°It¡¯s not excessive at all. It¡¯s right to be grateful, and you deserve to be thanked. So, stand tall and say it proudly.¡± Say what? ¡°Today, I saved hundreds of lives. You have the right to say that.¡± Like a hero from a legend. Like Arthur, who once roamed the continent, you saved many lives today. Gillet was telling him this. Hearing this, Najin awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°Yes, I suppose.¡± And then, he smiled. ¡®You saved hundreds of lives today.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t a bad feeling. It was a pleasant sound. Chapter 114 Chapter 114 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Beyond the World, Ound (8) Beyond the world, where irregrity is the norm. Even in the Ound, night falls. In the deep night, Najin sat outside the tent, gazing at the sky. During the day, the sky had been a bizarre mix of blue and ck, but at night, the sky unified into a dark hue, appearing somewhat ordinary. ¡®Except for the hundreds of stars scattered across it.¡¯ In the Ound, stars were exceptionally visible. When one looked up at the sky in the Ind, they could only see therge constetions, the famous ones named after heroic figures. Only on very clear nights could one barely observe the smaller constetions. But not here. In the Ound, any time one looked up, countless constetions filled the sky. Along with the famous heroic constetions, there were countless smaller ones, whose origins were unknown. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Gazing at the star-filled sky, Najin exhaled deeply. To others, it might have seemed like Najin was alone, staring at the sky. ¡®Merlin.¡¯ -Yeah. Speak. Najin was not alone. A constetion visible only to Najin was sitting right next to him. Merlin ran her fingers through her blue hair and swung her legs. ¡®The Flickering Witch, Ermina, was strong, right?¡¯ -Of course. That woman was once a transcendent with an 8th circle and five stars. Even though she has fallen, her experience and knowledge haven¡¯t gone anywhere. Merlin smiled bitterly. -If Ermina had considered you an enemy from the start, if she had intended to kill you from the beginning¡­ surviving would have been difficult. You know that, right? Of course, he knew. When he faced the magic Ermina cast at the end, Fluctuation, he felt it. The difference in ss. The difference in dimension. -But you fought well. Better than expected. ¡®¡­¡­¡¯ -You don¡¯t look satisfied? Najin exhaled long and deep. ¡®I just feel like a frog in a well.¡¯ Honestly, he had been conceited. Saying otherwise would be a lie. The youngest Sword Seeker. A peerless genius who shook the entire Empire. Those were all phrases used to describe him. Even though he was cautious, he thought he had risen to the ranks of the strong. By any objective standard, a Sword Seeker was indeed strong. But the Ound is a ce that defies conventional standards. It¡¯s a ce teeming with powerful beings who could easily turn a Sword Seeker into ¡®nothing.¡¯ Najin had to fully realize this the moment he faced the witch. He had heard it from Merlin, but experiencing it was different. ¡®There are many foes as strong as Ermina, right?¡¯ -Of course. Sitting on a rock, Merlin swung her legs and pointed to the sky. There were countless stars. -Heroes of the old era. Heroes of the mythic era. And many among them have fallen. Not just fallen, but those who obtained bodies that could endure eternity, only for their minds to fail and be undead. Hundreds of years ago, they were called heroes. Now, they roamed the Ound as broken undead. -Top-tier demons with nicknames, the rulers of the Demon Realm whomand such demons, the Demon King, Witches, and Dragons at the pinnacle of those rulers¡­ Special powerful beings residing in the Demon Realm. -Fallen stars. Broken stars. Human traitors who conspire with Cann¡­ countless. There are as many bastards as there are heroes in this world. There were even some on the Round Table. Mumbling thus, Merlin looked at Najin. Seeing Najin¡¯s slightly dispirited face, Merlin chuckled softly. ¡®What? Why are youughing?¡¯ -It¡¯s funny seeing you so down. Where did the guy who shouted, ¡®It only took me 18 years to hold your thousand years for 15 minutes¡¯ in front of the witch go? ¡®That was just the heat of the moment. You know how people say all sorts of things when they¡¯re excited.¡¯ Listening to Najin¡¯s muttering, Merlin smiled faintly and tilted her head. -Really? I didn¡¯t think it was wrong. She said. -There are strong beings scattered all over the Ound. Transcendents, Demon Kings, demons¡­ Wherever you look, there will only be strong ones. But, are any of them special? Merlin smirked. Theugh of a grand mage who could treat the powerful beings of the Ound as ¡®nothing¡¯ was light. Laughing lightly, she leaned towards Najin. -Even after living hundreds of years, almost a thousand years, they¡¯re only ¡®that much.¡¯ They¡¯re stagnant and frozen. They¡¯re not special. Not at all. It was a message to Najin, but also to herself. Her time had stopped a thousand years ago, unable to move forward. -Don¡¯t be afraid or feel overwhelmed. You¡¯re doing well enough¡­ ¡®Thanks for the encouragement, but¡­¡¯ Najin chuckled at Merlin¡¯s words. ¡®I wasn¡¯t feeling overwhelmed or afraid.¡¯ -What? But you had that expression. ¡®I was just thinking there are a lot of monster-like beings in the world. Why would I be afraid?¡¯ Najin stood up. ¡°They¡¯re just stepping stones for me to step over.¡± -Wow, listen to him. Though she pretended to be shocked, Merlinughed. She seemed to like Najin¡¯s attitude. Just as Najin was about to return to the tent. Thud. Someone approached Najin¡¯s tent. The footsteps were light, but the presence was not. Drawn by the unique sound of the footsteps, Najin looked towards the source. ¡°Oh, I was debating whether to wake you up.¡± The Sword Master of the Forgotten Kingdom. ¡°You weren¡¯t asleep yet. Do you have a moment? Even if you don¡¯t, I hope you do. I¡¯m a bit busy.¡± Thest knight of Londinel. Kirchhoff stood there. The Sword Master of the Forgotten Kingdom, Kirchhoff. By the time Londinel was destroyed, he had already reached the realm of transcendence, making him a warrior who had lived for at least 400 years. And he had spent most of that time on the battlefields of the Ound. ¡ºHe¡¯s not part of the Imperial Army, the Kingdom Army, or the Allied Forces, but he¡¯s always on the battlefield. He rushes in whenever there¡¯s a variable. The lives he¡¯s saved¡­ well, counting them is meaningless.¡» When asked about him, Gillet answered this way. ¡ºHe¡¯s someone worthy of being called a hero.¡» ¡ºEven the reason he stays on the battlefield¡­¡» ¡ºWhat¡¯s that reason?¡» ¡ºWell, it¡¯s best to hear it from him.¡» Someone worthy of being called a hero. Najin looked at Kirchhoff, who had suddenlye to his tent. His clothes were covered in soot, and he was covered in dust, as if he had just wandered the battlefield. ¡°Ermina, no matter how many times I meet her, she¡¯s a fiery woman. I thought I was going to die from the heat. Look at this. My skin is all burnt.¡± Heughed lightly and pointed to his arm. The arm bore signs of soot and burn marks. But that was all. Only superficial burn marks, no deeper injuries. It meant that he had returned with only minor injuries from a witch who fought with deadly intent. ¡°What happened to the witch?¡± ¡°She ran away as usual. Chasing her was endless, so I let her go. I want a decisive fight, but she always escapes. She doesn¡¯t want to bet her stars on the line.¡± Kirchhoff shrugged. ¡®What does it mean to bet stars?¡¯ -There¡¯s such a thing. I¡¯ll exinter. While talking to Merlin, Najin nced at Kirchhoff. As expected of a transcendent unaffected by age, Kirchhoff looked like a young man. He didn¡¯t bear the weight of 400 years. ¡°You stalled for time? Until I arrived, I heard from Gillet.¡± ¡°It just happened, yes.¡± ¡°Just happened? You talk lightly about risking your life. You could be a bit more proud.¡± Kirchhoff smiled bitterly. ¡°Thanks to you, many soldiers survived. I thank you for stalling until I arrived. Thanks to you, I could arrive in a dramatic situation.¡± A dramatic situation? As Najin tilted his head, Kirchhoff shrugged and whispered to him. ¡°How did you like my sword? A swordsman swinging his sword alone under the falling red sky. How cool is that? Damn, my lord should have seen it.¡± Najin blinked at Kirchhoff¡¯s raised fist, as if in regret. He seemed lighter than expected. ¡°Ripping through the red sky with a single strike! Every strike tearing through the witch¡¯s mes and pushing back the heat! Bards would go crazy over it. And if I were more handsome? It would have been a perfect opportunity to steal the hearts of women, but unfortunately, only you and a few soldiers witnessed it.¡± Kirchhoff smiled, seeing Najin¡¯s bewildered gaze. ¡°Well, that¡¯s it. I came to say thanks and make an impression. To the youngest Sword Seeker with a growing reputation.¡± ¡°You knew about me?¡± ¡°If you have a star, you can¡¯t not know. The moment you set foot in the Ound, all the stars turned towards you, whispering.¡± Kirchhoff smiled meaningfully. ¡°It¡¯s not strange to pay attention to the rising New Star. It seems your ce in the night sky is already being prepared.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± Najin blinked. A ce in the night sky? Najin nced at Merlin beside him. She pretended not to notice, turning her gaze away. She murmured in a small voice about wanting to surprise himter, but Najin ignored her and looked at Kirchhoff, who was still speaking. ¡°You¡¯ve already achieved feats worthy of praise, and they¡¯re starting to bear fruit. Stalling against the witch was part of that.¡± ¡°Is this also a feat?¡± ¡°Of course. You withstood 15 minutes against a transcendent as an untranscended human. It¡¯s not enough to be a star on your own, but it¡¯s enough to be part of a star.¡± Such things pile up and create stars. It¡¯s not always one grand achievement that makes a star. Saying this, Kirchhoff smiled. ¡°I hope you get a shining star, boy.¡± Kirchhoff stood up. ¡°Sorry for disturbing your rest. I¡¯ve said what I needed, and I have ces to be, so I¡¯ll leave it at that.¡± Watching Kirchhoff leave after saying what he came for, Najin spoke. ¡°If it¡¯s not too much trouble.¡± There was one thing he was curious about. ¡°May I ask a question?¡± ¡°Of course. One question is fine.¡± ¡°Why do you stay on the battlefield?¡± Gillet had told him to ask directly. When Najin asked, Kirchhoff was silent for a moment, thenughed. He turned and looked at Najin. Then, he tapped the hilt of his sword at his waist with the back of his hand. It bore the insignia of the now-destroyed and forgotten Londinel. ¡°Do you know of a country called Londinel?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it.¡± ¡°Right. I¡¯m thest survivor of Londinel, and itsst knight. Perhaps thest sword of Londinel.¡± The forgotten country, the Forgotten Kingdom, Londinel. Thest knight of Londinel smiled. ¡°Even if my homnd has perished, Londinel lives on at the tip of my sword. And my lord, thest king of Londinel, wished for the sword of Londinel to shine on the battlefield for humanity.¡± As magnificently, splendidly, and beautifully as possible. Saying this, Kirchhoff flourished his cloak. ¡°I stay on the battlefield and wield my sword to fulfill my lord¡¯sst wish. There are other reasons, but that¡¯s the first.¡± Does that answer your question? At Kirchhoff¡¯s query, Najin nodded. A light tone. A light impression. But the weight in that sword was not light at all. ¡°That¡¯s a knightly reason.¡± ¡°Indeed. A knightly reason.¡± Najin and Kirchhoff looked at each other andughed. One was aplete knight, and the other a boy dreaming of bing a knight. ¡°See youter.¡± With those words, Kirchhoff left. As Kirchhoff departed from the tent, both he and Najin intuitively knew. The same thought passed through their minds simultaneously. They would meet often in the future. Often, intertwined in various ways. It was an intuition and perhaps a certainty. For some reason, both of them thought so. Meanwhile, Merlin¡¯s face twisted as she recalled the name ¡®Londinel.¡¯ A country destroyed by a fallen star. She remembered the constetions involved in its destruction. There were three stars involved in Londinel¡¯s downfall. One of them was a star Merlin knew all too well and could never forget. One of the Round Table¡¯s traitors. A dirty traitor who sullied the name of a knight, rendering himself forever unable to call himself a knight. ¡®Lancelot.¡¯ The former strongest knight of the Round Table. Merlin¡¯s eyes turned icy as she recalled her one-timerade, who once upied a seat at the Round Table. The events in the Ound had concluded. Now, it was time to return. As Najin prepared to head back to the Ind, it was Gillet who came to see him off. Normally, amander should not leave his post, but¡­ ¡°I lost an arm and passed on themand to a junior. I¡¯ll take a break and return to the battlefieldter.¡± Gillet said it simply. Following Gillet¡¯s lead, Najin arrived at the nearest stable to the Ound¡¯s boundary, The Last Drink. While waiting for the carriage, Najin and Gillet had a light meal. ¡°Damn, the food here is good. Must be because it¡¯s the Ind. The air is different. The taste is great.¡± Gillet sipped his drink. ¡°By the way, Najin.¡± Since the witch incident, Gillet called Najin by his name, not as a rookie. When Najin nodded, Gillet put down his drink and pointed a finger at him. ¡°You came here to hunt a wyvern, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You said you were practicing to fight flying creatures¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°So, what were you aiming to hunt that you practiced against wyverns?¡± Najin chuckled and replied. ¡°A dragon.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°A dragon. A real dragon.¡± For a moment, Gillet was dumbfounded, then he burst intoughter. A dragon, huh. If anyone else had said they wanted to hunt a dragon, he would haveughed it off. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Why would I lie about that?¡± ¡°True.¡± He couldn¡¯tugh it off when it was the boy in front of him. Indeed, if you wanted to hunt a dragon, wyverns were the best practice targets. ¡°So, do you feel prepared?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got a sense of it.¡± ¡°d to hear it.¡± As they chatted, the carriage arrived. The carriage bound for the Ind. As Najin stood up and headed for the carriage, Gillet called out. ¡°Hey, Najin.¡± Najin turned around. Gillet tossed something to him. Najin instinctively caught it and looked at what he held. ¡°A gift. Take it.¡± It was a chain stake, the symbol of the chain unit. ¡°When you bring down a dragon, spread the word that our chain unit¡¯s chains were quite useful.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± Najin chuckled as he climbed into the carriage. It was time to bring down a dragon. Chapter 115 Chapter 115 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Stonehenge (1) The preparations for the subjugation battle were in full swing. Having returned to Cambria, the City of Opportunity, Najin looked around and thought about it. Of course, it wasn¡¯t obvious on the surface, but to Najin, who knew the internal circumstances, subtle movements were noticeable. The flow of merchants, supplies moving somewhere, and the Central Guild employees busily scurrying about¡­ They were preparing for the uing Red Dragon and White Dragon subjugation battle. The Central Guild had issued a gag order to the White Horn adventurers, but that didn¡¯t mean only the White Horn adventurers were aware of this information. ¡®They must have shared it with their merchant partners.¡¯ Arge-scale subjugation battle required an immense amount of supplies. Moreover, with five White Horn adventurers and even a royal knight order being mobilized for this subjugation, there could be no shorings in supply preparation. And the experts in this field were the merchants, not the guild. They must have brought in one of the merchantpanies. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Smiling slightly, Najin walked towards the merchantpany, thinking of a particr merchant whose eyes sparkled like gold coins. It had been nearly a month since hest saw her. He could almost hear Dieta¡¯s voiceining about not visiting often, so he made his way towards the merchantpany. ¡®It¡¯s almost time.¡¯ -Yeah. About three days left? Merlin, who had been counting on her fingers, shook three fingers in front of Najin¡¯s eyes. -By my calction, about three days left until the seal is at its weakest. The date was simr to what the Central Guild and the royal family had predicted. Najin touched the chain stake given to him by Gillette and muttered to himself. ¡®Should we have informed them?¡¯ That the Red Dragon and White Dragon would be fully revived, and that they would be stronger than expected. Only Najin and Merlin knew this information. -Well, it wouldn¡¯t have mattered. In response to Najin¡¯s question about whether they should have informed them, Merlin shook her head. -Even if you did, there¡¯s no guarantee they would believe you. There¡¯s no proof. If you act like a prophet, they might listen, but that would just make them suspicious. It was true. That¡¯s why they hadn¡¯t informed anyone. -And even if they believed you, how much more support would the Empire send? There are no people left in this era who truly understand the terror of dragons. Maybe only those in the Ound. They wouldn¡¯t invest Master-level personnel in such matters. At most, they might add a few more knights, Merlin exined. In reality, the Empire didn¡¯t see the Red Dragon and White Dragon as very high threats. They probably considered it just another event that urred every few hundred years. ¡®That¡¯s true.¡¯ -So, what¡¯s there to worry about? Merlin puffed out her chest proudly. -You¡¯ve got the great archmage who set the sky on fire, brought down numerous dragons, and pinned the dragon of the abyss to the ground, teaching you the ¡®art of dragon hunting¡¯ firsthand. There¡¯s nothing to worry about, right? Najin shrugged at Merlin¡¯s confident posture and smirk. Over the past few months, whenever there was a chance, Merlin had lectured Najin about the characteristics of dragons. Thanks to that, Najin knew more about dragons than most schrs. ¡®If Merlin says so, it must be true.¡¯ -What¡¯s with that reaction? Najin, now used to Merlin¡¯s grumbling voice, moved on. ¡°It¡¯s really hard to see you, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°¡­Sorry about that.¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. Nothing to be sorry about. You were busy, right? I was busy too. Just, you know, there was time for a light meal? Not that I particrly missed you or anything, just from a very business-like perspective, disappearing for a month without a word is¡­¡± Dieta twisted her hair and avoided Najin¡¯s gaze, delivering a lengthy speech. Watching her from nearby, her bodyguard Passion had to bite his lip to hold backughter. For the past month, Dieta had sighed while looking out the window. She often muttered, ¡°It¡¯s really hard to see his face. Isn¡¯t he ever going to visit? He lives next door, isn¡¯t this too much?¡± Then, when she heard that Najin had left for the Ound, Dieta had gritted her teeth and stomped her feet. Still, knowing he would return within a month, she sighed and waited for 27 days. ¡®He¡¯s finally back!¡¯ Upon hearing that Najin had returned, she jumped up in excitement but quicklyposed herself. She worried about showing too much, thinking, ¡°Am I being too obvious? Am I letting him control the rtionship?¡± Dieta had learned from books that once you lose the initiative in a rtionship, you lose everything. ¡°I didn¡¯t exactly wait for you, but sending a letter would¡¯ve been nice, right? I might have thought about it, or maybe not¡­¡± Of course, learning from books and applying it in real life were entirely different. Seeing Najin¡¯s face for the first time in a month made her heart pound, and her face flushed. He seemed more mature after a month. Well, at eighteen, it was his growth period¡­ With such useless thoughts, Dieta fanned her face and tried her best to actposed. But to Passion, who stood next to her, it looked like a futile effort. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to send a letter next time.¡± Though he couldn¡¯t know her true feelings, Najin noticed she seemed very upset, and he replied with a bitter smile. ¡°¡­Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Sending a letter isn¡¯t difficult.¡± ¡°It would be better if you visited.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°You promised.¡± Only then did Dieta brighten up and pat the table in her office. It was a signal for him to sit closer. There was a luxurious chair ced across from her, which she had bought a month ago, ostensibly for guests, but only Passion knew it was actually Najin¡¯s chair. ¡®When other guestse, she hides it away.¡¯ Passion had hurriedly set the chair back in ce upon hearing of Najin¡¯s visit. Najin, unaware of this, simply thought, ¡®This chair is quitefortable¡¯ as he sat down. ¡°By the way, Dieta.¡± Najin, now seated, asked. ¡°You know about the uing subjugation, right? Yourpany¡¯s people seem very busy.¡± ¡°Of course. Ourpany secured the primary supply and post-subjugation material priority rights.¡± Dieta hadn¡¯t been idle during the past month. Noticing the Central Guild¡¯s suspicious movements, she quickly approached and secured several contracts. ¡°A subjugation requires supplies, and post-subjugation, thepany¡¯s help is even more needed. Especially since we¡¯re dealing with dragons. Dragon materials fetch exorbitant prices.¡± Dieta¡¯s bright yellow eyes sparkled. ¡°It¡¯s an opportunity. A chance to earn a lot of gold.¡± As someone with a keen sense for the scent of gold, Dieta had already cast her bait. She had already prepared items to sell to the royal knight order, which would arrive in the city tomorrow. ¡°Najin, this is a big opportunity for you too, isn¡¯t it?¡± Dieta smiled at Najin. ¡°Dragons have always been a symbol of great deeds. If you perform well in this subjugation, you might even get a star, right? I don¡¯t know much about it, though.¡± ¡°Just performing won¡¯t be enough. I n to be the protagonist. The most eye-catching and splendid role.¡± Achieving great deeds is always the privilege of those who lead the charge. The more risks they take, the more their achievements will shine. ¡°That sounds like you. So, this subjugation is a big opportunity for both of us, to get closer to our dreams.¡± Opportunity. ¡°We¡¯ll monopolize the dragon materials from this subjugation. It¡¯s been decades since such items have been on the market. There will be plenty of reasons to monopolize them. Manypanies will try to follow, but can any merchantpany match ours in the flow of gold? We¡¯ve gathered gold even at a loss for this trade.¡± She flicked a tinum coin. ¡°We¡¯ll move on to the capital.¡± To a bigger market. Beyond Cambria, to the heart of the Empire. ¡°We¡¯ll open trade with the Magic Tower in the capital using dragon materials. Once the path is open, the rest is easy. Ourpany can quickly distribute ¡®many materials¡¯ through Cambria. We can provide the materials they need promptly.¡± This was just the beginning, she said. With a sly smile, Dieta caught the coin she flicked. ¡°It¡¯s an opportunity to make our name known in the capital. Making a name is the start. This is the first step.¡± ¡°The same goes for me.¡± Najin said, looking at Dieta. ¡°To reach the highest ce, I must start by inscribing a star. This is the first step for me too.¡± For both Najin and Dieta, the uing dragon subjugation had significant meaning. It would be the moment the two frogs in the well would step out into the world. ¡°Then, to cheer for each other¡¯s future¡­¡± Dieta looked at Najin and hesitated for a moment before speaking up. ¡°Shall we have a meal together? One meal won¡¯t hurt. Maybe some tea as well.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s do that.¡± At Najin¡¯s response, Dieta clenched her fist in joy, almost shouting in excitement. Seeing this, her bodyguard Passion smiled inwardly. A merchant nning to take over the capital. Her master was a born merchant who could control the flow of gold and create that flow, but¡­ In front of that boy, she was just an ordinary girl. She smiled innocently, blushed over trivial matters, and acted shy like a typical girl her age. Passion nodded and moved at Dieta¡¯s call to prepare to leave. Anyway, it was a good thing. Watching the sweet exchange between the boy and girl, Passion smiled contentedly. Time passed, and the day of the subjugation battle arrived. Near Cambria, the participants gathered at Stonehenge. The White-rank adventurers, who were considered the peak of Cambria, gathered in one ce. Former Inquisitor, Bashen Corte. Former Knight Commander, Richard Polsen. Red Eyes, Rosalin Ascalo. Unknown, Grisel Paramelt. And. The New Star, Najin. The subjugation team, centered around the five White-rank adventurers at the peak of Cambria, surrounded Stonehenge. The knights sent by the royal family started setting up artifacts and equipment, and the merchantpany¡¯s staff busily arranged supplies. The time when the sealing ceremony would break was deep into the night. To light up the night, luminous stones and re grenades provided by the merchants filled the sky. Spare equipment and supplies were ced at the rear, and top-quality potions for mana and stamina recovery were distributed. And Najin. He walked to the position he had chosen. A gently sloping hill rising in the wide in. The stone pirs forming a circle around the hill that looked like a grave. It was a sealing ceremony set up by Merlin a thousand years ago. Stonehenge. A sealing ceremony and a dragon¡¯s grave. Najin stood in a spot where the stone pirs were clearly visible. This was the position he had chosen for a reason. Merlin had told him that this was the spot where Arthur had stood. Najin drew his sword. The same ce as Arthur. The same stage. The same situation. Tonight, he would write the first chapter of a new myth. Najin decided that. It was something he decided for himself. In the high night sky. Though his star had yet to take its ce and seemed distant, Tonight, Najin would inscribe his star. Chapter 116 Chapter 116 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Stonehenge (2) Stonehenge, the tomb where the dragons are sealed. The subjugation team gathered at Stonehenge were tending to their weapons, waiting for the time toe. The sun had long since set, and the night grew deeper. As darkness began to settle, the knight order shot light cannons into the sky. zing. The light orbs shot high into the sky illuminated the darkness. With light sources from the cannons in the sky and the luminous stones on the ground, the vicinity of Stonehenge was as bright as midday, despite the deep night. How much time had passed like this? Rumble¡­ In the deep night, just past midnight, the ground began to shake. The stone pirs lined up on the hill started to tremble, and the shaking grew stronger as time passed. The subjugation team gathered at Stonehenge sensed it. The moment had finally arrived. -Ten seconds to go. Merlin whispered to Najin. As she started counting down from nine, cracks began to form on the stone pirsprising the sealing ceremony. -Eight. The cracks spread. They spread and spread until one of the stone pirs copsed. The sight of the copsing pir made the subjugation team frown. This was not something they had expected. In history, there had been moments when Stonehenge¡¯s seal weakened, but never had the pirspletely copsed like this. A sense of unease swept through the knights. Something was different. They instinctively knew. -Seven. The stone pirs copsed one after another. Thud, thud¡­ with a dull sound, the pirs fell, and cracks spread across the ground. Dust rose, and the ground began to split. -Six, five, four¡­ Nearly half the pirs had fallen. Beneath the violently shaking ground, something pulsed. It was different from the tremors that shook the earth. The sound of life stirring echoed through Stonehenge. -Three. Whoosh! From beneath the shaking ground, something surged up. What erupted from the tomb was a skeletal hand. But the moment it touched the air, red flesh and blood filled the white bones. It all happened in an instant. Before even a second had passed, flesh and blood covered the skeleton, and scales grew over it. It was more like turning back time than regeneration. The w of a dragon, reversing a millennium, mmed into the ground. -Two. Rumble! The ground shook. The remaining stone pirs copsed, and the sealing ceremony was destroyed. The ground, crisscrossed with cracks, sank down as dust rose into the air. And then. Piercing through the rising dust. -One. Two dragons soared into the sky. The moment the two dragons, which had shot up vertically, spread their wings in the sky, a gale blew. The rushing wind swept away the dust in an instant. The knights stepped back, shielding their faces as they looked up at the sky. The Red Dragon, covered in red scales. The White Dragon, adorned with pure white scales. The two dragons looked down at the ground from the high sky. The subjugation team instinctively knew that these were different from the dragons recorded when they had shown themselves through the gaps in the sealing ceremony centuries ago. The wounds that should have remained ording to the records were not present on these dragons. Their wings had no scars. No scales were missing. Neither of their eyes were gouged out, and there were no sword marks digging halfway into their necks. This meant only one thing. Complete revival. Total restoration. The monsters of the mythic era had appeared, reversing a millennium. To announce this fact, the two dragons opened their jaws wide and let out a roar. ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª! A roar that shook the air. The bellow of the sky beasts reverberated through the air. The humans standing on the ground instinctively shrank back, but there were those who did not retreat. ¡°Fuck.¡± Red Eyes, Roselin Ascalo. ¡°Are you kidding me? Were they supposed to be weakened?¡± ¡°Apparently not. Given that the sealing ceremony haspletely copsed.¡± ¡°I agree.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how it seems to me too.¡± The remaining three White-rank adventurers responded to her grumbling. It was a startling development for them as well. What they had heard was different. The presence they felt from the fully revived dragons was extraordinary. ¡°Hey, rookie. You¡­¡± Only one did not respond. The boy known as the New Star. The White-rank adventurers turned their eyes to where Najin was supposed to be standing, but Najin was not there. Thud. He had already kicked off the ground and started running. While everyone was overwhelmed by the dragons¡¯ presence, only Najin moved faster than the others. Seeing the running Najin, Roselin burst intoughter. ¡°Ha, look at him go.¡± Roselin, gripping her twin swords, also began to run. After all, she was a White-rank. White-rank was the pinnacle of Cambria, the City of Opportunity. And the motto of Cambria told its adventurers. Take risks. Chase gold. Seize opportunities. Sess always lies within danger. Led by Najin, the White-rank adventurers began to run. To bring down the dragons flying in the sky. To achieve great deeds by taking risks. Dragons had always been distant beings. In the records of the old era, humans regarded dragons as distant, celestial beings. Like the rising and setting of the sun, they considered dragons a part of natural phenomena. The reason was simple. They couldn¡¯t reach them. How could they get close to dragons flying high in the sky? How could they wound their bodies? How could those living on the ground defeat the beings of the sky? Thus, humanity feared dragons. They were seen as mysterious and fearsome beings. But time passed. Many suns rose and set, and several eras disappeared into the annals of history. The primordial mes died out. The primordial era, which began with dragons and giants, was buried in the abyss, and the mythic era ended with Arthur. Thus began the era of humanity. In the era opened by King Arthur, human civilization developed endlessly and finally found a way to hunt the beings of the sky. A method to hunt dragons, even for those who weren¡¯t exceptional or transcendent. The knights of the Empire lined up at Stonehenge were showcasing this method. Creek, creak¡­ The knights of the Empire, in groups of five, drew the strings of giant bows. In ancient times, it was the giants who hunted dragons. Emting the weapons used by those giants, the strings of the giant bows held harpoons, each over 3 meters long. They were toorge to be called arrows, but they had to be this size to pierce dragon scales. ¡°Fire!¡± At themand, the knights released the bowstrings. With a thud, five harpoons shot into the sky. Dragon hunting began with lowering their altitude. Whoosh! The arrows pierced through the air. And the dragons began to move. Dragons were inherently arrogant beings. Simply flying high and repeatedly evading didn¡¯t suit their nature, so the two dragons dove toward the ground. One arrow scratched the scales of the White Dragon, but the White Dragon ignored it and charged. The massive weight and momentum from its charge were indeed threatening, but¡­ Boom! Even for the Sword Seekers, it wasn¡¯t a challenge. Facing the charging White Dragon, the former knightmander, White-rank adventurer Richard Polsen, nted his great shield into the ground. As mana wrapped around the shield, the White Dragon collided with it. The great shield, deeply embedded in the ground, was pushed back, tearing up the earth, but Richard managed to withstand the White Dragon¡¯s charge. Just as the White Dragon opened its jaws, ready to spew fire in frustration¡­ sh! White-rank adventurer Grisel Paramelt leaped from the White Dragon¡¯s nk, swinging their halberd to strike the dragon¡¯s jaw. The dragon¡¯s jaws snapped shut, and its breath attack failed. Realizing that the enemy was not to be taken lightly, the White-rank adventurers cooperated, and the same was true for the Red Dragon. ¡°Let¡¯s y with the red one.¡± Red Eyes, Roselin Ascalo. Former Inquisitor, Bashen Corte. The two of them took on the Red Dragon, with the royal knights assisting them. Arrows flew. Weapons gleamed with mana¡­ but none of them were effective. They simply bounced off the dragon¡¯s scales. It took a proper strike to deal any damage. Unless it was a fully powered blow, it wouldn¡¯t harm the dragon. Each calcted the moment to deliver a decisive blow while drawing the dragon¡¯s attention. The White Dragon pped its wings. Seeing the White Dragon attempting to rise again, the subjugation team clicked their tongues and prepared for impact. But then, something wrapped around the dragon¡¯s w with a rattling sound. ¡®Chains?¡¯ The subjugation team only had a moment to wonder before the White Dragon soared into the sky. But this time, it wasn¡¯t the White Dragon alone. The chains wrapped around the dragon¡¯s w ttered and shook violently¡­ Thud! Someone had leaped off the ground. Twisting his body in midair, he used the chain¡¯s momentum to propel himself higher. It was almost like an acrobatic performance, but the result of that feat was no joke. The boy holding the chain, Najin, climbed onto the dragon¡¯s w. He had reached the dragon flying beyond reach. Not stopping there, Najin began to climb the White Dragon, stepping on its scales. Using the chain and a single sword, Najin climbed the dragon¡¯s rapidly flying body. The experience he had gained hunting wyverns proved useful. In an instant, Najin reached the dragon¡¯s back and caught his breath. Then, he raised his sword high. The sword aura, resembling a constetion, enveloped Najin¡¯s sword, glowing white. Raising the sword skyward, Najin swung it downward. sh! For the first time since the battle began, dragon blood spurted into the air. Dragon scales indeed had gaps. Especially for the White Dragon, those gaps were significant. Merlin had been right. Though the White Dragon¡¯s scales appeared dense, the gaps became visible when Najin focused. Najin wedged his sword into one of those gaps. St, blood sprayed. Though smallpared to the dragon¡¯s massive body, it was still blood. A smile spread across Najin¡¯s face. It worked. His sword pierced through. That meant he could cut it. Najin gripped his sword tightly and began running along the dragon¡¯s back. Following the gaps between the scales, Najin¡¯s sword raced. Though the gaps were small, Najin¡¯s sword urately pierced those gaps, slicing the dragon¡¯s flesh. Splurt! Blood spurted out. This time, the wound wasrge enough that the White Dragon couldn¡¯t ignore it. Realizing someone was on its back, the White Dragon twisted its body in the air, pping its wings wildly. But Najin, with his sword deeply embedded in the dragon¡¯s back, used it as a support to withstand the White Dragon¡¯s rampage. No matter how much the White Dragon twisted, Najin didn¡¯t fall off. Once you¡¯re on, never fall off. The dragon¡¯s back is the safest ce. That was Merlin¡¯s teaching, and Najin adhered to it faithfully. Moving with his sword buried in the White Dragon¡¯s scales, Najin¡¯s eyes were fixed on the wing connected to the dragon¡¯s spine. ¡®Arthur tore the dragon¡¯s wings off.¡¯ In that case, I will¡­ ¡®I¡¯ll cut off the dragon¡¯s wings entirely.¡¯ So it will never fly again. Mutting its back wouldn¡¯t be enough to kill the dragon. To kill a dragon, you had to decapitate it or pierce its heart. To do that, he first needed to bring the dragon down to the ground. ¡®That¡¯s when the real fight begins.¡¯ With his sword embedded, Najin moved towards the White Dragon¡¯s wing base. He had to tear off the scales, rip the flesh, and break the bones. This was a challenging task even for a Sword Seeker. Dragons had high resistance to mana, and their bones couldn¡¯t be damaged with ordinary attacks. Even if you cut their flesh, it would regenerate quickly. But Najin had a way. Bncing on the rampaging White Dragon, Najin raised his sword. Taking a deep breath, Najin red intensely. His heart pounded, blood flowed quickly, and his sword aura flickered. Crunch! One strike. He wedged his sword into the gap between the scales. Immediately, Najin twisted his wrist and lifted the embedded sword upward. Scales of the White Dragon flew into the air. Next, a second strike. sh, Najin¡¯s sword tip cut through the dragon¡¯s flesh. Blood sprayed, and a gash formed. Staring intently at the gash, Najin held his breath. And he never exhaled. Ka, ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka! Najin¡¯s sword swung, leaving afterimages. Dozens of strikes per second. Just like when he fended off thousands of the witch¡¯s fire arrows, Najin swung his sword without even breathing. Scales scattered. Blood spurted. Flesh was torn apart. And what was revealed was the bone leading to the dragon¡¯s wing. Najin struck the bone as if mining. It was the ¡°bone-cutting strike¡± he learned from the chain unit. Najin had learned from wyvern hunting that this method was more effective for cutting bones. Najin¡¯s sword was faster than the dragon¡¯s flesh could regenerate. While the flesh regenerated an inch, Najin¡¯s sword cut ten inches. ¡º¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!¡» The White Dragon roared and iled madly, but Najin¡¯s strikes never stopped. Using the embedded sword as a pivot, Najin regained his bnce every time the dragon twisted. Finally, one of the White Dragon¡¯s wings stiffened. Losing the bnce in its wing beats, the White Dragon¡¯s altitude rapidly dropped. As Najin descended with the White Dragon, he nced at the Red Dragon. Something was wrong. ording to the n he discussed with Merlin, and the scenario he had envisioned, the Red Dragon should have interfered by now. But there was no interference. Why? As he red at the Red Dragon. Najin and the Red Dragon locked eyes. The Red Dragon was also looking at Najin. Even while dealing with Roselin and the White-rank adventurers, the Red Dragon¡¯s gaze was fixed on Najin. The moment he met the beast¡¯s eyes, Najin¡¯s intuition rang out. Something¡­ Something was wrong. An inexplicable sense of unease overwhelmed him. Before Najin could ponder the reason, the Red Dragon roared. With a roar that shook the heavens and earth, the Red Dragon soared into the sky. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 117 Chapter 117 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ The Battle with the Red Dragon (1) Suddenly, the Red Dragon took flight. Despite the fierce attacks from the White-rank adventurers and the knight order that stripped its scales, the Red Dragon spread its wings and soared into the sky as if it had been waiting for this moment all along. ¡°¡­¡­!¡± Najin, who had been dismantling the White Dragon¡¯s wing, widened his eyes. A chill ran down his spine. His intuition was ringing rm bells, and in such situations, Najin knew it was usually right to follow his instincts. Crunch, crack! Najin twisted the sword deeply embedded in the White Dragon¡¯s wing socket clockwise. The flesh tore apart, and the exposed white bone of the White Dragon ground with a grating sound. ¡º¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!¡» With a scream of pain, the White Dragon thrashed, but with one wing immobilized, it couldn¡¯t maintain bnce. The White Dragon¡¯s struggles only slightly slowed its fall, but that was enough for Najin. sh! Najin pulled out his sword from the wing socket. Amidst the gushing blood, Najin flung himself behind the White Dragon¡¯s wing. Using the wing as a shield, Najin once again drove his sword in and hid behind it. It turned out to be the right decision. The Red Dragon, having soared into the sky, spewed mes from its wide-open maw. Dragon¡¯s breath, also known as Breath, possessed the power equivalent to at least a 6-circle spell. The mes burst forth from the Red Dragon¡¯s mouth, sending waves of heat and fire. The inferno and the scorching wind, along with the surging mes. The Red Dragon unleashed its Breath towards the White Dragon without hesitation, attacking its own kind and ally. Najin didn¡¯t understand the reason, but understanding wasn¡¯t as important as grasping the situation. Whooosh! Crouched behind the White Dragon¡¯s wing, Najin endured the heat. Had he taken the full force of the mes, he would have melted. However, the White Dragon¡¯s wing absorbed most of the impact, allowing him to barely withstand it. The heat that prated the wing burned Najin¡¯s skin with a sizzling sound. The White Dragon¡¯s screams. The sound of its flesh burning. The mes crept into the wounds Najin had inflicted. While the White Dragon¡¯s scales could withstand the fire, the mes seeped through the gaps Najin had torn open, setting the White Dragon aze. -What¡­ Why? Merlin¡¯s voice rang with confusion. Even she hadn¡¯t expected this situation. Najin realized something had gone awry. In such cases, he had to trust his instincts. Moving as his senses warned him, Najin knew: ¡®The Red Dragon wasn¡¯t aiming for me.¡¯ It targeted the White Dragon, not me. The Breath wouldn¡¯t be the end. The mes alone couldn¡¯t finish the White Dragon. Whates next? The mes were diminishing. Using the rebound of his body, Najin adjusted his stance. He stood on the still-hot back of the White Dragon. The residual heat alone melted the soles of his shoes, but there was no time to worry about that. Squinting through the heat haze, Najin saw it. ¡®This is insane.