Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Chapter 59
The Ten Alliance (4)
"Ow, my whole body aches."
"Are you alright?"
After the duel ended and I returned to the lodging, I sprawled on the sofa. So Iryeon looked down at me with a worried expression.
"Could you not ask if I'm alright with that body of yours?"
So Iryeon's face was fine. However, her entire body was trembling severely.
'I couldn't hit her face.'
She's a celebrity after all.
"Why do you risk your life in a duel?"
"Hehe, I got excited as we fought. I'll go get treated too."
So Iryeon staggered out of the lodging. To go to her own separate lodging.
The duel was my victory. However, it was much fiercer than expected.
'Was the power of the magic circle that great?'
So Iryeon's external power, granted with the magic called Strength, was at an alarming level. It was external power that overwhelmed internal energy. When our bodies collided with So Iryeon, even if I protected my body with internal energy, I couldn't avoid being pushed back by the force. Naturally, my center would be disturbed and I would face danger. Blocking wasn't a good choice either. Avoiding unconditionally was the best option.
The fight dragged on, and So Iryeon, in high spirits, forgot it was a duel and charged at me. This is why I'm reluctant to duel with her. Even in my previous life, So Iryeon always did her best when dueling with me.
-It's because the Cult Leader is her goal.
As Jimun Seo-saeng said, I am the measure of strength for her. Her ambition was to become as strong as me.
'So Iryeon getting stronger is a good thing.'
Although I won, my whole body ached like someone with neuralgia from the bone-rattling impacts.
"Jimun Seo-saeng, this can be treated, right?"
"I think I need to treat Protector So first."
So Iryeon had sustained many injuries. Her shoulder was even pierced by Steel Fist.
"Alright. Ow, my whole body."
Jimun Seo-saeng smiled and greeted me before going to treat So Iryeon.
"Hey, little brother."
"You're still here?"
"Want to spar with me once?"
"Now? Isn't that kind of petty?"
"Scared?"
The Witch doesn't do unnecessary things.
'She wants to prepare.'
I got up from my seat, enduring the muscle pain. Then the Witch said,
"Let's do it tomorrow."
"Hey!"
No matter how much I shouted, the Witch left the lodging without looking back.
***
The next morning. While public opinion remained heated, under Jimun Seo-saeng's leadership, Fairy's China performance was scheduled.
-China lost everything trying to go all-in on the Ten Alliance. We can seize an advantageous position by using Protector So.
To prepare for danger, even Cheong Ak-sal and Baek Hogwi joined as bodyguards.
The Heavenly Demon Cult's China Performance
That's how the rumor spread. And Fairy had somehow become a group representing the Heavenly Demon Cult.
"Call if you need me."
They decided to create teleport magic circles near the China performance venue and lodging, and I stayed in Korea.
"Media is fascinating."
"Indeed. They strive to connect everything and create stories. That's what's happening with Fairy now."
Fairy's image was a double-edged sword. The downside was making the Heavenly Demon Cult itself seem frivolous, and the advantage was making it popular.
"What will you do about accepting general cult members?"
There were general cult members in my previous life too. Though the method was quite different from current religions, they definitely existed, and this becomes key to operating the cult.
"It's still too early. If it turns into a religious war, it'll be troublesome. It creates too many weaknesses."
In my previous life, even if such things happened, there was no media so it could be managed. But now it's different.
'Human rights are most precious.'
This is a society where you suffer tremendous criticism if you can't prevent people from dying because of this consciousness.
'I have to acknowledge it.'
It's a problem that it's not well maintained, but I respect and agree with the spirit itself. However, I have absolutely no intention of refraining from violence to protect our human rights. If someone violates our human rights, I intend to pay them back several times over.
"Then I'll prepare this part slowly."
"Alright."
I finished the meeting with Jimun Seo-saeng and got up.
"Where are you going?"
"To fight with the Witch."
"I'll prepare treatment."
"Treatment for whom?"
I sent strong pressure with my eyes.
"For Miss Yuri, of course."
"Right?"
"Just in case, I'll prepare for the Cult Leader too."
Leaving Jimun Seo-saeng's laughter behind, I met the Witch.
The duel proceeded in a subspace the Witch created. Because if done outside, the surroundings would become ruins. But before starting the duel, the Witch held out a stick to me.
"You can use a sword too, right?"
"Of course."
I just don't carry one around because I have Steel Fist. Complex patterns were carved on the stick.
"I made it temporarily. Try using it."
It seemed to be more than just a simple duel.
"Fire Weapon. Say it like this."
"Fire Weapon."
When I followed her, the stick was engulfed in flames. Along with that, I felt a powerful mana energy. However, the stick couldn't last even a minute and turned to ash.
"What is this?"
"I made it to show you what an artifact is in an easy-to-understand way."
"You can make something like this?"
"No, I can't make it. The ring you have now is about my limit. As I said, it's not my specialty."
"Then why are you showing me?"
"There was a guy among the mages who did this. He definitely reincarnated."
This definitely piqued my interest.
'A magic sword.'
Good weapons are the dream of martial artists.
'Come to think of it, he must have reincarnated too.'
The blacksmith Cheollu who made the supreme famous swords of the martial world. No one knew his real name. He was called Cheollu because sweat flowing from his forehead would fall from his protruding eyes. Whatever past he had, his tongue was cut and he couldn't even hear. He sold only one sword per year. However, he earned in that one sword what other blacksmiths earned in 50 years.
