Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Black Clothes
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So-hyang, who had entered puberty, truly began to shoot up like a bamboo sprout.
"Looks like she'll grow up to 170cm."
Of course, it was possible to promote growth hormones to make her even taller or accelerate the growth rate.
But going beyond the innate form she was born with too much tended to cause bodily imbalances.
Growing slowly while gradually strengthening bones and muscles was what would raise the peak after growth ended, so she didn't do that.
Moreover, puberty's features came with growth as well as secondary sexual characteristics. So-hyang's body began to take on curvaceous lines.
"Hmm. This feels a bit awkward."
While her breasts swelled and her hips widened, her waist didn't thicken.
"...Not the best proportions."
This body wasn't entirely her own; it was what the original So-hyang had handed over to her.
She felt it wouldn't do to modify it excessively and ruin its appearance.
But.
"Still, isn't this a bit much...?"
So-hyang's body was blessed with beauty.
Even though she spent most of her time outdoors, her skin stayed fair and translucent, soft and matte without acne or oiliness.
Even when sweating, her body emitted a fragrant scent rather than a stench—
A heaven-sent body that proclaimed beauty from every inch.
It wasn't even due to any modifications So-hyang had made to her constitution, yet it maintained this state, which was almost ridiculous at this point.
"So natural beauties really do exist."
Better to look good than ugly, anyway.
So-hyang herself didn't think much of it.
-----
So-hyang hadn't spent all her time just improving and training her body.
The reason the previous-life So-hyang had obsessed over transcending the body's limits was that there was no further development possible.
In other words, she had perfected her techniques.
"If the body holds ten units of strength, technique multiplies that power."
No matter how strong the body, it meant nothing if not handled properly.
A body that had reached superhuman levels.
Techniques accumulated in the previous life.
If forced to choose one, So-hyang would pick the latter without hesitation.
"Now that I've got a feel for handling the body..."
Finishing her thoughts, So-hyang fashioned a suitable wooden sword and gripped it.
It was time to test the body's potential.
-----
Harvesting crops and hunting beasts.
Occasionally repairing collapsed houses.
Training the body and honing techniques.
And so, around a year passed...
"...Footsteps."
A change visited So-hyang's daily life.
"Definitely human footsteps, not a beast?"
The improved hearing over the year, and the Sound Listening Skill to utilize it.
"Three of them, armed..."
So-hyang's ears took in and recognized all nearby sounds without special focus.
There was something odd in what she heard.
"...That fast?"
Clearly beyond human running speed.
The three intruders were approaching at nearly horse-like velocity.
Even through the dense forest.
"So that's the Lightness Skill I've only heard about."
Memories from the original So-hyang.
The martial artists' feats of running on leaves and crossing water.
"Coincidence or inevitability?"
Just passing by and overlapping with her dwelling?
Bounty hunters tracking the killer of the Imperial Scion?
Or some other intent?
"Let's see."
So-hyang murmured meaningfully and slipped into the cabin.
-----
Soon, the three arrived.
Their appearance was, in a word, clad entirely in black.
Black fabric from head to toe, with only eye holes exposed—like painted shadows.
"...Mountain lodge? Hunter's cabin?"
"No sign of people, but signs of frequent use."
All had swords at their waists. True martial artists, as rumored.
"Those Alliance bastards... clung so tenaciously, but finally shaken off."
"Squad Leader, the Divine Object's seal is complete."
The one called Squad Leader carried a long tube wrapped in white cloth on his back—likely containing the so-called Divine Object.
"Then, let's rest here a bit."
The three black-clad entered the cabin.
So-hyang was inside.
"As expected, no one."
She hadn't hidden particularly or ducked into anywhere—just leaned against the cabin wall.
But her position perfectly evaded their sightlines.
Stealth at a masterful level.
"Plenty of food and water."
"Good. Replenish stamina."
They naturally sat in the cabin and began devouring So-hyang's stockpiled food.
So-hyang found it a bit absurd how they unhesitatingly wolfed down someone else's provisions.
Still, she let it slide, thinking starving men taking food from an apparently ownerless mountain lodge was understandable.
"Sam-ho. You said the lodge shows frequent maintenance?"
"Inside's clean. Fields well-tended. Seems like a resident hunter."
"Then he'll return by tonight?"
"Yes. Probably went hunting this morning. Back by evening."
"You know without saying. Erase traces—kill the hunter, burn the lodge."
"Yes."
But this, she couldn't overlook.
So-hyang drew the Makeup Knife she'd maintained steadily for two years and slit the throat of one sitting.
"Guh—"
"What—!"
"No presence—!"
Clean carotid severance. Instant death.
So-hyang's movement flowed seamlessly. From swinging the knife, she threw it.
The blade struck precisely to interrupt motion; the Squad Leader froze, stance crumbling.
A mere half-breath stiffening, but no different from leaving combat.
One dead, one halted.
One left.
Only then did he begin drawing; she pinned his forearm, drew the dead black-clad's sword, and swung.
Pupils dilated, he tried dodging the incoming blade but...
Judgment too slow.
"Should've shaken off the hand first."
"—!?"
So-hyang twisted the gripped forearm, toppling his entire center of gravity.
Originally a grappling art, refined over long life into near-magical feat.
The whip-like sword severed his neck; the black-clad's head floated up.
"Nice feel."
How long since holding a proper blade?
After bamboo spears, wooden swords, tiny Makeup Knives—gripping a real edged weapon steadied her mind.
"You bastard!!!"
Almost simultaneously, the Squad Leader, losing all subordinates in an instant, roared and charged So-hyang.
Foot planted, waist twisted, arm pulled.
Thrust at the heart.
Seemed easily blockable.