¡¯ Najin saw the Red Dragon diving towards the White Dragon, jaws wide open. The Red Dragon swiftly closed the distance and extended its ws. The Red Dragon grabbed the White Dragon¡¯s neck, weakened by the Breath. Then, crunch. The Red Dragon bit into the White Dragon¡¯s neck. Dragon teeth shattered dragon scales. Scales scattered, and blood spurted. As the White Dragon thrashed in pain¡­ Screeeech! The Red Dragon, biting into the White Dragon¡¯s neck, began descending. With both its wings intact, it started a dive towards the ground. If it continued, both would crash into the ground. Even a Sword Seeker couldn¡¯t survive a fall from such height and speed without breaking bones. ¡°Damn it.¡± Najin clicked his tongue. He couldn¡¯t understand the situation, but he had to act. ng. Najin threw the chain towards the Red Dragon. The chain wrapped around the distracted Red Dragon¡¯s arm. Testing the tension in the chain, Najin ran along the White Dragon¡¯s back. Amidst the plunge towards the ground, Najin ran, pulling himself up the chain against the wind. He leapt from the White Dragon¡¯s back onto the Red Dragon¡¯s head. ¡®Why they suddenly started attacking each other, I don¡¯t know.¡¯ Najin gripped his sword in reverse. ¡®Anyway, I nned to take you down next.¡¯ Najin plunged his sword into the Red Dragon¡¯s neck. Gripping the deeply embedded sword, Najin braced himself for impact. The entangled White and Red Dragons crashed into the ground. With a tremendous crash, dirt and debris flew up. Thud, crash, rumble! The two dragons, plummeting to the ground, skidded and tore up the earth. Dirt flew up, and the copsed stone pirs shattered into pieces. The ground shook with the impact, causing the knights to stumble. ¡°Fall back!¡± ¡°Retreat, retreat!¡± Knights in the path of the sliding dragons shouted and ran. Those who fell and couldn¡¯t escape were helped by the White-rank adventurers. The giant bows installed on the ground shattered as they collided with the dragon¡¯s bodies. Crack, crash! The two dragons finally came to a stop after skidding for a while. Through the dust rising to the sky, a sound was heard. Crack, crunch¡­ the sound of a beast tearing into its prey. ¡°What¡­?¡± ¡°What the hell¡­¡± As the dust settled, the subjugation team was horrified by what they saw. The Red Dragon was tearing into the White Dragon¡¯s neck, devouring its flesh and blood. The White Dragon and Red Dragon. Weren¡¯t they originally a pair? There were no records of them fighting each other. Instead, there were countless records of them protecting each other. In the sudden turn of events, as the subjugation team watched in shock, they noticed the eyes of the Red Dragon. Eyes swirling with crimson. Eyes filled with menace. The dragon tearing into its own kin had eyes that were strangely twisted. ¡°¡­Shit.¡± Only one person recognized those eyes. Eyes exactly like the swirling dragon¡¯s, Red Eyes Roselin Ascalo. She felt a sense of foreboding. The witch¡¯s soul, which made up half of her own, was trembling. And then. An anomaly urred. Thud. The first to notice the anomaly was Najin, perched on the Red Dragon¡¯s neck. As the Red Dragon focused on the White Dragon, Najin prepared to cut its neck. His body suddenly stiffened. A vast and ominous presence. An iprehensible, overwhelming presence weighed down the area. The entire subjugation team, including the knights and White-rank adventurers, were paralyzed. Only Najin was free from the pressure. He had felt this kind of pressure before. His first encounter with Merlin. The scene Merlin had shown him. Najin had experienced this exact feeling before. Freed from the restraints, Najin instinctively looked up. Reflexively, he gazed at the sky. In the vast, expansive night sky, the source of this immense presence was there. Amidst countless stars, there was a void. A ce usually pitch-ck and invisible¡­ a star was there. Although Najin had been watching the night sky every day since escaping the underground city, this was the first time he had seen this star. A star that shouldn¡¯t be visible. A star that shouldn¡¯t exist. A broken star beyond thews of nature. It was different from ordinary stars. Unlike the tinum-colored stars, this one was red. A constetion of dark red stars was nestled in the void. And that constetion, like Arthur¡¯s, wasposed of thirteen stars. -The Witch¡­? Merlin¡¯s startled voice echoed in Najin¡¯s ears. Her eyes were shaking. Only then did Najin realize what the constetion was. The Ominous Star, Cann¡¯s Star. The constetion of the Witch of the Abyss. The most feared constetion that had brought down countless stars and ended many great heroes. That constetion scattered an ominous light. A flicker. A momentary glow. The constetion, which had appeared for a brief moment, soon vanished into the darkness. But the light it scattered remained. ¡º¡ö¡ö, ¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö¡ö!¡» The Red Dragon roared. An iprehensible, sootden voice reverberated through the area. The gusts from the roar sent Najin flying through the air. Thrown off the Red Dragon¡¯s body, Najin tumbled to the ground. Crunch, st¡­ crack. The Red Dragon¡¯s swirling crimson eyes shone with malice. It crushed the White Dragon¡¯s neck and tore the flesh. It shattered the White Dragon¡¯s ribs and pulled out the dragon¡¯s beating heart. Then, chomp. The Red Dragon bit into and swallowed the White Dragon¡¯s heart. In that moment, the Red Dragon¡¯s body transformed. Bones twisted. Muscles tore and swelled. Amidst the grotesque sounds, the Red Dragon¡¯s frame changed and grewrger. Crack, crack, crack! More scales sprouted, wings grewrger, and its being transcended to another level. All of this happened in an instant. Ascension of its rank. From iplete toplete. The dragons, originally one and split into two, became whole again by devouring the other. As the White Dragon crumbled, the Red Dragon¡¯s head turned. Its blood-dripping jaws opened, and its eyes fixed on Najin. The White Dragon was dead. And the closest being to the nowplete dragon was Najin. Seeing the constetion of white and gold stars entwined around Najin¡¯s sword, the Red Dragon¡¯s pupils slitted. White and gold. tinum. Stars. The reverse scale of dragons. With a roar, the Red Dragon lunged at Najin. As the Red Dragon struck the ground, the earth shook. Spreading its wings wide, the Red Dragon charged at Najin. Utilizing its massive frame as a weapon, the dragon¡¯s charge was overwhelming. Najin took a sharp breath. There was no time to get disoriented. Najin¡¯s mind raced. There was no ce to dodge. He had to either block or deflect this attack. His sword, infused with the constetion¡¯s power, glowed brightly. Compressing the energy to its limit, Najin was about to swing his sword when¡ª The Red Dragon nted its limbs on the ground. Then, pivoting. Maintaining its charging momentum, the dragon spun in ce. Tearing up the ground, its tailshed out like a whip. Crack, crack, crack! The tail whipped through the air, churning the earth and splitting the air. Najin swung his sword at the oing tail. At that moment, he recalled a passage from history. ¡®The tail of a dragon can shatter even the greatest of walls. Before the beasts of the sky, all human creations are futile.¡¯ Najin¡¯s body was flung into the air. His fingers snapped with a cracking sound as they tried to grip the sword. He had hoped to use the rebound from his sword, but the dragon¡¯s scales disrupted the energy, making it impossible. ¡°Ugh!¡± The impact was severe. Bones twisted, and muscles tore. The tail, swinging with the force of a whip, easily knocked Najin away like a missile. Thud, crash, rumble! Najin crashed through the copsed stone pirs, rolling until he was embedded in the debris. He was struck down by a single blow. Blood flowed from his head, having struck the stone. His vision turned red from the blood streaming down his forehead. ¡°¡­, ¡­!¡± ¡°¡­¡­!¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡­!¡± The subjugation team shouted something, but their voices didn¡¯t reach Najin¡¯s ears. All he could hear was a ringing sound. Crunch. Najin gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand. His head felt heavy. His vision wavered. Wiping the blood from his forehead with the back of his hand, Najin exhaled. ¡®Merlin. Can you hear me?¡¯ -¡­¡­Yes. Merlin¡¯s voice was clear. It wasn¡¯t heard through his ears but through the resonance of their souls. Steadying his breath, Najin raised his sword. His right hand, gripping the sword, trembled from broken fingers. Crunch, crack! Najin wrapped his left hand around his right. It was either the sound of bones breaking or resetting. He couldn¡¯t tell. Regardless, his hand stopped trembling. Najin lifted his gaze. There it stood. The Red Dragon, Ddraig Goch. Staring down thepleted dragon, Najin pushed aside the rubble and took a step forward. The dragon roared at the sky, shaking the ground, but Najin took another step towards it. ¡°That damned lizard.¡± Najin spat out his words. ¡°I¡¯m definitely going to beat you down.¡± After all, achieving a star shouldn¡¯t be easy. This level of difficulty was fitting for earning an achievement. Brushing back his blood-soaked hair, Najin readied his stance. Chapter 118 Chapter 118 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ The Battle with the Red Dragon (2) The Magic Tower in the Imperial Capital. The Tower of Astronomers and Astrologers, the Grey Tower. From the outside, it was just a tower, but to the mages residing there, it was merely an observatory for watching the sky. Thus, the mages of the Grey Tower were, as usual, gazing up at the heavens today. Their daily routine was to read the flow of constetions adorning the night sky and check for the birth of new stars or the falling of old ones. Their work was known to be static and uneventful. It was rare for the constetions of the night sky to undergo significant changes. Only a historical event of monumental proportions could cause the stars to tremble. ¡®How often do such historical events happen, anyway?¡¯ The master of the Grey Tower. Nayuta, the tower master, lounged on a sofa, sipping coffee and humming. To her, the position of Grey Tower Master was perfect for a leisurely lifestyle. The budget was generous, yet her duties amounted to little more than gazing at the sky. ¡®The tinum Tower Master has it tough.¡¯ She smirked, thinking of her colleague, who was always workingte, cutting down on sleep. Well, who told them to join the tinum Tower? Working less and earning more was the true victory in life. Just as Nayuta was about to spend anotherzy, honey-sipping day, no different from yesterday, the Grey Tower shook violently with a loud boom. The Grey Tower, connected to celestial bodies, was highly sensitive to the movements of the stars. Such a significant tremor meant there had been a major change in the heavens. Eyes wide, Nayuta snapped her head up to gaze at the sky. The sky was in turmoil. Constetions were moving chaotically, pushed to the sides. It was reminiscent of when Arthur¡¯s constetion had shaken. The mere movement of such a massive constetion could shake the heavens. ¡®Is King Arthur¡¯s star moving again?¡¯ No, it was something different. The stars were fleeing in terror. Nayuta¡¯s gaze followed the flow. Although she usuallyzed around, she was an Imperial-certified first-ss astrologer. Her eyes pierced through to the core of the disturbance. And blood flowed from Nayuta¡¯s eyes. There was a colossal star that could neither be observed, understood, nor dared to be looked upon. Confronting the ck and red malign star, the Witch¡¯s Constetion, blood flowed from her eyes and nose. Her pupils trembled. A constetion that had been silent for a thousand years. The Constetion of the Witch of the Abyss was there. The blood-red star appeared for only a brief moment before hiding its presence in the darkness. But even that brief exposure had shaken the heavens and thrown the constetions into chaos. Amidst the turmoil of the constetions, Nayuta lowered her gaze. She recalled whaty in the direction the Witch¡¯s star had briefly illuminated. Stonehenge. It was the resting ce of the dragons. The Red Dragon roared towards the sky and began smashing everything in sight. The Imperial Knights began to retreat, and even the White-rank adventurers hesitated and fell back. Something was wrong. The situation had changed from what they had been told. They could understand the part about the Red and White Dragons reviving without injuries. It seemed possible to capture them, and they thought they could handle it. But now, the Red Dragon was different. It had grown two to three timesrger, and its aura had changed. This was impossible. They knew instinctively. That was not an opponent that could be handled by a team of sword seekers. It didn¡¯t seem like sword aura could prate the glowing red scales, and they didn¡¯t think they could cut through that thick neck. Most importantly, the pressure emanating from the Red Dragon was real. They could potentially inflict a few wounds if they risked their lives, but the cost-benefit ratio didn¡¯t add up. After all, they were adventurers, weighing their lives and profit on a scale. They were not bound by duty like knights; they were free adventurers. ¡°This is impossible.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t fight it. It¡¯s impossible.¡± ¡°We need at least ten Sword Seekers. This isn¡¯t something four can handle.¡± ¡°Or bring a Sword Master.¡± At least ten sword seekers were needed. Even then, it was just the minimum. Even if ten gathered, there was no certainty they could hunt it. They couldn¡¯t grasp where to start and how to proceed. The three White-rank adventurers muttered as they retreated. One had already been knocked out with a single blow. Continuing to fight in this situation was something only fools would do. ¡°So you¡¯re nning to run?¡± And there was one fool here. Roselin Ascalo, who had remained silent, spoke up. She hadn¡¯t taken a single step back and stood her ground. Her single remark made White-rank adventurer Richard Polsen frown and speak. ¡°Retreat is the right choice. Until the Empire¡¯s reinforcements arrive¡­¡± ¡°Do you think that Red Dragon will take longer to reach Cambria than the Empire¡¯s reinforcements? Richard, you know better than that, don¡¯t you?¡± Roselin sighed. If they fled, the Red Dragon would head straight for the nearest city, Cambria. Dragons inherently move to kill humans and destroy civilization. And Cambria couldn¡¯t withstand the Red Dragon. The strongest forces in Cambria were already here. Even if they gathered all the remaining adventurers, they couldn¡¯t hunt the dragon. Without the power of Sword Seekers, they couldn¡¯t even scratch its scales. ¡°So you¡¯re saying we should fight, Roselin?¡± ¡°Do we have any other options? Sure, we could let the city folks die and run away¡­¡± Roselin shrugged. ¡°I have a lot of assets tied up in Cambria, Richard. I recently set up a mercenary headquarters and bought a house. Do you know how hard I worked for that? It would be a shame if it all went up in smoke.¡± It wouldn¡¯t be good to let my subordinates die either. Muttering to herself, Roselin twirled her masterpiece in her hand. ¡°Of course, this is my situation. You guys can run if you want.¡± But, you know, she grinned. ¡°Don¡¯t me me if I call you cowardly bastardster?¡± Roselin shed her twin swords together. As a piercing noise echoed, the Red Dragon, who had been chasing the retreating knights, whipped its head towards her. ¡°That¡¯s right. Over here, lizard bastard.¡± Roselin Ascalo smirked. ¡°Red ones should stick together, right?¡± She tapped her cheeks. The red swirling eyes were the mark of the witch. A half-blood born between a witch and a human, Roselin red at the Red Dragon that shared her eyes. ¡º¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!¡» The Red Dragon roared. Responding to Roselin¡¯s provocation, the Red Dragon recognized her as an enemy and charged. Smashing everything in its path, the dragon¡¯s approach made Roselin click her tongue. ¡®This is going to be tough.¡¯ She couldn¡¯t take it down alone. She nced back. The three White-rank adventurers. If they joined, there might be a slight chance, but they remained silent and unmoving. They seemed to be pondering something. Well, running away was not easy either. They were also attached to Cambria and had their bases there. They were just hesitant to risk their lives for a fight that seemed hopeless. In other words¡­ If the situation tilted a bit, they would join. Roselin needed to show potential. She needed to create a situation that made them feel a slight chance of victory. Naturally, it wasn¡¯t an easy task. ¡®Damn, I wish there was someone to charge with me.¡¯ There used to be one here. Someone like that. Someone who would jump in first, not caring about the consequences. A youngster who perfectly fit her taste. But he had been knocked out in a single blow. She didn¡¯t even know if he was alive or dead. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Roselin sighed and steadied herself. She nned to do it alone if necessary. As she readied her masterpiece, Echo, and prepared to step forward, a loud crash resounded from afar. A heap of rubble shot into the air. A sudden noise. Roselin turned her gaze to where the sound hade from. Bursting through the debris of a copsed stone pir was a boy holding a sword. Seeing him, Roselin¡¯s eyes widened before she burst intoughter. ¡°He¡¯s really insane.¡± He took that hit and is already moving? Laughing, Roselin nodded slightly. Her gaze met Najin¡¯s over the dragon. No words were needed. As Roselin pointed to the right and charged, Najin moved to the left. A beast from the mythical era. A living mystery. The two swordsmen charged at the giant monster. Compared to the dragon, the two humans were insignificant, but the sword aura emanating from their swords was not. A glimpse of transcendence grasped by human hands. Brilliant lights that could pierce the dragon¡¯s scales erupted. As he ran towards the Red Dragon, Najin caught his breath. Being hit by the dragon¡¯s tail had made his breathing ragged. His body ached, but he could still move. ¡®Merlin.¡¯ Running, Najin spoke internally. ¡®That star just now, it was the Witch¡¯s star, right?¡¯ -Yes. ¡®Did the witch intervene?¡¯ This was the maind. An area where constetions could rarely intervene due to its stability. But somehow, the witch had intervened. -Yes, she did. Normally, the Red Dragon would never attack the White Dragon. Being split from one being, they cherished each other greatly. The witch had manipted the Red Dragon. Manipted it to consume the White Dragon and be whole. In the process, she had tampered with the dragon¡¯s essence, Merlin said. -I don¡¯t know what method she used, but she can¡¯t use it again. Bedivere has moved the Round Table. Merlin looked up at the sky. She would see the constetions being rearranged and aligned. It must be a magnificent sight, but Najin had no time to look at the sky. With the presence of Cann and the Round Table, those high in the sky¡­ He had a dragon roaring right before his eyes. His battlefield was here. His opponent was the Red Dragon roaring with its feet on the ground. Najin focused solely on the Red Dragon. With creaking legs, he pushed off the ground and ran, his eyes wide open. ¡®It¡¯s heavy. It¡¯s fast. It¡¯s hard to cut.¡¯ The Red Dragon had grown several timesrger. Najin instinctively knew, from the single blow he had taken, that he couldn¡¯t cut it down with conventional means. He had to figure out how to tear through those scales and drive his sword in. The fully awakened Red Dragon was a mystical beast, embodying all the qualities Merlin had described. A Sword Master might be able to sever its neck in one strike. In his current state, Najin could only hope to scratch its scales. Could he cut it down if he struck the same spot dozens, hundreds of times? He wasn¡¯t sure. An opponent who seemed almost impossible to defeat. Feeling his heart pounding, Najin steadied his breath. ¡®The basics of dragon hunting.¡¯ What he had learned from Merlin. No matter how strong his opponent had be, his task remained the same. He had to strip away its absurd mobility. Najin¡¯s eyes focused on the dragon¡¯s wings. If it started flying, it was over. He had to tear those wings while it was still agitated and grounded. Roselin, who exchanged a nce with Najin, seemed to have a simr idea. They slid towards the dragon¡¯s nks. Firmly grasping his sword hilt, Najin charged. His sword was enveloped in the constetion of white and gold stars, which he knew were the dragon¡¯s reverse scale. Merlin had told him so. The tinum-hued sword aura, resembling Arthur. The light that held the potential to pierce the dragon¡¯s mystery. Reflecting on Merlin¡¯s words, Najin recalled a scene from a fairy tale. The image of Arthur, fearlessly charging towards giants and dragons in the mythical era. At the end of that battle, Arthur had hung a star in the sky. A star, a feat, the first step to bing a hero. Najin couldn¡¯t know if his sword would work against this dragon. But he had decided. He would bring down this dragon. He would achieve a feat greater than Arthur¡¯s and carve a star in the sky. ¡®I will.¡¯ He had decided. Therefore, he acted. Najin pushed off the ground and leapt into the air. His sword energy shed brilliantly. Responding to his move, Roselin shed her twin swords together from the opposite side. ¡°Hey, Najin.¡± Roselin called out to him. Not a brat, but Najin. In a gesture of respect for the boy who had fearlessly charged into battle, she willingly called him by his name. ¡°I don¡¯t do this for just anyone.¡± The echo she spread. The ripple created by her masterpiece flickered right before Najin¡¯s eyes. It was as if a ce had been set for him. ¡°Give it your all. Hit it with everything you¡¯ve got.¡± Najin grinned. Then, he swung his sword with all his might towards the rippling echo before him. The strongest strike he could muster. As his sword energy intertwined with the echo, it resonated. A resonating echo, amplified by thebined sword energies of both. Chapter 119 Chapter 119 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ The Battle with the Red Dragon (3) The tinum sword aura was the Dragon¡¯s Reverse Scale. Merlin had mentioned this once. tinum-hued sword aura, resembling starlight. In the history of mankind, only one person, Arthur, could wield it. A thousand years ago, Arthur had swung this tinum-hued sword aura to y countless demons and drop numerous dragons from the sky. ¡ºI don¡¯t know if he wielded the tinum-hued sword aura because he pulled out Excalibur, or if he could pull out Excalibur because he had the tinum-hued sword aura. But the sequence doesn¡¯t matter.¡» What mattered was the characteristic of the tinum-hued sword aura. ¡ºArthur¡¯s sword aura resisted the mystique.¡» ¡ºIt resisted things that defied the natural order.¡» ¡ºAs if to uphold the rules of the world.¡» The established rules of the world. What is called the natural order, or providence. ¡ºDo you know what witches, demons, dragons, fallen stars, and the ursed things of the abyss have inmon?¡» ¡ºThey are beings that have deviated from providence.¡» ¡ºThey break, twist, and overstep the established rules. They are beings whose very existence is like cheating.¡» ¡ºNow, do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡» Arthur¡¯s sword aura punished those who did not abide by the rules. As if to enforce those rules. Arthur cleaved through their mysteries, tore through their scales, and made those who did not bleed, bleed. ¡ºYour sword aura, although fundamentally different from Arthur¡¯s,¡» ¡ºit shares that characteristic.¡» ¡ºRemember when you fought the dark mage? You weren¡¯t even at the Seeker level back then, but you endured the mystery of the masterpiece and tore through the dark magic.¡» Merlin had smiled as she said this. ¡ºSo, how about now that you¡¯ve reached the level of a Seeker?¡» Now was the time to confirm that. Najin infused his sword aura into Roselin¡¯s Resonating Echo. The highest output of sword aura he could muster. With the white star still strong within him, a pure white light burst forth first. And then, followed by golden light. A pure white sh mixed with golden light. What was created was a sword aura that was very close to tinum. Ordinarily, he would have hidden it, but Najin had no time for that now. It was a life-or-death battle. There was nowhere to escape, and dragging out time was not an option. Faced with an enemy that he had to crush with all his might, Najin revealed his hidden power. A sh! A dazzling light shone. The rumor that Najin could wield white and golden sword aura was well-known, so it could be mistaken for that. But not for Roselin Ascalo. ¡°Heh.¡± Roselin felt the sword aura infused into her Resonating Echo. It was sword aura that made her soul¡¯s other half scream. Her skin prickled, and her heart pounded hard. The sharp pain made Roselin click her tongue. This would definitely work. A smile crept onto her lips. Gritting her teeth, Roselin swung her twin swords. The Resonating Echo, created by her masterpiece, spread out in a-like form. Following her sword¡¯s edge, the of sword aura covered the dragon¡¯s wings. Kiiiiiiiiiiiing! Thebined sword aura of Najin and Roselin shed at the dragon¡¯s wings. The dragon¡¯s scales disrupted the sword aura, but the scales were cleaved faster than the sword aura was dispersed. With a sound like Tididididik! the scales began to split. ¡º¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!¡» With a shriek, the Red Dragon pped its wings, and the was torn apart with the gusts of wind. The sword aura scattered. However, the Resonating Echo created by Roselin had already served its purpose. It had created footholds by splitting the scales. It had created gaps to thrust their swords into. Enduring the raging wind, the two clung to the dragon¡¯s wings. Compared to the dragon¡¯s massive body, the humans were insignificantly small. But the radiance on their weapons allowed humans to hunt monsters while still being human. Climbing up the scales, Najin and Roselin sprinted along the dragon¡¯s wings. They thrust their swords between the scales and drew out sword aura recklessly. Kiiiiiiiiiiiing! The sword aura, resembling a beast¡¯s fangs, resonated. sh! The sword aura, resembling starlight, shed repeatedly. Dragon wings were meant for flight. Since they generate and ride the wind, they were not entirely covered in scales. The outside was covered in scales, but the inside was not. Swoosh! Roselin and Najin targeted that part relentlessly. They tore and shredded the dragon¡¯s wings. So that it could no longer fly. Blood sttered, and the dragon¡¯s wings became tattered. The n was sessful, but¡­ The Red Dragon did not remain idle. The Red Dragon twisted its long neck and looked at its wings, opening its jaws wide. Fire swirled in its mouth. Breath. To shake off the humans clinging to its body, the Red Dragon breathed fire upon itself. The fire emitted by the fully restored Red Dragon was more akin to a sh than mes. The intense heat caused nearby rocks to melt and the ground to be soft. Roselin and Najin immediately leaped off the wings when the Red Dragon opened its jaws, but they couldn¡¯t escape the heat. Their skin was scorched, and their melted flesh and clothes stuck together. ¡°Damn it. It set itself on fire?¡± Roselin muttered, coughing and gasping for air. Najin brushed off the remaining embers clinging to his clothes and looked ahead. There was the Red Dragon, engulfed in mes. The Red Dragon¡¯s wings were burning. Other parts were protected by scales, but the wings, which Najin and Roselin had mutted, couldn¡¯t withstand the mes. The Red Dragon had counterattacked, sacrificing its wings. Najin steadied his breathing. The first step was aplished. They had torn the wings and taken away its mobility. The Red Dragon could no longer fly. What should they do next? -You need to pierce its heart or sever its neck. Najin nodded. To seal an immortal creature like a dragon, it had to be killed first. They had to grant it the death of a living being by either piercing its heart or severing its neck. Najin gripped his sword tightly. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± Najin had no means to counter the dragon¡¯s attacks. If he took them head-on, his bones would be crushed like before. Avoiding them wasn¡¯t easy either, given the dragon¡¯s massive size and the attacks that utilized its full body weight. Choosing only to evade would create distance. And distance favored the dragon in battle. He needed to both evade and approach simultaneously. ¡®It¡¯s not easy.¡¯ But it wasn¡¯t impossible. An idea popped into Najin¡¯s mind. The chain stake. Holding the sword in one hand and spinning the chain with the other, Najin began to run. Roselin, seemingly having her own method, charged at the dragon from another direction. Different directions. The Red Dragon, instead of aiming at one person, chose to sweep them both away, spinning its body and swinging its tail. The Red Dragon¡¯s tail whipped around like ash. The same strike that had shattered Najin¡¯s bones. But Najin wasn¡¯t foolish enough to be caught by the same move twice. He leaped high and threw the chain. As soon as the chain wrapped around the dragon¡¯s tail. Ting! The chain pulled taut, and Najin¡¯s body was roughly dragged, as if thrown. With the chain wrapped around the dragon¡¯s tail, Najin¡¯s body was swung around like a stone in a sling. The chain creaked. His arm felt like it was being torn apart. But Najin endured. His intuition told him this was the right method. Enduring the centrifugal force and calcting the direction, Najin released the chain at the peak of the swing. Like a stone from a slingshot, Najin wasunched at the Red Dragon. Swoosh! Cutting through the air at top speed, Najin gripped his sword in a reverse grip. And then, thud. Najin¡¯s sword embedded itself in the Red Dragon¡¯s body. A strike leveraging the centrifugal force and speed. The tinum-hued sword aura wrapped around the de. Allbined into a strike that pierced through the dragon¡¯s scales. But this was just the beginning. Despite the pain from thending, Najin pushed himself to move. Twisting the embedded sword, Najin ran along the dragon¡¯s body. The sword aura red wildly, scattering bright shes. Maximum output. Without considering the consequences, Najin poured all his energy into his sword and swung. The relentless attacks had an effect. Swoosh! The scales split, and blood sttered. Seeing his attack work, Najin moved even more aggressively. He swung his sword with such force that his arms tore, and despite the broken ankle¡¯s pain, he ran along the dragon¡¯s scales. He ignored the burning heat searing his skin. Najin was immersed in his sword. A state he had achieved in the previous battle against the witch. His blood boiled, and his heart pounded fiercely. His vision narrowed, focusing only on what he had to cut and his swinging sword. He swung his sword, forgetting even to breathe. In this state, Najin moved faster and more efficiently than usual. His de cut deeply and lethally, and the sword aura gleamed sharply. -¡­! Naj¡­jin! The dragon¡¯s scales split, and blood sprayed. A mere human was ripping apart a dragon many times his size. Every sh of the tinum-hued sword aura sent blood flying high. -Hey, hey! ¡­ Najin! Najin¡¯s sword moved even faster. Within less than a second, Najin¡¯s sword had swung ten times. From a distance, his appearance seemed almost ghostly. -Hey! In a state of self-immersion, focusing on the sword. A state that only some swordsmen can achieve. Swordsmen strive to reach this state, but those who reach the transcendence of a Sword Master often say this: One should not be intoxicated with the sword. It is a double-edged sword with as many disadvantages as advantages. Najin did not know this. He focused solely on the fact that his attacks were effective against the dragon, and in his zeal to make the dragon bleed, he failed to hear Merlin¡¯s voice. Therefore, he waste to realize the anomaly. The dragon¡¯s scales were trembling. Since when? Probably a few seconds ago. At that moment, his immersion broke. Najin¡¯s eyes widened, and his vision expanded. Merlin¡¯s voice echoed in his ears. -Get away, move, now! A voice that had probably been shouting for several seconds. Najin moved, but by then it was toote. The trembling scales shot towards Najin. Dozens of scales, each the size of a forearm, all at once. Pa-pa-pa-pa-pa! The scales shot up from where Najin had his footing, from where he was about to step, from where he could escape to¡ªall directions. The scene seemed slow in Najin¡¯s eyes. However, there was no way to avoid it. It was already toote. If only he hadn¡¯t been immersed in the sword, narrowing his vision. If only he had listened to Merlin¡¯s voice. If he had noticed the signs, if only his leg hadn¡¯t been broken, he could have reacted to the attack. Thud. The dragon¡¯s scales pierced Najin¡¯s body. It wasn¡¯t the dragon¡¯s blood but the human¡¯s blood that sttered. Najin¡¯s vision turned red. His body felt hot. His vision was blurry. A ringing sound filled his ears. Najin realized he had briefly lost consciousness. The shock of sustaining a critical wound while already having overexerted his body caused him to ck out. Gasp, cough, cough. Najin coughed up a handful of blood. After blinking several times, his vision slowly returned. Najin noticed he was lying on the ground. He should have been impaled by the dragon¡¯s scales. ¡°¡­Hey¡­¡± A voice echoed in his ears. Najin slowly lifted his head. In front of him stood a man with his back turned. As his vision and hearing gradually returned. ¡°You¡¯re finally awake.¡± Rihard Polsen. He stood before Najin, nting hisrge shield into the ground. ¡°Thank Roselin. The moment you were impaled by the scales, she threw you here.¡± ¡°¡­How long was I out?¡± ¡°About three minutes.¡± Three minutes. Not a long time, but not short either. ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡± Najin panted, struggling to get up. He looked ahead. There were the rampaging Red Dragon and the White-rank adventurers rushing towards it. Roselin led the charge with three White-ranked Adventurers fighting the dragon. It had been just him and Roselin. When did the other White-ranks join the fight? ¡°It started to look possible. I don¡¯t like fighting battles with little chance of winning, but seeing you two struggle made running away feel wrong.¡± Noticing Najin¡¯s gaze, Rihard shrugged. He had left his knightly duties to avoid being bound by duty, but he wasn¡¯t cowardly enough to flee and be called a cowardter. Panting, he pushed hisrge shield forward. Though made of rare metal, its edge was melted. As if it had blocked a breath attack. Najin noticed the ground around him was melted radially. Only the spot where hey was untouched. ¡®¡­Did he protect me?¡¯ When he was impaled by the scales, Roselin threw him here. Based on the situation, the Red Dragon likely breathed fire at him. Rihard must have blocked that breath attack. ¡°Thank you. I owe you my life.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Sorry for joiningte. We debated too long before stepping in.¡± Rihard smiled wryly. Turning to Najin, he asked. ¡°Can you move?¡± ¡°I can manage.¡± Najin staggered to his feet. ¡°It¡¯s ridiculous to rely on an injured person, but it seems you¡¯re the only one who can inflict a fatal wound on that dragon.¡± Rihard pointed to the Red Dragon. Despite the constant attacks from the White-ranked Adventurers, the dragon had no significant injuries. The only visible wounds were those Najin inflicted when he climbed the dragon¡¯s back. Blood still trickled from those wounds. ¡°Will you go?¡± ¡°I have to. We must kill that thing.¡± ¡°In your condition?¡± ¡°I can still swing my sword.¡± Najin raised his arm. His fingers were broken, but the melted skin had fused with the hilt, allowing him to grip his sword. Seeing Najin¡¯s determination, Rihard clicked his tongue. ¡°You¡¯re insane. Do you have a n?¡± A n. Najin looked to the side. There stood Merlin, looking anxious. -You, you, really¡­ ¡®I¡¯m sorry.¡¯ Merlin, with a worried expression, sighed in relief. Her fingertips trembled. After all, he had almost died. Panting, Najin contemted a method. Almost as if seeking Merlin¡¯s permission. His thoughts flowed to Merlin. Reading his thoughts, Merlin red at him. Are you crazy? Are you out of your mind? Her eyes seemed to say. Yet, she didn¡¯t voice those words. She simply sighed and nodded. It was the only way to turn the situation around, even in her opinion. The prepared means were destroyed. Normal methods were impossible. His body was already at its limit. But, Najin had one way to overturn everything. And to use it, there was only one method. ¡°I have an idea.¡± Najin answered Rihard. Pointing with a finger, he indicated something. Rihard followed his finger and blinked. Then he frowned and asked Najin. ¡°You¡¯re out of your mind. Are you serious?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the most reliable strategy.¡± ¡°Usually, a suicide mission isn¡¯t called a strategy. It¡¯s insanity. Who on earth would¡­¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it about doing the impossible to achieve greatness?¡± Huh, Rihard scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re worthy of being the youngest Sword Seeker. Someone who doesn¡¯t value their life.¡± Despite his words, Rihard raised his shield. ¡°But I can¡¯t deny it¡¯s the only way. At this rate, we¡¯re all dead.¡± ¡°What will you do?¡± ¡°What else.¡± Thud, he took a step ahead of Najin. Raising hisrge shield, Rihard grinned. ¡°I¡¯ll y along with your madness.¡± I¡¯ll get you there somehow. Chapter 120 Chapter 120 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ The Battle with the Red Dragon (4) ¡°Everyone, listen up!¡± Rihard Polsen mmed his shield into the ground. The earth trembled with a resounding thud. Though it wasn¡¯t as powerful as the dragon¡¯s stomp, it was enough to make the subjugation team turn around. Rihard, having captured everyone¡¯s attention, extended his hand forward. Pointing towards their objective, he shouted with a strained voice. ¡°Clear the way!¡± Commands on the battlefield were always concise and powerful. Rihard, a former knightmander with countless operations under his belt, had a voice and gestures that could lead people effectively. ¡°Make way for the New Star!¡± Right behind Rihard stood Najin. His body was battered and covered in wounds, but the sword in his hand still shone brilliantly. With a determined grip on his glowing sword, Najin adjusted his stance. The White-rank adventurers saw this. The knights saw this. Only Najin¡¯s attacks were effective against the Red Dragon. He was the one who held the potential to turn the tide. Everyone knew this, having seen Najin make the dragon bleed. Thud, thud, thud! No further instructions were needed. It was time to prove themselves through action. Rihard took the lead and started running. With heavy steps, he charged towards the Red Dragon. Following closely behind, Najin also began to run. ¡º¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª!¡» The Red Dragon instinctively knew that Najin was a threat, that his sword aura was dangerous. The dragon turned its head towards Najin, who had managed to rise again and was now charging towards it. Ignoring the White-rank adventurers who were scratching its scales, the dragon opened its maw wide and roared at Najin. That light, the light on that sword, irked it. It was a light reminiscent of the nightmare etched into its soul. The light wielded by the human who had once cast it down and sealed it beneath the stone pirs. Feeling both fear and rage, the dragon exhaled the breath it had inhaled. Breath. A radial burst of me, as brilliant as a sh of light. In that moment, Rihard nted his shield into the ground. Therge shield, measuring two meters and made of rare metal, shimmered with blue mana. Envisioning a sturdy wall, his spirit entwined with the shield, turning Rihard into a living barrier. Najin, sheltered behind Rihard, watched the mes split and flow to the sides, unable to melt the shield. ¡°It¡¯s hot!¡± Rihard shouted with augh. ¡°But it¡¯s bearable!¡± He pushed the shield forward. Dragging it along the ground, he advanced. Despite the shield¡¯s edge melting and burns spreading up his forearm, he pressed on. He was determined to keep his promise to clear the way. After taking six steps, the mes subsided. Pointing towards the distortedndscape shimmering with heat, Rihard gestured. Najin sprinted past him before he even had a chance to shout for him to go. Najin ran across the burning ground. But the dragon¡¯s thrashing was far from over. As if to ward him off, the dragon spun andshed its tail like a whip. Najin, realizing he couldn¡¯t leap to avoid it, knew his ankle had reached its limit. Running was all he could manage. Leaping was impossible. Should he face it head-on? Najin couldn¡¯t think of a way to counter the tail swipe. But the decision was made for him. Twang! The sound of a ballista¡¯s string snapping echoed as a harpoon shot forward. Mages among the knights reshaped the ground. All this slowed the dragon¡¯s tail slightly. Just enough¡­ ¡°Grisel!¡± ¡°No need to tell me.¡± ¡°Now!¡± The dy proved meaningful. Using the altered ground, three adventurers leapt. With mana condensed to its limit, they swung their weapons at the dragon¡¯s tail simultaneously. sh! Bashen Corte¡¯s greatsword, Grisel Paramelt¡¯s halberd, and Roseline¡¯s twin swords struck the dragon¡¯s tail. Screeeeeeech! With a thunderous sound, the dragon¡¯s tail was forced back for the first time. As the dragon staggered, Najin gritted his teeth and picked up speed. The path was clear. The opening appeared. This was a chance that wouldn¡¯te again. Najin sprinted towards the dragon¡¯s maw. Najin¡¯s target was the dragon¡¯s maw. From the beginning, Najin¡¯s objective was inside the gaping maw of the dragon. It wasn¡¯t a method any ordinary person would consider. Knowing the dragon¡¯s nature, it was even less likely to be thought of. After all, the dragon¡¯s interior was an entirely different world. Until a dragon faced death, it held another world within itself, with its mouth as the only entrance. Anyone stepping into that world would meet a gruesome end. The body would be crushed, the soul disintegrated. The disintegrated soul would be absorbed by the dragon, bing a part of it. This was the dragon¡¯s digestion process. Those swallowed by the dragon would be part of it, living eternally in agony, unable to find rest. ¡®But, that¡¯s not all.¡¯ When Najin heard this from Merlin, he asked one question. If the dragon¡¯s interior was another world, wasn¡¯t it like an image? And wouldn¡¯t that image have a core? Merlin affirmed Najin¡¯s hypothesis. Reluctantly, she exined. The world inside a dragon had a core, and if that core was destroyed, the dragon would die. However, it was a rarely used method, and in history, only one person had seeded using it. -There was one person who thought like you. -An idiot known as the Dragon yer did it. ording to Merlin, the world¡¯s biggest fool. Yet, in popr opinion, the one who killed the most dragons and stood alongside Arthur as a great hero. -The first Sword Saint, Siegfried. The first Sword Saint who founded the Order of the Sword. His tale of jumping into the evil dragon¡¯s maw and destroying its core was told by many bards. His heroic saga lived on a thousand yearster. So when Najin pointed at the dragon¡¯s mouth, and Rihardmanded to open a path to the dragon¡¯s mouth, everyone understood what Najin intended. Despite thinking it was madness, a suicide mission, they dly cleared the way for him. The odds were slim, but if sessful, it could turn the entire situation around. Reenacting the myth of Dragon ying. Among the countless great heroes, only one had pursued Arthur and reached the same pinnacle as him¡ªthe Sword Saint. Najin intended to challenge the feat achieved by that hero. ¡®Originally, I would never use this n.