Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: A Bizarre Negotiation
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When a leader falls, their subordinates are quick to surrender.
Once the head of the White Serpent Guild fell, his warriors lost their will to fight, dropped their weapons, and bowed their heads.
"N-no way. The Guild Leader... so easily..."
"I-I surrender!"
"Me too...!"
Those who were still dazed and couldn't grasp the situation were dealt with directly by the Black Ghost Guild warriors.
"Has this bastard lost his mind?!"
"Hey, you bastards! Get on your knees, now!"
"You saw your leader die, didn't you? If you don't want your own head chopped off, get down on the ground, you sons of bitches!"
And just like that, the situation was resolved.
Unlike before, the Black Ghost Guild warriors were full of spirit, circling the White Serpent Guild members and taunting them.
"Heh heh, you stupid bastards."
"Go on, mock us like you did before! Khahaha!"
"Look at you, all silent now. Huh?!"
The atmosphere was celebratory, but their leader, Gwiyeong, couldn't bring herself to rejoice.
The general manager must have felt the same, as he cautiously approached her and asked.
"Will this be alright? At this rate, an attack from the Black Dragon Society's master and his disciples is all but certain."
"...I know. But there was no other way. Even if I had let them go, it wouldn't have ended well."
"But..."
"I'll leave the cleanup to you. I'll be planning a strategy to deal with them."
"...Understood."
The general manager decided to set aside his doubts for now and follow Gwiyeong's orders.
This wasn't the first or second time they'd faced such a predicament, and she had always managed to resolve them. So, the general manager simply decided to trust his leader.
"Make the White Serpent bastards kneel by the wall and start by clearing away the bodies!"
Leaving the general manager to handle the situation, Gwiyeong headed for the main hall.
After passing through the dark corridor and reaching her office, she quietly locked the door and slumped into her chair.
"Hah..."
Without even washing off the bloodstains on her body, she let out a weary sigh and quietly closed her eyes.
The Gale Blade then asked her.
[So, what's your plan for the aftermath? From what I've gathered, it seems like too much for you to handle alone.]
"..."
She knew that all too well, but she didn't have a clever solution.
But as always, she had solved her problems alone, so she had no choice but to think deeply about what to do this time as well.
"I can't avoid it, so I have to face it."
[A late-stage Transcendent Master and two Peak Masters. Even for you, that seems tough to handle alone.]
Gwiyeong answered, slightly irritated by the Gale Blade's words.
"So what are you suggesting? That I should ask someone for help? I've always been alone. And I always will be."
[I see.]
The Gale Blade seemed to have nothing more to say and conceded to her words.
Seeing this, Gwiyeong's tone softened a bit as she asked.
"...If you were in my situation right now, what choice would you make?"
[Hmm... Doesn't seem to be a good answer.]
"Kekeke, you too?"
This was the first time Gwiyeong had ever asked another for their opinion like this.
But even so, the simple act of asking brought her a small measure of comfort.
Moreover, hearing it state its thoughts so directly was a novel experience.
[Still, I hear that aside from one of them, the rest are just Peak-level nobodies. It wouldn't be a bad idea to take them out one by one. If you control the news of the White Serpent Guild Leader's death, they'll be slow to catch on.]
"Hmm, yes. That's not a bad idea. But if the Society Master has already dispatched his own men, I won't be able to buy much time. My own base could be attacked instead."
[Then maybe this is a good opportunity to join a new faction. Surely the Black Dragon Society's master has enemies.]
"That makes some sense, but there are no suitable factions right now. Besides, my personality isn't suited for serving under someone."
The factions of the Heretic Alliance's top executives who were on bad terms with the Black Dragon Society's master were all far away.
The Gale Blade replied to her words with a hint of annoyance.
[To be honest, I don't like the latter option either. Companions and the like are for the weak. Only one can stand at the summit.]
"...I quite like that way of thinking."
It was an overly arrogant thought, but for Gwiyeong, who had always faced her enemies alone, the words were a form of comfort.
Hearing her, the Gale Blade elaborated on its thoughts.
[Friends? Comrades? People make those because they're afraid of being alone. A perfect individual has no need for such bothersome things.]
"...That's right."
She replied, slowly nodding her head.
But seeing her, the Gale Blade suddenly began to scoff.
[Kekek, but this isn't about you, is it? You're not the strongest. That's why you're so anxious right now.]
Suddenly faced with this unexpected criticism, Gwiyeong turned her head to look at the Gale Blade.
[I was unrivaled in my strength. That's why I was alone. But what about you? Can you overcome the crisis you're facing all by yourself?]
