The Angel's Holy Sword Trial
They call swords infused with mana demon swords. But why do they make an exception for swords infused with heavenly mana, classifying them separately as Holy Swords? It was because swords imbued with heavenly mana were incomparably stronger than those infused with any other mana. And incomparably more dangerous, too...
That's why the greatest swordsmen all wielded Holy Swords. From the legendary hero who supposedly defeated the Demon King in ancient times, to Park Jinho, hailed as the greatest swordsman in the human realm today...
Park Jinho's Cheonggu Swordsmanship only reveals its true power when used with a Holy Sword. But he couldn't find a disciple capable of wielding one before humanity's downfall.
Park Jinho had poured tremendous effort into finding a disciple who could wield a Holy Sword. Yet he never succeeded. He had lamented that if there had been just one more person who could use Cheonggu Swordsmanship, they could have defeated the Demon King's sword saint, the Sword Demon. And the heartbroken sight of him grieving that the lineage of the Cheonggu Sword would end with his generation lingered in memory. The apologies offered to his ancestors' spirits... and the tears of the man called Iron Blood...
As these memories from his past life resurfaced, Refri realized the gravity of the situation. He finally understood why Park Jinho was staring so intently at him as he approached the Holy Sword, and why even the stone-faced teaching assistants were stealing glances his way...
Should I just give up now?
The boy cautiously eyed the other swords. A flame demon sword overflowing with fire mana, an ice demon sword condensed with glacial mana, a thunder demon sword crackling with high-voltage current... Some students had grabbed them only to burn their hands, freeze them solid, or get electrocuted and carted off to the infirmary. Seeing a student screaming while clutching his charred black hand, Refri broke out in cold sweat.
No way. Even the pampered young masters and ladies raised by guilds or noble houses end up like that... If I grab one of those, it won't just stop at injury for me.
There was only one path left. What? Wielding the Holy Sword.
"Teaching assistant, I just have to touch it, right?"
"In theory, it's the same as handling the other demon swords. You resonate the attribute core in your upper dantian with the mana core in the sword's fuller."
What does that even mean...? Upper dantian? Fuller?
Of course, Refri had never received training as a superhuman swordsman. So upper dantian, fuller—all of it was brand new to him today. He tentatively reached out toward the Holy Sword. Then he placed his fingers on the hilt one by one.
The Holy Sword cannot be wielded by those not chosen!
Judging...
Angels can use heavenly armaments!
The Holy Sword's hilt felt warm. And somehow familiar.
...Like slipping into a warm bath for the first time.
Refri squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for pain.
Huh...? It doesn't hurt?
As no pain came, his eyelids slowly lifted.
"...He grabbed it?"
A white sword gleamed in Refri's hand. The teaching assistant stared in shock, muttering the same words.
"He grabbed it."
And then Park Jinho, who had appeared behind him at some point, grinned and said:
"He grabbed it."
Park Jinho ruffled Refri's hair as he spoke. His expression went beyond mere joy—it seemed almost moved.
"The one worthy to inherit the true Cheonggu Swordsmanship... has finally appeared before this professor."
Professor, you're a bit too close... Refri wanted to say. But he couldn't—not because he held back, but because the surrounding space had suddenly been enveloped in darkness.
"Professor, the space suddenly..."
"No need to be alarmed. It's just a simple Sword Curtain."
Sword Curtain. One of the ultimate techniques that distinguished true swordsmen, said to slice space itself to form a barrier. To think he'd deploy such an advanced skill out of nowhere. Refri felt a bit flustered.
"Why all of a sudden...?"
"If word gets out that you can draw a Holy Sword... the military will turn their eyes on you. And not all those gazes will be benevolent."
He had a point. The Demon King's forces would surely be watching, too.
That said, Professor Park Jinho's gaze feels a little off, too...
They say someone's eyes have "gone mad" when they're intensely fixated. In that sense, Park Jinho's eyes had definitely gone mad. Refri carefully set the Holy Sword down and said:
"Professor, I've put the sword down, so you can dispel the Sword Curtain now..."
"We still have business."
"What...?"
Park Jinho declared boldly:
"Swear to become this professor's successor, and then I'll release it."
"Your successor?"
"Exactly as it sounds. The next heir to the Cheonggu Sword, passed down for two thousand years... is you."
This escalated way too fast...
Refri tried to edge backward subtly. But this dark space was awfully cramped, limiting his movement.
"Accept this duty. Quickly."
And Park Jinho was utterly unyielding. He wouldn't budge or release the Sword Curtain until the oath was made right then and there. Refri had no choice but to agonize.
Inheriting Cheonggu Swordsmanship means becoming the core of the Cheonggu Guild, the secret guild that guards Korea from the shadows... That's way too dangerous a proposal...
Guard the nation? The Cheonggu Guild was practically Korea's shadow government. In his past life, Refri had felt bone-deep just how terrifying and powerful it was.
When they tried to eliminate the Cheonggu Guild...