¡¯ But the situation left no other option. They would die if this continued. Standing at the crossroads of life and death, Najin chose to challenge. Najin red at the Red Dragon. Its eyes, once dyed red by the witch, had returned to their original ck, staring at the light emanating from Najin. With an ear-piercing roar, the dragon charged at Najin. As if to swallow that light whole. ¡®If you can swallow it.¡¯ Najin also charged towards the dragon. ¡®Then go ahead and try.¡¯ Najin¡¯s sword drew in light. The stars entwined with his sword followed his steps, stretching out. His gaze was fixed on the dragon¡¯s maw. Without hesitation, Najin leapt into the gaping abyss. Slicing the dragon¡¯s tongue and scraping past its teeth, Najin stepped onto the base of the dragon¡¯s tongue. He took another step into the abyss beyond. True feats are only achieved by those who turn their backs on life and step towards death. In this moment, Najin achieved a feat. He had always challenged strong opponents, oveing his limits, enduring the mes of transcendence, and now, he made the fully revived dragon bleed. More than that, he threw himself into the dragon¡¯s mouth, taking a gamble. While these feats might not be enough to make him a star individually, and might not even be called feats by themselves¡ªmerely fragments of stars¡ªwhenbined under the theme of ¡®challenge¡¯, they transformed into a feat worthy of the heavens¡¯ attention. The heavens acknowledged the feat of a human who challenged and overcame limits. A star rose in the celestial domain belonging to Najin. A new star was born. A new star shone brightly in the night sky. Despite finally achieving the first star he had long desired, Najin didn¡¯t realize it. He was merely bewildered by the sudden surge of strength in his dying body. Assuming it was ast burst of energy before copsing, Najin threw himself into the abyss. Crushing the lizard before him was the priority. With that sole thought filling his mind, Najin stepped into the abyss. Apletely different world weed him. Before him spread the world within the Red Dragon, engulfed in mes. ¡°Merlin.¡± Najin shouted. ¡°It¡¯s okay here, right?¡± -You¡¯re asking that now? Merlin had approved this insane n because Najin could use his greatest variable here. A ce where no one¡¯s gaze mattered. A ce where he could briefly hide the starlight. A worldpletely isted from the outside. Here, Najin could reveal everything he had. Pointing to the core at the center of the dragon¡¯s world, Merlin shouted. -Cut it. Instead of answering, Najin gripped the air. His eyes turned tinum, and the constetion on his wrist shone brightly. The light and heat from the mes in the dragon¡¯s world couldn¡¯tpare to the starlight forming a sword in Najin¡¯s hand. The boy held the Star¡¯s Sword. The Star¡¯s Sword, Excalibur, shone brilliantly with the tinum sword aura that pierced mysteries. At that moment. The first of the thirteen stars engraved on Excalibur¡¯s de began to shine. Inside the Red Dragon¡¯s world. At the center, engulfed in fierce mes, was the dragon¡¯s core and heart. Piercing that would mean the dragon¡¯s death. But Najin realized something simultaneously. Why piercing the dragon¡¯s core inside its world was celebrated as a feat. Why only the great hero Siegfried had seeded in this method. Ssssssssssssssssssss! His body was burning. Fire clung to his skin. Enormous pressure squeezed his body. This was a world solely for the Red Dragon, naturally rejecting any intruders. The dragon¡¯s digestion began. His body burned. Moisture evaporated. His soul screamed under the pressure. A different level of pain, unlike anything he had ever felt, overwhelmed him. His overtaxed body writhed in agony. Crunch. Najin gritted his teeth, his eyes wide open. Blood flowed from his eyes. Even the flowing blood evaporated, but Najin gripped Excalibur tightly. Relying on Excalibur¡¯s healing power, he approached the dragon¡¯s core. If you can digest me. If you can swallow me, then go ahead and try. Let¡¯s see which is faster: you digesting me, or me piercing your heart. Thud! With a determined re, Najin plunged Excalibur into the dragon¡¯s heart. Without enough force, he couldn¡¯t cleave the heart in one strike. But Najin didn¡¯t intend to stop. If once isn¡¯t enough, then ten times. If ten times isn¡¯t enough, then a hundred. The tinum sword aura on Excalibur pushed back the mes, scattering light. And as if responding to the will of its chosen master, the first star engraved on Excalibur¡¯s de shone brightly. By obtaining the star, the boy proved his worth. The first unlocked power enveloped Excalibur. The Grey Tower Master, Nayuta, groaned. Out of nowhere, the sky was thrown into chaos by the witch¡¯s constetion. The constetions were in turmoil, colliding sanctuaries, creating a mess in the sky. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Having not turned off the spell for counting stars, Nayuta coughed up blood after staring at the witch¡¯s constetion. She wiped the blood from her eyes with a handkerchief, downed a potion, and steadied her breathing. A major event. A historic event had urred. First, Excalibur was drawn, throwing the sky into an uproar. Then, Arthur¡¯s constetion and Merlin¡¯s constetion shook. Now the Witch¡¯s constetion too? It felt like historic events wouldn¡¯t stop happening. ¡®Damn, I can¡¯tin about Cyphria making me work hard¡­¡¯ The position of Grey Tower Master wasn¡¯t as easy as she thought. What historical events were happening every few months? She groaned, getting to her feet. She still had work to do. She needed to observe the tangled sky and report any changes caused by the witch¡¯s constetion. This wasn¡¯t an event that could be overlooked. ¡°¡­¡­¡± After a long time staring at the stars, Nayuta tilted her head. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Her gaze was fixed on a star in the corner of the sky. Was that star always there? Had it been pushed aside by the turbulent constetions? No, she didn¡¯t think that star existed before¡­ Casting several spells for observation, she enhanced her vision and analyzed the sky¡¯s flow, looking again at the star. It was a new star. A new star had suddenly appeared where there hadn¡¯t been one before. While new stars asionally appeared, this one felt different. Nayuta sensed something off. A star shining too brightly. And beside it, new starlight was gathering. Chapter 121 Chapter 121 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Two Stars (1) The Sword of Selection, Excalibur. The sword that selects its master grows alongside its master. Each time the master achieves a feat and inscribes a star in the sky, Excalibur grows, engraving the master¡¯s stars on its de. Made of starlight. Enhanced with starlight as its fuel. Originally iplete, Excalibur waspleted by its first master, the great hero Arthur. The thirteen stars Arthur embedded in the de perfected the Sword of Selection. However, Arthur eventually met his death, and much time has passed since then. Ten years repeated ten times, and ten times again. A thousand years passed until today. The Holy Sword was drawn by a certain boy. Whether the boy chose the Holy Sword or the Holy Sword chose the boy, the sequence of events did not matter. What mattered was that the boy drew the Holy Sword. And the boy longed to hang a star in the sky. As always. Excalibur responded to its master¡¯s will. To ovee his limits and be a hero by achieving feats, Excalibur reacted to the boy¡¯s will. Thus, when his master grasped a star, and now, as he aimed to obtain a new star¡­ Guung. Excalibur responded to its master¡¯s call. The first star engraved on the Holy Sword resonated. The shining star belonged to Najin, not Arthur. With a chime-like resonance, the first function was activated. Originally possessing recovery abilities and enhanced sword aura output. Now, added to it was the ability to discharge. The starlight enveloping Excalibur¡¯s de surged. The surging starlight gathered at the tip of the sword as if following a narrow waterway. The sword tip embedded in the dragon¡¯s heart glowed tinum. Chiieeeek! Because his body was burning and his vision was blurry, Najin did not notice Excalibur¡¯s transformation. He merely held onto Excalibur with the thought of shattering the dragon¡¯s heart before him. ¡®It won¡¯te out.¡¯ He tried to withdraw the sword and strike again, but it was stuck as if firmly lodged in something. However, it did not matter. Najin changed his n. He pushed Excalibur deeper into the heart. Kaadeuk, kaadeudeudeuk! The sound of the dragon¡¯s heart, as hard as a gemstone, being shaved off echoed in his ears. Relying on that sound, Najin tightened his grip. Despite his body burning in the mes, he took another step towards the heart at the center of the heat. Deeper. Even deeper. Finally, the cross-guard of Excalibur touched the dragon¡¯s heart. The de of Excalibur was embedded in the dragon¡¯s heart and could not be seen anymore. It was pushed in as deep as possible. ¡®Turn it.¡¯ And instinctively. ¡®Like turning a key.¡¯ Or perhaps unconsciously. ¡®Discharge the light gathered at the sword tip.¡¯ Najin twisted the hilt. Twisting Excalibur with all his might. He did not know why he did it. It was just like the day he first saw Excalibur, a strong voice of conviction echoed, saying, ¡®This will work.¡¯ Discharge. The moment Excalibur was twisted, the light gathered at the sword tip was discharged. It was not just starlight that gathered at the tip. Najin¡¯s sword aura, shaped like a constetion, condensed into a point and lingered at the sword tip. Starlight, sword aura, mana. All of it discharged in an instant. The dragon¡¯s heart could not contain the light bursting from within. It was a light that could not be contained by anything. With cracking sounds, fissures spread through the heart. Light seeped through the cracks. tinum starlight seeped out. And following it, tinum constetions branched out through the gaps. The widening fissures eventually reached their limit. With a cracking sound, the dragon¡¯s heart split along the fissures. At that moment, starlight exploded from within the heart. The bursting light shattered the dragon¡¯s heart into pieces. Starlight spreading in all directions. Constetions branching out following the starlight. The discharged light shattered the dragon¡¯s heart and pushed back even the surrounding mes. The world of the Red Dragon, once filled only with mes, was now filled with starlight. When the constetions filled with radiant starlight took over the Red Dragon¡¯s world, it was no longer the Red Dragon¡¯s world. The source was shattered. The world was copsing. The Red Dragon¡¯s world began to crumble. Immediately after Najin jumped into the dragon¡¯s mouth, the Red Dragon began to thrash wildly. It breathed fire everywhere as if in pain and stomped the ground. Kieeeeeek! The roar that once dominated the sky was now reced by the pitiful scream of a beast. The Red Dragon roared towards the sky in agony. ¡°It¡¯s thrashing madly.¡± Unable to get close due to its wild thrashing, the subjugation team watched the Red Dragon from a distance. The Red Dragon, breathing fire towards the sky, convulsed briefly. The scream ceased, and the mes subsided. Then, Kuung. The dragon¡¯s head, which had been raised towards the sky, fell to the ground. Only convulsing, the Red Dragon could no longer move. It seemed to have lost the source of its power. ¡°Look, over there!¡± Someone pointed to the dragon¡¯s belly. A sword protruded from it. Soon, the sword drew a line, splitting the dragon¡¯s belly. From the split belly, a gasping Najin stepped out. He truly went inside the dragon¡¯s mouth, broke its heart, and came out. The subjugation team was astonished by the sight of the boy who tore through the dragon¡¯s belly and emerged. A feat. A feat worthy of inscribing a star. The knights were astonished and also admired the boy who reenacted the myth of Siegfried the Dragonyer. However, in this situation, they could neither express admiration nor cheer. ¡°Huff, huff¡­¡± Najin was in a serious condition. His body was covered in burn marks, and mes still clung to him. Even breathing seemed painful. The skin on his arm had melted and was grotesquely deformed. Zziik, zziiik¡­ Najin, who had been dragging his leg, copsed to the ground. He tried to prop himself up, but with a broken arm, he could not lift his body. At that moment. Rihard Polsen walked towards Najin. He helped Najin up from the ground. Despite the mes clinging to Najin¡¯s body and burning his own, Rihard supported Najin and moved. ¡°¡­¡­¡± Eventually, the knights followed in silence. Rihard poured water fetched by the knights over Najin¡¯s body. With a hissing sound, the fire was extinguished, and Rihard took out a potion from his bosom and poured it over Najin¡¯s head. ¡°Are you conscious?¡± He wanted to speak, but only ash-filled breaths came out of his mouth. In the end, Najin nodded. ¡°It seems your fight is not over yet. Am I right?¡± Najin nodded again. Seeing this, Rihard smiled. ¡°I thought so.¡± He supported Najin and walked to the front of the dragon¡¯s neck. Upon arriving, Rihard stepped back, leaving Najin there. No one approached the dragon or Najin. They maintained their distance in silence. The dragon, losing its source, was gradually crumbling. If someone drove a sword into its neck, the dragon would die, and if left alone, it would still die. Killing a dying dragon was something anyone could do. But, no one did. Taking away someone else¡¯s prey was not the adventurer¡¯s way, and iming someone else¡¯s merit was not the knight¡¯s honor. Those who knew propriety and honor quietly watched Najin finish off the dragon. ¡°Huu¡­¡± Najin, gasping for breath, raised his sword in front of the dragon¡¯s neck. The Red Dragon, unable to move, looked at Najin with fearful eyes. There was no more anger in those eyes. Only fear. Facing the dragon¡¯s gaze, Najin swung his raised sword. The sword, with its dissipated sword aura, barely cut through the crumbling dragon¡¯s scales due to hisck of strength. Najin swung the raised sword again. Once, twice, three times¡­ On the fifth strike, Najin finally severed the dragon¡¯s neck. Dragon blood spurted from the severed neck. Amidst the spraying blood, Najin looked up at the sky. The source of the light that shot up wildly was already shattered. Most of the ground lights were also destroyed. However, it was not dark around. The stars in the night sky were shining. Among the countless stars in the sky, Najin found his own star. The star he had longed for was shining in a corner of the sky. And then. Another star appeared right next to his star. It was the Dragon yer star given to the boy who reenacted the myth. A New Star had appeared. Amid the turmoil in the sky, Nayuta watched the newly born star with interest. Although new stars often appeared suddenly, that star was scattering an exceptionally bright light. It was an omen. An omen that another star would be born. Could a newly born star gain another star so soon? Nayuta had never seen such a case. There were no records left by the previous Masters of the Grey Tower. If we go back to the mythological era, it might be a different story¡­ But at least in the thousand-year history of the Empire, it was unprecedented. After a thousand years, King Arthur moved. After a thousand years, the Witch¡¯s Constetion appeared. In the midst of these historical events, the newly born New Star was showcasing its presence. ¡®Could it be.¡¯ Could it really obtain another star? The bright white star reached its peak. Then, with an explosion of light, another star appeared next to it. Two stars rose at once. The stars shone brilliantly. Nayuta, mesmerized, watched the glowing stars. The thought that she was at the center of a historical moment filled her mind. The Grey Tower was abuzz with the sudden appearance of the Witch¡¯s Constetion. Voices of mages and imperial officials seeking her filled the office, but Nayuta did not hear them. ¡°Hoo.¡± She let out a chuckle. Naming the newly born star was the role of the Grey Tower¡¯s Master. As she watched the star, the words of her predecessor echoed in her mind. ¡¸Nayuta.¡¹ Her mentor, an old mage with a strong personality. When passing down the role of Grey Tower¡¯s Master to Nayuta, he had said, ¡¸One day, you too will name a star.¡¹ ¡¸That day will surelye.¡¹ ¡¸Not an ordinary star, but a brilliant star. On that day, you will understand.¡¹ Karan, the Sword Saint. Gerd Isabalt, the Empire¡¯s greatest knight. Yuel Razian, the Executioner of the Starblood Sect. The old man who had named the stars of these three Sword Masters had patted Nayuta¡¯s head and smiled. ¡¸Master of the Grey Tower.¡¹ ¡¸This position, which grants the right to name stars, is the most blessed of all.¡¹ She had thought it was just the old man¡¯s ramblings. She had dismissed it as the mutterings of an old geezer. ¡¸How do you know if a star is special?¡¹ ¡¸My foolish disciple, do you n to be the Grey Tower¡¯s Master without the ability to discern stars? When the timees, you will know immediately.¡¹ ¡¸That star is the one.¡¹ The reason those words resurfaced now was obvious. Instinct told her. It was a powerful intuition. Nayuta reached out towards the star hanging in the sky. The star shone brightly, almost within her grasp. Amid the turbulent sky, two stars firmly established their positions, shining brilliantly. The Master of the Grey Tower counted the stars. A challenge, and dragonying. The boy¡¯s feats were shining in the sky. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 122 Chapter 122 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Two Stars (2) Stars shone in the night sky. Najin stared nkly at the sky. The surging dragon¡¯s blood, the dragon¡¯s final scream, and the bted cheers of the people all felt infinitely distant. The pain that had racked his entire body gradually dulled. In the silence, where time seemed to slow down and almost stop. Najin looked at the stars. Among the countless stars adorning the night sky, there was a star emitting a soft light. It was his star, not anyone else¡¯s. Although Excalibur had long been sheathed, Najin¡¯s eyes gleamed with a tinum hue. ¡ºI promise, Ivan.¡» ¡ºI¡¯ll ce my star at the highest point in the night sky.¡» ¡ºI¡¯ll prove that you were right to send me out, that you were a knight who never lost your light, even if you fell.¡» ¡ºI will.¡» ¡ºI will, I promise.¡» These were words he had thought to himself many times. Words he had vowed countless times. ¡°¡­¡­¡± As he recalled these words, Najin slowly raised his hand. He spread his hand wide towards the sky. It was a habit of his. He used to reach towards the ceiling even in the underground city. But this gesture now. Was theplete opposite of what it had meant back then. ¡®You know.¡¯ Najin spoke to himself. Though it was a monologue, it was not truly alone as there was someone listening. Merlin, standing beside him, silently listened to Najin¡¯s words. ¡®I, who was buried in the ce called thendfill outside the underground city. In the dark ce where stars couldn¡¯t be seen, imagining what the light of a star would be like by looking at the luminous stones embedded in the ceiling¡­ I was a person who was the farthest from the stars. I was not even allowed to see the stars. Even if I reached for the sky, I could not touch the stars. But this moment was different. When I looked up at the sky, I could see the wide expanse of the night sky and the stars. When I reached out towards the sky, it felt like I could touch my star that was shining there. The star that was solely mine, which I had longed for. Though it was not yet at the center or the highest point of the sky, it definitely existed up there.¡¯ Looking at the star, Najin smiled. It was a smile filled with various emotions. A smile that couldn¡¯t be summed up in one word. Merlin, who had been silent, finally spoke. Her voice was a bit softer than usual. -You did well. She touched Najin¡¯s shoulder with her hand. Merlin, being slightly shorter than Najin, had to raise her arm, and although her touch didn¡¯t physically reach him because she was an intangible illusion¡­ Merlin¡¯s emotions reached him. The constetion with eleven stars spoke to the New Star who had just gained another star. -You did something unbelievable again, getting two stars at once. Sheughed as if in disbelief. -Then again, you did something crazy like jumping into the dragon¡¯s mouth. Watching you, it felt like my heart was going to stop. In my era, crazy people like you were rare, really¡­ Trailing off, Merlin said. -But it was cool. -Rest now. You must be tired. Najin slowly exhaled. Time, which had been moving slowly, found its original pace, and the noise around him began to turn into human voices. Lowering his arm that had been reaching for the sky, Najin looked around. The cheering knights. Those with their mouths agape in shock. Roselin approaching with augh, and Rihard pping as if to bless the birth of a new star. All of them, one and all, were apuding Najin¡¯s achievement. It was a feat deserving of such admiration. The boy had risked his life to challenge the dragon and achieved the feat of dragon ying. Those who paved the way for the boy and those who blocked the dragon¡¯s attacks also gained fragments of stars. It was a battlefield that left the birth of a new star and fragments of future stars. Amidst the cheers, Najin smiled faintly. With trembling hands, Najin raised the bloodied sword high into the air. Just like Arthur did, Najin dered the end of the subjugation. ¡°Waaaaaaah!¡± The louder cheers echoed through Stonehenge. After the dragon subjugation ended. Unsurprisingly, Najin had to stay in bed. It seemed to happen every time he fought a battle, but the injuries from this fight were not easily healed. -The first star of Excalibur¡¯s discharge. -That¡¯s how it is after using it. You pour out everything you¡¯ve gathered at once, so after one use, the output drops significantly and the blessings fade. The weakened recovery power of Excalibur yed a part, but the injuries were more severe than usual. Multiple fractures, twisted fingers, and full-body burns. The priests had clicked their tongues and asked, ¡®Is he even alive?¡¯ So there was no need to say more. ¡®I really almost died.¡¯ Muttering under his breath, Najin was wrapped in bandages. Even considering his high recovery rate, he was told to stay in bed for several weeks. He had gained a star, so there should be some changes, but Najin was disappointed he couldn¡¯t experience them immediately. -I know you¡¯re excited, but be patient. While lying in bed, some people came to visit him. The first to visit were Roselin and Rihard. ¡°The hero of the Red Dragon subjugation.¡± With a cheerfulugh, Rihard ced a basket of fruits he had brought as a gift. Roselin sat on the edge of the bed, chuckling as she looked at Najin. ¡°Wrapped in bandages like that, you look like an undead.¡± ¡°I thought the same when I saw myself in the mirror.¡± ¡°It¡¯s amazing you didn¡¯t melt after jumping into the mes. How was it inside the dragon¡¯s mouth?¡± ¡°It was scorching hot.¡± Najin shrugged as he answered. ¡°There was nothing but fire. I wondered where the breath came from, and it seemed like it came from there. If you scooped a handful and spat it out, that was the breath.¡± ¡°Wow, so you swung your sword inside the breath and split the dragon¡¯s heart?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°This guy is really crazy.¡± Roselinughed exaggeratedly, pping her knee. Whether Najin¡¯s words were an exaggeration or the truth, the fact that Najin had jumped into the dragon¡¯s mouth and split its heart remained unchanged. In history, there was only one. The Dragon yer, Siegfried. Najin had recreated the feat achieved only by the first Sword Saint, known as the great hero. It would soon be noisy again. Thinking this, Roselin smirked. ¡°Thank you, rookie¡­ No, Najin.¡± ¡°Why suddenly?¡± ¡°Thanks to you, we gained a lot.¡± Roselin opened her palm in front of Najin. She nced at Rihard with a smile. Nodding, Rihard opened his hand as if to show something. And then, sparkle. A small star shone in their palms. Najin widened his eyes. Rihard Polsen had one, and Roselin Ascalo had two stars shining in their hands. ¡°Both I and Rihard had umted some feats, but this fight was decisive. We gained new stars.¡± ¡°This is my first star. I didn¡¯t want to step into dangerous battlefields, so I quit being a knight, but I never thought I¡¯d gain a star at this age.¡± Rihard shrugged. ¡°Thanks to you. Thank you.¡± ¡°I should be thanking you. Thanks to you, I reached the Red Dragon in one piece.¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t seem like you were in one piece.¡± ¡°If I can run and swing my sword, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± At Najin¡¯s reply, both Rihard and Roselin burst intoughter. After chatting for a while, they left the room. ¡°I really never get a break.¡± Next to visit was Dieta. Looking at Najin wrapped in bandages, she sighed. She seemed to have expected this oue. ¡°I heard about it. You jumped into the Red Dragon¡¯s mouth? It¡¯s a big deal everywhere. The broken seal of Stonehenge, the fully resurrected two dragons, the witch¡¯s intervention, the Red Dragonpleted by swallowing the other dragon¡­¡± She said while reading a newspaper she had brought. ¡°And the Dragon yer who killed the dragon.¡± The youngest Dragon yer. ¡°The adventurer who gained two stars at once.¡± The youngest dual star. ¡°It seems you¡¯re collecting all the titles that start with ¡®youngest.¡¯¡± ¡°My star acquisition has already been reported, I see.¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s a big deal. They say the Witch¡¯s Constetion appeared for the first time in a thousand years, and amidst that, a new star rose, so the observatory took notice.¡± The observatory referred to the Grey Tower. ¡°Master of the Grey Tower, Nayuta, was shouting so loudly. Ignoring all the imperial officials¡¯ reports, she locked the doors of the Grey Tower, saying she had to name your star.¡± ¡°¡­My star?¡± Crunch, crunch. Dieta nodded while cutting an apple from the fruit basket. ¡°It¡¯s the Master of the Grey Tower¡¯s role to name stars. Here.¡± The apple, cut roughly and unevenly, was handed to Najin. When Najin raised his bandaged hand, Dieta hesitated for a moment before bringing the apple to his mouth. As he ate the apple, Najin asked. ¡°If she names my star¡­ does that mean giving it an alias? Like Arthur, the Sword of Selection.¡± ¡°Something like that. They bring a few candidates, and you choose the one you like. As you gain more stars, the alias might change.¡± Najin thought of the aliases of the constetions. The first that came to mind was, of course, Arthur, known as the Sword of Selection, followed by Merlin, the Archmage of the Lake. Their aliases felt somewhat in. -It¡¯s supposed to be simple. Merlin grumbled. -Hey, both Arthur and I could have had fancy aliases. Like the Archmage who Pierced the Truth, the Sword that Cut the Heavens, the Staff that Dropped Stars, the One who Silenced the End, those were the candidates we rejected. The original constetion name should be simple to keep its essence. There is beauty in restraint. Merlin¡¯s murmurs were half-listened to by Najin as he pondered. ¡°I¡¯m a bit excited to see what alias I¡¯ll get.¡± ¡°Most people don¡¯t keep their first alias until the end, so just think of it as a pseudonym. If you don¡¯t like it, you can change itter.¡± ¡°But the first is important.¡± Dieta smiled faintly while continuing to cut the apple. ¡°Well, then you can ask her directly.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± ¡°She¡¯sing here. Master of the Grey Tower, Nayuta.¡± ¡°¡­¡­Pardon?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t move, and she doesn¡¯t want to draw attention by calling you to the Grey Tower. She¡¯s worried someone might intercept you.¡± So, Dieta said. ¡°She¡¯sing here. In person.¡± Najin was at a loss for words. A dayter, Nayuta, the Master of the Grey Tower, visited Najin¡¯s hospital room. Najin blinked at the sight of the Master of the Grey Tower, who came alone without any guards. ¡®Well, I guess she doesn¡¯t need guards¡­¡¯ Someone of her caliber,parable to a transcendent. Although she reached the level by measuring stars rather than fighting, there¡¯s a difference in level once one reaches a certain stage. The person who suddenly opened the door and came in. The first impression of Nayuta, the Master of the Grey Tower, was somewhat gloomy. Her long ck hair was tied loosely as if she couldn¡¯t be bothered to fix it properly. Her eyes had a shadowy look, and her skin, having spent too much time indoors, was beyond pale to the point of being ghostly. ¡°You¡¯re the one, right? You¡¯re Najin? I¡¯ve heard the rumors. The youngest Sword Seeker at eighteen. Observing your star, I found out you shed with the Flickering Witch, Ermina, too?¡± And. ¡°You¡¯ve achieved many feats rted to challenges. A lot. Not just one or two? Every time, you¡¯ve faced strong opponents. Looking at them one by one, the words attached to them are no joke. Crisis, death, injury, oveing, awakening, struggle¡­¡± She kept talking. Even before introducing herself properly. After a long rant, Nayuta pped her hands and smiled bitterly. ¡°Look at me, losing my mind.¡± She sat on the chair in front of Najin. Her movements were somewhat carefree. When Najin tried to show courtesy, she waved her hand. It was a sign to rx. ¡°I¡¯m Nayuta, the Master of the Grey Tower. I observe and name stars. Today, I came to name your star.¡± She took out a paper from her robe. It was a very luxurious piece of paper. ¡°I picked some candidates, would you like to choose one? Don¡¯t worry about being rude. If you think ¡®this name is a bit off,¡¯ just say so. Really, it¡¯s fine! It¡¯s not like I¡¯ll cut off your head for saying ¡®your naming sense is terrible,¡¯ okay? I¡¯m not that petty.¡± Najin slowly nodded. She had an aura that was hard to keep up with. -Forget that. Let¡¯s take a look. Together with Merlin, Najin unfolded the paper. It was filled with the names Nayuta had written. There were more than ten candidates, and as Najin read through them, his expression hardened. Merlin¡¯s expression was the same. ¡ºThe One Who Pierced the Dragon¡¯s Heart through mes.¡» ¡ºThe One Who Jumps into Fire.¡» ¡ºThe Dragon yer.¡» -This is a bit¡­ grandiose and tacky. ¡ºThe One Who Forgot the Fear of Death.¡» ¡ºThe Sword that Cuts Through Death.¡» ¡ºThe Death yer¡­¡» Najin closed his eyes midway. He felt pain in his body and a cringe in his fingers for some reason. -Aren¡¯t these names too grandiose and shy? Even for someone with five stars, they¡¯d think, ¡®This is a bit much.¡¯ Merlin seemed to feel the same. Najin seriously doubted Nayuta¡¯s qualifications as the Master of the Grey Tower. However, seeing Nayuta¡¯s eager eyes, he couldn¡¯t say, ¡®Your naming sense is terrible.¡¯ So Najin opened his eyes. Let¡¯s read them all first. As he scanned down, he saw a name underlined with two lines at the bottom. It had a note saying it was too in and not preferred. ¡°This one¡¯s good.¡± Najin pointed to that name with his finger. Chapter 123 Chapter 123 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Two Stars (3) Najin pointed at a particr epithet. ¡ºThe Star of Dawn.¡» The namebined the word for ¡°dawn,¡± symbolizing the faint light of morning breaking through darkness, with ¡°star.¡± Though the Grey Tower Master, Nayuta, had dismissed it with a note and called it, ¡°Too in to be suitable.¡± Najin found its simplicity appealing. ¡®It¡¯s miles better than something like The Death yer.¡¯ That wasn¡¯t the only reason. He genuinely liked the name ¡°The Star of Dawn,¡± especially the descriptive phrase attached to it: ¡ºThe Star of Dawn, herald of the end of night.¡» The word ¡°dawn¡± didn¡¯t just signify the early hours of morning. It also symbolized the end of a long night, the arrival of a new day, hope, or even the beginning of a new era, depending on context. ¨C It reminds me of Arthur¡¯s epithet. Merlin¡¯s voice echoed softly in Najin¡¯s ear. ¨C Sure, these days, he¡¯s more famous as The Sword of Selection, King of Knights, or Great Hero, but it wasn¡¯t always like that. His very first epithet carried meanings like ¡°beacon¡± or ¡°hope.¡± Such a detail couldn¡¯t be found in the stories. ¨C When Arthur and I were adventuring, it was the darkest age in human history, often called the ¡®Era of Chaos¡¯. He was the one who ced the first star in the night sky for humanity. To people back then, Arthur symbolized hope and the beacon of resistance. He¡¯d been a light to drive away the long darkness and a beacon heralding humanity¡¯s counterattack. Considering the state of that era, the name suited Arthur perfectly. ¨C This ¡°Star of Dawn¡± carries a simr meaning. How did this namee about? It doesn¡¯t seem directly tied to the feats your stars are based on. ¡®That¡¯s what I¡¯d like to know.¡¯ Najin raised his head and looked at Nayuta. The Grey Tower Master frowned as she eyed the epithet Najin had chosen. Her expression screamed, ¡®Did you really have to pick that one?¡¯ ¡°Nayuta?¡± ¡°Huh? Oh, yes? Something you want to ask?¡± ¡°Could you tell me where the name originates from?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can¡¯t exin, butpared to the other names, this one feels half-hearted. Are you sure you like it? Don¡¯t you think something like the Death¡ª¡± ¡°I like this one.¡± Clicking her tongue in mild frustration, Nayuta reluctantly began her exnation. ¡°You know about the Malefic Star that appeared the night you hunted the Red Dragon, right?¡± Najin nodded. The Malefic Star, a ck-and-red star belonging to the Witch of Cann, had appeared in the night sky that night. Najin vividly remembered it. ¡°It was the first time in a thousand years that the Malefic Star rose, and that terrible presence caused a stir in the heavens. The other stars dimmed and hid themselves in the darkness.¡± The Witch of Cann was a star hunter. She had swallowed, extinguished, and cast down countless stars before her constetion was sealed in the Abyss. As if recalling those past nightmares, the stars fell silent the moment the Malefic Star rose. ¡°The night sky, bereft of starlight, became dark and cold; suddenly, two stars appeared.¡± Nayuta spread her hands, mimicking the stars¡¯ emergence. ¡°They were your stars. Even as the mighty constetions dimmed their light in fear of the witch, two tiny, fragile stars¡ªones not even part of a proper constetion yet¡ªshone brightly in defiance.¡± Two stars had zed against the darkness. Tiny, delicate stars that couldn¡¯t yet be called constetions. ¡°Those small stars burned so brightly in opposition to the Malefic Star that it seemed to shame therger constetions into reigniting their light.¡± Though Najin had been too focused on the battle with the Red Dragon to notice, his stars had spurred the other constetions to light up again, as if inspired or provoked by the light they emitted. ¡°The rekindled constetions drove away the darkness cast by the Malefic Star. It was a breathtaking sight.¡± ¡°Was it really?¡± ¡°Indeed. To my eyes, it looked as though dawn was breaking and banishing the night. That¡¯s why the word ¡®dawn¡¯ came to mind, and I reflexively named it¡­¡± Nayuta trailed off, fidgeting with her fingers as though embarrassed. ¡°Honestly, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s a bit underwhelming? Star names should be grand and majestic, but this one feels too in. Itcks the philosophical weight a name should carry.¡± At first, Najin had been quietly impressed by Nayuta¡¯s exnation, thinking, ¡®So this is why she¡¯s the Grey Tower Master.¡¯ As she continued, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a tinge of regret. ¨C Hmm¡­ It¡¯s not that she¡¯s bad at naming things, but her sense of grandeur is a bit off, isn¡¯t it? Why is she so obsessed with shiness? Merlin¡¯s sentiments echoed Najin¡¯s own thoughts. ¡°This is the one I¡¯ll go with. The Star of Dawn. I like it.¡± Despite Nayuta¡¯s continued protests, Najin held firm in his decision. Nayuta¡¯s naming methods clearly had their own philosophy and conviction behind them, but agreeing with those philosophies was a different matter. After all, it was his epithet. If people were to address him as The Death yer, He Who Divides Death, Najin didn¡¯t think he would be able to walk around with his head held high. ¡°Well, if that¡¯s what you want¡­¡± With a final, reluctant sigh, Nayuta circled ¡®The Star of Dawn¡¯ on her list. ¡°Najin.¡± While she packed her belongings to leave, she turned to Najin onest time, her tone weighted with something unsaid. ¡°It¡¯s not something I should be telling someone who¡¯s only just gained their first star, but do you know how many stars have fallen?¡± ¡°Fallen stars?¡± ¡°Yes. As many as the stars shining in the night sky¡ªperhaps even more¡ªhave fallen. People speak of stars as symbols of eternity and constancy, but is there truly anything eternal in this world?¡± Nayuta, the mage who had devoted her life to observing the stars, continued, ¡°Countless stars fail to be constetions and fall. Sometimes they decay, sometimes they be corrupt, and sometimes they simply shatter. The ce they call the battlefield of stars¡­ such is its nature.¡± She smiled bitterly. ¡°One day, your shining stars may also dim and fall. It¡¯s a real possibility. I¡¯ve seen countless New Stars disappear after burning brightly.¡± Nayuta exhaled softly, opening and closing her eyes. Though her appearance remained as unkempt and somber as when she had arrived, something in her gaze had changed. ¡°I hope that won¡¯t happen to you.¡± Her eyes were different. They sparkled with the stars she had observed for a lifetime, their light deeply etched into her soul. Whether that light was her own or borrowed from the stars she watched, Najin couldn¡¯t tell, but he thought her eyes were beautiful. ¡°I hope you gain many more stars; I hope your light never fades; I hope you connect those stars to form a constetion.¡± Finally, she added, ¡°I hope youe and find me as a full-fledged constetion.¡± Nayuta smiled¡ªa smile akin to that of a mother gazing fondly at her child. ¡°When that dayes, I¡¯ll rename your constetion.¡± ¡°Something shy and grand?¡± Najin asked. ¡°Of course! You can look forward to it. I¡¯ll think up the most extravagant name for your stars.¡± Najin chuckled bitterly. ¡®I¡¯ll politely decline that offer, really.¡¯ With Najin¡¯s epithet officially decided, time moved on, and the news spread across the Empire like wildfire. It plunged the nation into yet another frenzy¡ªjust one of many in a year already marked by chaos. Monumental events, the kind that typically urred only once in a century, seemed to erupt one after another. Someone had pulled Excalibur¡­ Arthur¡¯s constetion had stirred¡­ The youngest Sword Seeker in history had appeared¡­ The Witch of Cann had made her move¡­ And someone had imed two stars at once. Even excluding events happening in the Ounds, the maind had already seen its share of unprecedented happenings. Newspapers struggled to keep up, frantically printing new editions, while others, overwhelmed for entirely different reasons, cried out in frustration. ¡°This year, what kind of curse is upon us?¡± ¡°How many times must we revise the historical records? Where do we even begin or end? Who am I, and where is this?¡± ¡°The youngest! The youngest! The youngest! How many more damned ¡®youngest¡¯ records must we document?!¡± ¡°Has the world gone mad? Does the heavens¡¯ will not understand the meaning of ¡®unparalleled in history¡¯?! Unparalleled! Something so rare it¡¯s nearly nonexistent!¡± The Empire¡¯s historians cried out in anguish. Tasked with documenting history and revising records to reflect significant events, the scribes found themselves at their wits¡¯ end. Many were pulling at their hair as they stared at the insurmountable task before them. ¡°A Sword Seeker at just 18 years of age.¡± If such a storyline were written into a novel, it would have been scoffed at with reviews like, ¡°What nonsense is this, author? Do you think this makes any sense?¡± Reality, as it so often does, was stranger than fiction. ¡°18 years old, the youngest Sword Seeker.¡± ¡°At 18, he simultaneously gained two stars.¡± The historians could onlyugh bitterly. One among them joked, ¡°Why not add that he pulled the Excalibur while we¡¯re at it?¡± Even that joke felt ufortably usible. The scribe quickly mped his mouth shut, fearing his workload would double if such a thing turned out to be true. ¡°Is this upstart aiming to break the record for giving historians premature baldness, too? What¡¯s the youngest age on record forplete hair loss among scribes?¡± ¡°Twenty-six. And at this rate, that record won¡¯tst long. The hairline of our department¡¯s youngest scribe receded ten steps in mere months.¡± ¡°How old is he?¡± ¡°Twenty-one.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡­¡± The scribes fell silent, bowing their heads in a moment of solemn reflection. Of course, the scribes¡¯ grievances were their own, and the general popce of the Empire reacted far more enthusiastically to Najin¡¯s rise. The Star of Dawn, herald of the end of night¡­ Looking up at the new star in the night sky, the people were jubnt. Across all eras, the birth of a hero inspired celebration among the masses. While Najin had yet to achieve feats worthy of being called a hero, his actions thus far painted a promising picture for his future. Interest in Najin grew day by day, and at that point, a single question began to take root in the minds of many: could that boy have been the one who pulled the Excalibur? Some couldn¡¯t help but entertain the possibility. The timing was suspiciously close. Najin began making his mark on the world not long after the Excalibur was drawn. Coincidence? Perhaps, but wasn¡¯t the alignment of events just a bit too perfect? ¡°Surely the Imperial Court and the great constetions are not blind. They must know who drew Excalibur. Besides, that boy is no transcendent.¡± ¡°Conspiracy theories! Baseless spection!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t His Radiance personally confirm it wasn¡¯t him?¡± ¡°Still, judging by his actions, it¡¯s not entirely imusible.¡± ¡°Consider the unique nature of Excalibur.¡± Debates swirled. Some argued Najin couldn¡¯t possibly be the one, while others found the theory intriguing enough to keep the question alive. It was difficult to dismiss outright since the logic wasn¡¯t without merit. ¡°Well then, who pulled Excalibur?¡± No one could provide a definitive answer. Months had passed since Excalibur was drawn, soon approaching a full year, yet not a single credible sighting of its wielder had surfaced. ¡°Perhaps one of the three Sword Masters mentioned as potential candidates is keeping it a secret.¡± ¡°I¡¯d wager it¡¯s Sir Karan. He has an unparalleled connection with the de. No one in the history of the Order of the Sword has disyed talent like his.¡± ¡°Imperial Sword Master Gerd would maintainplete silence if he were the one. That man¡¯s entire existence is enigmatic.¡± ¡°Could it be the Executioner from the Starblood Sect? If anyone else had drawn it, that butcher wouldn¡¯t remain idle.¡± The question of who wielded Excalibur remained unanswered. Spection about the wielder reignited, and the same three Sword Masters¡ªGerd Isabalt, Karan, and Yuel Razian¡ªonce again found their names at the center of the debate. Unlike a year prior, a fourth name entered the mix¡­ The Star of Dawn, Najin. Najin¡¯s name was mentioned alongside the great Sword Masters. Though stillcking in experiencepared to them, he was no longer dismissed as insignificant. ¡°Najin.