Chapter 347
Chapter 347
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.72 – The Knight Wore the Suit (6)
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...You've probably seen flower petals scattering in the wind.
The sight of petals in full bloom riding the wind and cascading down can sometimes feel so surreal that it infuses even the most barren mood with a sense of mystery and vibrancy.
The magic of flowers.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they have a real talent for bewitching people.
In that sense.
Shaaa-.
...This must surely be an incredibly alluring flower.
'But this is a flower that blooms in the river?'
A flower blooming in the eastern and western outskirts.
"Lotus..."
Hundreds of breathtakingly beautiful lotuses bloomed in full splendor.
More vibrant and lovely than any that had ever flourished along the river.
A certain knight, who had once admired their resilience and vitality for blooming boldly even under the scorching summer sun, unconsciously reached out to touch the petals.
And sure enough.
Wung!
"So resilient... and beautiful."
The Brass Knight was captivated by the inherent toughness emanating from the flower buds themselves, and he found himself smiling without realizing it.
Truly...
"-A horrific flower."
Parhan frowned as he gazed at his dead subordinate, a faint smile on his lips.
Drip, drip...
He too was badly wounded, bleeding from wounds all over his body as if he had charged through a thicket of thorns bare-skinned.
It wasn't an attack he couldn't have withstood, yet for some reason, it had felt threatening to him.
Or, to be more precise.
"It's an attack that counters half-demons—no, demons. Is this another 'intent'? ...I thought no one possessed more than one."
He kept muttering to himself.
One might think he had lost his reason after taking wounds and losing countless subordinates.
But his eyes were cold and clear, showing no sign of bewilderment.
So his mutterings were likely close to analyzing the enemy's power.
Based on the sacrifices of his men and his own experiences, he was calculating how to deal with this troublesome foe.
"You there. Anyone around?"
"Here, Sir Parhan."
"How many did we lose?"
"About three-tenths are combat-incapable."
"Still manageable."
"...Sir Parhan, I know it's presumptuous, but at this point..."
"I know. I'm not an idiot, so don't worry."
"......"
"More importantly. The intel was completely wrong. 'A guy who won against the Demon King and demons through luck and coincidence'? Total bullshit. Damn, I can't trust intel from those winged bastards anymore."
"...Agreed."
The Brass Knights glared ferociously at the knight who wasn't just threatening them but overwhelming them.
Even if it was only three-tenths, that loss represented enough power to topple a warlord—truly unbelievable.
And yet he was so nonchalant about it...
Truly.
"I don't know if he's bold or brave, but mentally, he's no ordinary man either."
Even as enemies, the Brass Knights acknowledged his greatness and raised their battle spirits.
There was one misunderstanding: contrary to what the Brass Knights thought.
'What... what the hell?'
The person in question was neither nonchalant nor bold.
If anything, he was more bewildered than ever.
'How the hell did I even do this?'
He had only meant to obscure their vision with Plum Blossom Swordsmanship, but suddenly lotuses bloomed and swept the area clean. He was utterly dumbfounded.
Like tossing a pebble to divert a wolf's attention, only for it to turn into a grenade.
But it wasn't like he had overexerted himself either...
'Nah, not that.'
Lee Han's condition was excellent.
No fatigue after using Plum Blossom Swordsmanship—in fact, he felt refreshed.
Lee Han sensed the dynamic waves of life energy—what the so-called knights called fighting spirit—flowing through him like a waterfall.
A dynamic flow.
Though he didn't know why Plum Blossom Swordsmanship had transformed into Lotus Sword, he suspected this surging current inside him was the source overwhelming them.
"...Well, I can figure that out later."
Slash.
"What now? Gonna go all the way? I won't hold back if you do."
In warfare, it's proper to strike when the momentum shifts, but instead of seizing the advantage, Lee Han pointed his sword and posed a polite question.
"...You're not charging right in."
"The momentum's shifted, but that doesn't mean you guys are pushovers."
"......"
"Not magic, but something mystical..."
Just like the earlier pillars of fire, the scent of dangerous traps lingered everywhere.
They were traps he could break through, but Lee Han chose not to step into them foolishly. Instead, he opted to build up his power.
Wung-.
A calm yet fierce flow, like ocean waves, emanated from his body. The squinting knight...
"Parhan. Not squinting."
"...Did I say that out loud?"
"Loud and clear. I'd appreciate it if you called me by name from now on."
"No interest in the name of a guy who's gonna die today."
"How disappointing. I'd love to see you stick around longer."
The swordsman who revealed his name slowly approached Lee Han.
As the other Brass Knights halted to watch, he alone strode confidently to the tip of Lee Han's aimed sword, while Lee Han prepared to thrust at any moment.
And the next instant.
"Ever thought of joining the Brass Knights? I could even give up my spot right now."
"...What the hell?"
Whoosh!
Lee Han swung at the opponent spouting that insane nonsense, and Parhan instantly drew his sword in response.
Clang!!
