Chapter 66
Chapter 66
Chapter 66
Seventeen-Year-Old Spring (3)
Rafina in Greece was a port city. It was about an hour's bus ride from Athens Airport. I used the teleport scrolls I received from the Witch at Athens and Rafina Port and inquired about the Sword God.
"I heard there's a woodcutter here."
Woodcutter wasn't a common occupation. But the other party immediately understood.
"He went out on a boat, so he won't be back until evening."
I could see many fishing boats docked at the port.
'The Sword God became a fisherman.'
Somehow it didn't suit him.
'He should have opened a raw fish restaurant instead.'
That might have suited him. He probably would have become the best sashimi chef in the entire world. I looked at my watch. 2:30. With nothing much to do, I sat on the railing overlooking the sea. It was a tranquil scene.
Since it wasn't far from Athens, I had imagined a port city of tremendous scale, but it wasn't like that. The population was mostly concentrated in Athens, and other areas were unbelievably quiet.
I was watching the passing fishing boats and waiting for evening when there were some bothersome people.
'They recognized me.'
But they were just watching from a distance. And quite a far distance at that. They could recognize me. But this wasn't recognition—it was surveillance. I didn't move from that spot. Then the surveillants also maintained their positions.
'They seem like mages.'
They didn't look like Murim people. The surveillance area was too far for that. There were five people surveilling me in total, and to see this distance with a Murim person's eyes would require at least a similar level of internal energy as mine. The probability of there being five such people was low. I pretended not to notice and also observed their movements when someone sat down next to me. I, who had thought they were just a passing pedestrian, subtly raised my guard.
"Don't be surprised. I just came to say hello."
She was a woman in her early twenties. With white skin and blonde hair that slightly covered her ears, she had a refined feeling. She sat down looking in the same direction as me.
"Why did the Heavenly Demon come here?"
"Tourism."
"Let's not waste each other's energy."
"Who are you people?"
"European Union Security Force."
I felt deflated.
"So you're the Security Force."
That would explain it.
"Did you follow me here?"
"The Heavenly Demon came to Greece alone—we couldn't just ignore that."
She turned her gaze to look at me.
"Won't you let us clock out? I have a date to go to."
"You didn't need to follow me in the first place."
"Then just tell me your purpose. I'll write one report and be done with it."
I couldn't tell her my purpose. If it were only my own business, there would be no reason to hide it. But I didn't want to reveal anything about the Sword God. If he had wanted to be revealed, the Sword God would have already revealed himself. I needed to first understand the circumstances of the Sword God who was hiding his identity and became a fisherman.
"It's personal business. There's nothing for the Security Force to get involved in, so all of you go back."
"Listen, Mr. Heavenly Demon."
The way she addressed me sounded a bit strange, but I just let it pass.
"You are, in meaning, Korea's Security Force. And the Security Force Commander at that. That Security Force Commander entered the European Union Security Force's territory. You understand what I'm saying, right?"
"Are you saying I should have told you in advance?"
"Of course. Then I wouldn't have to give up my date and sit here chatting with you while looking at the sea."
She was a woman who spoke well. But she wasn't my style.
"Go back. It's personal business."
"That's why I'm asking you to at least tell me a reason I can write in my report."
I was annoyed.
"I go where I want to go. I have no reason to get permission, and no reason to be interfered with."
I raised my killing intent.
"I'm Security Force. Touching me means war with the European Union..."
Thwack!
Before the woman could finish speaking, I grabbed her throat. With just a little force, this woman would die.
"Do you think I'd be afraid of that?"
At my action, all five surveillants jumped out.
"Get lost. If you surveil me or appear before me even by coincidence, I absolutely won't let you live."
I released the woman's throat.
"You..."
I ignored her. The woman said through gritted teeth.
"Tasha. Remember that. I'll definitely repay this humiliation someday."
I ignored her again. She wasn't worth answering. Instead, I drew out my killing intent and energy wave to the extreme. Tasha trembled like a moth caught in a spider's web. Her reason was paralyzed by the suddenly assailing fear. Before her breath could be cut off, I withdrew my killing intent and energy wave. I was still looking at the sea. Tasha looked at me with a shocked expression, then left with the surveillants.
'I must not involve anyone with the Sword God.'
Nothing was certain. This was the only way to chase them far away.
***
It was sunset time. There were no more surveillants. One boat entered the port. The fishermen quickly loaded the caught fish into boxes and brought them onto land. Watching that, I could tell who the person I was looking for was. I could see a man doing the work of three people by himself. Late twenties. About 175 cm tall with an ordinary build. No significant muscles were visible on the arms exposed outside his short-sleeved t-shirt. His short sports-style hair was blonde, and his pupils were blue.
"Romis! Let's finish quickly!"
The man called Romis silently did his work. I watched the sea and waited until that work was finished. When the captain declared the work complete, the fishermen scattered after greeting each other.
Romis walked alone toward the coastal road. I followed behind him without particularly hiding myself. He, who had been walking on the coastal road, looked back during a gap when there were no cars. Then he gave a slight nod and entered the forest spread along the roadside.
I quickly followed him. He was waiting for me in a spot not visible from outside. I faced him three steps ahead.
"I thought you'd at least greet me warmly."
"I apologize."
"Just give me a reason I can accept and I'll just go back."
From the look in his eyes as he faced me, I already knew we couldn't be together.
"I promised to protect a woman."
"Did you get married?"
"Yes."
Romis's face looked comfortable saying those words.
"You kept your promise in your previous life too. Until your death."