¡± He was a boy born in the Underground City. A boy who had once been a nobody was carving his name into the very heart of the Empire. He was no longer a nameless figure. The two stars shining brightly in the night sky were proof of his existence. One year had passed since Najin left the Underground City. And in less than a year, the world changedpletely. As Najin¡¯s reputation soared to unprecedented heights, two people were especially keen on capitalizing on his fame. One was Marquis Edelmar, the lord of Trebache County. ¡°Bravo! Bravo! Ack, gah!¡± ¡°Marquis! Please breathe!¡± ¡°Breathe, My Lord!¡± Even as he was carried off by his knights after nearly choking in his excitement, the Marquis wore a smile so wide it nearly split his face, and he had every reason to smile. A month prior, Marquis Edelmar hadunched a tourism business based on the story of Najin and Dieta¡¯s adventure in Trebache. Thanks to Najin¡¯s newfound fame as the youngest Sword Seeker, the business was thriving. With the new buzz surrounding Najin¡¯s dual stars, the Marquis¡¯s venture exploded in poprity. Noble families and curiousmoners alike flocked to Trebache, eager to visit the ce where the youngest Sword Seeker and the Twin Stars had supposedly kindled a romance, and with each visitor came a trail of gold coins. Trebache was experiencing an unprecedented boom. From the Marquis¡¯s perspective, the situation was a dreame true. ¡°I must write a letter to Najin! Trebache will forever be his ally and steadfast friend! Tell him he is always wee here, and I shall host a grand feast for him!¡± Marquis Edelmar wasn¡¯t the only one reveling in Najin¡¯s newfound fame. Someone else enjoyed the benefits even more¡ªDieta. ¡°Pasion, have you seen this?¡± ¡°Yes, Miss. What seems to be the matter?¡± The Snake that Swallows Gold trembled as she pointed at a newspaper, her hand shaking. The front page showed a chart disying a line curving upward in a dramatic, almost vertical arc¡ªthe stock performance of Dieta¡¯s tradingpany. Dieta gazed at the chart soaring to seemingly unreachable heights, her lips quivering with joy. ¡°Isn¡¯t it beautiful? My goodness, where else in the world can you find a masterpiece like this? Compared to this, any painting hung on a gallery wall is just a scrap of canvas. This curve¡­ this curve is art!¡± No celebrated work of art had ever brought her so much bliss. A rapturous expression on her face, Dieta gently stroked the newspaper before turning her eyes to the apanying headlines. -The Financial Genius, Dieta.- Unlike before, when she would have basked in the glory of such titles, she felt a twinge of guilt whenever she saw them. True, she had believed Najin would seed, but she had never expected him to soar so high, so fast, and with such brilliance. The tradingpany¡¯s stock price wasn¡¯t merely climbing¡ªit was smashing through the metaphorical ceiling. At that point, even Dieta herself felt a little afraid. Chapter 124 Chapter 124 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Interlude, Dieta (1) The Snake that Swallows Gold, Dieta, had left her ducal family apanied by a single escort knight and, in just five years, be Cambria¡¯s most prominent magnate. Her aplishments were remarkable, yet neither she nor her tradingpany garnered much attention outside Cambria. Within Cambria, her influence was undeniable, but it failed to extend beyond its borders. That was until a year prior. In the past year, the Dieta Trading Company experienced explosive growth. They established distributionworks outside Cambria and set up a foothold in the heart of the Empire. Moreover, they drew public attention by showcasing a connection with the renowned Najin. Attention focused on her¡ªcountless gazes and interests. A single misstep in such a situation could bring everything crashing down. Though it would have been wise to tread carefully, the Snake that Swallows Gold was a merchant to her very core. High risks promised high rewards¡ªa basic principle ofmerce. She had no intention of letting the opportunity slip by. As the entire world focused on her tradingpany, Dieta confidently stepped onto the stage. ¡°Buy it all.¡± Dieta had already secured the first bid rights for the remains of the in White and Red Dragons. The gold she had stockpiled while enduring losses was unleashed in one fell swoop; a wave of gold swept through the auction house. She poured all the debts she was owed by the Central Guild, as well as the weaknesses and IOUs she¡¯d held over countless tradingpanies, into the bids. In the end, Dieta seeded in acquiring nearly 90% of the dragon materials. It was enough to be called a monopoly. The cost was immense, but Dieta believed dragon materials were worth every coin. What were dragon materials? They weremodities used in alchemy, magitech, armor and weapon forging, and even research¡ªessentially useful for almost everything. While their value had been long proven, they simply hadn¡¯t been avable for sale until then. Such materials were on the market for the first time in decades, and not just any materials, but those of the Red Dragon and White Dragon, linked to King Arthur¡¯s legends. Their value was not only practical but also renowned. ¡®That¡¯s not all.¡¯ Dieta rolled a tinum coin across her palm. That particr batch of dragon materials was special. The Red Dragon Najin had in was a unique specimen influenced by the Witch of Cann, bearing scales that even withstood the Sword Aura of a Sword Seeker. Dragon materials were already expensive, but with such uniqueness added, Dieta could dictate the price as she pleased. Many tradingpanies, workshops, and mage towers expressed interest in purchasing the materials, but Dieta refused. A merchant doesn¡¯t only trade in tangible goods. Often, the intangible held far greater value, and Dieta understood that better than anyone. If selling goods at the highest price was a merchant¡¯s virtue, then Dieta was an exceptional merchant. ¡°The Red Tower promised to provide us with goods from their mage tower at reduced prices. They also agreed to prioritize us above all others when supplying their products.¡± Dieta smiled at the merchants who had sought her out. ¡°The Dofker Forge promised to supply processed goods crafted from the materials exclusively to our tradingpany and even agreed to form a partnership with us. It¡¯s not just the Dofker Forge. Roens Workshop, the Wendelin Alchemy Tower, and the Wolhite Forge all made simr offers.¡± ¡°What terms have you brought to the table?¡± ¡®Bring terms. Otherwise, there will be no deal.¡¯ She set herpetitors against each other in their scramble for the rare dragon materials, encouraging them to offer better terms. Aspetition among merchants intensified, Dieta remained silent. She sold nothing¡ªher ideal customer had yet to appear. It was merely bait to lure a bigger fish into the game. Dieta¡¯s sharp eyes scanned the depths of the waters. ¡®Surely you covet these goods as well, but you wouldn¡¯t want to stoop so low as to participate in this. You¡¯d think it beneath you.¡¯ ¡®A tradingpany associated with you, merchants you have ties with¡ªthose are the channels through which you¡¯d want to acquire these goods, but what can you do?¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m not nning to sell them.¡¯ ¡®If you want them,e to me yourself.¡¯ ¡®Only then will I respond to a deal. I¡¯ve gone to the lengths of expanding the scale of this stage just for someone of your stature. Isn¡¯t this sufficient?¡¯ Clink¡ª ¡°Master Trader¡­¡± Atst, the big fish surfaced. ¡°A guest from the tinum Tower has arrived.¡± The bait was taken. Dieta flicked the tinum coin in her palm, smiling as she watched it spin in mid-air. The tinum Tower¡ªthergest mage tower in the Empire. Dieta¡¯s true target, the master of the tinum Tower, Cipria Gachevskaya, an 8th-circle Archmage, was at its pinnacle. Responsible for nearly 40% of all artifacts distributed within the Empire, she was one of the Five Pirs of the Empire. Eternal Radiance, Cipria Gachevskaya was Dieta¡¯s prey¡ªthe Snake that Swallows Gold had her eyes set on the tinum Tower. Establishing connections with them and creating a trade channel was the entire purpose of her grand scheme. To sessfully establish herself in the Imperial capital, she needed a reliable partner. The fish had bitten the bait. All that remained was to reel it in and cook it to perfection. That was Dieta¡¯s specialty. Crack¡ª Dieta caught the tinum coin she¡¯d flicked. Once in her grasp, there was no chance she¡¯d let it slip away. Najin stretched his stiff body. His joints creaked with every movement¡ªa clear sign that his prolonged time in bed had left him stiff and rigid. ¡°I was lying down for quite a while. How long has it been?¡± -About a month? Just a month? It had felt like at least eight months. As he cracked his shoulders, Najin tried to recall the past month. For a full month since the Red Dragon¡¯s subjugation, he had been bedridden. Despite possessing Excalibur¡¯s regenerative abilities, his injuries had been severe enough to incapacitate him. The healers had marveled at the severity of his wounds, iming an ordinary person would have died ten times over. Unfortunately for them, Najin was far from ordinary. As a Sword Seeker, the wielder of two constetions, and the possessor of Excalibur, Najin¡¯s recovery abilities were beyond human. Though the healers insisted he would need at least six months of rest, Najin managed to leave his bed in just one. It was enough to make the healers clutch their heads in disbelief, but to Najin, even that single month felt unbearably long. -That¡¯s because you¡¯ve never taken a break for more than a week. Merlin sighed audibly. -Ever since you left the Underground City, have you ever truly rested? You swing your sword at every opportunity as if you¡¯d die if you skipped training for even a day. ¡°Thanks to that, I became a Sword Seeker in less than a year, didn¡¯t I?¡± -Oh, how fortunate we are, indeed. While Merlin shook her head as though exasperated, Najin was busy changing into his outdoor attire. He strapped the sword hanging on the wall to his waist, prompting Merlin to heave another sigh. -Training again? Can¡¯t you take it easy? Your wounds haven¡¯t even fully healed. What¡¯s the rush? ¡°I¡¯m not going to train.¡± -What? Najin pointed toward the shelf. It was filled with baskets of fruit and other snacks, all of which had been left behind by Dieta. ¡¸Today, well¡­ there are various matters in the Empire.¡¹ ¡¸Najin, why don¡¯t you try this? It¡¯s nothing much, but I saw it on the way here and thought of you. Sometimes, these little things are nice, aren¡¯t they?¡¹ ¡¸I brought some books in case you were bored. This one¡¯s about ¡®The 100 Heroes Who Lit the Empire¡¯s me¡¯¡ªsounds like your kind of thing, doesn¡¯t it?¡¹ During the month Najin was bedridden, Dieta had visited him almost daily. He was grateful for her kindness. ¡°She visited nearly every day, didn¡¯t she? I figured it wouldn¡¯t hurt for me to visit her for once. She¡¯s busy enough as it is. Surely, visiting me wasn¡¯t easy.¡± -¡­Hmm, I¡¯m not so sure about that. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Merlin¡¯s expression grew peculiar. Unlike Najin, who seemed almost devastatingly oblivious in such matters, Merlin was far from ignorant when it came to a young girl¡¯s feelings. In fact, it would¡¯ve been strange for anyone to not notice. ¡®That girl looks at you as though her eyes are dripping honey; she flinches at even the slightest touch, her shoulders trembling as though electrified; she blushes furiously over the smallest things. How could someone not pick up on that?¡¯ Yet Merlin swallowed her words. She didn¡¯t feel like exining it. There was a strange, irrational irritation¡ªa sense of possessiveness, as if someone were meddling with something precious to her. With a sullen look, Merlin red at Najin. ¡°Why are you ring at me?¡± Of course, Najin only blinked innocently in response. -At times like this, you¡¯re just a clueless kid. ¡°What?¡± ¡®What a ridiculous situation.¡¯ Merlin let out another sigh. As much as Najin had matured, she sometimes forgot that he was just an eighteen-year-old. One who had spent the majority of his life in the Underground City, with little experience in normal human rtionships. It was no wonder that Najin failed to grasp romantic emotions. -Forget it. She¡¯d probably like it if you visited her. Merlin shrugged her shoulders. Although she personally thought dating and romance were a waste of time, she had no intention of interfering. Not that it mattered, anyway. Was that kid even capable of falling for someone? Najin¡¯s head was filled with nothing but swords, stars, and constetions. The idea of him engaging in a romance was so absurd that Merlin couldn¡¯t even picture it. Her thoughts drifted to the girl with the honey-dripping gaze. She couldn¡¯t help but feel sorry for the girls. Najin wouldn¡¯t ever reciprocate her feelings. Smirk¡ª Merlin found herself smiling. Somehow, the thoughtforted her. Najin tilted his head, puzzled by Merlin¡¯s sudden shift from sulking to grinning. The headquarters of the Dieta Trading Company¡­ Najin walked past a line of merchants and clients waiting for their turn, heading directly into the building. Instead of stopping him, the guards merely bowed their heads in recognition. From the entrance to the uppermost floor of the building, no one attempted to bar Najin¡¯s way. Ordinarily, meeting Dieta would require navigating a maze of procedures, but none of that applied to Najin. ¡°Come by anytime.¡± Her words weren¡¯t merely a polite gesture but a literal invitation. Whenever, wherever, however¡ªshe had made it clear that Najin was wee. Not only that, but she had issued explicit orders to her staff: whenever Najin arrived, he was to be sent directly to her. Thanks to that, Najin reached the top floor without issue. The office door was closed, guarded by two individuals. One was Pasion, Dieta¡¯s familiar escort knight; the other was cloaked in a robe, their face hidden. Najin narrowed his eyes. The robed figure gave him an amused chuckle and pulled back their hood. ¡°Fancy meeting you again.¡± ¡°¡­Sir us?¡± us Aten, the former Commander of the Blue Wing Cavalry. Once coerced by the Church to attack Najin, he stood as an ally. It was a familiar face, but why was he here? Catching Najin¡¯s questioning gaze, us pointed toward the office door and gave a wry smile. ¡°She hired me. Thedy was generous enough to offer me a position.¡± ¡°Dieta did?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Officially, we¡¯re dead men. Weck proper identities or a ce to settle, but she took care of everything. Thanks to her, we¡¯re livingfortably now.¡± Najin was momentarily taken aback. Dieta had once told him to leave their fates in her hands and focus on his own tasks. True to her word, she had handled everything. It couldn¡¯t have been easy arranging identities and amodations for so many people, all in secret, but Najin could picture her flicking a coin and nonchntly saying, ¡°Everything is possible with money.¡± He chuckled and nodded. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you. Ah, by the way, my name now is ¡®Romanoff.¡¯ As a mercenary of the Dieta Trading Company, I¡¯ll go by that until the day I can raise the Blue Wing Cavalry banner again.¡± ¡°Shall I call you Sir Romanoff, then?¡± ¡°The title ¡®Sir¡¯ is too much for a mercenary. Just Romanoff will do.¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± Najin and us¡ªRomanoff¡ªexchanged smiles before Najin voiced another question. ¡°Are the others working under Dieta¡¯spany as well?¡± ¡°More or less, yes.¡± Najin did a quick mental tally. us Aten of the Blue Wing Cavalry; Jerold Orton, the demon hunter; Basaus Malek, the frontline soldier. Three Sword Seeker-level individuals, alongside multiple Sword Experts, had pledged their cooperation. If they were all employed as mercenaries by Dieta¡¯s tradingpany¡­ ¡°Ridiculous.¡± Najin couldn¡¯t help butugh at the absurdity. A tradingpany with Sword Seeker-level personnel? Counting himself, they had a total of four Sword Seekers tied to their operations. That was far beyond the scope of any ordinary tradingpany. Najin nced toward Pasion, Dieta¡¯s ever-reliable escort knight. His expression mirrored Najin¡¯s disbelief. ¡°To think I¡¯d end up with three Sword Seeker-level individuals as subordinates. Imagine how I feel,¡± Pasion remarked, his tone a mix of amusement and exasperation. ¡°Anyway, what brings you here? Did youe to see thedy?¡± ¡°Yes. I thought it was about time I visited her for once.¡± ¡°She¡¯ll be pleased to see you,¡± Pasion said with a grin. He nced toward the office door, then added, ¡°Normally, this is her nap time, so no visitors would be allowed¡­¡± With that, Pasion stepped aside and opened the door. ¡°Najin, you¡¯re an exception.¡± ¡°Should Ie backter?¡± Najin asked, hesitating. ¡°Don¡¯t be ridiculous. If I told her you came by but left, I can¡¯t imagine the scolding I¡¯d receive. Please, go in.¡± Taking Pasion¡¯s words to heart, Najin entered the office. The door closed silently behind him, courtesy of Pasion¡¯s thoughtfulness. The office was spacious and elegant, with itsrge windows allowing sunlight to flood in. At the center of the room, by the window, was a sofa, and upon ity Dieta, fast asleep. Her head rested against the armrest, her brown hair gleaming under the sunlight. Najin approached quietly, but Dieta showed no signs of waking. Only the soft sound of her breathing filled the room. Najin stood there for a moment, watching her peaceful face; then, deciding against waking her, he took a seat on a chair opposite her and waited. Fifteen minutes passed. Suddenly, a loud ringing shattered the quiet as an rm clock beside the sofa red. With a start, Dieta¡¯s hand shot out and mmed the clock, silencing it with a loud bang. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Muttering in frustration, she buried her face into the sofa cushions. After a moment of reluctant groaning, she sat up, stretchingzily. ¡°Haaahmmm¡­?¡± Her groggy eyes blinked as they met Najin¡¯s steady gaze. Frozen mid-yawn, Dieta blinked again, more rapidly. Her longshes fluttered as though trying to process the situation. When realization struck, she gasped. ¡°Najin?! W-wait! Could you, uh, look at the wall for a moment?¡± Najinplied, turning his gaze to the nearest wall. Dieta, meanwhile, bolted across the room to a full-length mirror. In a flurry, she adjusted her rumpled outfit, smoothed her hair, and dabbed at her face to fix her makeup. Satisfied atst, she returned to the sofa and sat primly, her hands sped on herp. ¡°You can look now,¡± she said, trying (and failing) to sound calm. Cursing Pasion inwardly for not waking her, Dieta put on aposed expression. A merchant, after all, must never show panic in any situation. As befitting a renowned merchant whomanded the attention of the entire continent, Dieta¡¯s acting was wless. ¡­wless, indeed. If there was a problem, it was that her perfect performance was utterly ruined by her bright red ears and the fidgeting of her fingers. Chapter 125 Chapter 125 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Interlude, Dieta (2) ¡°So, what brings you here, Najin?¡± Dieta asked as she adjusted her hair. Najin didn¡¯t respond immediately. A moment of hesitation. A brief silence. He looked at Dieta without a word. ¡°W-what? Why are you staring like that?¡± ¡°I was just thinking for a moment.¡± ¡°About what?¡± ¡°To be honest, I don¡¯t have any particr reason foring. Since you¡¯ve been visiting me so often, I thought it¡¯d be nice to return the gesture.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ rather considerate of you. How¡¯s your body? Are you recovering well?¡± ¡°Thanks to you.¡± Najin tapped his shoulder lightly. ¡°After chugging high-grade potions like water, I recovered in no time. I¡¯mpletely fine now.¡± ¡°The doctors said you¡¯d need at least six months to rest¡­ but of course, you shrugged it off like it was nothing.¡± ¡°Well, I do have a rather peculiar constitution.¡± Half of Dieta¡¯s heart was d for his recovery. The other half felt reluctant. She smiled bitterly as she looked at him. News of Najin¡¯s recovery meant it was almost time for him to leave again. ¡°Now that you¡¯re better, you¡¯ll be leaving soon, won¡¯t you?¡± Her voice carried a hint of regret. ¡°There is something I¡¯ve been meaning to tell you about that. I kept putting it off, thinking I¡¯d say itter.¡± ¡°Are you going somewhere far away?¡± ¡°It seems that way.¡± ¡°How far?¡± Najin turned to the window, staring outside. After a moment of silence, he spoke. ¡°Why don¡¯t we take a walk?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind, but won¡¯t there be too many eyes watching? It might make it hard to talk. You¡¯re a celebrity now.¡± ¡°There¡¯s a ce with fewer people.¡± ¡®A ce without people?¡¯ Dieta tilted her head in confusion. Seeing this, Najin gave her a hint by pointing out the window. ¡°A ce with a good view. Somewhere you can watch the sunset.¡± Dieta blinked, realizing what he meant, and let out a short sigh of understanding. By then, Najin had already opened the window and stepped outside to speak briefly with Pasion. Outside, Pasion¡¯s incredulousughter carried back to the office, followed by a resigned, ¡°Do as you please.¡± Curious about their conversation, Dieta turned her head just as Najin strode back toward her. ¡°Shall we go?¡± Najin extended both arms toward her. ¡°Uh¡­ what¡¯s with the arms?¡± ¡°An excellent mode of transportation?¡± Dieta blinked at his outstretched arms, thenughed. Without hesitation, she leaned into him. Najin lifted her effortlessly and kicked off the ground. Whoosh¡ª Thud¡ª Stepping onto the window ledge, Najin leaped. His movements were light and swift, proving that his growing reputation was no exaggeration. Even while carrying another person, his footsteps were so quiet they were nearly inaudible. Only the rattling sound of the window frame, stirred by the wind, hinted at their passing. ¡°So¡­ should we do something about our charge being kidnapped, or¡­?¡± ¡°We could chase them all day and still not catch them, Romanoff,¡± Pasion replied dryly. ¡°Fair point. A sad one, but fair.¡± ¡°Honestly, if that guy made up his mind to kidnap someone, who could really stop him? Could you, Romanoff?¡± ¡°If I could, do you think I¡¯d be standing here?¡± Watching the two disappear into the distance, us and Pasion exchanged a helpless chuckle. ¡°Youth. It¡¯s youth, all right.¡± The hill offered a wide, open view. From its peak, the City of Opportunities, Cambria, sprawled below in a breathtaking panorama. Najin had once brought Dieta there when he¡¯d been assigned as her escort. They had returned to the same ce, and in the same manner as before. As Dieta stood there, she couldn¡¯t help butugh softly. So much had changed in just a few months that her current self felt unfamiliar. ¡°Back then, I thought I was going to be sick.¡± Time had passed, and she found being carried by Najinfortable. During that desperate nighttime escape when they had fled together, she had spent days relying on Najin¡¯s back and arms. Being held by him brought back memories of that warmth. She wished, if only for a moment, that she could stay in his arms a little longer. Leaving behind that faint regret, Dieta stepped out of his arms and onto the hill. She adjusted her clothes, then turned her gaze to the city below. The view of Cambria was as magnificent as ever. After a brief silence, she spoke. ¡°You know, it¡¯s already been nearly a year. We first met in the spring, didn¡¯t we? Winter¡¯s almost over, so I guess spring ising again soon.¡± ¡°It would¡¯ve been nice to see snow before the winter ended. Does it not snow in Cambria?¡± ¡°It¡¯s warm here¡ªit¡¯s the south.¡± ¡°Have you ever seen snow before, Dieta?¡± ¡°Of course. Plenty of times. They¡¯re not exactly fond memories, though.¡± Back in the Arbenia Ducal House, from the cold vi¡¯s window, the snow hadn¡¯t been a source of happy memories. Unlike children who thought of snowball fights and sledding, Dieta had only seen bare thorny trees through the frost. ¡°And you? I suppose you¡¯ve never seen snow?¡± she asked. ¡°Unfortunately, no.¡± Najin was from the Underground City and had left it less than a year prior. Sometimes, it felt strange to him. Even after everything he¡¯d experienced, less than a year had passed since his escape. The enormity of it all made time feel odd. Day by day, time moved slowly. For someone like Najin, living a dense, eventful life, every day felt long. Looking back on the events, time seemed to have flown by. Slow yet fast. Long yet short¡ªin that unpredictable flow of time, Najin had met many people. Among them, Merlin and Dieta stood out the most. They were the precious connections he had made since leaving the Underground City. ¡°Dieta¡­¡± ¡°Yes, Najin?¡± Najin had never had a friend before. For someone like him, Dieta held a significant ce in his heart. Perhaps that was why he felt she deserved to hear it first¡ªwhere he was going and how difficult the journey would be. ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving for the Ounds soon.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been there before, haven¡¯t you? Before the dragon hunt¡­¡± ¡°That was brief. This time, it¡¯s different.¡± Najin was a Sword Seeker. He had hunted a dragon and imed a constetion. That meant he had aplished what he¡¯de to do in Cambria. ¡°I¡¯m leaving Cambria.¡± That simple statement carried profound weight. It marked the time for Najin to move on to the next stage. Dieta held her breath for a moment. ¡°Well, that makes sense. Your goal is to hang your star higher than anyone else¡¯s, and¡­¡± ¡°To do that, I have to go to the Battlefield of Stars. I¡¯ll need to im more stars there.¡± Dieta nodded as Najin spoke. She knew his ambitions. She had always known that he would leave Cambria eventually. Still, she hadn¡¯t expected the day toe so soon. ¡°When you go to the Ounds, you won¡¯t visit the continent often, will you?¡± ¡°Not often. It¡¯s far, both physically and conceptually.¡± The Ounds, and thend beyond, the Battlefield of Stars, wasn¡¯t just distant in terms of geography. It was a ce far removed in concept¡ªa realm of the extraordinary. Known as a realm where the stars¡¯ transcendent beings resided, it was often described in religious texts and legends as a world apart. It was a ce ordinary humans couldn¡¯t tread. Even Sword Seekers, considered the strongest of mortals, couldn¡¯t guarantee their survival there. It was a domain of transcendent beings. ¡°It¡¯ll be dangerous,¡± Dieta bluntly stated. ¡°It will.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get hurt even more than you have now.¡± ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to tell you not to go, but I¡¯m sure you won¡¯t listen, will you?¡± Najin¡¯s silence was answer enough. Dieta let out a long sigh. ¡®How did I fall for someone like this?¡¯ She¡¯d lost count of how many times she¡¯d asked herself that. She looked into Najin¡¯s sunset-colored eyes, nearing tinum in hue. Those eyes weren¡¯t looking at her. Instead, they were always fixed on something far away¡ªsomething distant, perilous, and impossibly high. Najin¡¯s determination to reach that ce was admirable, but it sometimes left Dieta feeling lonely. To him, she must¡¯ve been nothing. If only he¡¯d nce to the side. If only he¡¯d see her. Instead, she found herself alone in her feelings¡ªher heart racing at his every small action, hoping, yearning. It felt like she was the only fool in that one-sided connection. To love without being loved in return was exhausting. While Dieta often found herself blushing, unable to meet his gaze, Najin didn¡¯t seem to care. That duality made her both resentful and ashamed of her own childishness. ¡®I should be cheering him on, not feeling resentful.¡¯ Hadn¡¯t they promised each other to pursue their goals? To meet again at the peak? Yet there she was, sulking because he was too focused on his dreams. She wasn¡¯t like that before. Calctive, methodical, rational¡­ That was the real Dieta: emotionally detached, never impulsive. For some reason, whenever she stood in front of Najin, she became a fool. Though she felt hurt, she had no intention of letting it show. Najin had invited her on a rare outing, and she wouldn¡¯t waste it on negative emotions. Smiling faintly, Dieta looked up at Najin. Just as she was about to steer the conversation forward¡­ ¡°You said earlier that I¡¯d never seen snow.¡± Najin, who had been gazing at the sky, lowered his eyes to meet hers. ¡°That¡¯s true, but it¡¯s not just snow. I¡¯ve never seen the ocean either. What is it, exactly? I¡¯ve read about it in books, but it sounds almost unreal.¡± Najin shrugged, his tone lighthearted. ¡°Snow, the ocean, mountains¡­ countless things. There are so many things I don¡¯t know. Everything I¡¯ve encountered since leaving the Underground City is unfamiliar. Every day feels new, and sometimes¡­ scary.¡± ¡°Scared? You?¡± ¡°Why not? The joy of learning outweighs the fear of the unknown, but I¡¯d be lying if I said I wasn¡¯t afraid.¡± Dieta gave him a skeptical look. Najin chuckled and leaned against the fence atop the hill, the wind tousling his hair. ¡°By the way¡­¡± It was something he¡¯d meant to say for a while. ¡°I¡¯ve always wanted to thank you.¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°For being my first.¡± ¡°First¡­?¡± Najin smiled. ¡°You¡¯re my first friend, after all.¡± His silver-gray hair danced in the wind. Between the shifting strands, Dieta glimpsed a smile on his face¡ªone she had never seen before. ¡°Yes, to be honest, I enjoy talking to you. I don¡¯t know what it is, but seeing youugh so openly at everything I say makes me feel¡­ at ease. It¡¯s hard to put into words.¡± yful, teasing, and sincere, his smile perfectly suited a boy his age. Seeing it, Dieta found herself unconsciously parting her lips. ¡°I enjoy it. Being with you,¡± he said. ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Leaving for the Ounds feels a bit¡­ sad, and I think it¡¯s because of you. I won¡¯t be able to talk to you as often once I¡¯m there. Oh, that doesn¡¯t mean I won¡¯t visit! Even if it¡¯s not often, I¡¯lle back to the continent asionally, and when I do¡ª¡± Najin kept talking, but his words stopped registering for Dieta. His earlier statement, ¡°I think it¡¯s because of you,¡± had struck her like a thunderp. Everything he said after that felt like a distant hum. ¡®Being with me makes him happy. Leaving is hard for him¡­ because of me?¡¯ Her lips twitched involuntarily. Raising a trembling hand to her mouth, Dieta tried to suppress her reaction. Her eyes gleamed, sharp as a predator¡¯s. ¡®Friends forever, huh¡­?¡¯ ¡°Najin,¡± she cut him off mid-sentence. Taking a step forward, she closed the distance between them until their breaths mingled. Staring straight into his eyes, she moved her lips deliberately. ¡°Could you repeat what you just said?¡± Her eyes looked as though they were under a spell. ¡°What? Which part?¡± ¡°¡®I enjoy being with you.¡¯ The wind¡¯s a bit strong, so I didn¡¯t catch it properly. Could you say it again?¡± It was, of course, a tant lie. ¡®Was the wind really blowing that hard?¡¯ Najin tilted his head quizzically but obliged her request. ¡°I enjoy being with you.¡± Thump. Dieta¡¯s heart raced wildly. She stumbled backward, covering her mouth with her hand. She was d¡ªrelieved, even¡ªthat she¡¯d managed to cover her mouth in time. Her lips had curled uncontrobly upward. No matter how hard she tried to maintainposure, her expression refused to cooperate. Surely, she carried a ridiculous, lopsided grin. ¡®Who could me me?¡¯ Blushing furiously, Dieta stared at Najin. Did he even realize what he¡¯d just said? Did he understand that his words were practically a confession? Should she¡­ confess as well? Was that the moment? Her mind was spinning, overwhelmed by the emotional blow. If her usual self were there, she¡¯d have screamed, ¡°Get a grip, you fool!¡± ¡°Should I just go for it? Confess right now?¡± Of course, Dieta couldn¡¯t hear that voice of reason. She had her excuses, after all. Najin wasn¡¯t someone who responded to overt disys of affection. No matter how obvious her feelings were, he¡¯d never batted an eye¡ªa stoic to the core. At best, he¡¯d offer an asional charming smile, never revealing his own emotions. Out of nowhere, he¡¯d said something like that? She knew the truth, of course. His words weren¡¯t meant romantically. Najin was still too naive on such things. His statement was sincere but purely tonic¡ªone friend expressing their joy at being with another. Even knowing that, calming herself was easier said than done. Raising a hand to stop him, Dieta turned her face away. She couldn¡¯t look at him directly¡ªnot while she was in that state. ¡°W-wait a moment.¡± Dieta took a deep breath¡ªlong and slow. As she steadied her breathing, she worked to calm her racing heart. ¡®Get a grip, Dieta. Take it slow. Didn¡¯t you promise yourself you¡¯d build this rtionship gradually? Slowly but surely, win Najin over. Acting rashly isn¡¯t like you.¡¯ The Snake that Swallows Gold was an exceptional merchant, and an exceptional merchant always acted with rationality. After a full three minutes of breathing exercises, Dieta looked up. With a practiced smile, she prepared to respond with something lighthearted, something like, ¡°You¡¯re quite bold to say that, but I don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°I¡¯m, um¡­ d to hear that.¡± She tried to speak. ¡°I mean, I¡­¡± The moment she met Najin¡¯s gaze, her mind went nk. The Snake that Swallows Gold, it seemed, turned into nothing more than an ordinary girl in front of him. All her usual charms¡ªher silver tongue, her calcted gestures, her ns, her pretense¡ªbecame meaningless. Everything fell away, leaving only Dieta: a flustered, vulnerable girl, unsure of what to say or do. It was embarrassing, and yet, she didn¡¯t entirely dislike it. ¡°¡­¡± With her mind a nk te and her lips unable to form words, Dieta would normally have turned away in embarrassment. She would have muttered something like, ¡°It¡¯s nothing¡­¡± and fled. Not that day. Why? Was it because of the rare smile Najin had shown her? Because his words, awkward as they were, had been so genuine? Because she didn¡¯t want to respond to his sincerity with anything less than her own? Perhaps it was the knowledge that he would soon leave and that they wouldn¡¯t see each other often. She wanted, needed, to take one step closer to him. She was greedy for more. She couldn¡¯t pinpoint the reason, but all those feelings pushed her forward, moving her lips. ¡°Najin.¡± ¡°Yes, Dieta? What is it?¡± Every word Dieta spoke was usually calcted. She carefully considered how her words would sound, how they would be received, and how they might serve her goals. That was who she was. That fell away; she simply said what came to mind. ¡°You said earlier that you¡¯re grateful for me, that you¡¯re happy to have me as a friend.¡± Najin nodded. Dieta looked up at him. She wasn¡¯t sure what expression she wore, but she didn¡¯t care. All she cared about was speaking her mind. ¡°That¡¯s nice. Friends are nice, but, um¡­¡± She knew she was being hasty. She knew she was letting her emotions take over, and she knew she didn¡¯t have to rush. Still, she didn¡¯t stop. Rationally, she knew it was a mistake. It was reckless, unnecessary. If another merchant made a decision like that, Dieta would mock them as a third-rate amateur. ¡®So what?¡¯ Dieta¡¯s lips twitched upward. So what if she wasn¡¯t acting rationally? So what if she was being emotional? So what if she was impulsive? Who said she couldn¡¯t be? Being calcting was for the Snake that Swallows Gold. When she was with Najin, she just wanted to be a girl. ¡°Being friends isn¡¯t enough for me.¡± A mischievous smile spread across her face. ¡°I want to be something more.¡± The boy destined to move onto greater stages, the boy who would face countless trials and meet countless people¡­ Dieta didn¡¯t want to be just a fleeting memory to him. She wanted to be someone unforgettable¡ªetched into his heart and soul. She took one step closer, and then another. She ignored the logical voice in her head telling her to stop, that it wasn¡¯t toote to turn back, that she could still salvage things. She silenced that voice as she approached Najin, step by step, until she was close enough to feel his breath. Tap¡ª She stopped at a distance where she filled his gaze, and then, deliberately and firmly, she said, ¡°I like you, Najin.¡± It was a confession so direct that even someone as dense as Najin couldn¡¯t misunderstand. Dieta left no room for ambiguity, confronting him head-on. Simple yet sincere¡­ If her confession were a sword technique, it would be a Knight of Atanga¡¯s de. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 126 Chapter 126 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Interlude, Dieta (3) ¡°I like you, Najin.¡± She said it. She really said it. Her rational mind screamed and foamed at the mouth in protest, but Dieta couldn¡¯t help but think that Najin was just a little bit infuriating. After all, wasn¡¯t it true? She¡¯d been dropping hints, obvious ones, for ages, but he had always remained unshakably calm. That serene indifference of his grated on her nerves. She didn¡¯t pale inparison to others. Honestly, how many women in the Empire could im to be as beautiful as her? Would it kill him to look a little flustered? To close the gap between them? To show even the slightest hint of being affected? ¡¯If it¡¯s because he doesn¡¯t understand feelings like love¡­¡¯ Then she¡¯d make damn sure he understood. Once he realized how much she liked him, there was no way he¡¯d be able to carry on as if nothing had changed. It would stir things up between them¡ªwhether for better or worse. If it went poorly¡­ well, that would hurt. Maybe a lot, but that was a problem for her future self to deal with. Bncing nervousness and anticipation, Dieta watched Najin closely. Finally, he reacted. Najin¡¯s eyes widened, his gaze trembled, and he reflexively tried to step back, but the railing behind him cut off his retreat. Thud¡ª His back hit the fence. Anyone could see that he was flustered. Najin possessed reflexes far beyond those of ordinary people. Even before he became a Sword Expert, let alone a Sword Seeker, his reaction speed and dynamic vision were unmatched. Few had ever managed tond a ¡°surprise attack¡± on him. Sure, stronger opponents had beaten him before, but for someone of equal or lesser skill to deal him a critical blow? That was almost unheard of. At that moment, he was struck by a surprise attack, and it wasn¡¯t just any attack¡ªit left him visibly shaken. Who could possiblynd such a blow on the youngest Sword Seeker in history? Was it someone fast enough to evade even his reflexes? A masterful ambush? Perhaps even a Sword Master? None of the above. The one who had ¡°struck¡± him was a girl who approached him slowly and openly. She had nothing to do withbat, and yet, Najin¡¯s trembling eyes betrayed how much the blow had shaken him. ¡®What did I just hear?¡¯ There was no mistaking her words¡ªDieta¡¯s voice had been crystal clear, her pronunciation perfect. It was the kind of confession one might expect in the climax of a fairy tale or heroic epic. ¡°I like you, Najin.¡± His mind reeled. For someone who prided himself on anticipating and countering attacks, he had been utterly unprepared for Dieta¡¯s words. He didn¡¯t know how to respond or react. In his confusion, he instinctively sought help. His eyes darted toward Merlin, his guide and advisor. If anyone could tell him what to do in that situation, it would be her. Unfortunately for him¡­ ¨C Wha¡­ Wh-what¡­ WHAT?! Merlin¡¯s reaction wasn¡¯t much better than Najin¡¯s. If anything, it was worse. Her eyes widened in shock, and her head tilted so far to one side it looked like it might snap. Eventually, her lips started to move. ¨C Did I mishear that? I misheard it, right? No, I must have misheard it. I had to. Merlin stared at Dieta in disbelief. ¨C A confession needs a mood! Ambiance! Do you think love is a joke?! Confessions should happen under a moonlitke at the end of a long journey! Not in some random, awkward situation like this! Her voice rose to a shriek. It wasn¡¯t like Merlin had ever confessed to anyone¡­ or been confessed to, for that matter. She had simply fantasized about what her ideal confession would look like. She was yelling, inadvertently exposing her own preferences. ¨C What kind of girl¡ªor guy¡ªlikes a sudden confession like this?! Do you think Najin is so naive that he¡¯d fall for such a half-baked attempt?! You brat! Merlin stomped her feet furiously before turning her head toward Najin with a huff. ¨C Isn¡¯t that right? Huh? Say something, Najin! Agree with me! When her eyes met Najin¡¯s, they narrowed. ¨C What¡¯s with your face? ¡°What?¡± ¨C Your eyes! They¡¯re shaking! Don¡¯t tell me¡­ ¡°No, it¡¯s just¡­ this is a surprising situation.¡± ¨C Gaaaaaahhh! Merlin clutched the back of her neck like she was about to faint. Clearly, she was in no shape to be of any help. Najin ignored her screams and refocused on Dieta. ¡°¡­¡± Dieta stood silently, her gaze fixed on him. It was clear she wouldn¡¯t step aside until she heard his answer. Najin had no intention of brushing her off. He wasn¡¯t the type to dismiss someone¡¯s heartfelt confession. Silence fell as he pondered. A single minute passed, feeling as long as an hour, before Najin finally spoke. ¡°Dieta¡­¡± ¡°Yes, Najin?¡± ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not entirely sure what feelings you have for me. Of course, if you¡¯re asking whether I like you or not, I do.¡± He hesitated, then continued, ¡°But I know you¡¯re not talking about something so simple.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. To put it bluntly, I want to be more than friends. I want a romantic rtionship. It¡¯s a little embarrassing to say it out loud, though.¡± Dieta fidgeted with her fingers, her voice growing quieter as embarrassment caught up with her. Najin smiled wryly. ¡°That¡¯s why¡­ I can¡¯t give you an answer right now.¡± ¡°Can I ask why?¡± ¡°Because I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t understand what it means to like someone romantically¡ªor even what your feelings for me really mean. Answering your confession without understanding would feel¡­ dishonest.¡± Najin¡¯s voice was steady as he exined his hesitation. He wanted to take her confession seriously, not respond thoughtlessly or dismissively. ¡°I see.¡± Dieta couldn¡¯t help but smile. It was such a Najin-like response¡ªhonest, considerate, and predictable. ¡°I figured you¡¯d say something like that.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t apologize. Apologizing makes it feel like I¡¯ve been rejected, and that¡¯s not what happened. You¡¯re not nning to avoid me forever, are you?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t apologize. You haven¡¯t done anything wrong.¡± She hadn¡¯t confessed recklessly. She¡¯d anticipated the possibility of rejection, after all. ¡°I already knew that you don¡¯t really understand romantic feelings and that this would probably be your response.¡± Byparison, it wasn¡¯t so bad. ¡°Originally, I nned to take things slow¡ªiming your ¡®firsts¡¯ one by one until I finally took the spot of your lover.¡± Her confession hadn¡¯t been impulsive. Even knowing Najin¡¯s limitations, Dieta had chosen to take the leap. ¡°I couldn¡¯t wait anymore.¡± Dieta smiled bashfully, a mix of sheepishness and determination. Her voice trembled slightly, but her smile remained. ¡°You¡¯re leaving soon, right? They say distance makes the heart grow distant, too. The idea of you being on a bigger stage, aiming for higher and greater things¡­ it makes me anxious. You¡¯ll probably be even more extraordinary, and I¡­¡± She trailed off, unable to finish the thought. She couldn¡¯t stand the idea of being reduced to a fleeting memory¡ªjust ¡°someone he used to know.