Sparks flew over ten times in an instant from the clashing blades, but neither blinked as they crossed swords relentlessly.
"Regeneration's impressive."
"A half-demon perk."
Boom!!
Parhan's severed tendons regenerated as if it had never happened, and his sharp swordsmanship grew fiercer by the second.
Clang! Claaang!
Clang-!!
At some point, Lee Han and Parhan's movements became too fast for even skilled knights to follow with the naked eye.
Not just speed, but a fluid series of unpredictable maneuvers—intense enough to make aspiring swordsmen widen their eyes in awe.
A testament to Lee Han, a publicly acknowledged swordmaster-level swordsman. And such a master...
"One misunderstanding: we half-demons don't enjoy human flesh. We're not eating innocent people. We only consume the flesh of heinous criminals, like medicine. Just as nobles eat bear gallbladders or tiger hearts for health."
"Bullshit."
"Also, cannibalistic cultures exist across the continent. So you can't just call us evil outright. How about it? Any misconceptions cleared up?"
"......"
Kraaack!
"Oops, not even a little."
Yet even this master's sword was being pushed back by Lee Han.
Not just in raw power.
The way he wielded it.
Compared to Parhan, his technique and movements might lack finesse, but Lee Han's handling of power surpassed Parhan—no, anyone in the kingdom.
Power isn't just grip strength; it's in the feet, hands, legs, back, sides—everywhere.
Freely manipulating power from all these parts allowed him to stand unshaken against even high-level sword arts.
In fact, to overwhelm them.
"Can't you just take a hit? You seem tough enough."
"Ease up on the Sword Resonance first?"
"Busted."
Booom!
Amid such violent, destructive clashes, the two conversing seemed almost peaceful at a glance.
But the killing intent from their blades was real, and those intent-packed edges...
Clang!
Stab!
...pierced each other.
"...How do you train to make a sound like hitting iron?"
"Well."
"......"
"Do it well."
"...Sigh. Getting a bit annoyed. I'm the only one taking hits, after all."
Realizing even Sword Resonance had little effect, Parhan shook his head in disappointment.
But Lee Han...
Twitch-.
"You're... dangerous."
"?"
He halted the blade dance and stepped back one pace.
Parhan was the wounded one, yet the uninjured man was on guard.
A bizarre scene, but Parhan's narrowed eyes flashed with genuine surprise for the first time, revealing a feral gleam.
"...That startled me. Only our captain ever saw through this."
"......"
"How'd you notice? No sound, traces, or scent."
"...Instinct."
"?"
"...Just instinct. Felt like I shouldn't approach you right now."
"...Hah."
Parhan let out a hollow laugh, but Lee Han was dead serious.
For some reason, in that instant, his gut screamed not to continue the sword exchange.
He was still dominating, but it felt like some other element was about to swallow him whole.
So-called...
"Your 'intent'? Or maybe... a [Mystery]?"
"......"
"...Sly bastard. Pretending to scout while planning a backstab."
"...Haha."
Lee Han's blunt accusation, and Parhan laughed again.
This time, not hollow—the meaning was different.
No, from the start, Parhan hadn't laughed from defeat.
'...Survival instinct. An opponent with that kind of sense is truly frightening.'
So strong, yet not arrogant at all.
Instead, cautious, unafraid to retreat.
Not the prideful demeanor of a knight, and Parhan felt a kinship.
'No holds barred. Victory over honor.'
Only now did Parhan understand Lee Han.
Vivid, tangible insight etched into him—beyond any dry report.
And...
"...Regrettable, but let's leave it here for now."
"?"
"And my offer wasn't a joke. I—we—are serious. It'd be great if you joined us."
"Like hell."
"Ahaha. Words alone won't build trust, huh? Then just this: our goal isn't toppling Pendragon. No, we'd never settle for that."
"...What?"
Lee Han froze.
He had aimed for an opening strike, but the words made him pause, drawing his full attention unwittingly.
Something crucial was about to spill from this obnoxious bastard's mouth.
And as if proving his instinct right...
"—We will bring the [13th Angel] into this world. To eradicate the light, all the [Mysteries] of this world!"
"......"
"Hope you make a wise choice later. You're a 'good person' after all."
Thud.
Roooar!
...The next moment, the mines scattered everywhere detonated, pillars of fire numbering in the thousands engulfing the streets and even the Brass Knights.
Like leaping into suicide, but Lee Han saw they weren't dead.
"...They bailed, the bastards."
Their bodies blurred the instant they entered the flames.
It happened in a blink, and Lee Han scratched his head in exasperation.
But soon.
"Eh, I memorized their scent anyway."
Settlement could wait.
He shrugged with his usual nonchalance.
No point dwelling on the past.
So what he needed to do now...
"Why are those guys still hanging around instead of evacuating?"
Rescue operations.
...That day, fierce pillars of fire ravaged the central street, burning it pitch black.
Leaving nothing behind.
Astronomical damage, over a thousand injured.
Yet.
No one died.