From Refri's memories... a whole country probably fell. The ruthless brutality they displayed then, the merciless execution style of the Cheonggu Guild, the horrors committed in the name of national protection...
Park Jinho was Iron Blood incarnate. And so were the guild members under him.
I just want to live quietly and peacefully. I really don't have the confidence to hang around scary people like that...
So he desperately wanted to refuse Park Jinho's offer. But would they really let him leave if he did? The thought alone terrified Refri in the moment. Park Jinho, taking pity on the boy, gently stroked his head.
What a cute, pure-hearted child. Perfect as our guild's heir.
Park Jinho spoke softly.
"I've known since you saved that young witch."
"Known what?"
"That you could draw the Holy Sword."
He continued in a kindly tone.
"Only the chosen can wield a Holy Sword. And heaven selects those who are truly just and conviction-bound."
After dominating Korea from the shadows and committing so many atrocities, do you really have the right to say that? Refri muttered inwardly.
"You are chosen. Fulfill your duty as the chosen one."
There was no escape. His opponent was one of humanity's strongest superhumans—and the head of the Cheonggu Guild, which ruled Korea from behind the scenes. No connections, no background as an orphan—he was no match.
"Give me a moment to think..."
"No. Say it now. Just a moment..."
It was then. The dark space began tearing apart bit by bit, covered in countless scratches like claw marks from a cat. Then those scratches all burst into flames. And through the gaps peeked a pink-haired beauty. Hongwol. Twin crimson daggers gleamed in her hands.
"Ah-ha, so this is where you were?"
"What?"
"No, I mean... dragging this kid off alone to a dark place like this—what are you doing?"
"...Private instruction."
Kekeke— Hongwol's laugh at his words. Clear mockery. Hardly appropriate before Park Jinho.
"Kek, you sound just like a pervert posing as an educator. That's how those creeps lure victims—'private lessons' and all."
But Park Jinho wouldn't rise to such childish provocation. Without a flicker in his expression, he addressed Hongwol.
"What's your business? Make it quick."
"Just curious. You said evaluations change based on which sword you draw... so how would you score someone like me, drawing two swords?"
With the other students' eyes now drawn to Hongwol and Park Jinho's exchange, he had no choice but to release the Sword Curtain.
"Boy. We'll talk later."
"...Ahaha. Yes, sir."
Refri sighed inwardly in relief. Central Academy classes are tough enough to keep up with, but dealing with professors is on another level...
That aside, Hongwol... was she strong enough to tear Park Jinho's Sword Curtain?
If you gathered famous superhuman swordsmen right now and told them to scratch Park Jinho's Sword Curtain... most would exhaust themselves without a mark. Yet Hongwol had ripped it apart so casually? She was a monster, too.
This world is full of terrifying people...
Refri shook his head. There were so many scary folks out there.
"Boy."
"...Ah!"
"'Ah' what?"
Lost in thoughts of Hongwol, only to run into her. Refri couldn't help being startled. He hadn't done anything wrong, yet he felt like he had...
Hongwol, looking displeased, thwacked the floor with her tail in irritation.
"Hmm, what is it? There's a filthy fairy's... unpleasant smell. Really unpleasant..."
"...I showered today."
"No, no. It's not that."
With that, Hongwol naturally rubbed her cheek against Refri's chest.
"Will this make the smell better?"
"Hongwol, wh-what are you doing?"
Rub rub— Refri backed away step by step. His face turning beet red from the soft sensation was unavoidable.
Rub rub rub— It was what she did to her favorite dolls or toys. Marking them with her scent felt good. It was like claiming ownership.
"What do you mean? I'm just rubbing my scent on you to... wait."
But she'd never done it to another human before. Let alone a boy of the opposite sex...? Hongwol's face turned as red as a ripe persimmon.
"What the heck did I just...!"
With that, Hongwol fled. Refri could only mutter as he watched her go.
"...What was that?"
And so Park Jinho's swordsmanship class ended.
* * *
After class, Park Jinho stood on the podium, watching the teaching assistants clean up. The scattered demon swords were collected, and the Holy Sword was finally resealed in layers and boxed away. Watching this, Park Jinho quietly proclaimed:
"Teaching assistants... no, children of Cheonggu. Hear me."
At that moment, the assistants scattered throughout the auditorium knelt toward Park Jinho on the podium.
"Relay this message to the other guild members. The content is as follows: The next heir to the Cheonggu Sword has been chosen. I'll send the heir's details—treat that child with utmost respect."
"We shall obey!"
Few heard this news. The heads of economist families called chaebols, the guild master of an American guild, leaders of Korea's major guilds. A few elected officials and ministers... And the sword enforcers of the Cheonggu Guild, lurking in the shadows awaiting orders...
Not many, but each one's weight was extraordinary. And one odd thing: they all reacted the same way. Holding back tears, they bowed deeply toward the message.
"Finally... finally, a new heir to Cheonggu..."
In the end, these terrifying adults now knew about Refri. Adults loyal and ruthless enough to do anything at Cheonggu's command...