"This life is the same. Only the subject of my promise is different."
"Still, can't you at least give me a cup of tea?"
"I apologize."
"Cold-hearted."
He was calm. So I had nothing to say.
"I want to hear it clearly. So I can let go of my lingering attachment."
"My connection with the Heavenly Demon Cult ended in my previous life. The life I live again will be lived for one woman."
This made it clear. There wasn't even the slightest tremor in those words. That certainty made me comfortable.
"Live well. This is sincere."
"Thank you. I am also sincere."
Still, it was fortunate. If there hadn't been that final greeting, I almost would have cursed him as a petty bastard.
'Sincere.'
I had to acknowledge it. I just turned around. I didn't say anything more. And so I returned to Korea.
***
The meeting with the Sword God created a momentarily gloomy atmosphere but led to a clear decision about the future.
"I abandon my lingering attachment to the Sword God and Dang Man-cheon. From now on, the Heavenly Demon Cult will operate with the current members."
Everyone nodded at my decision.
"Outside personnel will be limited to those with whom connections naturally form and who wish to enter the Heavenly Demon Cult of their own accord."
The person corresponding to this was about the level of Kim Mu-jin. I decided not to worry anymore about increasing the number of Heavenly Demon Cult members.
'I've waited too long.'
While waiting for the Sword God and Dang Man-cheon, I missed many things that should have been settled long ago.
"The Heavenly Demon Cult will go with a small elite force from now on."
"Yes!"
Hundred White Blood Corps Commander Hundred Tiger Ghost answered vigorously.
"The Hundred White Blood Corps should prepare to enter closed-door training from now on. You absolutely cannot come out unless you become as strong as you desire."
"Understood."
Hundred Tiger Ghost bowed more deeply than ever and left the conference room.
"Cult Leader, with training alone, we don't know how long it will take. The Chimera could appear as soon as within a year."
"I know. That's why I need to settle things with Torto and Cheollu."
"What are you thinking?"
"Magic Swordsmen."
Leaving those words behind, I went to the artisans' workshop.
***
When there's bad news, there's bound to be good news.
"I was just about to look for you anyway."
They looked at me as if amazed and held out gloves and a dagger. So Iryeon's gloves and Cheong Ak-sal's dagger were completed. Magic had been imbued in them, and their strength was also excellent.
"The dagger's name is Shadow. Isn't it cool?"
The dagger's blade and handle were both black. It didn't reflect any light, as if draped in black cloth. Only two magics were cast on the dagger, but their effects were so good.
Hide. It was magic that hid the body in shadows. It had the disadvantage of leaving shadows, so it had to be used only in darkness, but even that alone would be a great threat.
Poison. This was literally poison seeping from the dagger, and it could contain three types of poison: pain, fainting, and death. Out of curiosity, I tried all three poisons on myself, and they were quite powerful. Of course, they didn't work on me, but they would be a great threat to others.
"The gloves are Wind Gauntlets."
So Iryeon's gloves had three magics cast on them.
Lightning Break. When the two gloves clashed, intense electric sparks occurred.
Rush. Literally a charge. With the power of magic, one could instantly charge a certain distance. Combined with So Iryeon's external energy, it seemed it would be tremendous pressure.
Iron Skin. It was magic that made skin hard like steel.
"Cheollu knew So Iryeon and Cheong Ak-sal well. We decided on the magic accordingly. I'll say this clearly—I'm the only one who can do this."
Torto bragged several times about how pleased he was with the result.
"Now, now! We need to wrap this up. It's been quite an interesting job so far, but everything has an end."
Cheollu agreed with Torto's words. They intended to finish their work with So Iryeon's gloves as the last.
"Let me propose one thing."
I ignored their farewell and entered negotiations.
"What proposal?"
"If you make weapons and armor for Hundred Tiger Ghost and the 14 members of Hundred White Blood Corps, I'll create a forbidden area within the main branch that only you can access."
This statement had several meanings. Free access to the Heavenly Demon Cult main branch and official protection. And actually, within the main branch, a restricted area would be created that no one except me could enter.
Torto and Cheollu would become the owners of that restricted area. This would be a great help in protecting themselves externally. If they had problems, it would mean becoming enemies with the Heavenly Demon Cult. In my previous life, there was also a culture of compensating people who greatly helped the sect in this way.
"Hmm, this is too much work though."
They had to make 14 sets of weapons and armor. It wasn't an easy task. I anticipated this and told them something they didn't know.
"The disappearance of the Ten Alliance in China wasn't simply them running away. Mages named Kisan and Roltui formed an alliance with them. Before long, 300 Magic Swordsmen created by the two mages will appear. And currently, no one can stop them."
I didn't bother saying that I could stop them. Perhaps my words worked, as Torto's eyes gleamed.
"Kisan and Roltui?"
"I will stop the Magic Swordsmen they created. For that, I need 14 elite Magic Swordsmen, including Hundred Tiger Ghost’s."
I laid it all out honestly. Then Torto showed an interested reaction.
"You'll stop 300 people with 14?"
"That's right."
Torto and Cheollu looked at each other. Then they both made interested expressions.
"Keke, fine. If it's something like that, I'll accept. But if you win that fight, make sure to spread my name. Especially to those guys Kisan and Roltui."
"I promise."
Torto looked at Cheollu. Cheollu answered by nodding his head.
"Fourteen Magic Swordsmen. Keukkeuk, this will be fun. I'll create the best Magic Swordsmen."
The plan to make Hundred White Blood Corps the best elite force had begun.