The moment he was certain—
Invisible energy swirled around the Squad Leader's body; the sword flew at near-subsonic speed.
"Oh ho...!"
In slowed time, she observed intently.
Fast, yes, but with stance and trajectory predicted, not impossible to counter.
So-hyang parried with her sword—and sensed anomaly.
"...!"
Simultaneously, internal energy in the sword erupted; tremendous explosion echoed through the mountains.
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The cabin wall was cleanly breached, outside air flowing in.
Blood Flash Burst.
A thrust starting as Quick Sword, embedding Overlord Sword mystery at clash to detonate internal energy.
Block thinking it's mere Quick Sword, and you're crushed in defense—Squad Leader's ultimate technique.
"Alliance assassin? Internal energy felt faint, so probably dead."
Good he used ultimate to take out the assassin, but lost subordinates don't return.
"Can I return to the Cult like this..."
"Were you a religious man?"
"—Arghhh!!"
Of course, So-hyang didn't die.
"Arghhh? Such a cute scream. Hehe."
"...How are you alive after Blood Flash Burst?"
So-hyang had anticipated explosion at clash, dispersed force, let herself fly without resistance.
Thus, no wounds on her body—only wall impact effective.
"Wasn't power I couldn't handle anyway, but no reason to take it fully intact."
A powerless mortal shrugging off Blood Flash Burst—and even tanking it?
"What, nonsense...!"
"More importantly. Doesn't your back feel empty?"
So-hyang grinned playfully, showing the item in her hand.
Tube wrapped in white cloth.
"...What was it? Divine Object?"
Squad Leader's attack was fast, but trajectory too obvious and predictable—So-hyang had leisure.
Snatched the tube's strap at clash, stripped it off while flying from explosion.
"...!!"
Squad Leader startled, checked back—already empty.
"Bastard!! Give it back now!!!"
"Just a single blade—such a precious item?"
"...!? How do you know the Divine Object's identity...!"
"Huh? How could I not?"
Plain cloth wrapper. Paulownia wood tube. Cotton padding.
Even the seal inscription on the scabbard.
None could fool So-hyang's senses.
"Anyway. Want it back? Try taking it by force."
"Grrgh!"
-----
So-hyang.
Grew interested in martial arts.
Clearly, his body was trained yet within human limits.
Subsonic thrust, even sword explosion.
Even ambushed and flustered, showed such skill—what if proper martial arts displayed?
Anticipation swelled.
"Hmm... is that all?"
"Why, won't, it, hit—!"
Unilateral exchange.
Squad Leader attacks, So-hyang evades.
His sword didn't graze her clothes, merely slicing air.
As if opponent foresaw his future.
Fighting a ghost.
Squad Leader now felt terror.
"Really no more techniques?"
Conversely, So-hyang felt disappointment.
The swung sword was fast and heavy, but not overwhelming.
Invisible to ordinary eyes, hard for trained martial artists to track—but below So-hyang's expectations.
Naturally, the prior Blood Flash Burst was his ultimate.
Poured three-tenths internal energy, taxing technique not for overuse.
Of course, So-hyang didn't know that—disappointment only grew.
"I could do that much now."
Done evading, she clashed swords to demonstrate.
As said, So-hyang's sword didn't yield to the internal-energy-infused blade.
Setting aside easily readable tells making prediction simple.
Not superior in raw power and speed?
"Show any hidden cards now."
Her body merely thirteen years old.
Growth just starting, yet being pushed this much—too much.
Perhaps this Squad Leader just lacked skill, but no interest stirred.
----
The situation was hopeless.
Overwhelmed in skill, ultimate already shown—won't work again.
Subordinates dead, no variables; opponent toying with him.
Mind raced madly.
Kill enemy and survive?
Impossible.
Reclaim Divine Object?
Impossible.
Mutual destruction.
...Possibility seen.
Overwhelming skill gap.
But opponent showed no martial arts knowledge in words.
Could be ruse, but in superiority, why bother?
Squad Leader didn't think so.
Resolved.
If sacrificing life reaches realm undreamt in original self—chance for victory.
From first-rate to peak—
In other words.
Squad Leader shattered his Innate True Qi.
"Looks like you've resolved something."
So-hyang, sensing expression, complexion, heartbeat, muscle tension, knew opponent pledged something.
Languid expression gained faint anticipation, yet sword didn't stop.
Then, at clash, vivid radiance bloomed from Squad Leader's sword—
"Die!!!"
So-hyang's sword snapped off.
-----
"Monster, dodged again?!"
Seeing his sword slice hers like tofu amid glow, So-hyang arched back swiftly to evade.
Superhuman flexibility and core strength birthing miracle movement.
"But without weapon, what now!!"
Shattering Innate True Qi transformed Squad Leader's movements starkly.
Overall physicals nearly doubled, reflexes maximized, swordsmanship markedly elevated.
Above all, blood-red glow surging from sword.
"Impressive. That's the famed Sword Qi."
Energy severing matter on contact, ignoring mechanics and position.
Easiest mark distinguishing first-rate from peak—the most vivid mystery So-hyang witnessed this life.
"Won't lose, though..."
Still power limited to sword realm.
Ways to subdue without touching blade numbered countless offhand.
"Still, showed something cool—bad manners to fight barehanded?"
With those words, gripped the tube.
"Wh-what are you doing!!"
Monstrous grip crushed paulownia tube like dry leaf; cotton padding spilled.
Inside: single blade.
Scabbard plastered with talismans, exuding intensely ominous aura.
So-hyang drew without care.
Suddenly, thick, sticky blood scent brushed nose; revealed was blood-red, eerie-glowing blade.
A Demon Blade of graceful curve.
"Ho, better sword than expected. Worthy of Divine Object title."
"Gaaahhh!!! You mad bitch!!!"