¡± ¡°I wanted to leave you with something unforgettable. You said it yourself: the firsts are the ones that matter most. Remember this, Najin: I¡¯m the first person to confess to you.¡± ¡°What do you think? Disappointed?¡± She ended her speech with a smile¡ªa radiant, captivating smile that made Najin unconsciously hold his breath. ¡°Not at all.¡± Najin smiled. ¡°Honestly, I think it¡¯s wonderful. Honesty is a knightly virtue, after all.¡± ¡°Should I take the knight exam? I feel like I could pass right now.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be happy to help. I can teach you swordsmanship.¡± ¡°That¡¯s tempting.¡± Their conversation turned lighthearted, and the twoughed together because it was absurd and funny. After a long moment, Dieta exhaled deeply. ¡°Najin, whenever you figure out what romantic feelings are, let me know. I hope it¡¯s me, but even if it¡¯s not, that¡¯s okay.¡± A breeze stirred her chestnut-colored hair as she spoke with quiet determination. ¡°Until then, I¡¯ll do my best to make you fall for me¡­ and even if you fall for someone else, I¡¯ll make sure you choose me in the end.¡± Her yellow eyes gleamed like stars as she brushed back her hair, her confident smile firmly in ce. ¡°This is an auction, after all. If anypetitors show up, I¡¯ll outbid them. I¡¯ll use everything I have to win.¡± She grinned mischievously. ¡°I¡¯m the Snake that Swallows Gold. If I can¡¯t win someone¡¯s heart, what kind of merchant would I be?¡± The weight of her ambition left Najin momentarily speechless. For the first time, he felt himself being pushed back¡ªnot by a Sword Master or a life-or-death battle, but by the force of Dieta¡¯s resolve. He had lost the exchange, but it wasn¡¯t an unpleasant loss. ¡°An impressive confession,¡± he admitted. ¡°Isn¡¯t it? I think I did pretty well. Did it make your heart race?¡± ¡°A little.¡± Dieta chuckled softly. She reached out to lightly push Najin¡¯s chest, stepping away as if to end their conversation and leave, but after a few steps, she hesitated. Her original n had been to leave with a breezy, ¡°See you next time.¡± After all, staying any longer would make it feet like her heart might burst, but there was one problem: the distance between the hill and Cambria¡¯s headquarters was considerable. ¡°If I walk back¡­ the sun will already have set.¡± She nced back at Najin. ¡°Um, Najin¡­?¡± ¡°Yes, Dieta?¡± ¡°Can we¡­ head back together?¡± Her previous confidence was nowhere to be found as she avoided his gaze, stammering. Najin couldn¡¯t help butugh. Ultimately, Dieta ended up back in Najin¡¯s arms for the return trip to her office. She spent the entire flight hiding her face in her hands, too embarrassed to look at him. ¨C You can¡¯t date.N?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°What?¡± ¨C I said, ¡®You can¡¯t date!¡¯ The first thing Najin encountered after returning was Merlin, fuming with indignation. She pointed an using finger at him, practically yelling. ¨C Listen here! Arthur never dated anyone during his entire journey! It¡¯s not like no one confessed to him, but he remained above it all. Pure and untouchable! He never gave his heart to anyone! Merlin puffed out her chest and smirked, as if she had just delivered an unassable argument. ¨C There. That¡¯s why you can¡¯t date. You want to be like Arthur, right? Najin stared at her in silence for a moment before muttering under his breath, careful to keep his voice low enough that she couldn¡¯t hear, ¡°Is she an idiot?¡± If Merlin had heard him, she might have throttled him on the spot. Thankfully, she didn¡¯t. Najin simply gave her a bemused look. ¡°What? What¡¯s that look for?¡± ¡°Nothing, really¡­¡± Trailing off, Najin casually remarked, ¡°You said King Arthur never dated, right?¡± ¨C Of course! I was his guide, so I¡¯d know. ¡°Then doesn¡¯t that mean, if I date, I¡¯d be one step ahead of Arthur? I¡¯d be doing something he never did.¡± ¨C Wh-what? ¡°That¡¯s one more reason for me to date, don¡¯t you think?¡± Merlin¡¯s pupils dted as her thoughts scrambled. Najin, meanwhile, calmly removed his outerwear and climbed into bed. Pulling the nket over his head, he turned his back to her. ¨C Wait. Wait¡­ Hold on. That¡¯s not what I meant¡­ Hey! Don¡¯t pretend to sleep! Get up! Merlin¡¯s protests went unheard. Annoying as her yelling was, she couldn¡¯t physically force Najin to respond, nor could she shake him awake, for all her shouting. Najin, who had grown ustomed to sleeping in the chaotic streets of the Underground City, was unbothered. ¨C Seriously?! You¡¯re just going to sleep?! Unbelievable! Najin drifted off, using Merlin¡¯s ranting as a makeshift luby. It was his victory. Chapter 127 Chapter 127 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Demon Hunting (1) ¡°Come to think of it, what exactly is a star?¡± ¨C A star is just a star. What else could it be? ¡®A star¡­ What is a star, really?¡¯ Having gained two stars, Najin pondered their true nature. He wasn¡¯t thinking about their symbolic meaning, he already understood that much. ¡®A testament to achieving a great feat.¡¯ A star was proof that one had ovee a seemingly impossible trial and aplished something monumental enough to touch the heavens. It was also the reward for Najin¡¯s life-risking efforts. He looked at the two stars glimmering on his outstretched palm. By focusing, he could summon their starlight in such a way. They were beautiful, no doubt, the stars he had yearned for so intensely. Yet, how to describe the odd feeling? Staring at them, Najin tilted his head. ¡°How exactly do you use these?¡± He couldn¡¯t fathom any practical way to make use of them. In heroic tales, King Arthur supposedly cleaved the earth and sky with his star. As Najin entertained such thoughts, Merlin scoffed. ¨C If two measly stars could split the heavens and the earth, Arthur and I would¡¯ve long since taken the head of the Dragon of the Abyss and the Witch of the Nether! ¡°Well, I was just using it as an example. Still, isn¡¯t having a star supposed to let you do magical things? The heroes in the stories seemed capable of everything.¡± ¨C The things you¡¯re imagining require at least four or five stars. Only when the stars form a constetion do their powers amplify enough for such feats. Merlin gestured in the air; a blue line traced the path of her movements. ¨C Besides, I can¡¯t exin how to use your stars. Every constetion¡¯s usage varies. Didn¡¯t I tell you? A star is your life¡ªyour journey, encapsted. ¡°You did mention that.¡± ¨C It¡¯s like your imagination. No one can teach you how to wield it. Ultimately, you¡¯ll have to figure it out on your own, but don¡¯t worry¡ªit¡¯lle naturally. The blue line she had drawn formed her constetion. Why was she suddenly showing her own constetion? Having spent considerable time with her, Najin understood a bit of how Merlin¡¯s mind worked. ¡®Ah, a subtle attempt to show off.¡¯ He was right. Merlin twirled her constetion ostentatiously before him. She never missed an opportunity to unt her aplishments. ¨C Each star represents a great feat. Having eleven stars means I¡¯ve achieved eleven monumental feats. Merlin emphasized the number ¡°eleven.¡± Najin nodded politely, replying with a generic ¡°Wow, that¡¯s really something.¡± After listening to her self-praise for a few minutes, the conversation finally turned constructive. ¨C Of course, having stars doesn¡¯t necessarily equate to being strong. Having many stars doesn¡¯t guarantee victory. Stars are simply a way of proving who you are. ¡°Proving?¡± ¨C Yes. They¡¯re the marks of your journey, the paths you¡¯ve walked, and the feats you¡¯ve aplished. They are your evidence and testament. Merlin extended her hand to point out the window. Dawn had yet to break, and the outside remained dark. The night sky was strewn with countless stars. In the past, such a sight had seemed distant and unreachable. Not anymore¡ªNajin¡¯s stars resided there. Even among the countless stars, Najin could locate his own. Though faint, the two stars shone distinctly. They were his stars, his imprints in the heavens. ¨C You¡¯ve engraved your existence in the sky as stars. As long as those stars remain aloft, you can look to the heavens from anywhere and find yourself. Merlin smiled. ¨C Having even one star makes an immeasurable difference. You¡¯ve stepped onto the starting line. The starting line¡­ There was no need to ask what the starting line was for. ¨C It¡¯s the first step toward ascending the heavens. Of course, that wasn¡¯t all there was to it.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om Merlin narrowed her eyes at Najin. He hadn¡¯t noticed yet, but his body was already changing. It was amon phenomenon among those who had gained stars. Merlin chose not to mention it. Such realizations weren¡¯t something one could be taught; they had to be experienced. ¨C In any case, congrattions. With that, Merlin added onest thing. ¨C The Star of Dawn. The star heralding the end of night¡­ Hearing his moniker pronounced aloud, Najin couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle. The Star of Dawn¡­ it had a nice ring to it. ¡°Now that I have the qualifications, all that¡¯s left is to prove myself.¡± That proof would not take ce there but in the farawaynds of the Ound¡­ On the battlefield of stars. Najin began preparing in earnest for his journey to the Ound. Unlike his trip to Cambria, where he could simply throw himself into the fray, heading to the Ound required some preparation. More importantly, he had changedpared to the past. When he first set foot in Cambria, he was a nobody¡ªan unproven rookie whose very existence was unknown and to whom nobody paid any mind, but now? The Empire¡¯s citizens, and even those beyond its borders, watched him closely. He was the youngest Sword Seeker, the boy who had imed two stars. Fame came at a cost. Having earned renown across the continent, he was constantly under scrutiny. Everyone was curious about his next move. That was exactly what the Emperor had feared. ¡¸To my eyes, you are a me.¡¹ ¡¸A fire that might one day engulf the Empire.¡¹ Najin was seen as both an asset and a potential threat. To some, he was a highly valuable piece¡ªan irreceable card in their hand¡ªbut in the hands of an opponent, he was a weapon capable of devastation. If they couldn¡¯t possess him, the least they could do was prevent him from falling into someone else¡¯s hands. As countless factions monitored his actions, Najin made an announcement. ¡°I n to depart for the Ound soon.¡± His deration was simple: He had no intention of aligning himself with any group; he would leave the continent and head for the Ound. The announcement sent ripples across the continent. The Ound¡­ what sort of ce was it? Countless heroes ventured there to be constetions, only to perish. It was harsh, unforgiving, and barren: and of trials that constantly flirted with life and death. It was not the kind of ce a promising young talent like Najin was expected to go. With his fame, he could have settled into wealth andfort anywhere. Why would an eighteen-year-old boy voluntarily head there? He wasn¡¯t being forced into exile, nor was there a dire reasonpelling him to go. To this, Najin offered a concise reply: ¡°Glory without hardship or trial is meaningless.¡± He was quoting an ancient hero¡¯s words. The phrase was famous, repeated by many over the years, but few truly lived by it. Words were easy; action was hard. ¡®Difficult, yes.¡¯ ¨C And that¡¯s why it¡¯s worthwhile. Najin had no intention of bing a pretentious loudmouth. After his deration, he immediately began the formal process for departing to the Ound. Some called him foolish, others said he was reckless, yet even those critics couldn¡¯t deny that his actions echoed the heroism of a bygone era in how he forsook wealth andfort to chase glory. It might have been unwise, but it was not wrong. If anything, it was a decision deserving of admiration. The first to respond to Najin¡¯s decision were the Imperial family and the Knights of Atanga. ¡°Imend the one who turns away from thefort before him to face the crashing waves. I respect all your choices.¡± The Emperor praised Najin¡¯s resolve. ¡°Charging into trials¡ªthis is the decision of one who understands pride. Forsaking wealth to pursue honor¡ªthis is the decision of one who values glory. One who knows pride and honor is the perfect role model for any knight.¡± The Knights of Atanga response was so enthusiastic it was as if they were itching to knight him on the spot. However, they held back, knowing that a certain promise had already been made. The Emperor had once dered that, the day Najin fulfilled the vow he had made before the three Sword Masters, he would personally bestow upon him the title of ¡®Free Knight¡¯. The title carried immense significance and harkened back to the original Knights of the Round Table who had followed King Arthur. Unlike the watered-down term ¡°knight¡± that had lost much of its weight over the centuries, the title retained its gravitas even after a thousand years. To have such a title promised to him was monumental. All that remained was for Najin to prove himself worthy. The Knights of Atanga waited with bated breath for the day toe. It would be the first time in centuries that a Free Knight had been recognized. They salivated at the thought. As soon as the Imperial Family and the Knights of Atanga made their positions known, others quickly followed suit, moring about how admirable Najin¡¯s choice was. However, their voicescked sincerity. Most were simply jumping on the bandwagon, eager to align themselves with the prevailing sentiment. Najin paid them no heed. He let the empty words go in one ear and out the other as he focused on his preparations for the Ound, but not all the voices could be ignored. ¡°N-Najin!¡± The door to his room burst open, and someone rushed in¡ªDieta Arbenia, the girl with the beautiful brown hair. After delivering a bold confession of love to Najin a few days prior, Dieta had spent the subsequent days avoiding him, too embarrassed to face him. There she was, seeking him out? Could it be that she had finally ovee her shyness? ¡°A letter has arrived for you. Normally, I¡¯d handle these things myself, but this one¡­ this one, I couldn¡¯t.¡± Judging by her continued refusal to meet his eyes, that wasn¡¯t it. Whatever the case, something serious had prompted her visit. She handed Najin a letter. ¡®Thorns?¡¯ The letter bore the crimson thorned emblem of the Starblood Sect, but there was more. Across the thorned emblem was sketched the image of a single sword entwined in blood-red thorns. There was only one person who used such a seal: the Starblood Sect¡¯s High Executioner, the Inquisitor General of the Starblood Sect; the Champion of the Thorned Martyr, among other names. It was Yuel Razian¡¯s symbol. Yuel Razian wiped her de clean, running her fingers over the clotted blood sticking stubbornly to the de, exhaling deeply. Her breath was hot, and her crimson eyes glimmered with an unsettling sheen. ¡­Ordinarily, it was rare for a Sword Master¡¯s de to be stained with blood. What was a Sword Master? They were transcendents who could unleash Sword Aura as effortlessly as breathing, shing enemies from tens or even hundreds of meters away. Wrapped in that aura, their des were impervious to external contaminants. Even if something were to stain the de, it would be vaporized instantly by the heat of their Sword Aura. Thus, a Sword Master¡¯s de being bloodstained was practically unheard of. The phrase ¡°a Sword Master¡¯s de is stained with blood¡± was often used metaphorically, symbolizing the deaths caused by their de rather than any literal blood. When the Sword Master in question was Yuel Razian, the phrase lost its figurative meaning¡ªher sword was perpetually drenched in blood. There was a simple reason: Yuel deliberately chose not to use Sword Aura. Though she could kill her opponents more easily and efficiently by wielding it, she refrained. When asked about her peculiar choice, Yuel had once given an answer to her knights. ¡°Where¡¯s the joy in cutting down an enemy with sword aura? Don¡¯t you feel it? The sensation of your de slicing through flesh, snapping bone, and tearing into organs until it bursts out the other side¡­ The vibration that travels up the hilt¡­ That¡¯s when I truly feel alive.¡¯ For her, it all came down to the visceral thrill of it. Her justification was as simple as that. Since few could withstand her Sword Aura anyway, Yuel preferred to savor the experience, prolonging the moment much like savoring a candy before letting it melt away. ¡®Isn¡¯t that disrespectful to your opponent?¡¯ Some knights had wanted to ask, but they never dared. After all, Yuel¡¯s de only ever cut down the guilty¡ªheretics, sinners, and those tied to the demonic. When it came to such evildoers, wasn¡¯t it better to offer no mercy? Of course, Yuel herself didn¡¯t care about such notions. Her sense of morality was nebulous at best. Yuel didn¡¯t particrly view dark mages or heretics as heinous criminals. She didn¡¯t kill them because she believed they were evil, she simply killed them because she could do so without consequence. ¡°Haa¡­¡± Yuel let out a heated sigh. The air around her reeked of blood. Smiling faintly, she plunged her de into a pile of corpses to hold it steady. She then retrieved a letter from her pocket. The letter contained news about a boy. Her subordinate had collected the information for her. Yuel¡¯s crimson eyes narrowed as she read the details of the boy¡¯s aplishments. Her lips curled into a smile. Even after rereading it, the content remained unchanged. ¡°Two stars at the same time, and at the age of eighteen? Remarkable. Truly remarkable, don¡¯t you think?¡± Yuel spoke aloud. She wasn¡¯t talking to herself. Beside hery a ck mage with severed legs. The mage dragged himself along the ground, teeth chattering, desperately trying to crawl away from her. ¡°Isn¡¯t it remarkable? Truly extraordinary. My judgment wasn¡¯t wrong after all. He¡¯s such an intriguing boy.¡± Without sparing a nce at the fleeing mage, Yuel muttered to herself. The mage, terrified, interpreted her words as the ramblings of a lunatic. He didn¡¯t think she expected an answer. ¡°You don¡¯t agree?¡± Yuel had other ideas. ¡°I asked you a question.¡± ¡°G-Gah¡­ Haa¡­¡± The mage wed at the ground with all his strength. His nails cracked and broke against the rough stone floor, his fingertips bleeding profusely. Still, he frantically dragged himself forward. ¡°Didn¡¯t I ask you a question? Isn¡¯t he remarkable? I don¡¯t like repeating myself.¡± Yuelzily flicked a finger in the mage¡¯s direction. In that instant, the mage¡¯s fingers began to crumble, starting at the tips. His nails cracked, skin peeled away, and bones splintered as if he were being dissected alive. ¡°AAAAAAAHHHHH!¡± The mage screamed as his body was systematically dismantled. Yuel remained unmoved, repeating her question. ¡°Isn¡¯t he remarkable?¡± ¡°Yes, yes! Remarkable! Extraordinary! Unparalleled! A feat without equal, a glory beyondpare¡­¡± The mage scrambled to praise the boy he had never seen, spouting every ttering word he could muster. He continued until blood loss stole his voice, and his breathing grew ragged. As his life finally ebbed away, Yuel tilted her head and murmured, ¡°Yes, quite so.¡± She nodded, seemingly pleased. ¡°Now, I¡¯ll have to see for myself.¡± Chapter 128 Chapter 128 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Demon Hunting (2) Yuel Razian¡¯s letter was straightforward: ¡¸I heard you¡¯ve gained two stars.¡¹ ¡¸Congrattions.¡¹ ¡¸I heard you¡¯re heading to the Ound. Before that, how about joining me for some demon hunting?¡¹ That wasn¡¯t a summary of the letter, it was the entire thing. The rest of the paper? nk. It was reminiscent of the famous mathematician who once said, ¡°I have proven it, but the margin is too small to write it here.¡± If that mathematician had seen Yuel¡¯s letter, he would¡¯ve likely filled its vast empty space with an entire thesis. That¡¯s how much nk space there was¡ªjust three lines of text written on arge sheet of paper.N?v(el)B\\jnn Fortunately, flipping the page revealed a map with several symbols drawn on it, and beneath them was a postscript: ¡¸I¡¯ll keep it brief to save time.¡¹ ¡¸Show this letter to a nearby church, and they¡¯ll guide you. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡¹ Najin did as instructed. With Yuel¡¯s letter in hand, he headed to a church in the adventurers¡¯ city. The moment the nun there saw the letter, her eyes widened as if they might tear apart. ¡°P-please wait here for a moment!¡± The nun hurried off, returning shortly with a priest. The elderly man examined the letter, his expression mirroring the nun¡¯s. He, too, immediately contacted someone else. This chain reaction repeated several times. Najin discovered something new that day: clergy, who usually seemed so calm and unhurried, could move incredibly fast when necessary. Within hours, a carriage arrived in front of him. The priests who disembarked wore robes adorned with crimson embroidery¡ªInquisitors of the Starblood Sect. ¡°Are you Najin?¡± After asking a few questions and verifying the letter, the priests bowed their heads deeply to Najin, disying deference one might show a superior. ¡°We are here to escort you. Shall we depart now?¡± Najin boarded the carriage. They¡¯d offered a ride¡ªwhy refuse? As he climbed aboard, the inquisitors nervously watched him. ¡°Um, Sir Najin?¡± At some point, they started addressing him as ¡°Sir Najin.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°When and how did you receive this letter?¡± ¡°It arrived this morning in the mail.¡± Najin¡¯s answer made the inquisitors turn pale. Later, he would learn why. Yuel¡¯s letter had not passed through the usual channels of the Starblood Sect. Instead, it had been delivered directly to Najin¡¯s mailbox. This was a significant problem for the Starblood Sect. Normally, someone of Yuel¡¯s stature¡ªan Executioner of the Sect¡ªwould act only through the organization. Even personalmunications were typically handled via the Sect. Since Executioners, along with the Archpriests, represented the Sect itself, their actions and words could easily be interpreted as the will of the entire organization. Thus, Executioners, Incarnates, and Lighthouse Keepers were expected to be exceedingly cautious in their conduct. Despite that, Yuel Razian wasn¡¯t cautious, nor did she care about what others thought. Her attitude was simple: ¡°Why should I care? If it¡¯s not illegal, I don¡¯t see why I should bother.¡± That time, her proposal to Najin was entirely her own initiative without and consultation with the Sect. So what? If the Executioner decided something, then who could argue? All the Sect could do was amodate. That was why the inquisitors treated Najin with such reverence. ¡°We¡¯ll make your journey asfortable as possible.¡± ¡°Oh, thank you.¡± ¡°No need to thank us. You¡¯re the guest of the Executioner, after all. It¡¯s only natural.¡± In their eyes, the boy before them was an esteemed guest of Yuel Razian. Regardless of her intentions, that¡¯s how her letter was interpreted. Of course, Najin had no way of knowing any of that. ¡®Demon hunting, huh. Sounds interesting.¡¯ ¨C It does. I¡¯m curious what kind of demon it¡¯ll be. The inquisitors apanying Najin were tense, but Najin¡¯s expression remained calm andposed. ¡®This is a good opportunity.¡¯ To him, Yuel¡¯s proposal was indeed a great chance. Before venturing deep into the Ound, it was an opportunity to stretch his muscles and test the changes his body had undergone after acquiring his stars. As the carriage moved, Najin conversed with Merlin, seeking answers. ¡®Why does the Starblood Sect hunt demons?¡¯ ¨C Their patron deity despises demons. ¡®Are there people who like demons?¡¯ ¨C Hmm, it¡¯s less of a dislike and more of an¡­ abhorrence? Hatred? Contempt? Anyway, she¡¯s a woman who wants to eradicate everyst demon from the world. Merlin stroked her chin thoughtfully. ¨C Nowadays, they call her the ¡°Thorned Martyr,¡± which sounds tame, but back in my time, she was known as ¡°She Who Foams at the Sight of Demons.¡± Other names included ¡°One Who Bathes in Demon Blood and Flesh,¡± ¡°Demon yer,¡± and ¡°Evil Shall Perish.¡± Those were rather extreme titles. As Najin blinked, Merlin continued. ¨C Arthur and I hunted demons because they were a threat to humanity. She, on the other hand, hunted demons simply because she hated them. Of course, she had her reasons. ¡®What reasons?¡¯ ¨C She used to be a princess of a small kingdom called Raffelli, or something like that. Her country was destroyed by demons. Most of her people became demon contractors, and the rest turned into demon worshippers. Najin vaguely recalled reading about it in history books. Raffelli¡ªa kingdom annihted by demons roughly a thousand years prior Its downfall was often cited to justify the need to eradicate dark mages and demon summoners. ¡®That¡¯s a good reason to hate them.¡¯ ¨C Right? But the interesting partes after that. ¡®What happened next?¡¯ ¨C She killed them all. Najin nearly eximed aloud but managed to suppress his voice. Merlin chuckled at his reaction and borated. ¨C Around thirty thousand, if I recall. She personally killed every single demon contractor from her kingdom, even the ones who fled abroad. Over the course of ten years, she hunted them all down without leaving a single one alive. Not a single one left standing¡­? When that blood-soaked saga ended, she ascended to be a constetion. Although Raffelli had fallen to the demons, it wasn¡¯t remembered as a demon-worshipping nation in the annals of history. ¨C She cleansed it with their blood. From the corpses of countless demons and their worshippers, a star was born. Raffelli became a holy site. Truly, it was the birthce of a star. ¨C When Arthur and I were fighting the Demon King, I nced to the side and saw this stranger stabbing him in the gut. I asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± She just said, ¡°Demon. Kill.¡± So I figured, ¡°Ah, an ally,¡± and we fought together. Merlin shook her head in amusement at the memory. ¨C A crazy girl, really. A butcher. A pitiful soul who knows nothing but killing demons. ¡®How did someone like her be the patron deity of the Starblood Sect?¡¯ ¨C Her teachings were simple. Ask the guy sitting across from you, it hasn¡¯t changed much in a thousand years. Najin turned to the inquisitor seated across from him. ¡°May I ask about the Starblood Sect¡¯s doctrine?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± The inquisitor smiled broadly. ¡°Kill demons. Burn anything connected to demons. Uproot the entire species from this world. Whatever your status or past sins, our deity doesn¡¯t care. She only asks one thing of you¡­¡± The man pounded his chest over his heart. ¡°As long as your heart beats, y demons.¡± A faint madness glimmered in his eyes. ¨C See? I doubt she intended to create a religion. She just wanted to kill demons and gathered followers because she couldn¡¯t do it alone. That naturally evolved into a religion. Merlin¡¯s tone turned somber. ¨C I suppose it¡¯s because so many people have lost loved ones to demons. That kind of hatred makes for a powerful faith. That¡¯s why the Thorned Martyr remains their patron to this day. ¡®The Thorned Martyr¡¯ was her official title as a constetion, but those who lived during her era called her something else¡­ ¨C The Fire That Burns for a Thousand Years. Merlin added that the fire would continue to burn until everyst demon in the world was reduced to ash. Her expression, for once, was distant and reflective. ¨C Well, I guess it¡¯s not so different from me. She smiled faintly. ¨C I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to rest until I¡¯ve slit the Witch of the Nether¡¯s throat. After several days of travel, the carriage stopped at a city on the Ound border, Baldornos¡ªa forgotten city of a forgotten kingdom. Originally situated near the Ound¡¯s edge, Baldornos had been swallowed up by the border¡¯s expansion 300 years prior. During the event, nearly 70% of the city was consumed by the Ound, and every resident vanished without a trace. Though the buildings remained intact, the city was rendered uninhabitable. Baldornos became a ghost town. For dark mages, however, ¡°uninhabited ghost city¡± was synonymous with ¡°perfect hideout.¡± Its proximity to the Ound made summoning rituals easier. Naturally, Baldornos became a prime location for such activities. The Starblood Sect was well aware of this. They kept a close watch on Baldornos, and when traces of ck magic and demon summoning were discovered, it was deemed a significant threat. Significant threats required an equally significant response. The Sect¡¯s asymmetric power¡ªYuel Razian. Her deployment to Baldornos was recent, and thusid the backdrop for the operation. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is.¡± ¡°Yes. Allow me to exin the operation.¡± Najin listened attentively and nodded. ¡°Originally, the only personnel dispatched here was the Executioner. The n was for her to handle the purge alone, but circumstances changed.¡± The inquisitor began outlining the n, pointing to the map. ¡°Lady Yuel will enter from the rear gate, deep within the Ound side of Baldornos. Sir Najin, you¡¯ll enter through the front gate.¡± ording to his exnation, Najin¡¯s role was straightforward: enter through the front gate and eliminate any dark mages encountered along the way. Meanwhile, Yuel would do the same from the rear gate, with the two meeting near the Ound¡¯s boundary. ¡®Simple enough in theory.¡¯ Najin raised his head. He gazed at the shimmering barrier that marked the boundary between the Ound and the continent. Though the city beyond the barrier was blurry and difficult to discern, its sheer size was apparent. ¡®It won¡¯t be as easy as it sounds,¡¯ Najin thought as he stretched his body. ¡°When you¡¯re ready to proceed, let us know, and we¡¯ll signal Lady Yuel to begin¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± The inquisitor, who had been busy preparing holy water and blessed silver weapons, blinked. All Najin had done was casually stretch, making no visible preparations. ¡°Sir Najin, with all due respect, Baldornos is effectively part of the Ound. Entering it will elerate the deterioration of your body. Without adequate preparation¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s our concern. It doesn¡¯t apply to him.¡± One of the inquisitors cut his subordinate off, gesturing toward Najin. Najin responded by holding up his palm. Two stars materialized and glowed above it. ¡°Ah.¡± The inquisitor let out a short sigh. Then, without hesitation, he knelt on one knee and bowed his head¡ªnot to Najin, but to the patron deity of the Starblood Sect, who he believed was watching from the heavens. In response, a constetion of eight stars¡ªthe Thorned Martyr¡¯s¡ªlit up in the sky. ¡°Sir Najin?¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I rmend covering your ears.¡± Najin blinked, puzzled. Looking around, he noticed all the inquisitors had already knelt and covered their ears. Though confused, he followed their lead. It didn¡¯t take long for him to understand why. Moments ago, one of the inquisitors had prayed to their deity, notifying her of the operation¡¯smencement. That prayer was ryed to her champion, Yuel Razian. They were to start the operation. With the signal received, Yuel moved. Far beyond the Ound¡¯s boundary, at the opposite end of the vast city, she stood at the rear gate. Though the distance between them spanned the entirety of Baldornos, Najin could feel her movement. Not because his senses were particrly sharp, but because her movement was simply too immense. Screeeeeeeech! A bone-chilling screech filled the air¡ªlike the wails of tormented souls. It echoed across the Ound¡¯s border, cutting through the city and spanning thousands of meters to pierce Najin¡¯s eardrums. The sound came first, the phenomenon followed. The massive barrier separating the Ound and the continent quivered violently. Beyond the rippling boundary, though blurred, it wasn¡¯t hard to imagine what was happening. The city was being dismantled¡­ By a single person, and a single sword. Chapter 129 Chapter 129 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Demon Hunting (3) In literature, transcendents such as Sword Masters and Archmages were often described as Beings who, in human form, have touched the domain of the gods. Najin was reminded again that the description wasn¡¯t an exaggeration. The scene unfolding before his eyes was a miracle¡ªone worthy of being called divine intervention. The ripple effect spanning an entire city; the vibrations traveling thousands of meters with ease¡­ Such massive forces couldn¡¯t possibly have been caused by a single person, and yet, they had. It wasn¡¯t without reason that beings like them were called transcendents. They performed feats that defied humanprehension. In the face of such overwhelming power, most people felt fear. They revered it, were terrified by it, and saw those who wielded it as entirely different beings. The inquisitors beside Najin, covering their ears, felt that fear, as did the dark mages cowering in terror within the city. Not everyone reacted that way. Standing there was one exception¡ªa young man. Najin removed his hands from his ears and listened carefully to the reverberating Sword Scream. He straightened the knees he had instinctively bent, lifted his head, and opened his eyes wide to take in the unfolding spectacle. Unconsciously, a grin spread across his face. His eyes sparkled, and his expression conveyed anything but fear. Was it excitement, anticipation, or perhaps fascination? Najin hadn¡¯t agreed to Yuel¡¯s proposal so readily and without hesitation for no reason. As he had said before, he saw it as an opportunity. It was a chance to stretch his body before heading to the Ound¡ªa chance to witness, up close, the kind of battle he would one day have to endure and to see the types of opponents he would inevitably face. It was, simply put, the perfect opportunity. Grinning openly, Najin stepped forward. While the inquisitors were overwhelmed by the ripples of power Yuel unleashed, Najin made his way toward the city¡¯s front gate. ¡°I¡¯ll go ahead.¡± ng! He drew his sword. The streets of Baldornos were steeped in darkness. As a city partially swallowed by the Ound, it was draped in an oppressive shadow with no light to dispel it. There wasn¡¯t a singlentern to illuminate the streets. Dark, damp, and eerie¡­ An ordinary person would likely lose their mind after just a few days in such a ce, but dark mages were anything but ordinary. Their very name bore the word ¡°dark¡±, a testament to their love for darkness. Dark, damp, eerie, and terrifying? All the better. They were the kinds of people who eagerly set up their workshops in sewers and abandoned cities. The fact that such ces were excellent for hiding and escaping was only a minor advantage. Dark mages genuinely preferred dark, damp environments. ¡®I wonder if practicing ck magic alters your brain structure, making you enjoy moldy, wet ces like some kind of fungus?¡¯ ¨C There was a mage who wrote a thesis on that once. ¡®Really? Who¡¯d waste their time on such a pointless topic?¡¯ ¨C Me. ¡®¡­Oh.¡¯ The decrepit buildings, the scattered bricks, and the destion of a city whose residents vanished overnight some 300 years prior created a heavy silence. Except, of course, for the asional screeeeeech! of Yuel Razian¡¯s sword carving through her enemies in the distance. Najin walked through the silence. His footsteps echoed loudly across the empty streets. He wasn¡¯t trying to move quietly. On the contrary, he deliberately let his steps resound. Silencing his movements would have been easy, but there was no need. He wanted the dark mages hiding throughout the city to sense him. While Yuel Razian wreaked havoc at the rear gate, literally dismantling the city, the dark mages in chaos had limited options. Option one: kill the Executioner. Option two: escape from the Executioner. If they had been capable of the first option, they wouldn¡¯t have been hiding in that city in the first ce. The only real option left was the second, which required dealing with Najin or attempting to climb the city walls. Screeech! Najin nced briefly toward the wall and spotted a dark mage climbing it with magic, only to have his torso neatly severed, sending his body plummeting to the ground. The mage seeded in escaping¡­ from life. Clearly, escaping over the wall wasn¡¯t a viable option. Scaling an open wall in front of a Sword Master with a range of several hundred meters was akin to painting a target on your back. That left only the front gate. Najin was standing right there. The dark mages, sensing Yuel¡¯s relentless advance from the rear, made their decision. Previously undetectable, their presences suddenly became clear as they dropped their concealment. The dark mages lurking within the abandoned buildings of the city began to move. From behind crumbling walls, in gaps between bricks, through the slits of curtains over broken windows, and between rooftops and chimneys, they emerged. From the shadows, dark lights flickered¡ªthe precursor to spellcasting. The simultaneous shes of dark energy were nearly invisible to the naked eye, their color blending into the shadows. Nearly invisible, but not entirely. As the lights red, Najin¡¯s eyes darted rapidly from one to the next. Left to right, top to bottom. The shessted no more than three seconds, but for Najin, that was enough. Seventeen¡­ Seventeen shes. Seventeen mages. Seventeen spells. It took him one second to count them, another second to m his foot into the ground, and a final second to exhale and push off. Three seconds¡­ That¡¯s how long it took for the spells toplete andunch. Dark projectiles, crimson beams, and jagged spikes of shadow hurtled toward Najin from all directions, but by the time they were fired, he was already moving. The ce he had been standing exploded with a flurry of ck spikes, molten rays, and shattering rubble. Ten spells. Najin¡¯s eyes remained calm. Had it been before he became a Sword Seeker or before his battle against the Witch in the Ound, he might have struggled. For the Najin after those events? It didn¡¯t seem so difficult. He dashed forward. The spells, unable to keep up with his speed, struck random targets, failing to hit him. With a burst of eleration, he ran along the wall. Swish! Spells that had been manually adjusted to track him turned sharply, giving chase. From behind, above, and in front, the attacks closed in. n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Even so, Najin didn¡¯t stop. He swung his sword as he ran. Despite his unstable stance while running along the wall, his sword carved a precise arc. Slice! Spells caught in his Sword Aura vanished without a trace. With his path cleared, he pushed off the wall and leaped, targeting the closest of the seventeen shes he had seen earlier¡ªa dark mage hiding behind a crumbling wall. He swung his sword mid-leap. The wall stood between him and the mage, but the moment his Sword Aura extended, the wall lost its value as cover. sh! The de cleaved through the wall with ease. The mage¡¯s neck, softer than the stone wall, met the same fate. Najinnded gracefully, already pivoting toward his next target¡ªa dark mage crouched between a rooftop and a chimney. Swish! A clean line appeared from the mage¡¯s forehead to his jaw. As the body copsed, Najin had already moved on. Bounding across the rooftops, his speed was overwhelming. He was far too fast for the mages to track, either with their eyes or with magic. The chaos deepened, and he continued his efficient hunt, one step ahead of his enemies at every turn. As the mages¡¯ numbers dwindled and their hiding spots were exposed, panic spread, and then, a thunderous noise erupted. From the castle at the city¡¯s center¡ªa stronghold converted into a workshop by the mages¡ªsomething flew from the highest point. No, ¡°flew¡± wasn¡¯t quite right. It hurtled¡­ Straight toward Najin. ¡°Did you know?¡± ¡°C-cough¡­ gah¡­ huff¡­¡± ¡°If you split Baldornos into a 7:3 ratio, the part we¡¯re standing on now falls within the ¡®7¡¯ portion?¡± Yuel Razian¡¯s tone was calm and conversational. Her hair, as white and smooth as the first snow of winter, gleamed faintly in the dim light. Longshes framed her half-lidded crimson eyes, their glint unsettling yet hypnotic. She was, by any measure, a beautiful woman¡ªa striking figure whose name was never omitted when discussing the most beautiful in the Empire. Even her perpetually expressionless face added to her allure, imbuing her with an air of mystery. For a fleeting moment, the dark mage before her¡ªZarkan¡ªmight have considered her beautiful. ¡­If only the insane woman wasn¡¯t strangling him with her bare hands. ¡­If only she hadn¡¯t just ughtered every one of his subordinates in the stronghold. Zarkan, a 6th-circle dark mage and the leader of the mages who had taken over Baldornos, stared at Yuel with trembling eyes as she tightened her grip around his neck. Her crimson gaze, cold and detached, gave him the distinct impression that she didn¡¯t care about him in the slightest. ¡°I promised that I would handle the seven portions of Baldornos, leaving the remaining three for mypanion. Ah, and by panion,¡¯ I don¡¯t mean you, whose neck I¡¯m currently holding.¡± Zarkan wasn¡¯t curious. Not in the least, but when you were dangling by your neck, held by a Sword Master, curiosity wasn¡¯t a choice¡ªit was a survival tactic. ¡°Following that agreement, killing you falls to me since you¡¯re in my zone, and yet, it feels¡­ unsatisfying.¡± Yuel¡¯s lips parted slightly, a faint hum escaping them as though she were mulling over something trivial. ¡°I want to see that boy fight a bit longer. I want to see him bleed, to see him teeter on the edge of defeat before pulling off a victory. Yes, killing you right now would be enjoyable, no doubt, but¡­¡± She nodded to herself as if reaching a conclusion. ¡°This would be even more fun.¡± They stood on the stronghold¡¯s highest level, a vantage point overlooking the entire city of Baldornos, and Yuel strode toward the edge. ¡°Demons are remarkably resilient to physical damage, you know. I¡¯ve tested it before¡ªhow much purely physical force is needed to destroy a demon without using magic. The results were fascinating.¡± Her steps were measured, almost leisurely, as she approached the edge. ¡°3,761 strikes. That¡¯s how many stabs to the heart it took before a demon finally died. Was it the 3,762nd strike that killed it, you ask? Surprisingly, no. The demonmitted suicide at that point. A pity. I wanted to see how far it could go.¡± She tilted her head slightly as if lost in thought, before snapping back to reality. ¡°I digress. The point is¡­ demons are durable. Naturally, since you¡¯ve contracted with one, your body should be equally sturdy. A fall from this height shouldn¡¯t kill you.¡± Yuel reached the edge of the stronghold, the dividing line between Baldornos¡¯s seven-part and three-part zones. One more step forward would ce her in Najin¡¯s zone. Tap. She stopped at the threshold and raised her arm. ¡°Humans have always dreamed of flight. Most harbor a yearning for the word ¡®soar.¡¯ I hope you do as well.¡± With that, she swung her arm in an almost careless motion, hurling Zarkan forward like a ball. ¡°Enjoy your flight.¡± She flung him from the stronghold¡¯s summit, aiming straight for where Najin stood. Swoosh! The trajectory was crude, and the direction was unmistakably downward rather than upward, but if ¡°flight¡± was defined as leaving the ground and traveling through the air, Zarkan was undoubtedly flying. ¡°Gaaaaahhhh!