I met him through the Sword God who was a Protector, but I didn't request a sword separately. I only competed in martial arts with him. He was a considerable master but couldn't defeat me. He gifted me a dagger with the inscription 'Seolsin' on a crude handle. I gave it to Cheong Ak-sal. That's how the dagger Seolsin used by assassin Cheong Ak-sal was born.
"Artifacts require not only magic circles but also delicate craftsmanship and combination formulas. Especially weapons are more difficult because they must withstand impacts."
"So?"
"I'm going to look for that guy."
There's no martial artist who doesn't covet weapons. I too would have no reason to refuse if there was a weapon surpassing Steel Fist. However, I haven't seen a weapon surpassing Steel Fist yet.
"How will you find him?"
"I'll throw out bait."
"How?"
"A fake artifact. That guy has strong pride."
I roughly understand. I didn't bother saying this and listened to the Witch's explanation.
"His name is Torto. So I'll make it look like Torto's weapon appeared. He definitely won't be able to stand his name being used on a fake."
"So I just need to catch him?"
"No. He absolutely won't make it if it's not what he wants. That's why he died."
"You didn't kill him?"
"No. When I went, he was already dying. I said I'd spare him if he made an artifact, but he refused and died."
Tremendous stubbornness. Those absorbed in one thing are sometimes like that.
"Catching him isn't everything then."
I fell into thought for a moment.
'If it's pride, Cheollu isn't lacking either.'
When the Witch seemed bored, a good idea came to mind.
"I might be able to draw out both guys."
"What do you mean?"
"Should we duel first? If I win, I'll tell you."
"So you're going to tell me."
That's how the duel began.
***
There was one problem with dueling the Witch. Both the Witch's and my attacks were focused on killing the opponent. Although I became stronger than before after going through the second Hwangoltaltae, it wasn't enough to defeat the Witch excluding lethality. Five minutes was enough to realize this.
-To win, I have to kill.
A duel with full strength was impossible. Eventually, I reduced my internal energy and the Witch reduced her mana. The duel was bland, and both stopped attacking simultaneously. Then the Witch spoke first.
"As expected, playing with you is no fun."
"How is this my fault?"
"If your older sister says so, it is."
The Witch erased the subspace and led me to the laboratory.
"Tell me that good idea you mentioned."
The duel ended in a draw, but there was no need to hide it. Because the Witch was also needed for this plan. When I explained the entire plan, the Witch nodded as if surprised.
"My little brother thinks of good ideas too."
The back of my head throbbed, but I didn't respond. I should be getting used to this way of speaking by now, but somehow that wasn't happening.
'Maintain composure.'
I tried hard to soothe my mind.
***
The next morning. Until now, unless it was So Iryeon's announcement, the Heavenly Demon Cult made no official announcements. So people remained curious about the Heavenly Demon Cult. But rumors from unknown sources began to spread.
-The Heavenly Demon Cult has a magic sword made by Torto and a famous sword made by Cheollu. It's difficult to determine which is superior, but an experiment is scheduled soon.
Objects and symbols are subjects that people of this life love most.
-Anyone who possesses the magic sword can cast magic, and the famous sword is sharp enough to split even stone.
As rumors added to it, this story rapidly spread around the world.
-Torto versus Cheollu. A pride battle between craftsmen of two worlds.
The story became increasingly provocative.
***
Beijing, China press conference venue. I was watching the live press conference broadcast on TV. Although most are usually just recorded, currently everything related to the Heavenly Demon Cult was broadcast live.
Fairy China Concert Press Conference
That was the official name of the press conference. Interest in Fairy reached its peak, and most of it was focused on the relationship with the Heavenly Demon Cult. Fairy answered honestly to questions that could be uncomfortable.
-We're close. Friends and also colleagues. We're close with all of them.
They drew the line this much and conducted the interview, and until this point So Iryeon hadn't grabbed the microphone. Then when So Iryeon finally grabbed the microphone, reporters poured out questions as if they'd been waiting. The most questions were about the Ten Alliance, and next were about sword-related rumors. So Iryeon deliberately answered ambiguously about the Ten Alliance and spoke clearly about the sword-related matters.
-There will be a duel soon.
This spread at tremendous speed through the media.
'Good. Preparations are sufficient.'
As expected, news about it came out all day long.
***
Fairy digested various schedules following the China concert. Among them was a meeting with the Chinese President. Since the meeting was held privately, the media was curious about its contents. However, when Fairy extended their schedule in China and stayed an additional week after meeting the President, they speculated that good relations with China were being formed. This was true.
"Don't deploy personnel directly yet."
"Understood."
There must be many reincarnated martial artists in China. Right now, I don't have the capacity to take care of that far.
"Cult Leader, we've received contact from Heavenly Demon Cult members who hadn't joined yet."
"How many?"
"A total of five. I plan to meet them when Protector So and Hundred White Tiger Ghost return."
"Do that."
I expected more cult members to appear after the battle with the Ten Alliance. Because it seemed like we pushed back the Ten Alliance.
'It's ambiguous.'
They're guys who join after judging it's safe. I understand, but I can't help feeling disappointed.
'It's not actually safe either.'
The idea that they'll definitely join is my greed. I've already acknowledged this.
"When will you hold the duel between the famous sword and magic sword?"
"Let's do it in a month. I have to give them enough time to get angry."
"Understood."
Jimun Seo-saeng smiled.
"I hope those guys go a bit more crazy."
"I think so too. I'll prepare without a hitch."
Jimun Seo-saeng's smile deepened.