¡± Zarkan¡¯s scream tore through the air. Unfortunately for him, no one was listening. Chapter 130 Chapter 130 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Demon Hunting (4) Can humans soar through the skies unassisted? Without resorting to magical means, could humanity truly escape the chains of gravity and be free? To this question, a dark mage had an answer: it¡¯s possible if you borrow the power of a Sword Master. Bang! After a short flight, Zarkannded with a deafening crash. Utilizing the stable method of ¡°Whump!¡±nding, achieved with the back of his head and crown, he buried half of his skull into the ground, convulsing. ¡®What did I just witness?¡¯ Amid the copsing buildings groaning with rumbling thuds, Najin stood blinking, forgetting even to swing his sword. ¡°Guuuu¡­ huh?¡± Najin wasn¡¯t the only one dumbfounded. Even the dark mage Najin had by the cor, screaming moments prior, paused mid-shriek and wore the same expression as he stared at Zarkan, embedded in the dirt. ¡°Sir Zarkan?!¡± Realizing the person half-buried in the ground was his boss, the mage¡¯s eyes widened in horror. Even while being throttled, he showed touching loyalty by worrying about his superior first. ¡®Still, there¡¯s a job to finish,¡¯ Najin thought. Crack. He snapped the mage¡¯s neck. Setting the limp body aside, he turned his gaze toward the twitching Zarkan, half-buried in the ground. ¡®Is he alive? ¡® ¡°His neck is bent at a right angle¡ªhe¡¯s still alive?¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ doubtful, but he¡¯s moving, so probably?¡± ¡°If someone survives with their neck like that, they can¡¯t possibly be human, right?¡± Najin¡¯s words, half-jest and half-serious, turned out to bepletely urate. Glop! ck liquid oozed out of Zarkan¡¯s convulsing body. The liquid seeped into his sharply bent neck, causing a series of sickening pops as his neck snapped back into ce. ¡°Guess he¡¯s not human.¡± Najin clicked his tongue. The ck ooze pouring from Zarkan¡¯s body was none other than the substance known as ¡®demonic energy¡¯, a signature of demons. Najin realized the man before him was the dark mage who had summoned a demon. Why was the leader of the dark mages in front of him? Najin instinctively looked up. Following the trajectory of Zarkan¡¯s flight, his gazended on the highest tower of Baldornos Citadel. It was too far to make out the details clearly, but atop the tower, a woman with silver-white hair waved in his direction¡ªYuel Razian. -What a certifiable lunatic. Merlin muttered, sounding utterly bbergasted. Najin couldn¡¯t help but let out a dryugh. ¡®So she threw a person this far, huh? What an insane amount of physical strength.¡¯ ¡°Ugh¡­ gah. Ptooey.¡± Coughing out dirt, Zarkan rose to his feet. He spat out a glob of blood from his throat and wiped his mouth. Despite having fallen from such a height at such speed, his body bore no visible injuries¡ªor rather, any injuries he had sustained were already gone. Watching his pitiful state, it was hard to believe that Zarkan was an exceptionally powerful dark mage. Among mages, those reaching the 8th circle were ssified as Archmages; Zarkan had reached the 6th circle, a level of power not to be underestimated. In a proper fight within his territory, exterminating him would require at least an expert-level squad and two Sword Seekers. If you added a demon to the mix? Without specialized help from demon hunters or inquisitors, taking Zarkan down would be near-impossible. Battling a demon contractor, a vtile wildcard, was no easy feat. Yes, Zarkan was undoubtedly formidable. ¡®He should be, anyway.¡¯ Najin squinted. After witnessing such a ridiculousnding, even someone as perpetually serious as him found it hard to take the opponent seriously. ¡°You bastard,¡± Zarkan spat, his expression twisted with fury. He gestured, dispelling the dust cloud around him. Scanning the area, he found the bodies of his subordinates scattered across the ground, and at the center of the carnage stood a boy. ¡°Was this your doing? Who the hell are you?¡± he growled, ring at Najin. The demonic energy swirling around him radiated a ferocious pressure in an attempt to intimidate Najin, but it had no effect. Shing! Najin raised his sword in response, wordlessly admitting to Zarkan¡¯s usation. To answer the second question, he replied, ¡°Najin.¡± Stars shimmered over his raised de. ¡°The Star of Dawn.¡± He was the Star of Dawn, herald of the end of night. In the night sky, two stars glimmered brightly. A demon contractor was someone who borrowed power or authority from a demon through a contract. Najin had faced one such individual before: the Demon Knight, Verheigen¡ªa foe he had vanquished with Excalibur. Verheigen had been a Sword Expert, but after contracting with a demon, he had ascended to the level of a Sword Seeker. When he deployed his domain and began using the demon¡¯s authority, his strength rivaled even the upper echelon of Sword Seekers. ¡®Normally, they don¡¯t get that absurdly strong. The demon he contracted with was unusually high-ranking.¡¯ Ancient Demon Arkand¡­ ording to Merlin, the demon Verheigen had contracted with was exceptionally powerful, which exined his dramatic rise in strength. Hearing it, Najin had once thought: ¡®The victory against Verheigen wasn¡¯t mine, it was Excalibur¡¯s.¡¯ Had it not been for that nearly unfair weapon, he wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance. How strong would he need to be to defeat such an opponent without Excalibur? Even after reaching the level of a Sword Seeker, Najin often pondered the question. Verheigen had been overwhelming in that domain. He had a chance to find the answer. ¡®Merlin¡­¡¯ ¨C Yeah? ¡®This dark mage, Zarkan, how strong is he? Compared to Verheigen?¡¯ ¨C About the same¡­ maybe a bit stronger. The demon he contracted with hasn¡¯t shown up yet, so I can¡¯t say for sure. Judging by his demonic energy, it¡¯s probably mid-tier at most. Stronger than Verheigen, who had deployed a domain. Najin¡¯s lips curled into a satisfied smile. It was a chance to prove how much he had grown. Roughly six months had passed since the battle with the Demon Knight. During that time, Najin had dedicated himself to growing stronger. He wanted to test the fruits of that effort. The smile faded from Najin¡¯s face. While Zarkan continued snarling at Najin, oblivious to the shift in thetter¡¯s demeanor, Najin adjusted his stance. He lowered his sword, sinking into a crouch, pulling his arm behind his back as he took a measured breath. One breath¡­ The moment he exhaled, Zarkan¡¯s eyes lost track of Najin¡¯s movement. No, Najin didn¡¯t disappear from his vision. Rather, Najinpletely filled Zarkan¡¯s sight, closing the distance in an instant. Before Zarkan could react, Najin swung his sword. BOOOM! The collision between Zarkan¡¯s demonic energy and Najin¡¯s Sword Aura created an explosive roar. The impact sent Zarkan¡¯s feet into the air, his demonic energy holding firm against the attack, but his physical body couldn¡¯t withstand the force. It was like smashing a helmet with a hammer¡ªthe helmet might hold its shape, but the head inside wouldn¡¯t fare as well. ¡°Gah!¡± Zarkan gasped as the blow knocked the air out of him, but that was as far as Najin got. He had no intention of allowing Najin to follow up. Swinging his arm, he summoned an invisible force. He was an adept of the Field Magic School, specializing in manipting invisible fields of force, and while his foray into dark magic had changed his style somewhat, the technique remained a cornerstone of his arsenal. Wielding the forcefield like a bludgeon, he struck Najin¡¯s sword. With a sharp crack, the impact sent Zarkan skidding backward. Zarkan nced down at his arm. Despiteyering it with forcefields and demonic energy, the bone was broken. ck ooze quickly seeped in, repairing the fracture, but he couldn¡¯t hide his rm. A significant chunk of both his demonic energy and mana had been torn away in that sh. The power granted by demons wasn¡¯t infinite. Even if the demons themselves had boundless strength, the energy a contractor could draw was limited. If he expended all his demonic energy, he¡¯d be reduced to an ordinary human. ¡®That can¡¯t happen.¡¯ Zarkan turned his gaze to Najin, who stood calmly with his sword raised. The boy¡¯s rxed demeanor only served to irritate him further. ¡®What¡¯s the point of this fight?¡¯ Even if he managed to kill Najin, he wouldn¡¯t escape alive. If Najin were weaker, he might have been able to dispatch him quickly and flee, but the opponent wasn¡¯t so easily dismissed. ¡®Damn it all.¡¯ Zarkan scowled. He was contemting his options when a voice suddenly echoed in his ears. ¡°Ah, I nearly forgot to mention something important,¡± Yuel Razian¡¯s voice said. Zarkan¡¯s pupils contracted. How was she speaking to him from such a distance? It was a technique achievable only through a Sword Master¡¯s supreme mastery of mana¡ªtransmission via mana threads. Her voice, carried on mana, continued, ¡°If you defeat that boy, I¡¯ll let you live. There are noble humans who fight with all their might in the face of certain death, but you¡¯re not one of them, are you? You need a suitable reward to give your all.¡± Yuel¡¯s voice trembled slightly, not from fear, but from exhration. ¡°I give you my word, in my name. So please, do your best.¡± ¡®What an utterly insane woman.¡¯ Zarkan couldn¡¯t ignore her proposition. If death was inevitable, he¡¯d rather gamble on the chance she was telling the truth. ¡®The Executioner of the Starblood Sect may be mad and capricious, but she doesn¡¯t lie. I have to trust that.¡¯ Zarkan locked eyes with Najin. His decision was quick. ¡°Great Marphos, lend me your strength.¡± The moment he whispered the words, his back split open, and three arms, each with seven fingers, burst forth. Marphos was a mid-tier demon with seven arms, each bearing seven fingers. Its domain was refraction. Having forged a contract with Marphos, Zarkan had been granted three of its arms. A wicked grin twisted across his face as power surged through him. The connection to such a higher being brought with it a rush of euphoria, convincing him he could wield even 7th-circle magic. With two human arms and three demonic ones, Zarkanmanded ten human fingers and twenty-one demonic ones. For a mage of the Field Magic School, whose spells relied heavily on hand gestures, additional fingers and arms were an enormous boon; when those extra limbs came from a demon, the advantage grew exponentially. There was a reason Field Magic mages often became demon contractors alongside the Blood Arts practitioners. Theirpatibility with demonic enhancements was unmatched. ¡°¡ªAhaha!¡± Laughing wildly, Zarkan swung his arms. The three demonic appendages moved as if they had always been his own. Each of his ten original fingers could summon a forcefield, and with twenty-one new fingers, he conjured an additional twenty-one fields. Crack! Crack! Crack! The ground shattered beneath the onught as the ovepping forcefields shot toward Najin like invisible maelstroms. Najin, who had been calmly observing until then, narrowed his eyes. He turned slightly, as if addressing someone unseen. ¡®Is this his full power?¡¯ ¨C Yep. He brought out the demon¡¯s power now. A mid-tier demon, Marphos has the domain of refraction. It seems he was originally from the Field Magic School. ¡®That¡¯s enough.¡¯n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¨C What? Najin twirled his sword in a casual circle. ¡®I don¡¯t need to know more. Tell me if it gets dangerous. Until then, let me test myself.¡¯ ¨C Test yourself? Against what?¡¯ Najin¡¯s face grew serious, his gaze fixed on the approaching maelstrom of forcefields. ¡®I want to test how far this body of mine can go.¡¯ Having obtained a star¡¯s power, in a dragon, and bathed in dragon blood, he had yet to truly push himself to the limit. Before venturing to the Ound, he needed to know his own boundaries and what he was truly capable of. Merlin blinked and chuckled. ¨C Fine. Do as you like. The maelstrom of invisible forcefields bore down on Najin. The waves of refracted energy were imperceptible to the naked eye, but the subtle ripples in the air and the shifting currents of wind revealed their paths. Najin didn¡¯t retreat. Instead, with a measured step, he charged straight into the heart of the onught. sh! His Sword Aura tore through the first forcefield, causing an explosion of light and air pressure. Using the burst to propel himself forward, he continued advancing. Seated atop the highest point of the citadel, Yuel Razian watched the battle unfold below. Her crimson eyes focused intently on the sh between Zarkan and Najin. The ringing of metal, the detonation of energy; the spray of blood¡ªit all formed a symphony ofbat that resonated in her very soul. Her lips curled into a faint smile as she savored the sight of the struggle. She loved blood and death, but as much as she loved those things, she also adored battle: the shing of wills, the heat of life and death struggles. More than anything, she cherished the razor-thin moment when victory tipped her way; the instant an opponent, after a grueling exchange, was finally vanquished; when her life, teetering on the edge of death, was reimed in the most vivid of ways. In those moments, Yuel felt truly alive. The fiercer the fight, the closer to death, the more potent the victory¡­ the more intoxicating the life reimed. That intensity was the essence of Yuel¡¯s existence. She was utterly enthralled by the boy below. Life was evident in his every movement. That spark¡ªsome called it the soul, others the will to live¡ªwas unmistakable. To Yuel, it was ¡°vitality,¡± the light that signified one¡¯s devotion to life itself. She had seen it countless times in humans, beasts, and monsters, but only rarely did she encounter vitality so vivid, so raw. Najin¡¯s vitality was like nothing she had ever seen. She didn¡¯t know what it was. That unfamiliarity intrigued her. Should she kill him and extinguish that light or let it grow, only to snuff it outter? Her bloodthirst red and subsided in an endless cycle as conflicting desires warred within her. Yuel¡¯s smile deepened. ¡®Climb higher.¡¯ ¡®Reach the level of a Sword Master.¡¯ ¡®Challenge me.¡¯ ¡®Fight me as an equal. Push me to the brink of death, and let us determine who survives.¡¯ Her fingers trembled as she fantasized about that future, where either she or Najin would stand triumphant, bathed in the other¡¯s blood. She relished the contradiction¡ªboth yearning to kill Najin and to be killed by him. Even that inner turmoil was a delight. Her attention sharpened as Najin shed through one of Zarkan¡¯s demonic arms. ¡°That¡¯s one.¡± Najin¡¯s murmured words were apanied by a faint smile, his de gleaming. Yuel chuckled aloud. What else could she do? It was a move even a Sword Master like her hadn¡¯t foreseen. Chapter 131 Chapter 131 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Demon Hunting (5) Zarkan was a troublesome foe. Despite his ridiculous and almostical introduction, his power was noughing matter. Even Najin, who had reached the rank of Sword Seeker and wielded two stars, found that Zarkan was no small threat. ¡°What a nuisance.¡± As the battle continued, Najin frowned. Zarkan¡¯s mastery of forcefield-based magic made him a particrly vexing opponent. Unlike most spells that inflicted damage only when they struck a target, Zarkan¡¯s magic wasn¡¯t so straightforward. Each of his fingers could control one forcefield. With ten human fingers and an additional twenty-one demonic ones, Zarkan controlled a total of thirty-one forcefields. Each of those forcefields was arge, solid bludgeon. They pounded the ground relentlessly, blocked Najin¡¯s sword strikes, and served as both offense and defense. Even at a distance, they acted as a deterrent, leaving no opening for Najin to exploit. ¡°Their power isn¡¯t negligible either. The way they chip away at my Sword Aura with each sh¡­¡± On top of that, the forcefields were nearly invisible to the naked eye, making them even harder to deal with. Though Najin was steadily reducing their numbers, he was losing the war of attrition. At that pace, he would be defeated. Still, did Najin feel a sense of crisis? Not quite. His gaze remained calm and unwavering. He narrowed his eyes. The thunderous thumps and crashes from the thirty-one forcefields didn¡¯t capture his attention. Instead, he focused on a different sound¡ªthe steady rhythm of his heartbeat. Thump. Thump. Thump. Listening to his own pulse, he judged he still had some margin. In the past, that would have been his limit. Pushing his body further would have led to strain and breakdown. Even then, he felt the potential strain¡­ but for some reason, he also felt like he could push harder. He trusted his instincts. THUMP. THUMP. THUMP. His heart pounded faster. Blood coursed rapidly through his veins. Muscles stretched, nerves fired at heightened speeds, and his entire body felt taut enough to snap. Surrounding it all, mana acted as a buffer, protecting his straining body. BOOM! He stepped forward. His intention was to move as he usually did, but even he was startled by his speed. Where his usual movements produced a sharp ¡°tap,¡± that time, the sound was akin to a cannon st¡ªBOOM. sh! Najin cut through a forcefield, sliding across the ground in a burst of eleration. He wasn¡¯t the only one shocked. Zarkan¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief, wondering if Najin had been holding back. Najin, who had initially been taken aback by his own speed, soon broke into a grin. ¡®So this is how it feels.¡¯ It took him only a few exchanges to adjust to his newfound capabilities. He quickly grasped how to move his body and began to understand the changes brought about by the stars and the dragon blood coursing through him. ¡°It¡¯s not just that my body is strengthened¡­¡± ¨C The vessel itself has grownrger. Najin realized that Merlin was right. The changes to his body weren¡¯t simply about increased strength. His very being, his ¡°vessel,¡± had expanded, allowing him to contain and wield far greater power. When he acquired a star, he earned the right to challenge the heavens. It wasn¡¯t a metaphorical or abstract idea¡ªit was a tangible change to his existence. Though he wasn¡¯t yet sure how to fully utilize the power of his star, his body had evolved to amodate it. His vessel had grown, enabling him to handle immense power with less strain. Najin could push himself further than ever before. Focusing inward, he examined the pathways through which mana flowed within him. The main channels remainedrgely unchanged, but smaller offshoots had sprouted around them, like roots spreading from a tree. Though small and seemingly insignificant, the branches enhanced the precision and efficiency of his mana control. He nted his foot firmly against the ground. Mana, which had been evenly distributed throughout his body, surged into his legs. The branches of mana flowing into his limbs allowed him to elerate with pinpoint efficiency. By the time Zarkan¡¯s forcefields struck, Najin was already gone. The distance between them vanished in an instant. Zarkan¡¯s gaze remained fixed on the wrong ce. He hadn¡¯t even realized Najin was already upon him, and he paid dearly for thatpse. Thud. Najin stomped down, redirecting mana into his torso, arms, and shoulders. With a precise swing of his sword, he cut through one of Zarkan¡¯s arms in a clean motion. sh. The de sliced through flesh and bone, sending the severed limb flying. ck ooze¡ªdemonic energy¡ªpoured from the stump, attempting to reattach the arm, but Najin wasn¡¯t about to let that happen. He grabbed the dismembered arm and mmed his foot against the ground, widening the gap between himself and Zarkan. n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om shing at the trailing ooze, he severed the connection entirely. It all happened so quickly that Zarkan only realized his arm was gone when the pain set in. St. Sliding to a halt, Najin casually tossed the severed arm aside. ¡°One down,¡± he said, a smirk spreading across his face. The sudden eleration, achieved by concentrating mana into a single point, pushed Najin beyond the limits of his physical body. However, since the mana acted as a buffer, the strain on his body was minimal. Realizing this, he began to employ the technique more aggressively. For Zarkan, who had barely been keeping up with Najin¡¯s movements, it was a nightmare. Losing one arm was already a significant blow. Luckily for him, it was one of his human arms, not a demonic one. Even so, the loss was costly¡ªfive of the forcefields tied to that arm had disappeared. As an experienced mage, he quickly adapted. Without panicking, he used a forcefield to crush the bleeding stump, cauterizing the wound. Crunch. Pain twisted Zarkan¡¯s face into a grimace, but that was as far as it went. Gritting his teeth, he swung his remaining arms to unleash a barrage of forcefields. Crack crack crack! Forcefields scraped the ground and surged toward Najin. Transparent cubes radiated destructive energy, pulverizing anything they touched. Buildings crumbled into dust with faint cracking sounds as the forcefields rolled over them. Anything caught in their path¡ªbe it flesh, bone, or steel¡ªwould be obliterated. Najin was never where the forcefields struck. Was it because his movements had grown faster? That wasn¡¯t the full story. He didn¡¯t move quickly at all times. Instead, he conserved his strength, only elerating at the perfect moments, slipping through the smallest openings in Zarkan¡¯s attacks. Blood dripped from Zarkan¡¯s shoulder as frustration mounted. It felt as though Najin was toying with him, moving unpredictably, elerating only when necessary. Fighting such an opponent was maddening. With each exchange, Zarkan¡¯s injuries multiplied. Blood flowed steadily from his wounds. Up to that point, a drawn-out battle would have favored him, but the situation had reversed. Najin¡¯s newfound efficiency and precision had turned the tide. Zarkan realized the grim truth. ¡°Damn it. This is just ridiculous.¡± He decided to unveil his trump card. The technique, one that consumed an extreme amount of mana, had been reserved for a decisive moment. It was time to wield the authority of the demon, Marphos. Marphos, the Demon of Refraction, governed the concepts of bending and distorting. The demonic hands protruding from Zarkan¡¯s back moved on their own. His forcefields, which had previously retained their cube-like shapes, suddenly began to warp and twist. The once-static fields bent, turning at impossible angles to match Najin¡¯s movements. Thud! Najin¡¯s eyes widened when a distorted forcefield struck his shoulder. Though he reacted quickly, it wasn¡¯t enough to evade entirely. Flesh tore from his body, and blood gushed from the wound. It wasn¡¯t a one-time attack. 26 forcefields moved erratically, constantly changing shape and trajectory. They bent, twisted, and refracted unpredictably, attacking Najin from all directions. For Zarkan, controlling such chaos wasn¡¯t easy. Blood trickled from his nose, and veins bulged in his reddened eyes. Every bit of his 7th-circleputational ability was focused on controlling the distorted forcefields. Even with Marphos¡¯s demonic hands assisting him, the toll was immense. Each adjustment to the size or shape of a forcefield consumed enormous mana. If he couldn¡¯t end the fight quickly, he¡¯d be drainedpletely. Zarkan unleashed his ultimate spells. 3rd-circle magic: Fragmentation. 6th-circle magic: Forcefield Storm. The twenty-one forcefields split in half, increasing to forty-two. Then, they fractured again, multiplying into eighty-four smaller forcefields. The fragments spun wildly, creating a storm of destruction. Buildings caught in the storm disintegrated into powder, leaving no trace behind. That was the power of a 6th-circle spell. There was no ce for Najin to run. Taking a long breath, he charged directly into the storm. Within the whirling chaos, shes of white light flickered. Each time a light appeared, the storm grew smaller and weaker. Finally, with a resounding crack, Najin tore through the storm and emerged on the other side. He wasn¡¯t unscathed. Blood dripped from his legs and shoulders, where chunks of flesh had been torn away, but none of the injuries were life-threatening. Without hesitation, he sprinted toward Zarkan. That¡¯s when he saw it. Zarkan extended his arm toward him. Of the twenty-six forcefields, he had used twenty-one for his Forcefield Storm. That left five forcefields unounted for, all concentrated in the hand of his human arm. He snapped his fingers. 6th-circle magic: Refraction. The five forcefields merged into one, twisting and bending as they surged toward Najin. Their distortion turned them into a deadly weapon, capable of breaking and scattering anything in their path. Enhanced by Marphos¡¯s authority, the spell¡¯s power rivaled that of a 7th-circle technique. Zarkan had overlooked one thing: the concepts of bending and breaking¡ªrefraction itself¡ªwere ill-suited against Najin. The boy had never bent or broken under any circumstance. Najin¡¯s sword shone with unwavering light, and he firmly nted his foot, drawing his de into a stance that symbolized defiance. It was a sword meant to y demons. With a clean swing, his de shattered the forcefield head-on. Once, his name had been Zarkan Blen. He had been a promising prodigy. Like everyone, he had his own story. Whatever the weight of his past, he had lived his life with purpose. Zarkan Blen, a rising star of the Field Magic School, possessed undeniable talent, reaching the 6th Circle at the age of sixty-seven¡ªa feat that few could achieve after a lifetime of study. Talent is both a blessing and a curse. Zarkan¡¯s abilities marked him as exceptional, yet they also made his limits painfully clear. For thirty years, he toiled without progress, unable to break past the 6th Circle. By ny-seven, he realized the truth: his potential had run dry. Once hailed as a genius, he became nothing more than an aging mage. To escape death and decay, he chose a different path. He abandoned his principles, betrayed his master¡¯s teachings, and sacrificed his soul to forge a contract with a demon. In the end, all his efforts crumbled. Najin¡¯s unwavering de severed his neck in a single, decisive strike. With a soft thud, Zarkan¡¯s head fell to the ground. Chapter 132 Chapter 132 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ Demon Hunting (6) Zarkan¡¯s head fell. Deprived of its supporting neck, it sumbed to gravity and plummeted to the ground. The earth, melted and warped by his earlier spell, offered no resistance and swallowed the head with a wet splosh. That marked the pitiful end of Zarkan, a dark mage who had lived for over a century. Few deaths could be considered dignified, but his demise seemed especially so, even whenpared to others. Crunch. His headless body crumbled to dust. When humans die, their bodies remain, but those who have bargained with demons leave nothing behind, their soul and body long since surrendered as payment. A death without a single thing left behind was the price paid for choosing an easy path and forsaking convictions. ¨C In a way, that Demon Knight you cut down long ago was lucky. Merlin, observing the scene, spoke. ¨C At least he left behind a corpse. Verheigen had been in with Excalibur. Since Excalibur had severed the very demon Verheigen made a pact with, it rendered the contract void. As a result, Verheigen had been allowed to die as a human. While it might have been his misfortune to meet Najin, it was fortunate for him since it enabled him to die as a human. ¡°Is that really luck?¡± ¨C Depends on how you see it. Najin flicked his sword lightly. Regardless, he had won and defeated Zarkan with his own strength, without drawing Excalibur. Feeling his growth, a quiet sense of pride welled within him. At that moment, as he savored his small triumph, a flicker of light caught his eye. A dark mage, barely alive amidst the chaos, pointed a staff at Najin. It was difficult to say the mage had ¡°survived,¡± considering their state¡ªthey were dying from excessive blood loss. Before Najin could respond¡­ sh. The dark mage¡¯s body split apart after a sharp arc cleaved both the mage and the building they hid in cleanly in two. As if that weren¡¯t enough, the ground itself was carved into a straight trench. The sound arrived a beatter. SCREEEEEEEEECH! It was Sword Aura,unched faster than the speed of sound. Fired from the peak of the fortress, it had sliced through hundreds of meters of air. Caught mid-movement, Najin blinked in disbelief. The scene before him defiedprehension. ¡°You know, I¡¯ve been thinking this a lottely¡­¡± ¨C Hm? ¡°The gap between a Sword Seeker and a Sword Master is just absurdly wide, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¨C Well, would a transcendent be a transcendent without cause? The journey from Sword Seeker to Sword Master is divided into three stages for a reason. Those three stages represent actualyers of progress. Sprouting, Blossoming, Full Bloom¡­ those were the three stages a Sword Seeker had to pass through to be a Sword Master. ¨C You know Roselin Ascalo, that mercenary leader you¡¯re friendly with? She¡¯s a Sword Seeker too, but she once diced up three other Sword Seekers at once. The only difference was that she¡¯d gone through the Sprouting stage. ¡°Now that you mention it, she did.¡± Najin nodded. ¨C That¡¯s how it works. With each step you ascend, it bes harder topare yourself to others on the same ¡®level.¡¯ ¨C Mages aren¡¯t so different. Speaking of which, did I ever tell you that the concept of a mage¡¯s circle wasn¡¯t properly established until¡ª As Merlin rambled on, Najin half-listened, letting most of her words slip from one ear and out the other. While she droned on, a soft tap sounded in the distance. Yuel Razian leapt gracefully down from atop the fortress andnded in front of Najin. Unlike Zarkan¡¯s earlier crashnding, her descent was elegant. Her white hair shifted slightly, but even her hem remained pristine. ¡°Good work.¡± She greeted Najin with her usual doll-like expression, though a faint smile graced her lips. Then, she pped her hands together. ¡°You¡¯ve exceeded expectations. What a splendid battle. My god is giving you a thumbs-up as we speak. They especially enjoyed the part where you cleanly split the head open and are offering quite a detailedmentary on it. Yes, I understand. I¡¯ll convey the message. Yes, yes, yes¡­¡± Yuel frowned slightly and muttered into the air before curtly saying, ¡°Silence. Shut up.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Najin asked, startled. ¡°Oh, not you, I was addressing my god¡¯s whispers.¡± She batted her ears as though shooing away an insect. Najin felt an odd sense of kinship. After all, Merlin had been endlessly rambling on with self-aggrandizing stories as well. People who spent their days with incessantly chattering constetions learned to filter such noise. Yuel and Najin were prime examples. Ignoring the voices in their heads, they turned their attention to one another and spoke. ¡°That was quite a spectacle. You seem to enjoybat of that nature¡ªusing the terrain and creating variables. I enjoyed such battles too, before ascending to Sword Master. It brings back memories.¡± Yuel nodded, a satisfied smile ying on her face. ¡°You¡¯ve only recently reached Sword Seeker, correct? Yet you¡¯ve already aplished so much? I find myself wanting to see more of yourbat prowess.¡± ¡°Uh, thank you?¡± Yuel¡¯s eyes narrowed, studying Najin keenly. ¡°You¡¯re still holding back, aren¡¯t you? There¡¯s something you haven¡¯t shown me yet. I don¡¯t know what it is, but you still seem at ease.¡± Her gaze sharpened. ¡°So, how about it?¡± ¡°How about what?¡± ¡°A duel with me.¡± ¡°¡­You mean an actual duel, not just sparring?¡± ¡°Of course. I don¡¯t trust myself to hold back. Ick the control of a Sword Saint. I¡¯ll limit my Sword Aura, but I can¡¯t guarantee I won¡¯t kill you. If death is a possibility, then it¡¯s not a spar¡ªit¡¯s a duel.¡± Her clear, expectant eyes fixed on Najin. ¡®I want to see your limits in a duel. You might die, but hey, up for it?¡¯ That was how Najin interpreted her words. He wasn¡¯t suicidal. ¡°Well? What do you say?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pass.¡± ¡°How disappointing.¡± Yuel sighed, but her face betrayed genuine regret. Once, someone hadpared dark mages to mold. From Najin¡¯s perspective, it was a strikingly urate analogy. After all, operations to eliminate dark mages were eerily simr to cleaning mold. Simply scrubbing away the mold (dark mages) that illegally upied the wall (cities) wasn¡¯t enough¡ªyou had to eradicate the source. You¡¯d rip off the wallpaper, pry out the nks, and rece the wood that had absorbed moisture. That, or you¡¯d ventte the room to drive out the dampness.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The post-purge efforts against dark mages mirrored the process exactly: burn all their research material to ashes, destroy their workshops, and topple their research facilities. Without such thorough measures, it wouldn¡¯t take long for a new dark mage to show up at the same spot, eximing, ¡°What a perfect ce to use those free research notes!¡± The pattern was evident when the workshop left behind by Kefalon, a 7th-circle dark mage who had once plunged the Empire into terror, became a treasured asset for his sessors. ¡°I heard you¡¯re heading to the Ound.¡± That was why Najin was walking alongside Yuel Razian. As they walked, Yuel casually swung her sword. With every swing, buildings suspected of being dark mage research facilities split apart with a sharp crack. ¡°Yes. I n to head to the Battlefield of Stars.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The cleaved buildings crumbled, disintegrating into fine dust that drifted away in the breeze. ¡°Then be cautious.¡± Her warning wasn¡¯t the usual advice about the dangers of the Ound. It came from a Sword Master who had transcended, wandered the Ound, and still frequently ventured there whenever time allowed. ¡°The Ound, the edge of the world¡­ The deeper you go into its depths, the more you¡¯ll find yourself doubting.¡± ¡°Doubting?¡± Najin asked, confused. ¡°Doubting your very existence. To put it another way, you¡¯ll experience a denial of your being.¡± Najin blinked, struggling to make sense of her cryptic words. Yuel borated further. ¡°You are aware, aren¡¯t you? That you will no longer age.¡± ¡°I know that reaching the level of a Sword Seeker grants freedom from aging.¡± ¡°Yes, any warrior or mage who reaches a certain threshold of power stops aging. They transcend mortality. It¡¯s notplete immortality, but they be something akin to an immortal and are no longer at risk of dying from old age.¡± She continued, ¡°The world rejects such beings. It¡¯s unnatural. Biologically and ecologically, we are anomalies. The cycle of life and death, of birth and return to nature, is the natural order of the world. To the world, people like you and me are ¡®mistakes.¡¯¡± A mistake¡ªsomething erroneous and unnatural. ¡°Thus, the world rejects us and pushes us away to its outskirts. The Ound is where such castaways gather. Not all of them, but most. That¡¯s why they call it the ce for those who should have already died.¡± It was a ce closer to the afterlife than life. ¡°Interpret it as you will, but I personally believe the Ound exists to do what the world cannot.¡± ¡°And that is?¡± ¡°To bring about the death of the undying.¡± Yuel stopped walking and turned to look directly at Najin. ¡°Do you know how transcendents meet their end?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°A transcendent cannot die by conventional means. That might hold true in the continent¡¯s bounds, perhaps, but in the Ound, where the rules of the world hold less sway, theye very close to true immortality. Still, that immortality is only physical.¡± What could bring about their end? Yuel tapped her temple lightly. ¡°The moment they begin to doubt their existence; the moment their story falters, when they lose their confidence in themselves, a transcendent dies.¡± She gently swung her sword. Another building split apart, crumbled, and vanished into nothingness. ¡°When one denies themselves in the Ound, their body corrodes and twists; they cease to be human, bing something closer to a beast. Eventually, they lose themselves entirely. That¡¯s when a transcendent truly dies.¡± Perhaps that was why Yuel lifted her gaze to the sky, staring at the stars that filled the night. She softly murmured, ¡°Do you know why the stars burn so brightly? Is it to illuminate the darkness? That¡¯s unlikely. It¡¯s because, every time someone gazes at their star and reflects on the feats associated with it, the constetions feel the rity of their existence. They are freed from the doubts that gnaw at them.¡± Her face remained expressionless, ¡°It¡¯s their plea. To be seen. To be remembered. The light the stars emit is close to an act of desperation.¡± Najin nced at Merlin. She remained silent, though he recalled the tales she had once shared. ¡¸Constetions aren¡¯t as great as you think. They¡¯re not as noble as you believe. In fact, some might be even more wretched than you.¡¹ ¡¸They¡¯re the ones stranded in Cann, endlessly yearning for the next step in their unending journey.¡¹ Was that what she had meant? As Najin pondered, Merlin, noticing his gaze, finally spoke. ¨C That girl didn¡¯t tell you the whole story. That¡¯s not all the Ound is, and the stars shine for other reasons as well, but¡­ Merlin gave a bitter smirk. ¨C Most stars are like that. It¡¯s a sky full of heroes who stopped being heroes. ¡®Not too bad.¡¯ ¨C What? Najin shrugged. ¡®Amid the fakes, the real ones shine even brighter, don¡¯t they?¡¯ Merlin blinked; then she broke intoughter tinged with both disbelief and satisfaction. They walked on until Yuel stopped again. She turned and regarded Najin intently. ¡°That¡¯s why your decision surprises me. Most start preparing to leave for the Ound after living about 100 years. By 120, they head there because their bodies begin to corrode if they remain on the continent.¡± Najin was only eighteen, far too young to embark on a journey to the Ound. Najin tilted his head slightly. ¡°If corrosion starts at 120, then how are you still on the continent, Lady Yuel?¡± By his reckoning, Yuel Razian was at least 150 years old. Historical records ced her age at a minimum of 150, with some suggesting she was closer to 200. How was she still active there? ¡°Ah, I¡¯m an exception,¡± Yuel replied nonchntly. ¡°I¡¯m a peculiar case, not a reference point. I live simply without burdensome thoughts or a need to doubt myself. They say ignorance and forgetfulness are blessings, and I¡¯ve embraced that.¡± She offered Najin a faint smile. ¡°I live for the pleasures of the moment. I have no grand aspirations of saving the world, perfecting swordsmanship, or fulfilling some lofty ambition. Perhaps that¡¯s why corrosion hasn¡¯t caught up with me.¡± Listening to her, Merlin shook her head in disbelief. -Don¡¯t ask me how it works. She¡¯s an oddity, even from our perspective. An oddity among the constetions¡­ On the continent, she was regarded as a ughterer and a murderer; in the Ound, she was a singrity. Najin found himself chuckling involuntarily. Before long, they arrived at the gates of Baldornos. The city had been cleared, and the purge wasplete. Standing before the gates, Yuel turned to Najin. ¡°In the Ound, never doubt yourself. Many will try to shake you, to make you falter and crumble. Stay steadfast.¡± She grinned ¡°Or you could always take the simpler path, like me.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll pass on that.¡± ¡°A pity. I thought I might make a kindred spirit.¡± She didn¡¯t look particrly disappointed, despite her words. ¡°Ah.¡± Just as Najin was about to depart in his carriage, Yuel called out with a short exmation. When he turned back, she spoke, as though something had just urred to her. ¡°I nearly forgot.¡± Raising her hand, she pointed to the sky. Above them, a constetion of ten stars glimmered, each a different hue, reminiscent of fireworks. Yuel warned, ¡°Beware the Carnival Emperor in the Ound.¡± The Carnival Emperor? As she spoke the name, she loosened her cor, causing the shoulder of her otherwise modest uniform to slip down, exposing a long scar along her pale shoulder. Tracing the scar with her fingers, Yuel said., ¡°If you had to name the most dangerous person in the Ound, it would undoubtedly be him. This scar is his handiwork. If you ever encounter him, run.¡± She added onest piece of advice¡­ ¡°If you don¡¯t want to be a clown, that is.¡± Chapter 133 Chapter 133 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ A New Stage ¡°First, you vanish without a word, then you return only to leave again. It¡¯s impossible to catch a glimpse of you. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± The first thing Najin was greeted upon returning to Cambria was Dieta¡¯s grumbling. She nced at him, arms crossed. ¡°You said you¡¯re leaving for the Ound tomorrow, right?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s my n.¡± ¡°You should take your time to rx before you go. Why the rush?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it true that those who move with urgency achieve more, just as birds that never stop pping their wings fly higher?¡± ¡°And where did you hear that?¡± ¡°It was in one of the books you lent me.¡± ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have lent it to you.¡± Dieta let out a long sigh and stepped closer to Najin. She reached for the emblem pinned to his clothes¡ªa unique badge she had granted him alone. The emblems worn by her mercenaries and the executives of her tradingpany bore the mark of ¡°The Snake That Swallows Gold.¡± However, Najin¡¯s emblem was different¡ªhe bore a vibrant yellow flower. A golden flower; not a gold coin, was an emblem allowed to no one but Najin. It marked special treatment, proof that, in his presence, Dieta was not a serpent but a girl. ¡°Najin¡­¡± Smiling softly, the girl ran her fingers over the golden flower on the badge. ¡°Yes, Dieta?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking. Words alone aren¡¯t enough, so I¡¯ve decided to leave something more tangible.¡± She produced a small box from her pocket. With a click, she opened it to reveal a pair of rings. Understanding what that might mean, Najin¡¯s eyes flickered slightly. Was she¡­? Caught off guard once more, he was stunned. Dieta chuckled mischievously. ¡°What, did you think I was about to confess again? They aren¡¯t those kinds of rings. These are artifacts.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that expression for? Are you disappointed? Were you expecting a confession? I mean, I could¡­¡± ¡°Hey, hey.¡± Dietaughed, amused. Handing the box to Najin, she spoke. ¡°They¡¯re made from the remains of the Red Dragon and the White Dragon you defeated. Did you know they were originally a single dragon? That¡¯s why they carry the concepts of pairs, bonds, and connections.¡± It was a sort of Mystique.n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om ¡°These artifacts were crafted to reflect those properties. When we wear these rings, we¡¯ll feel connected. No matter how far apart we are, we¡¯ll always know that the other is alive,¡± she exined. Dieta sighed and muttered, ¡°I¡¯m worried. Out in the Ound, it¡¯ll be hard to send letters or get in touch. Am I supposed to just sit around waiting until you return, not knowing if you¡¯re alive or dead?¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s uneptable. I need at least to know that you¡¯re alive. Promise me you¡¯ll wear the ring. Understand?¡± Dieta extended her left hand toward Najin, her slim, pale fingers outstretched. Smiling, she added, ¡°Put it on. Wherever you want.¡± With one hand held out to Najin, she used the other to sweep her hair behind her ear. It was nighttime, and they were in her office. Moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating Dieta¡¯s hair in shimmering silver light. Najin knelt on one knee and gently took her hand. At his touch, Dieta shuddered slightly, her face tinged with red. Najin smiled. Though he was curious about how she¡¯d react if he slipped the ring onto her fourth finger, he knew such a casual gesture would be disrespectful to her. He ced the ring on Dieta¡¯s left index finger¡ªa symbol of friendship and intimacy. Looking at the ring adorning her finger, Dieta shook her head as if she had expected it. ¡°It would¡¯ve been nice if you¡¯d gone for the fourth finger, but I suppose that¡¯s something to save forter. For now, this will do.¡± Toying with the ring snugly on her finger, Dieta nodded toward Najin, urging him to put his on as well. Najin followed suit, cing his ring on his own index finger. As soon as Najin slipped the ring on, which was little more than a white base engraved with crimson patterns, Dieta ced her hand over his. The rings clinked as they touched, and the crimson engravings began to glow¡ªa sign of their connection. Warmth emanated from the rings, like the feeling of holding someone¡¯s hand. ¡°You can just carry it with you if it gets in the way during battles. As a swordsman, wielding your sword might be awkward with a ring, and it could get damaged inbat.¡± Still, Dieta added with a smile, ¡°When you miss the warmth of someone¡¯s touch, squeeze the ring. It¡¯ll feel like I¡¯m holding your hand.¡± She sped Najin¡¯s hand tightly. ¡°See? Isn¡¯t itforting?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a remarkable gift.¡± ¡°Right? I thought about making it a pendant, but rings are more symbolic. I had my reasons.¡± ¡°I figured as much.¡± ¡°So? Do you like it?¡± Najin shook his head. ¡°How could I not? I love it.¡± The day Najin left Cambria, the streets were packed with adventurers and mercenaries. They had all gathered to bid farewell or catch a glimpse of the boy who had written his legend in the city. In just one year, the boy who stepped into the City of Opportunities had risen to the White Rank, the highest grade for adventurers. In that time, he¡¯d be the youngest Sword Seeker, a wielder of two stars, and the one who yed the Red Dragon, recreating the myth of Dragon-ying. If Cambria¡¯s greatest talent to date had been Arthur, the boy was being heralded as his sessor. Given the incredible feats he had aplished in a single year, such ims were not unwarranted. Now, the boy was leaving Cambria for a greater stage¡ªthe Ound, the world beyond. Najin strode boldly through the crowd that had gathered to watch him depart; the street overflowed with adventurers cheering him on. Amid the thunderous apuse and chants of his name, he approached a nobleman waiting by the carriage at the forefront. The head of the Trebache Family, Marquis Edelmar, stood ready to see him off. ¡°Well, well, who do we have here? The eternal friend of Trebache, currently the most eligible bachelor among noblewomen, the romantic they all adore.¡± ¡°¡­Excuse me?¡± ¡°Hmm? Have you not heard? Many nobledies became your fervent admirers after watching the y where you and Lady Dieta were the stars. Surely, you¡¯ve received your fair share of love letters?¡± ¡®Wait, what?¡¯ Najin¡¯s gaze drifted to someone behind Edelmar. One particr individual managed all correspondence addressed to him. That person, with her brown hair and golden eyes, was conveniently by the Marquis¡¯s side. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know anything about that¡­¡± Dieta muttered under her breath, avoiding Najin¡¯s eyes. Marquis Edelmar, catching the interaction, burst intoughter. ¡°You, my boy, are a sinful man. Then again, with such striking looks, skill, and romantic charm, it¡¯s only natural. A man of your caliber always steals the hearts of manydies.¡± He leaned closer to Najin and whispered, ¡°Be careful. A scorneddy¡¯s de is sharper than that of any Sword Master.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ bear that in mind.¡± It was advice worth etching into his bones. After the lighthearted exchange, Marquis Edelmar cleared his throat and nodded solemnly. Understanding the gesture, Najin knelt on one knee before him. ¡°As the founder of the Cambria Foundation, the benefactor of Cambria, and as one who stands in the sun¡¯s stead on behalf of the great Empire, I, Edelmar Trebache, dere this¡­¡± He spoke not only to Najin but to every adventurer in the city. ¡°The feats you have aplished deserve praise. The deeds you carved with your sword shall be etched into this city¡¯s most enduring monument and remembered forever. Just as was once done for King Arthur.¡± In the heart of the city stood a monument inscribed with the names and deeds of those who had passed through Cambria. There, Najin¡¯s name and story would soon be immortalized. ¡°They exist to chase profit. To seek gold. Yet, an adventurer is more than just that. An adventurer may desire wealth but never betray loyalty. They are those who embrace romance. You, Najin, were an excellent adventurer and mercenary.¡± Marquis Edelmar raised his voice. ¡°Now, you seek to be a hero. The farawaynds of the Ound, the edge of the world, await you. The road to heroism will be arduous, filled with trials and hardships.¡± With a smile, he added, ¡°Go forward with pride. Pursue honor. Never forget the romance you learned in this city. If you hold onto these three, honor, pride, and romance, your path will always be the right one. Walk the right path, boy.¡± Marquis Edelmar extended his hand to Najin. ¡°Rise, and be a hero.¡± Najin took his hand and stood. ¡°May your journey be filled with blessings. May you ascend to the stars and be a constetion.¡± The Marquis stepped aside. Waiting behind him was an open carriage, ready to take Najin directly to the Ound. He bowed to the Marquis in gratitude; then turned to Dieta with a smile. ¡°To glory.¡± Thunderous apuse erupted across the city. The name of the boy who hade to the city in search of opportunity, seized it, and etched his legend was chanted in unison. When Najin had first arrived, no one knew his name; as he departed, everyone did. Najin, The Star of Dawn, the star that heralds the end of night. Amid the resounding cheers, he climbed into the carriage. It began its journey toward the Ound, carrying him toward his next adventure. As the carriage moved steadily forward, Najin closed his eyes, focusing inward. Within his mind, the familiar imagery of the Underground City, Artman, unfolded¡ªa mentalndscape that had grown sharper and more expansive. Awaiting him there was the first resident of the space, though that particr upant seemed far from pleased with their host. She red at Najin with clear disapproval. ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing. Just thinking about how thrilled you seemed. Hmm?¡± ¡°¡­What?¡± ¡°The ring. You looked like you were ready to die of joy the moment you got it.¡± ¡°What nonsense are you spouting now?¡± Ignoring the pout on Merlin¡¯s lips, Najin dropped down beside her, sitting on the edge of the tform. ¡°So, you said you¡¯d tell me. About the Ound.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± With a heavy sigh, Merlin finally started to tell him. ¡°The Ound, specifically where you¡¯re headed, is a ce even farther than before. It¡¯s known as the ¡®Battleground of the Stars.¡¯¡± ¡°Is that where the constetions reside? Like the vision you showed me when we first met?¡± ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s the ce.¡± Najin recalled the day he first encountered Merlin and the illusions she had conjured for him back then. She had shown him the weight he would have to bear in the future. He tried to summon those memories, but there was no need. Snap¡ª With a flick of her fingers, Merlin conjured the vision before him once again. Stars were born, and stars faded beyond the horizon. The constetions that filled the sky imed their territories and suppressed the weak. Countless young stars were cast down into the depths below, trampled underfoot. Fallen constetions red at Najin, attempting to crush him beneath their immense presence. The transcendent entities sought to deny Najin¡¯s very existence. Unlike the first time, Najin did not crumble. He merely met their gaze, unyielding. That time, he possessed his own star. The radiance of his star illuminated the heavens, preventing him from sumbing to the pressure of their stares. The illusion shattered. Merlin, satisfied with Najin¡¯s resilience, smiled. ¡°Do you understand what it means to have the qualifications now?¡± ¡°Clearly.¡± ¡°As that Sword Master told you not long ago, the most important things in the Ound are not to falter, to never deny yourself¡­¡± Then, Merlin added, ¡°and, of course, to learn how to wield your star.¡± With a gesture, she summoned a glimmer of starlight at her fingertips. Chapter 134 Chapter 134 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ The Lost One (1) Merlin once said she could not teach him how to use the stars; it was the same as being unable to teach him how to handle Imagery. What she spoke of was simr. ¡°As I said before, you must be the one to fill in the fundamentals. That never changes. Although I cannot teach you how to handle Imagery, just as I taught you how to materialize it¡­¡± Merlin wiggled her fingers, and a blue constetion shone from her fingertips. ¡°I can at least tell you what the stars are and how I handle this power. It¡¯s up to you to fill in the fundamentals, but I can show you the direction.¡± Najin listened carefully to her words. Normally, Merlin talked too much nonsense, bragged about herself endlessly, and sometimes seemed utterly unimpressive¡­ ¡°You just thought something very rude, didn¡¯t you?¡± she asked. ¡°No, not at all.¡± Nevertheless, Merlin was a constetion who possessed 11 stars. Other than Arthur and the Witch of the Abyss, she had more stars than any other. Stories of stars from such a great constetion (Merlin¡¯s insistence. She had more than 10 stars, so she imed she was a great constetion and not like other constetions) were indeed worth listening to. ¡°The feats you achieve be stars. Stars are infused with your stories. Therefore, when you draw power from the stars, it means¡­ you are recreating those achieved feats.¡± ¡°Recreating?¡± ¡°Yes, recreating. For instance, something like this.¡± One of her 11 stars began to glow. ¡°I have drowned countless demons. There was a time I summoned a massive flood that submerged entire demon citadels. This star is the result of that, and when this star shines, demons say this¡ª¡± ¡°¡®The wave ising. The wave is here.¡¯ To them, I was the wave¡ªan unstoppable cmity.¡± Merlin exined, ¡°The story embedded in the star, what someone imagines when looking at the star, and most importantly, the Imagery you yourself see when you gaze at your own star¡­ When all of these aspectse together, the star bes a story.¡± ¡°What happens when it bes a story?¡± ¡°Imagine this world as a novel. The conversations you and I have are recorded within quotation marks, and once the dialogue ends, descriptive sentences follow. ¡®Merlin said,¡¯ and such,¡±Merlin said. ¡°To wield the stars means to insert your own story within this world. It means inscribing your unshakable self into the sentences and words of this vast narrative.¡± She gestured. From her fingertips, a star glimmered. Her 11 stars flickered, scattering pale blue light. ¡°¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡± Amidst the blinking lights, Merlin spoke, but her voice was not heard¡ªit was merely inscribed: ¡ºThe wave ising. The wave that will sweep away everything.¡» And then¡­ The wave crashed. A massive shadow loomed over the underground city. Najin realized toote that it was the shadow of a massive wave that reached all the way to the sky. It obscured the underground city¡¯s sky and covered the stars as it fell upon the city. The wave roared, and the torrent swept through. Buildings copsed, swallowed by the wave. Nothing could retain its form before the enormous torrent. Everything within sight crumbled; the wave submerged an entire city in an act akin to drowning. Swept up by the wave, Najin found himself forcibly ejected from the Imagery. Back in reality, he exhaled the breath he had been holding. ¨C That¡¯s about what it feels like. Beside him, Merlin wiggled her fingers. Watching her, his eyes reflected a long-forgotten sense of awe. Sometimes, he forgot the person with him was truly amazing. ¨C Of course, not every constetion can create phenomena as massive as I can. Most of them use their stars to affirm their existence with phrases like, ¡°I am the fire that burns eternally,¡± or, ¡°I am the unbreaking sword.¡± ¨C I have to be grander, don¡¯t I? Merlin smirked as she muttered. ¨C A great constetion such as myself doesn¡¯t just use the story contained in a single star. I don¡¯t stop at strengthening myself; I cause grand phenomena. She shrugged. ¨C The star I earned by drowning countless demons, the one I earned by submerging a city, and the star I gained when I swept away the Witch¡¯s army with a wave¡­ I link the stories of several stars together and use them¡­ Merlin was bragging again, but as soon as she noticed Najin¡¯s interest rapidly waning, she concluded her story. ¨C Anyway, remember what kind of star you¡¯ve obtained and the story contained within. Najin gazed at his own stars. One was the Star of Challenge, and the other was the Star of Dragon ying. ¨C In the Ound, where everything about you is denied, only your stars will affirm your existence. Najin arrived at the Ound¡¯s border. It was from thest time he set foot there. Instead of the frontlines guarded by the Empire¡¯s forces, he found himself on a path leading to barren, strategically worthless terrain, a ce closest to the Starce, the Battlefield of the Stars. He stepped toward the opaque barrier. The moment he crossed the boundary, the air changed; the flow of mana reversed. Up until that point, it was the same as when hest visited the Ound. ¡°¡­¡± His senses didn¡¯t scream. His heart didn¡¯t race wildly. The mana within his body didn¡¯t churn violently, nor did his vision blur with bloodshot intensity. He silently raised his hand. Unlike before, when his skin cracked and his body crumbled without mana to shield it, that time, his body was perfectly fine, even without any mana protecting him. ¡°Hoo¡­¡± he exhaled softly. Even breathing wasn¡¯t difficult. Possessing a star meant he had earned the right to enter the Ound¡ªhe understood the significance of that. ¡®I don¡¯t feel their gazes, either.¡¯ Thest time he entered the Ound, countless stars had focused their attention on him the moment he crossed the boundary. Back then, he had been an obvious outsider. That was no longer the case. Amid the countless stars shining in the sky, shattered into countless fragments and dyed ck, Najin¡¯s stars shone as well. Compared to when he was in the continent, the stars felt closer. Feeling the presence of his stars, Najin walked forward. ¨C You know the Ound is divided into three regions, right? ¡®Yes, I¡¯ve been told.¡¯ ¨C Right. To put it simply, there¡¯s the Outer Region, the Middle Region, and the Inner Depths. From now on, you¡¯re heading toward the Middle Region. The Outer Region of the Ound, near the border, was where the Demon King¡¯s army and the Empire¡¯s forces shed and where Najin once fought as part of the Wyvern Unit. Merlin had told him that the influence of the constetions was weak in the Outer Region. ¨C The Middle Region is different. Beyond the frontlines and deeper in, the Middle Region was referred to as the ¡®Starce¡¯, the Battlefield of Stars. It was where countless stars were born and faded. The influence of the constetions was strong there, and it was not umon to witness transcendents. This was Najin¡¯s destination. The amount of time it took to reach the Middle Region of the Ound depended on which direction one entered from. The path Najin was currently taking was known as the Path of the Pilgrim and bypassed the Outer Region to lead directly to the Starce. It was the same path countless heroes had once walked. As Najin walked, he gradually noticed the changing terrain. Where fragments of sky once revealed patches of night, the heavens werepletely ck; a perfect night sky stretched endlessly to the horizon. The sun did not rise; there was no blue sky, but the stars filling the void acted as a substitute for the sun. Countless stars burned in vibrant colors, their brilliant light illuminating thend. Najin continued walking. How long had he been walking in silence? Suddenly, he heard a sound. ng. ng! It was the sh of metal against metal¡ªa sound that humans would make. He turned his gaze toward the source of the noise. There, a knight d in worn armor was fighting other humans, who¡¯d surrounded him. ¡°I am Graf! Graf of the Kurutan Knights!¡± the knight shouted, his sword gleaming as a blue Sword Aura red to life. Najin recognized that color. Ivan¡¯s Sword Aura had been the exact same hue. Hwoosh. The blue Sword Aura burned like fire¡ªa Sword Seeker¡¯s hallmark. Graf, as he called himself, swung his searing sword and cut down the enemies surrounding him one by one. The opponents Graf fought were strong, but his skill far surpassed theirs. Even to Najin, Graf was clearly a formidable warrior. Before long, the battle ended, and Graf stood victorious. Charred bodiesy scattered on the ground. Najin watched the scene unfold from a distance. Graf, still catching his breath, suddenly turned his gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there watching from afar. Face me honorably! One more opponent is nothing to me.¡± He leveled his sword at Najin. Najin raised both hands. ¡°This is a misunderstanding. I have no intention of attacking you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not one of theirs?¡± ¡°I am not. I only just set foot in the Ound. I have no connection to them.¡± ¡°¡­You just arrived in the Ound?¡± Graf¡¯s eyes narrowed. He quickly assessed Najin¡¯s appearance¡ªhis equipment was unblemished; his clothing looked new. Slowly, Graf lowered his sword. ¡°You seem to be telling the truth. Well, this ce is close to the boundary.¡± Graf chuckled. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve seen someone from the outside. I am Graf. I once belonged to the Kurutan Knights back on the continent. Do you know the name ¡®Kurutan¡¯?¡± ¡°I read that the Kurutan Knights were active around 170 years ago.¡± ¡°Hah! 170 years? Has it been that long? Do you know more about the Knights of Kurutan? Any recent news, perhaps?¡± ¡°I know a little.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± He gestured for Najin to approach. It was a sign that it was safe. Najin nodded and walked toward Graf. ¡°What happened to the Kurutan Knights? Do they still hold their honor? I wonder who their currentmander might be.¡± ¡°I heard they performed well in several major battles and are regarded as one of the Empire¡¯s top five knight orders, among the strongest.¡± ¡°Hahaha! Even after 170 years, the Kurutan Knights endure. That¡¯s how it should be. Brave Kurutan¡­ our swords always knew the enemies they needed to strike¡­¡± He nced at Najin. The unspoken question in his eyes was clear: did Najin know the next part of the Kurutan Knights¡¯ creed? N?v(el)B\\jnn Najin had read about it before and answered smoothly, ¡°Sing of glory, the Knights of Kurutan.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! I like you.¡± Grafughed heartily. As Najin exchanged a few more words with him, his gaze briefly flickered to the bodies at Graf¡¯s feet. ¡°May I ask why you were fighting these people?¡± ¡°Ah, of course,¡± Graf replied. ¡°They insulted my pride. Living in the Ound, they mocked me. ¡®What knight? What Kurutan?¡¯ they sneered. Naturally, I had to punish them. The swords of Kurutan know when they must be wielded.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Najin¡¯s eyes narrowed. He took a closer look at one of the bodies. No, it wasn¡¯t a corpse. Though his body was charred ck, the man was still twitching. His lips moved faintly, as if trying to speak. ¡°You said you just arrived in the Ound?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then you must be ignorant of its rules. In thisnd, it¡¯s hard to die. Killing someone is equally difficult.¡± Graf drove his sword into the back of the fallen man. Though the man¡¯s vocal cords had burned away, preventing him from screaming, his body convulsed violently in pain. ¡°No matter how much you cut, no matter how much you burn, they won¡¯t die. Given enough time, they¡¯lle back. How do you kill them, then?¡± Graf swung his sword and pierced through the man¡¯s heart. The man¡¯s convulsions stopped; his body fell still. ¡°The heart. In thisnd, nothing is as important as the heart. Even if you lose your limbs or your head, you must never lose your heart. That¡¯s the rule here.¡± ¡°Of course, there are monsters here who can keep moving with their hearts pierced, but most of the time, taking the heart is enough.¡± As Graf spoke, he pulled his sword from the body. Stuck on the tip of the de was the man¡¯s heart. Without hesitation, he grabbed the heart with his bare hand and brought it to his mouth. Chomp. He bit into it like one might bite into an apple, chewing and swallowing with ease. Najin¡¯s gaze sharpened. His expression didn¡¯t change, but Graf blinked. as though confused by the look he was receiving. He pointed toward the heart still in Graf¡¯s hand. Only then did Graf seem to understand. ¡°Ah, ahh! I¡¯ve been living in the Ound so long that I forgot. Right, to you, this must look like a monstrous act. Eating a heart, defiling a corpse¡ªbarbarism that no knight would evermit.¡± Graf smiled awkwardly, as if embarrassed. ¡°Here in the Ound, it¡¯s natural. Do you know what a heart contains? Mana, nourishment; life itself. A heart is the very embodiment of life. To take someone¡¯s heart is to take their life.¡± He bit into the heart again, tearing away arge chunk. He chewed, then swallowed, smearing blood across his lips. Licking the blood from his mouth, he said, ¡°It would be a waste not to use it. In this Ound, there¡¯s nothing more precious than a heart.¡± Graf¡¯s tone was calm, as if he were simply exining the rules of this world. ¡°Taking a heart lets you absorb starlight.¡± Finally, he turned his de toward Najin. The movement was natural¡ªtoo natural. So much so that it felt like part of their previous conversation. Chapter 135 Chapter 135 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ The Lost One (2) Graf swung his sword. The strike came without warning. His expression remained natural, his breathing steady, and there was not the faintest trace of hostility. As though it was the most natural thing in the world, Graf attacked with the same ease he would breathe with. No matter how swift Najin¡¯s reflexes were, reacting to such a sudden assault was a tall order. A tall order indeed. Yet, the moment Graf¡¯s de began its arc, Najin drew his own sword. Kaaaang! The sh of their Sword Auras sent a deafening ringing through the air. Najin staggered back a step from the force. ¡°Impressive reflexes. I¡¯m surprised,¡± Graf muttered, his toneced with a mix of admiration and amusement. While it was true that Najin¡¯s response had been quick, there was more to it than that¡ªNajin had been wary of Graf, even before he had drawn his sword. ¡®Rightly so.¡¯ Scattered across the scorched ground were bodies¡ªhumans reduced to charred remnants by Graf¡¯s Sword Aura. Though their vocal cords had been burnt to ash, Najin had no trouble discerning what they had tried to convey through their lip movements. ¡®That man defiled our pride. He mocked us for daring to call ourselves knights and Kurutans while living in the Ound.¡¯ When Graf had imed, ¡°They insulted me,¡± they had truly been trying to say: ¡®He¡¯s lying. That bastard killed myrades.¡¯ In truth, the attacker was none other than Graf. Ever since Najin learned the truth, his hand had hovered near the hilt of his sword, ready to act at a moment¡¯s notice. With the ambush sprung, his expression contorted into a grimace. ¡°You said your name was Graf.¡± ¡°Indeed, that¡¯s what I¡¯m called.¡± ¡°You also said you were a knight, correct?¡± Najin¡¯s frown deepened¡ªnot because of Graf¡¯s ambush, but because of the im that he was a knight. ¡°Of course. I am Graf, a valiant knight of Kurutan.¡± ¡°Ambushes, corpse defilement, cannibalism¡­ What kind of knight takes pride in such repulsive acts?¡± ¡°In the Ound, this is all par for the course. You¡¯re young and naive, so I can see why you might not understand.¡± Graf shrugged as if his actions were perfectly reasonable. With a casual twirl of his sword, he settled into a stance. A blue Sword Aura surged along his de, flickering like fire. It was a perfect stance, precise and disciplined, embodying the ideal of knighthood. That perfection only made Najin¡¯s scowl deepen. ¡°Don¡¯t call what is wrong right. Have you never heard that phrase?¡± ¡°A knight¡¯s creed, is it? What¡¯s the point? Isn¡¯t it natural to prioritize survival over any values? Humans ughter livestock to survive without a second thought. Would you call that evil? It¡¯s the same here. In thisnd, these acts are simply part of life.¡± ¡°If that¡¯s how you see it¡­¡± Najin¡¯s Sword Aura erupted in a brilliant white ze. ¡°Then you should never have called yourself a knight.¡± With a forceful stomp, he propelled himself toward Graf. Just as he closed the gap, Merlin¡¯s voice echoed in his ears. ¨C Stop. It was Merlin¡¯s voice but different¡ªfirm and cold, delivering a warning. ¨C Don¡¯t fight recklessly here. Actually, it may already be toote. ¡®What do you mean by that¡­?¡¯ Najin¡¯s question was soon answered. Graf, standing before him, provided the exnation. ¡°Ah. Damn it.¡± Graf heaved a sigh. ¡°The Crows have caught on.¡± Arrows rained down toward the two. They weren¡¯t ordinary arrows¡ªthey were far toorge, closer in size to spears. In fact, some actual spears were mixed among them. Pababababak! Amid the barrage of arrows, spears, and other projectiles, Najin deflected what he could with his sword while throwing himself to the side. A loud thud followed as the ground he had just been standing on sank inward, forming a crater. He turned his gaze toward their attackers. At some point¡ªwhen, or from where, he couldn¡¯t tell¡ªambushers had surrounded the area. There were at least eight of them, and their presence sent a chill down Najin¡¯s spine. The aura emanating from them was anything but ordinary. Surviving in the Ound naturally implied they had reached at least the level of a Sword Seeker. Judging by the refined aura andposure they disyed, they weren¡¯t novices. They were seasoned warriors, long since fully matured in their abilities; powerful enough to be an even match for Najin. ¡°Hey! Friends of the Crows!¡± Graf, swatting aside the arrows aimed at him, called out to the ambushers, ¡°That guy over there, he¡¯s got two stars, and they¡¯re still shining, mind you. Not like my old, worn-out star. Isn¡¯t a bright, young star like him far more valuable?¡± He spread his arms wide, shing a smile. ¡°Not only that, but this one¡¯s stronger than you¡¯d expect. You¡¯ve seen his reflexes, haven¡¯t you? If you¡¯re not careful, he might slip through your fingers.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°So here¡¯s a proposal: what if we split him? I¡¯ll help you hunt him down.¡± ¡°Terms.¡± ¡°I spotted him first, didn¡¯t I? How about thirty percent for me?¡± ¡°Twenty.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a stingy bunch, aren¡¯t you? Fine, fine. Let¡¯s do it your way.¡± The deal was struck. No more words were exchanged. Instead, the bows and spears aimed at Graf shifted toward Najin. Najin was genuinely taken aback¡ªa rare urrence. ¡®What the hell¡­?¡¯ ¨C I told you. Arrows flew again. Thunk! A spear mmed into the ground, sending shockwaves as it pierced deep into the earth. Najin deflected a spear in mid-air but was knocked back several steps. His hands tingled from the impact. Before he could recover, Graf and the ambushers closed in on him. ¨C This is what the Ound is like. Kaaang! He stumbled as relentless attacks rained down on him. Rolling across the ground, he quickly regained his footing. When he lifted his gaze, he was met with the predatory stares of his pursuers. Nine pairs of eyes, devoid of hesitation, bore into him like those of beasts. All of their gazes were fixated on his heart.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om Cursing under his breath, Najin gritted his teeth. What a mess to walk into. Merlin had described the Ound before, but experiencing it firsthand was an entirely different matter. What unsettled him the most wasn¡¯t the violence¡ªit was theck of malice in their eyes and actions. It wasn¡¯t an act of hatred or war for them, it was just hunting. Just as humans hunt animals with no guilt or second thought, those individuals hunted humans the same way. It was simply¡­ natural for them. For thousands of years, humanity had survived by preying on other life forms. In the Ound, the only difference was that the prey had be their own kind. The hunters surged toward their prey. A head-on battle was impossible to win. If Najin faced them one at a time, he might have had a chance, but against so many skilledbatants at once? Even for him, it was too much. Without hesitation, he turned and ran. As he fled, the ambushers pursued, their numbers pressing closer as he hurled himself toward a steep slope. He didn¡¯t slow down, using the downward momentum to propel himself even faster, his feet barely touching the ground as he sprinted. He had a reputation: when he decided to run, few could catch him. His speed and talent for evasion were legendary. Not here¡ªnot in the Ound. Swish! An arrow zipped through the air with uncanny precision, narrowly missing his spine. If he hadn¡¯t twisted his body in time, it would have skewered him clean through. Even then, the next arrow grazed his calf. Thwak. The arrow¡¯s touch alone tore a chunk of flesh from his leg. Najin staggered, his footing faltering for a moment. In that instant, a glimmer of light streaked toward him¡ªa spear, and he recognized it toote. It was an unavoidable strike. He swung his sword desperately, deflecting the spear, but the impact sent him tumbling down the slope, rolling uncontrobly. ¡®Even so,¡¯ he thought, ¡®at least they lost their spear. There should be a brief lull in their attacks.¡¯ Then came the voice.¡ºMy spear never leaves my side.¡» The spear, embedded in the ground, wrenched itself free and flew back toward its owner and returned at the same speed with which it had been thrown. As soon as the man caught it, he spun and hurled it again. Swishhhhhhh! The spear sliced through the air, heading straight for Najin. When he deflected it again, his fingers throbbed in protest, a sickening crack resounding through his hand, but there was no time to pause. Arrows, spears; magic¡ªthey surged toward him without mercy. Graf joined in, lunging at Najin with his sword zing with blue mes. Fwoosh. Najin barely leaned back in time to evade Graf¡¯s strike, countering with a quick sh to push him back. Graf wasn¡¯t an easy opponent to shake. ng¡ª! Their swords shed as Graf spun to the side, his movement revealing five arrows that had been obscured behind him. Schwik! Najin managed to slice four of them mid-air. Thest arrow, however, embedded itself in his shoulder. The force sent him stumbling. The sequence repeated. Each attack flowed seamlessly into the next, leaving no room for reprieve. Their coordination was wless, as if they had hunted together countless times before. ¨C Stay calm. Merlin¡¯s voice cut through the chaos like ice. Her tone was sharp, chilling, yet reassuring¡ªa voice that steadied Najin¡¯s pounding heart. ¨C I¡¯ll guide you. Focus on escaping. Najin felt her presence enveloping him. Though it carried no warmth or physical sensation, Merlin¡¯s existence itself was palpable. ¨C You¡¯re good at running, aren¡¯t you? Trust yourself. Out here, there are plenty of ces to hide. His vision, narrowed from panic, widened once more. ¨C Don¡¯t fear the injuries. Here in the Ound, wounds like these are nothing. The stars¡¯ powers are stronger here, and your recovery will be as well. Calm yourself. Following her advice, Najin took a deep breath, tightening his grip on his sword. His bloodshot eyes began scanning his surroundings with precision. Each shift of his gaze assessed the terrain and tracked his pursuers¡¯ movements. ¨C That¡¯s right. Just like that. Merlin¡¯s voice carried a faint smile. She gestured toward toppled stones and thick undergrowth. Without hesitation, Najin sprinted there. In an open area, he was at a disadvantage. His best option was to lure them into a space cluttered with obstacles and limited visibility. It was a fundamental strategy, and Najin executed it wlessly¡ªhe led his pursuers into the narrow, debris-filled terrain. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Though they gave chase, his pursuers weren¡¯t ignorant of his strategy. Still running at full speed, Graf stomped on the ground with enough force to send cracks rippling outward. His sword burned with a zing blue me. For a Sword Seeker, obstacles were irrelevant¡ªanything in the way could simply be destroyed. ¡ºMy sword is fire. A tide of blue mes.¡» The mes roared higher when Graf swung his sword, sending a wave of searing blue fire surging forward. Rocks melted into liquid, trees were reduced to ash, and the once-crowded terrain was swept clean. In that same instant, Graf¡¯s arm was severed mid-swing. Najin had been waiting. Using the mes as cover, he surged toward Graf, slicing through his arm in one fluid motion. Blood sprayed while Najin twisted his wrist, adjusting his de¡¯s trajectory. Instead of aiming for Graf¡¯s heart, his sword pierced beneath his jaw. ¨C Aiming for the heart is ideal, but it¡¯s not the only target. With a clean thrust, Najin¡¯s de exited through the top of Graf¡¯s skull. Graf¡¯s body fell forward, and Najin prepared to drive his sword into his heart to finish the job. Graf¡¯s eyes glimmered. Even with his head impaled, his body moved¡ªarms iling, legs staggering. Like a beast acting on instinct, he lunged, heedless of his mortal wound. In the Ound, those who survived long enough ceased to be human; Graf was one such entity, a creature that persisted beyond the limits of life. Blood poured from his orifices, but his body refused to stop. ¨C Piercing the head makes them like this. A bit easier to deal with, right? Their movements be simpler. Merlin was right. Najin leapt backward, putting distance between them. A volley of arrows rained down where he had stood moments before and struck Graf instead, pinning his still-moving body to the ground. And then¡ª Swishhhhh! A spear flew through the air, impaling Graf¡¯s heart. From a distance, Najin watched, bewildered, as one of the ambushers retrieved the spear. The man bit into Graf¡¯s heart, his expression one of blissful euphoria as he devoured it like a predator savoring its prey. ¡°These bastards really are no better than animals,¡± Najin muttered. So that was the Ound. Was that what he would have to endure to survive? As Najin contemted the grim reality, the Ound seemed to whisper in his ear: You think this is all? He sensed more presences approaching. The number of pursuers chasing him had grown. Every step he took into new terrain brought more attackers into the fray. They were all strong. Sword Seeker-level opponents surrounded him, an unending tide ofbatants. Back on the continent, a Sword Seeker was a rare and invaluable resource. In the Ound, they were everywhere. How was that possible? ¨C It¡¯s a matter of time. Merlin exined. ¨C In any given era, Sword Seekers are rare. Maybe a few emerge every decade or century, but extend that timeline to 100 years, 500 years, a thousand years¡­ In the Ound, those who had transcended death itself umted over time, a growing mountain of powerful entities banished from the continent. ¨C Thisnd is a sediment of human history. It was a ce where countless masters had gathered over millennia, unable to break past the limits to transcendence yet brimming with centuries of experience. ¨C And¡­ Najin¡¯s eyes widened. He ducked just in time as something massive passed overhead. A bone-chilling sound followed¡ªCraaaaack!¡ªas countless trees were uprooted and flung aside. Turning, Najin saw it¡­ a giant. The colossal figure roared, extending a massive hand toward him. The sheer scale of the hand made it impossible to dodge. He readied his sword, prepared to slice through it¡ª ¡°This way, boy.¡± A hand gripped his arm and pulled him aside. Chapter 136 Chapter 136 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ The Lost One (3) Someone yanked on Najin¡¯s arm from between the gaps in the massive boulders. Almost simultaneously as he was pulled into the cave¡­ Kuuung¡ª! A giant¡¯s hand mmed onto the ground. The earth shook. The giant repeatedly pounded its palm into the ground and only seemed satisfied after a while, departing soon after. Dust rose into the air as Najin turned back. There, a man sat atop a boulder, resting with one knee propped upward. ¡°There¡¯s no need to bother dealing with giants. Sure, the myths call them Giants [¾ÞÈË], but honestly, I don¡¯t know if they deserve the character for Human [ÈË] at all, considering how dumb they are.¡± Even sitting down, he wasn¡¯t much shorter than Najin was standing up. The man was enormous, and his voice echoed sharply through the cave¡ªthough perhaps that was partly because he was wearing a helmet. His deep voice bounced against the helmet once and reverberated again off the cave walls. ¡°If you encounter a giant, just hide. There¡¯s no point wasting your energy trying to match strength with those oversized oafs.¡± The man was draped in broken armor and rags. The decorations on his helmet were shattered, and scars, as if from des, covered it. No, not just the helmet¡­ his armor, rags, and the exposed skin between the cracks of his damaged armor were all scarred. Around his waist, a sword wrapped in chains hung at his side, and in one hand, he held an enormousnce. He looked like a statue worn down by time, the kind of statue erected in a hall to honor heroes. ¡°Hey.¡± He pointed a finger at Najin¡¯s chest. ¡°Do something about that starlight first. I can¡¯t keep my eyes open because it¡¯s so damn bright.¡± ¡°What?¡± Najin asked. ¡°Oh,e on. Don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t even know how to control your starlight?¡± He sounded exasperated. ¡°You¡¯re practically screaming to the Crows, ¡®Come get me! My star shines so bright!¡¯ I thought you¡¯d lost your mind, but maybe not.¡± Najin nced at Merlin. ¨C Take a deep breath. Your excitement is making the starlight brighter. Dim it down. Najin took a deep breath, and the man finally lowered his finger. ¡°Follow me.¡± He didn¡¯t say much else. Rising slowly, he pointed toward the other side of the cave. ¡°Aren¡¯t you being chased by Crows? I know ces where you can hide.¡± He didn¡¯t wait for Najin¡¯s answer. Turning his back, he began walking. His posture seemed unguarded. Najin stood still for a moment, watching the man¡¯s back. There was no reason to trust the man. Even if he had helped, it could still be a trap. Though he hadn¡¯t been in the Ound for long, he had already grasped what kind ofnd it was: trust was a luxury. Nothing there could be trusted. ¡®What happens if I ignore his offer?¡¯ He nced back. The outside of the cave was chaotic with the sound of the giant¡¯s stomps and the ruckus of raiders searching through the forest. He only had two choices: follow the man or head back outside and get chased again. ¡°¡­¡± A moment of silence ensued. The decision was quick. Najin followed the man. Without looking back, the man led him deeper into the cave. Inside, the clinking noise of armor echoed through the darkness. The cave stretched all the way to the edge of the forest. As soon as Najin emerged from the cave, the vastnd of the Ound spread before him. Vast¡­ there was no other word to describe it. It was too immense to fully take in. Somends were barren, others were lush; snow fell in one ce, while rain poured in another. Various climates andndscapes swirled together like paints on a palette. Stars burning in a kaleidoscope of colors filled the night sky above, and massive structures on the ground glowed under their starlight. Those enormous structures marked the territories of the constetions¡ªa colossal sword, ance, towers that seemed to touch the heavens, decrepit castles, moving fortresses, and nted crosses. They were so far away it was impossible to gauge the distance, yet they defied perspective, proudly disying their majesty. ¡°¡­¡± Najin¡¯s gaze drifted upward. In that lofty sky, unknown creatures floated¡ªliving beings shaped like ships docked in a harbor. Enormous beasts swam through the sky. ¨C That¡¯s a Sky Whale. ¡®What?¡¯ ¨C Or sometimes called a Star Devourer. Normally, they eat the starlight scattered across the sky, but when a star grows weak enough, they swallow it whole. ¡®What kind of ridiculous creature is that¡­?¡¯ ¨C Who knows? Thisnd is already messed up enough. If you go deeper into the Ound, you¡¯ll see even worse things. There are plenty of cursed things that leaked from Cann, too. ¡®Then what¡¯s that thing?¡¯ Najin pointed toward thergest whale. The massive creature was carrying a fortress on its back. ¨C Ah. Merlin let out a short sigh. ¨C Don¡¯t look at it for too long. ¡°Don¡¯t stare at it.¡± Merlin¡¯s voice and the man¡¯s voice echoed out almost simultaneously. The man turned to look at Najin and spoke. ¡°That¡¯s the sanctuary of the Heaven-Wandering Star. The constetion is infamous for its foul temper. Don¡¯t look at it unless you want trouble.¡± Najin averted his gaze. A constetion that went berserk just because someone stared? As he lowered his gaze, he nced toward the horizon. Far, far away, at the edge of the world¡ªbeyond the Ound¡ªsomething gleamed. Looking closely, they were stars. Tiny dots in the distance, but there they were. The starlight they shed ignored the thousands, tens of thousands of kilometers between them and lit up his eyes. ¡®Why are those stars shining so brightly?¡¯ ¨C Hm? Oh, those? Heh. Merlin chuckled, herugh eerie and unsettling. ¨C Why don¡¯t you ask the man in front of you? Najin did exactly that. ¡°What are the stars gleaming at the edge of the horizon?¡± ¡°What else? The most famous stars.¡± ¡°The most famous stars?¡± ¡°The stars of the Round Table¡ªthe star of the Great Hero, Arthur; the star of the Archmage, Merlin; and the stars of the knights who followed them.¡± Pointing at the stars, the man spoke. ¡°They¡¯re the great stars standing guard to ensure Cann¡¯s cursed ones don¡¯t breach the Ound. Among countless fakes, they are the handful of genuine constetions.¡± Merlin chuckled ominously. Wrapping her arms around Najin¡¯s neck, she poked his cheek repeatedly. ¨C You hear that? You heard, right? Her touch had no sensation, but it still managed to annoy him. ¡°Hey. How long have you been in the Ound?¡± the man asked. ¡°Today¡¯s my first time.¡± ¡°Figured as much. Anyone acting like you wouldn¡¯t have survived here long.¡± The two continued walking, their conversation meandering with simple questions. Najin answered the man¡¯s questions and threw some of his own. ¡°May I ask your name?¡± ¡°Hey. Asking for someone¡¯s name in the Ound is about as rude as it gets. You could ask for a title, though.¡± ¡°Then, what¡¯s your title?¡± ¡°Even asking me for a title is rude.¡± What was he supposed to do, then? The man shrugged. ¡°A name, huh?¡± Murmuring as if recalling a distant memory, the man muttered, ¡°Ah, that¡¯ll do.¡± He knocked on his helmet with his fist, his gauntlet striking the helmet with a thud. ¡°Call me ¡®Helmet Knight.¡¯¡± ¡°Are you a knight?¡± ¡°For now.¡± It was a vague answer. ¡°My name is¡­¡± ¡°Do I need to know it?¡± ¡°It¡¯smon courtesy to introduce yourself after hearing someone¡¯s name. Just listen.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t even give you my real name. I¡¯ll just call you ¡®Boy.¡¯ That¡¯s easier.¡± ¡°Why ¡®Boy,¡¯ of all things?¡± ¡°Because you look like a kid.¡± Helmet Knight smirked. ¡°Your body isn¡¯t exactly at its peak. You¡¯re just a brat at the age you appear to be. Tell me I¡¯m wrong.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Silence means agreement. You¡¯re just a rookie, kid.¡± While walking alongside Helmet Knight, Najin learned a few things. In the Ound, there weren¡¯t just twisted beasts or monsters. Many others wandered aimlessly there as well. Their eyes were hollow, arms hanging limply at their sides, walking without any purpose. When he saw them, what he felt was an eerie sense of wrongness. They wore human skin, but they weren¡¯t human. They weren¡¯t all that different from the monsters and beasts scattered across thend. To him, they seemed like walking corpses¡ªthere wasn¡¯t a shred of intelligence in them. The only thing that separated them from corpses was¡­ Skaaak! Their movements were too precise. When a monster lunged toward him, one of those hollow men suddenly moved. Their posture transformed with stunning precision¡ªwless footwork, perfect form¡ªand in a single stroke, their de shed the monster cleanly in half. They had no will, no minds, but their bodies retained their instincts. It was as if the experiences carved into their flesh remained intact. Watching them reminded him of something. ¡®Even after driving a sword through his head, Graf still moved.¡¯ Graf, with blood pouring from his eyes, nose, and ears, had kept going. The experiences etched into his body had kept him alive, even after his consciousness had faded. ¡°You¡¯ve really pissed off the Crows, haven¡¯t you? They¡¯re chasing you all the way here.¡± Helmet Knight nced behind Najin. A group of raiders was watching from afar. They maintained the same distance, carefully keeping Najin in sight. However, they didn¡¯t attack. Najin noticed them but ignored them, given their inaction. ¡°I suppose they can¡¯t afford to let you go after seeing that starlight.¡± Helmet Knight turned, facing the raiders. Though his helmet hid his eyes, Najin felt the weight of his gaze. It was the kind of pressure only the strong could exert. Helmet Knight didn¡¯t say much¡ªhe simply threw them a challenge. ¡°Come, if you dare.¡± The raiders hesitated, then turned away, retreating into the distance. Watching them flee, Helmet Knight scoffed before looking down at Najin. ¡°I helped you. You can admit that, can¡¯t you?¡± There was no denying it. Najin nodded reluctantly. The man had, indeed, helped him. ¡°Now, if I give, I also expect to receive. Nothing is free. I want fair payment for my kindness.¡± ¡°Do you want something from me?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t look like you own anything worth much, but there¡¯s one thing you have that holds value¡­¡± He spoke. ¡°Tell me about the outside world.¡± Helmet Knight imed he knew of a ce where they could talk and suggested they head there. While walking, Najin threw him a question. ¡°Do you know someone named Graf?¡± ¡°Of course I do. Graf of the Kurutan Knights. He¡¯s quite famous in these parts.¡± ¡°Is he really a knight?¡± Helmet Knight turned his head toward Najin. ¡°What are you really asking?¡± ¡°He called himself a knight, but he didn¡¯t look like one. There¡¯s a difference between the knights I know and the kind of knight he ims to be.¡± ¡°What do you think a knight is?¡± ¡°Someone who never loses their honor and pride, no matter the circumstances.¡± Helmet Knight stopped walking. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve heard that. Do you, perhaps, admire the Knights of Atanga?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Well, from their perspective, most people in thisnd wouldn¡¯t be worthy of the title of ¡®knight.¡¯¡± He paused for a moment before continuing. ¡°Thisnd is where honor, pride, and ideals lose their value. To hold onto those things here, you must be strong. Only the strong can afford to keep them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°Of course, even the weak can hold onto honor and pride, but you¡¯ve already seen what happens to the weak, haven¡¯t you?¡± Helmet Knight sneered and pointed.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om In the distance, Najin saw the hollow figures wandering aimlessly across thend¡ªpeople who had been broken. ¡°In thisnd, a normal death isn¡¯t allowed. Here, death means bing a Forgotten One who¡¯s lost everything and been utterly lost to memory. It¡¯s a fate more humiliating and disgraceful than death itself. You can shout about honor all you want while alive, but if you end up like that¡­¡± Helmet Knight dragged his fingers roughly along the gap in his helmet. ¡°It¡¯s meaningless. Isn¡¯t that so? The moment you fall into such a pitiful state, no matter how honorable and proud you were in life, it all bes worthless. You turn into something even worse than a beast. That¡¯s why survival is valued above all else in thisnd.¡± On the continent, death could be honorable. Knights were allowed to die with dignity and pride. In the Ound, such a death was never permitted. That was what Helmet Knight was telling him. ¡°Beforeing to thisnd, Graf was a knight of great pride and honor. He yed demons, he killed knights unworthy of the title, he stormed a warlock¡¯s workshop alone to rescue children they¡¯d kidnapped, and though he came out covered in wounds, he saved them all.¡± He continued. ¡°Graf has lived in the Ound for 170 years. One hundred and seventy years. Can you imagine what he¡¯s seen in that time? He¡¯s seen deaths that are neither honorable nor dignified. He¡¯s watched hisrades turn into Forgotten Ones. After witnessing all that, do you think he could still speak of honor and pride?¡± Helmet Knight ran his hand over his helmet. Its decorations were broken, its surface marred with dents and scratches. The helmet had lost much of its function, yet he still wore it. ¡°Honor and pride are like a strong drink in thisnd. They intoxicate you, but when you sober up, all that¡¯s left is pain.¡± Chapter 137 Chapter 137 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ The Lost One (4) Helmet Knight described honor and pride as a strong drink: intoxicating when consumed but agony-inducing when it wears off. ¡°¡­¡± Najin fell silent, gazing at Helmet Knight. The knight¡¯s eyes were hidden beneath his helmet. He had always been adept at reading others¡¯ thoughts and emotions through their eyes, and found himself unable to discern anything from the man. He had no choice but to approach it differently. ¡°Are you saying honor and pride are useless?¡± ¡°No, I never said that. Didn¡¯t I say they¡¯re like a strong drink? Alcohol is an essential part of life.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¡°Can you imagine a life without booze? Nothing¡¯s drier than a life without a bit of drinking. You need to take a sip now and then and get a little drunk to make life bearable.¡± Helmet Knight spoke with feigned ease. ¡°But you can¡¯t stay drunk forever. Eventually, you have to sober up, and when you do, you¡¯ve got to pay for what you drank.¡± The question was: with what? Those who lived on the continent said they would pay with their lives, but the Ound would pose the question again: is that all? ¡°The deeper you indulge, the worse the hangover. I don¡¯t know how you lived back on the continent, but here¡¯s some advice: sober up a bit. Otherwise, life will only get harder.¡± Helmet Knight gestured with his scarred hand toward the Forgotten Ones wandering the Ound. The lifeless figures continued their eternal struggle, unable to let go of their weapons, even in death. ¡°They were knights once, too. They just couldn¡¯t remain knights forever.¡± A death devoid of honor or pride¡­ That, Helmet Knight imed, was the final fate awaiting those who lived intoxicated by honor and pride. After following Helmet Knight for quite a while, Najin arrived at a peculiar ce¡ªthe area was littered withrge rocks, their forms unnaturally jagged. They weren¡¯t stones that had naturally risen from the earth or been weathered down over time. Instead, they looked as though they had been hurled there from somewhere else. Among the massive stones, Helmet Knight came to a stop. He picked up a random rock from the ground, set it down, and sat on it. ¡°Have a seat.¡± He nced around before gathering some stick-like objects from the ground and piled them together to start a fire. The ¡°firewood¡± turned out to be severed human arms, a detail that might have been unsettling, but the fire burned perfectly well. Crackling¡­ pop¡­ crack¡­ As the mes flickered, Helmet Knight finally spoke. ¡°You said you¡¯re from the Empire.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How much do you know about its history?¡± ¡°Enough.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good. Do you know about the Dawn War?¡± Najin nodded. He was familiar with it. Researching Yuel Razian had brought him to that particr war. After all, that was where she had first been sighted. ¡°That was the war sparked by a rebellion from within the Empire¡¯s Pirs, correct? I know about it.¡± ¡°How long has it been since that war?¡± ¡°One hundred and fifty years.¡± ¡°One hundred and fifty years, huh?¡± Helmet Knight murmured to himself. ¡°That¡¯s a long time. After the war, what became of the Empire?¡± ¡°The Empire emerged victorious. Sir Gerd, who led the Royal Guard at the time, executed the rebellion¡¯s leaders and secured victory.¡± ¡°Gerd? That guy?¡± Helmet Knight¡¯s tone carried a hint of surprise. ¡°Well, that¡¯s unexpected. He wasn¡¯t exactly known for being a good fighter. Then¡­? What happened to Gerd after that?¡± ¡°In recognition of his achievements, Sir Gerd was made one of the Empire¡¯s Pirs. Initially, he held the lowest rank, but now, he¡¯s called the First de of the Empire.¡± Helmet Knight fell silent for a moment. The silence didn¡¯tst long. Soon, a rattlingugh echoed from his helmet. ¡°Did I hear that right? Gerd, that guy, became the First de of the Empire? The first of the Pirs? He must have be a Sword Master and earned stars, too, I¡¯d bet.¡± ¡°He did.¡± ¡°How many stars does he have?¡±N?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°Seven.¡± ¡°Ha! Seven, you say? Well, I¡¯ll be damned.¡± ¡°Do you know Sir Gerd?¡± ¡°I know him well. He wouldn¡¯t remember me, though.¡± Helmet Knight chuckled softly. He continued asking Najin about the outside world. Most of his questions were centered around the Empire: ¡®Is the Empire at peace?¡¯, ¡®Who¡¯s the current Emperor?¡¯, etc. ¡°It¡¯s been enjoyable hearing about the outside world again. I¡¯ve asked a lot of questions, so it¡¯s only fair you get to ask me something. Just don¡¯t ask about me.¡± ¡°What are the Crows?¡± ¡°Ah, that?¡± Both Graf and Helmet Knight had referred to Najin¡¯s pursuers as ¡°Crows.¡± Najin was curious about the term. Even Merlin had muttered, ¡°I think I know what it means, but the term¡¯s different from my time¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re hunters,¡± Helmet Knight exined. ¡°Hunters who target neers to thisnd. They¡¯re also scavengers who live off the scraps left by others.¡± ¡°Hunting?¡± ¡°Yeah. There¡¯s no easier way.¡± Helmet Knight stared into the fire as he spoke. ¡°This wretchednd wears people down endlessly. Once they¡¯re worn out enough, they be Forgotten Ones. If you don¡¯t want that miserable fate, you¡¯ve got to fight back, but there aren¡¯t many ways to do that.¡± He raised two fingers. ¡°You can achieve great feats, earn stars, and constantly prove yourself¡­¡± He folded one finger down and smirked, ¡°or you can hunt others for their stars. Sure, you could aim for those constetions in the night sky. Hunting them would grant you both achievements and stars, but do you think that¡¯s easy? Facing transcendents is a damn hard job.¡± ¡°Then¡­¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Helmet Knight extended a finger, pointing at Najin. ¡°They hunt people like you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°If they consume the starlight in your heart, they can dy their own wear and tear. It helps stave off bing a Forgotten One. Those who hunt neers or weaklings for their stars are called Crows here.¡± ¡®So that¡¯s why they¡¯re called Crows. They¡¯re scavengers that live off the corpses of others.¡¯ ¡°Pathetic creatures.¡± Helmet Knight¡¯s voice was low. ¡°They¡¯re weak, so they stick together, moving in groups. That¡¯s the dumbest thing they could do. Even swallowing one rookie¡¯s star wouldn¡¯t be enough, and yet they divide the spoils among themselves. They even squabble over how to divide the starlight before the hunt.¡± He sneered. ¡°Who actually sticks to those agreements? They¡¯ve already lost their pride and honor. They sold their souls just to survive another day. Do you think they¡¯d keep their promises?¡± When a hunt ended, Crows turned on each other. There was barely any starlight to share, and splitting it further left nothing. Helmet Knight chuckled. ¡°You can¡¯t trust any of them. They¡¯re all ready to stab each other in the back and run. That¡¯s why they¡¯re not called ¡®Hunters¡¯ but ¡®Crows¡¯. It¡¯s a derogatory name.¡± ¡°Then what about the real hunters?¡± ¡°The real ones? True hunters don¡¯t need anything fancy. They hunt alone.¡± Helmet Knightughed. ¡°They trick their prey by pretending to help them. Theye up with excuses, disguise their intentions as goodwill, and lull their prey into a false sense of security. They wait for the moment when it¡¯s just them and their prey, without any pesky Crows in the way.¡± Hisughs echoed. ¡°And then, well, you can guess the rest.¡± Helmet Knight raised his head. His helmet gleamed faintly in the firelight as he fixed his gaze on Najin. Though his eyes were hidden, Najin could feel the weight of his stare. The voice that emerged from him was cold; Najin imagined the hidden eyes must have been just as cold. ¡°Whether it¡¯s kindness, goodwill, or whatever else, it¡¯s all bait to lure the prey into lowering their guard. Once the prey is off guard, the hunter sinks their teeth in. That¡¯s the real way hunters work.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°I¡¯m debating right now whether I should take your heart or offer you a little more goodwill.¡± ¡°That seems obvious.¡± Helmet Knight spoke tly, and Najin replied in the same tone. The knight¡¯s gaze lowered slightly, as if taking interest in Najin¡¯s calm response. ¡°Did you not understand me? I¡¯m deciding whether or not to kill you.¡± ¡°I understood.¡± ¡°Then why are you so calm?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just impressed by your courteous deration of intent.¡± ¡°What?¡± Najin shrugged. ¡°You¡¯re basically saying, ¡®I¡¯m going to kill you, so what do you think?¡¯ right in front of me. What kind of hunter announces their ns so openly?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s confidence that I can kill you regardless of how much you prepare.¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible¡­¡± Najin slowly stood up, ¡°but isn¡¯t there another way to describe this?¡± ¡°Another way?¡± ¡°You inform your opponent of your intent to attack, you give them time to react¡ªwhether to flee or prepare for a fight, and you wait for them to act. Doesn¡¯t this sound familiar?¡± Najin remarked as he slipped his fingers between his glove and wrist. He slowly removed the glove, holding it in his hand. ¡°All that¡¯s left is to throw down the glove and exchange names.¡± He dropped his glove onto the ground. It was a well-crafted leather glove, a gift from Knight Argo of Atanga. As the glove struck the ground, a crisp snap echoed through the air. ¡°I¡¯m Najin, squire of Ivan, a Knight of Atanga.¡± Najin ced a hand on his sword hilt. ¡°I ept your challenge.¡± He grinned at Helmet Knight. The smile was contagious. Recognizing what Najin¡¯s actions meant, Helmet Knight began tough. ¡®You call this a hunt? I call it a duel. Whether to ept it is up to you.¡¯ By throwing down his glove and stating his name, Najin had broken the dynamic of hunter and prey. The rtionship was no longer one of superiority and inferiority but one of equality. Helmet Knight rattled his helmet inughter. ¡°You¡¯re out of your mind, aren¡¯t you? You¡¯re really treating this as a duel?¡± ¡°Helmet Knight¡­¡± Najin addressed him¡ªnot as a hunter, but as a knight, ¡°you said honor and pride are like strong drinks?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I said.¡± ¡°Have a drink with me. I¡¯ll at least keep youpany.¡± A pause. Then,ughter. ¡°That¡¯s not a bad offer.¡± The knight slowly rose to his feet. ¡°Apologies, but I can¡¯t tell you my name. I¡¯ve lost it.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°But not introducing oneself before a duel is rude.¡± He raised hisnce. Even if his name was lost, he had another way to introduce himself. ¡°Do you know of the Golden Horn Knights? They¡¯re sometimes called the Horned Helms.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± ¡°Then remember the name. The Golden Horn Knights.¡± He aimed thence at Najin. ¡°I was the first captain of the Golden Horn Knights and the master of the Horned Helms. This helmet is my proof of existence. Its story, and the story it holds, is my name.¡± Helmet Knight tapped his helmet with the shaft of hisnce. The ng echoed alongside hisughter. ¡°Najin,¡± He called Najin by his name¡ªnot boy, brat, or any other title. That was the respect owed to a dueling opponent. ¡°I¡¯ll let you make the first move.¡± Najin stood, facing Helmet Knight. The knight had said he would grant him the first move, but Najin didn¡¯t charge in immediately. The crackling of the fire stretched long and slow. Time itself seemed to drag. Crackle¡­ pop¡­ crack¡­ The short burst of spitting embers felt as though it stretched into seconds¡ªperhaps longer. In that extended moment, he studied his opponent. He saw a powerful foe. Undeniably so. Among all those who had pursued Najin in the Ound, nonepared to that knight. Not even close. In fact, very few people he had met on the continent could match him, either. Sword Masters¡ªthose at the level of transcendence¡­ Only individuals of that caliber could stand on equal footing with the man. The pressure radiating from Helmet Knight wasparable to the awe-inspiring presence of a Sword Master, but was the knight truly a transcendent? No. He was not. Najin narrowed his eyes. There was something unusual about the man¡¯s aura. Where had he felt this before? It didn¡¯t take long to recall. The Witch of Flickering Death, Ermina. He had encountered her upon first stepping into the Ound¡ªa being who had lost all her stars and whose circle had been shattered, no longer a transcendent. The sensation from Helmet Knight was simr¡ªnot quite transcendent, but far too formidable to be anything else. A transcendent once but no longer. He steadied his breathing. His rational mind screamed at him. It was an unwinnable fight. Escaping immediately would be the smart choice. This man had dered his intent to hunt him, to take his life. Wasn¡¯t that enough reason to flee? ¡®Run now. This man is dangerous. The odds are slim. He¡¯s hiding something.¡¯ The conclusion was logical, grounded in reason, but his instincts led him elsewhere. ¡®Fight. Duel with honor. Show him your best.¡¯ That was what the man wanted¡ªNajin¡¯s instincts were telling him so. There was no logic behind it. It wasn¡¯t rational; it was impulsive, but he had always trusted his instincts over reason. If he had followed reason alone, his journey would never have begun. It was his instinct that had driven him to draw Excalibur. As always, he decided to trust his instincts. It wasn¡¯t blind faith. He would pay the price for his trust. ¡®With what?¡¯ Merlin¡¯s voice seemed to ask. ¡®With what I hold in my hands.¡¯ The aura of his de glowed with killing intent. Chapter 138 Chapter 138 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ The Lost One (5) Helmet Knight did not draw his sword.n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om The greatsword wrapped in chains remained secured at his waist, its de hidden. Instead of unsheathing the weapon, he aimed hisnce at Najin. Najin gazed at thence. It was an unusual design: the de resembled an elongated cross-shaped star. It wasn¡¯t a typicalnce since its shape allowed for both stabbing and shing attacks. He narrowed his eyes as he studied it. Crackle¡­ pop¡­ The embers from the campfire red up and dimmed. In the instant a new spark leaped into the air and died down, he stomped on the ground. Thud¡ª His heart raced, elerating the flow of blood and mana. A constetion bloomed like a flower along the length of his de, transforming into thorny vines that coiled tightly around his sword. Energypressed along the longsword¡¯s de, the sharp aura crackling under intense pressure. Widespread energy was useful for cutting magic, blocking attacks, or intercepting projectiles, but when weapons shed directly,pressing the aura was far more efficient, especially against a stronger opponent. ¡®I need to raise the density of my Sword Aura.¡¯ The de brimmed withpressed energy, radiating shes of white and gold. The brilliance outshone the dim light of the campfire. As Helmet Knight shifted slightly within the glow, Najin pushed off the ground and charged. Tick¡ª It took just over a second. By the time the embers flickered once more, he was already swinging his sword at Helmet Knight. From the start, he gave it his all¡ªan approach warranted by such an opponent. The de cut through the air, aimed precisely. To him, it was a perfect strike. ng! Helmet Knight disagreed. Compared to Najin¡¯s powerful motion, his movements were light yet unwavering. A gray aura flickered along the edge of hisnce, catching Najin¡¯s depletely. Spin¡ª Helmet Knight twisted hisnce¡¯s shaft, trapping the sword between the cross-shaped de and the body of thence. His torso exposed, Najin saw the knight extend a leg toward him. He reacted instantly and switched his two-handed grip on the sword to one hand and raised his other arm to block the kick. His fingers, caught between the knight¡¯s armored greaves, screamed in protest with a sharp crack, but he endured. Using the force of the kick to his advantage, he spun in ce. His de screeched as it scraped free of thence¡¯s de, the motion smooth and fluid. That fluidity allowed him to seamlessly incorporate another action into his movement¡ªa counterattack. Leveraging centrifugal force, he swung his de toward Helmet Knight with ferocity. The knight, of course, retaliated. ng! Sword Aura shed with gray aura, the resulting impact sending Najin skidding backward. He looked up to meet Helmet Knight¡¯s gaze. The two locked eyes. The flurry of exchanges hadsted only moments, but it was enough for each to gauge the other¡¯s level. Both, almost simultaneously, burst intoughter. Helmet Knight steadied his grip on hisnce and stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯ming.¡± ¡°Anytime.¡± The duel began in earnest. When Helmet Knight switched to an offensive stance, Najin was astonished and equally unsettled. The raw power generated by the knight¡¯s massive frame was overwhelming, but it wasn¡¯t just brute strength. Thud¡ª Helmet Knight stomped and thrust hisnce. The action could be described in a single sentence, but the nuances between those words were filled with intricate details. Najin¡¯s eyes caught them all¡ªthe depth of the knight¡¯s step, the way his shoulders and arms moved, the angle of thencehead, the precise distribution of strength¡ªit all worked together like the interlocking gears of a machine. Every movement was wless, and together, they created a perfect strike. Whoosh! Thence shot forward with a shrill whistle. His eyes widened as he parried the blow. The force sent Najin sliding back, but the knight didn¡¯t stop; his movements flowed seamlessly, one attack linking to the next. ng! ng! Sparks flew as Sword Aura and gray aura collided. Najin¡¯s senses screamed as if lightning bolts were shing before his eyes¡ªnot a physical phenomenon, but a visceral warning of danger. ¡®This is insane,¡¯ Najin groaned inwardly, but he also felt admiration. Even with his exceptional eyesight and talent for reading movements, he struggled to follow Helmet Knight¡¯s actions. Deciphering them was even harder. His ability to analyze an opponent¡¯s techniques and avoid being struck twice by the same move¡ªa skill that had always been his strength¡ªwas barely effective. The knight¡¯s movements were too perfect. Each sequence of actions demanded multiple observations to fully grasp, and even when Najin understood them, replicating the precision was impossible. The level of physical control and strength distribution was beyond him. A transcendent¡­ A master¡­ The knight was undoubtedly one of the masters, those who had achieved unparalleled skill with their chosen weapon. Though Helmet Knight might no longer be a transcendent, he had clearly been one in the past. Stars, aura, even swordsmanship might wear down with time, but the techniques they honed never faded. Helmet Knight¡¯s mastery was absolute; he pressed Najin relentlessly, forcing him onto the defensive. Najin gritted his teeth and countered, unwilling to remain on the back foot. Being passive wasn¡¯t in his nature. ng! When Najinunched his first counterattack, Helmet Knight grinned. It was as though he had been waiting for this moment. His repertoire expanded, unveiling new techniques with every move, daring Najin to adapt. He rose to the challenge. When thence thrust forward like a viper, Najin tilted his sword to deflect it. The knight transitioned from a thrust to a sh, and Najin twisted his de to disrupt thence¡¯s trajectory. Thence shaft swept over his head with a whoosh. The missed attack should have left an opening¡ªit didn¡¯t. Thud! Helmet Knight stomped and redirected thence with a powerful swing. Muscles beneath his scarred, exposed arm bulged as he brought the weapon down like a hammer. Najin barely managed to intercept it with his sword. Crash! The force nearly drove him to his knees. His joints groaned under the weight, but he held firm and retaliated. ng! ng! The duel continued at a blistering pace. Every attack and counterattack was apanied by split-second calctions and adjustments. When predictions failed, instincts and quick thinking filled the gaps. Shhhhk! Najin slid back, absorbing the impact of the knight¡¯s attack. He quickly steadied himself and charged forward again. It was not his usual fighting style. He didn¡¯t hide, exploit the terrain, or seek opportunities to retreat or widen the distance. There were no tactics to exploit weaknesses or variables. Instead, he fought head-on, not as Ivan¡¯s Hunting Dog, but as Ivan¡¯s squire¡ªa knight in training. Despite being outmatched, despite knowing he was weaker, he refused to back down. He met Helmet Knight face-to-face, sword tonce, honorably. Helmet Knight recognized it. Though his face was hidden, his expression must have mirrored Najin¡¯s¡ªanticipation, excitement, and a grin. It was a fight to the death. Flesh tore, bones broke, and blood spilled, and yet, what did it matter? It was a duel¡ªa contest of honor between two warriors. In duels, variables always existed. Victory and defeat often hinged on the smallest details. Rarely did a battle end with one side achievingplete dominance, yet it was precisely such battles that knights and warriors sought. That was the essence of a duel. Crash! Thud! Dust and debris filled the air as a pile of rocks crumbled. Both Najin and Helmet Knight paused, waiting for the dust to settle. Instead of attacking, they used their weapons to clear the air. When their gazes met through the fading haze, both exhaled inughter, and then they shed again. There were no written rules, only unspoken ones. It was a fight to the death, yet both adhered to an unspoken code of conduct. If anyone else had seen it, they might haveughed at the foolishness or called it na?ve, but such was chivalry¡ªhonor and pride, separated from folly by a hair¡¯s breadth. It was a duel; nothing else mattered but the opponent before them. Najin¡¯s glowing, constetion-like Sword Aura shone white and gold, while Helmet Knight¡¯s gray, ash-colored aura resembled rusted armor. When the two auras collided, the knight¡¯s power burned faintly, as if whispering, ¡®I can still shine.¡¯ Najin knew a decisive move wasing. Helmet Knight shifted, his breathing deep. His posture changed, signaling an imminent and significant attack. Najin braced himself, eyes wide, as the knight stomped, lowered hisnce, gripping it with both hands, and twisted his body like a coiled spring. With an explosive release, Helmet Knight thrust hisnce forward. The motion was simple¡ªjust a thrust¡ªbut when executed by a master, simplicity became divine. His entire strength and technique condensed into the tip of hisnce. Whoosh! The air around thence warped, swirling into a cyclone. Najin reacted instinctively, raising his de to intercept it. Boom! The collisionunched him into the air. His surroundings blurred as he flew backward, eventually mming into a boulder with a deafening crash. The rock crumbled under the impact. He gasped, his body screaming in pain. His arm, shoulder, and fingers throbbed, some were definitely broken. Grinding his teeth, he pushed himself out of the rubble. The duel wasn¡¯t over. Helmet Knight closed the distance instantly, hisnce aimed directly at Najin. Gritting his teeth, Najin raised his trembling de with his injured arm, steadying it with his other hand. Even if it cost him another limb, it was better than dying. The next attack never came. Thence stopped short, hovering in front of Najin¡¯s sword. Helmet Knight smiled and spoke. ¡°I¡¯ve won. Would you agree?¡± He gestured with his chin, signaling for Najin to admit defeat. Realizing what he meant, Najin let out a chuckle. Not all duels ended in life and death. When both sides gave their all and one admitted defeat, the duel would conclude. There was no need to take it further. Helmet Knight had transformed a hunt into a duel, just as Najin had reframed a deadly encounter as a battle of honor. ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve lost.¡± Najin nodded and lowered his sword. Helmet Knight withdrew hisnce and extended a hand. Najin took it and stood. In the end, there was no hunter or prey. There was no victor and in¡ªonly a winner and a loser. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Chapter 139 Chapter 139 ©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤©¤ The Lost One (6) A truly beautiful duel leaves no regrets. Such duels are free from variables, luck, or external interference with only skill and ability determining the victor¡ªsacred contests. Cherished by countless knights, they are beautiful even in their conclusion. The loser graciously acknowledges their defeat; the winner basks in the sweetness of victory. There is no room for doubt in the result of such a duel¡ªno space for excuses, no openings for regret. The clean resolution brought a satisfiedugh from Helmet Knight, echoing long and loud. It was like rain gracing parched earth or chilled wine quenching the exhaustion of a long march¡ªHelmet Knight felt as though a long-standing thirst had finally been satisfied. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve felt this drunk. Truly, it was a good fight. For someone so young, you¡¯re quite skilled.¡±n/?/vel/b//in dot c//om ¡°I could say the same for you,¡± Najin replied. ¡°That technique¡­ What exactly was it? The moment I blocked it, I found myself airborne.¡± ¡°Ah, that? It¡¯s a technique of the Golden Horn Knights. It¡¯s simple, honest, and upright. The strongest things often are.¡± ¡°I see. ¡®Stay true to the basics?¡¯¡± ¡°You get it. That¡¯s exactly right.¡± The murderous atmosphere from earlier had dissipated entirely. The two men dragged themselves back to the campfire, chatting as they went. Najin limped, and Helmet Knight¡¯s body creaked audibly with each step, but they were minor inconveniences. The surrounding rocks were all shattered, the ground scarred with deep gouges, a splint covered Najin¡¯s arm, and Helmet Knight¡¯s armor bore fresh dents. Even those things were trivial matters. ¡°How old are you? You don¡¯t look a day over thirty, even being generous¡­ To reach such a level at your age is remarkable. Your skills show the refinement of someone who¡¯s been swinging a sword for decades. Have I misjudged you?¡± Helmet Knight tilted his head with a thoughtful hum. ¡°Really now, how old are you? Your ability is on par with someone well past fifty.¡± ¡°Eighteen.¡± ¡°Got it. Eighteen. Eigh¡ªwhat?¡± Helmet Knight¡¯s head tilted further, his helmet rattling. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be joking. I don¡¯t appreciate lies.¡± Najin rummaged through his belongings, eventually pulling out a certificate given to him by the Emperor himself. The document, enchanted for preservation, bore his credentials and age. He handed it over. Helmet Knight took the certificate, letting out a long sigh. Though his face was hidden, Najin could feel the knight¡¯s incredulous gaze seeming to say, ¡®Are you insane?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t an unfamiliar look. ¡°You¡¯re out of your damn mind.¡± ¡°I hear that a lot.¡± ¡°Reaching that level at your age is surprising enough, but to have already set foot in the Ound? That¡¯s astonishing. Isn¡¯t it too soon?¡± Helmet Knight¡¯s voice turned serious. ¡°Peoplee here when they can no longer live on the continent. They are worn down, spent, and have lived for at least a century. This ce isn¡¯t for someone like you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard as much.¡± ¡°Then why? You¡¯re talented, no doubt, but it¡¯s still too early. You could¡¯ve trained longer on the continent. Even I¡¯m stronger than you, and thisnd is full of people stronger than me who¡¯d hunt you down without a second thought.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Merlin had warned him. Others had as well. ¡®Stay longer on the continent. Gain more experience. Be patient. Don¡¯t rush.¡¯ He hadn¡¯t listened. ¡°Then why? Whye here so soon?¡± ¡°Because this is the fastest way.¡± It was the shortest path, the right path; the path that King Arthur had walked. ¡°I need to be stronger. Quickly. I can¡¯t afford to waste time.¡± ¡°How strong?¡± ¡°The level of a Sword Master, at least.¡± ¡°Ha. Do you think transcendence is easy?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here¡ªbecause it¡¯s difficult; because it¡¯s a lofty target. Isn¡¯t that reason enough?¡± Najin looked up at the sky. The stars glittered far above him, so far out of reach. They were the very stars that would intervene the moment he drew Excalibur. In the Ound, even the stars of the Round Table woulde into y, but it wouldn¡¯t change anything. Their intervention would bring chaos, and he would be swept away in the current. If the stars of the Round Table were to get involved¡­ Merlin had told him to save their intervention as ast resort. He gazed at the distant, shining stars marking the edge of the Ound: Merlin¡¯s star, and the stars of the Round Table. Thanks to Merlin¡¯s exnation, he understood their role. Knowing that, he had no choice but to leave them as a final option. In the end, it was simple¡­ Even though he had grown stronger¡ªeven though others admired his skill¡ªhe remained dependent. There was a goal he could only achieve through independence. ¡°Why the rush?¡± ¡°I have a reason.¡± ¡°Can I ask what it is?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the winner, aren¡¯t you? A loser must answer the victor¡¯s question.¡± Crackle¡­ pop¡­ The campfire spat embers into the night. ¡°I have two teachers,¡± Najin began, staring into the mes. ¡°One taught me how to wield a sword, how to swing it, how to run away, how to pursue, and the basics of being a mercenary.¡± The mercenary of the underground city, Offen, had been his first teacher. ¡°The other taught me how to live. Not just how to survive, but what to strive for.¡± ¡°And what was that?¡± Helmet Knight asked. ¡°Honor. Pride. Stars.¡± The knight of the underground city, Ivan, had been his second teacher. Najin continued, ¡°He taught me what it means to be a knight, what pride is, and that, sometimes, there are things more important than life itself.¡± ¡°Sounds like you had good teachers.¡± ¡°They were extraordinary.¡± Najin¡¯s gaze darkened, and mes flickered in his eyes. ¡°I have to avenge them.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The ones who ruined them, who trampled them, who tried to break me¡ªI will take my revenge on them using no one¡¯s strength but my own.¡± Only then would it have meaning. Ivan had told him, ¡°I¡¯ll stake my life on your star. I¡¯ll stake my honor on your life.¡± Only when Najin destroyed the Order would Ivan be proven right. No one else could aplish that¡ªit had to be him. He carried that weight in his heart. Without vengeance, there could be no release. He had to see it through. ¡°They must be strong,¡± Helmet Knight observed. ¡°They are.¡± ¡°Strong enough that you need to be a Sword Master to face them?¡± ¡°Yes. They are transcendents.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Helmet Knight exhaled deeply. He instinctively understood it was a realm no one should intrude upon¡ªit was Najin¡¯s reverse scale, the me in his heart. It wasn¡¯t something anyone else could meddle with. ¡°Well, everyone has their reasons.¡± Helmet Knight, too, had his own reasons and goals he had to fulfill in the Ound. With a long sigh, he seemed toe to a decision and fixed his gaze on Najin. ¡°Earlier, you mentioned the victor¡¯s rights. Do you know the rules of a duel?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°You understand the winner can make three demands of the loser?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the rule proimed by the honorable duelist, Baermann.¡± ¡°Exactly. You¡¯re well-versed.¡± Helmet Knight pointed first to himself; then to Najin. ¡°I¡¯m the winner. You¡¯re the loser. No argument there?¡± ¡°None.¡± ¡°Good. epting defeat is a knightly virtue. I shall exercise one of my rights as the victor¡­¡± There was a moment¡¯s pause. ¡°I¡¯ll use one of my three demands.¡± The victor has the right to make demands of the loser, and the loser has the duty toply. The more honorable the duel, the stronger these rights and duties be. That was why Najin epted Helmet Knight¡¯s request. Besides, it wasn¡¯t an unreasonable one. The demand was simple: he was to apany Helmet Knight for a while. In return, Helmet Knight swore not to target his life during their time together. ¡°Ordinarily, I¡¯d swear on honor and pride, but I no longer hold those as dearly as I once did.¡± He tapped his helmet. ¡°I¡¯ll swear on this helmet instead. It¡¯s not just my honor, it carries the honor of the Golden Horn Knights. That makes it weighty enough, don¡¯t you think?¡± It was otherwise called the Horned Helm. Najin gazed at it for a moment before asking a question. ¡°You mentioned the Golden Horn Knights.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Could you tell me more about them?¡± ¡°Of course. I could talk about the Golden Horns all day.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve shared good wine, so I¡¯ll share a good story.¡± Helmet Knight muttered before beginning in earnest. ¡°The Golden Horn Knights were an elite order of thirteen. Every member wore a horned helmet, and the most honorable knight bore the most radiant helm¡ªthe Horned Helm. This one.¡± He ran a hand over his helmet. ¡°We shone brighter than anyone. The stars in the sky couldn¡¯tpare. Carrying thences of the Crossed Star, we stormed battlefields, sounding our golden horn to crush the Empire¡¯s enemies. We were always honorable, always proud.¡± His voice took on a nostalgic, song-like tone as he recounted, ¡°The Empire chanted our name. We always triumphed, and we did so gloriously. Ournces seemed to pierce the horizon itself, skewering not just the Ound but even the cursed foes of Cann.¡± He gazed at hisnce. ¡°The technique you saw earlier wasn¡¯t just mine. Every member of the Golden Horn Knights could use it. Some wielded it better than others, but all of us were proficient.¡± ¡°Imagine it,¡± he said, ¡°thirteen knights, perfectly aligned. ng! The sound of armor fills the air. Thud! We strike the ground in unison, taking our stances. Thirteen gleamingnces aim at one target, thrusting forward without a single error.¡± It was a breathtaking sight and a memory he dearly missed. Helmet Knight sighed wistfully. ¡°Blow the horn. Pierce the Empire¡¯s enemies. Grant glorious victory to the Empire, proud Golden Horn Knights! We march forever forward¡­¡± He sang of a dream that could no longer be. Vitality and life infused his voice, but when his tale ended, it grew heavy, weighed down by time and loss. ¡°That¡¯s all in the past now. Such a knightly order once existed, the strongest in the Empire.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I can see you¡¯ve got questions. You¡¯re wondering why a knightly order like that isn¡¯t recorded anywhere, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Honestly, yes¡­ I am.¡± Najin nodded. As extraordinary as the Golden Horn Knights sounded, he had never heard of them. It wasn¡¯t forck of interest¡ªhe was well-versed in the history of knights and knightly orders; he had read countless texts and memorized their maxims. Still, he had nevere across the Golden Horn Knights. ¡°Do you know of the fallen kingdom, Londinel?¡± Najin nodded. The Ound Sword Master Kirchhoff had once told him about it. Londinel was a kingdom erased from history roughly 300 years prior, destroyed and forgotten. ¡°A damned constetion intervened, erasing Londinel from history. Only a few scraps of text remain. Even that was possible only because countless knights sacrificed their stars for it.¡± Stars were offered; lives were given. Those sacrifices allowed a fragment of Londinel¡¯s record to remain. ¡°They barely preserved that much. Londinel was a special case and had someone extraordinary like Kirchhoff. Most aren¡¯t so lucky. The Golden Horn Knights weren¡¯t.¡± His order suffered a simr fate with the same constetion¡¯s intervention¡ªthe power of erasure and obliteration. Helmet Knight¡¯s smile turned bitter, as if recalling that day. ¡°Believe it or not, it¡¯s your choice, but the Golden Horn Knights existed. At least until 150 years ago.¡± He touched his battered armor, his scarred helmet, and the broken horn atop it. ¡°Even if everyone else forgets, I remember. I remember the cheers of victory, the sound of the horn, theughter of myrades, the Golden Horns¡¯ creed. I alone carry those memories.¡± Lowering his hand, he added, ¡°The Ound is full of such people¡­ Forgotten heroes and erased figures. Among them, many have gone mad.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The Forgotten Ones aren¡¯t just walking corpses. They are those who have lost everything, their ces in history stolen. In that sense, I might as well be one of them.¡± The campfire began to die as the wood burned out. ¡°The Forgotten Ones are those who have lost everything.¡± They were those forgotten by history¡ªthose who¡¯d lost their ce. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m curious. How will you survive in thisnd? You, who gave me a fleeting taste of my former glory. How will you face the many Forgotten Ones here? I look forward to seeing your resolve.¡± Crackle¡­ pop. ¡°That¡¯s why I asked you to apany me.¡± Crack. The final ember red and died. The campfire went out, leaving only silence. Najin and Helmet Knight looked at each other¡ªa shining star and a worn one. ¡°Get up.¡± Breaking the stillness, Helmet Knight rose to his feet. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!