The Gale Blade spoke without restraint.
[You are alone. You always have been, and you always will be. So, give up hope.]
Hearing its words, Gwiyeong scowled and replied.
"Shut up. It was my mistake to ask a creature as arrogant as you."
[It's not arrogance, it's confidence...]
"Nonsense. In the end, you're just a weapon, aren't you?"
[I was once a martial artist.]
"...A martial artist?"
Gwiyeong looked at the Gale Blade with a somewhat surprised expression.
She had thought it was just a unique weapon made from special materials, but to think it was created by grinding a person's entire ego into it.
"Then how did you end up in such a state?"
[You don't need to know.]
Gwiyeong felt a pang of pity, but judging that showing such a weak emotion would bring no benefit, she pressed even more harshly.
"Hmph. After acting all high and mighty, in the end, you're nothing more than a soul trapped in a weapon."
In truth, this was a perfect opportunity to win over the demonic sword's heart, but Gwiyeong, who had never had friends or comrades in her life, could only think of using this fact to crush its spirit.
"You're just a weapon now. Know your place."
[...]
As the Gale Blade fell silent, Gwiyeong, judging that she had won, gave a slight smile.
"By the way, Gale Blade, what exactly are your abilities? I need to know so I can make full use of them in the upcoming battles."
[Hmph, you think I'll just tell you? I won't even lend you my power from now on.]
Indeed.
She knew how to defeat others, but she didn't know how to win them over.
Anyone can win an argument by overpowering their opponent.
But inspiring an opponent and drawing them to your side is another matter entirely.
Persuasion and debate are clearly different, and distinguishing between them to achieve one's goals requires considerable knowledge and experience.
Naturally, this was a skill Gwiyeong lacked.
"I am your master. Are you defying me?"
[Our relationship is based on a contract. Don't get the wrong idea.]
"Remember that if I abandon you, you can do nothing on your own."
[If you can defeat the Black Dragon Society's master without me.]
"...Tsk."
Having witnessed the Gale Blade's power, she couldn't afford to discard it.
Besides, wasn't she facing a major crisis?
Thus, she could only click her tongue, unable to threaten it further.
"What do you want?"
Gwiyeong asked what it wanted, as she always did.
She had long been immersed in the world of the underworld, a world built on profit and loss.
In that world, people could cooperate based on mutual interests, even if they disliked each other.
It wasn't strange for today's enemy to become tomorrow's ally, or for today's ally to become tomorrow's enemy.
Therefore, she intended to negotiate based on what the Gale Blade desired.
But the Gale Blade was not human.
It needed no money, no authority, no power.
A tool devoid of basic human desires.
If asked what it wanted, there was only one answer.
[What I want? I wonder if you can even grant it.]
"What is it that you want?"
[Your flesh. I want your body.]
For a moment, Gwiyeong doubted her ears.
"You want... my body?"
[Yes.]
After a moment of deep thought, Gwiyeong asked cautiously.
"By any chance, do you still have such desires despite lacking sexual functions?"
[...What?]
Toward the flustered Gale Blade, Gwiyeong spoke with a tone and expression mixed with disgust and curiosity.
"Honestly, it's surprising. Under normal circumstances, hearing such a thing would have just been unpleasant, but your sexual desire to covet a woman's body even after becoming a weapon is rather... interesting."
The arrogant Gale Blade's eye was momentarily dumbfounded.
"I suppose being trapped in a weapon for so long could lead to frustration... but how on earth do you plan to satisfy your lust in that form? It's a bit disgusting."
[No, what the hell are you talking about all of a sudden?]
It was so flustered that all traces of its composure and arrogance vanished.
Moreover, its voice was not its usual grotesque tone but that of a young man.
Realizing its mistake, it cleared its throat, despite being a weapon, and spoke.
[Ahem, hmm. Ah, it seems you've misunderstood. That's not what I meant.]
"...Didn't you say you wanted my body?"
[I mean, I didn't say it in the lewd sense you're thinking of.]
"Then what did you mean? Don't tell me you're about to make some pathetic excuse..."
[It was meant literally. I meant I want to take your physical body.]
"So, that's the same thing..."
[Are you doing this on purpose?]
The Gale Blade, mistaken for a pervert, spoke with genuine frustration.
[What's going on in that head of yours that you can only understand it that way?]
Gwiyeong stared blankly at the Gale Blade for a moment before finally grasping its meaning and speaking as if she now understood.
"Ah, so that's what you meant. I misunderstood."
[...Why on earth would you think of it that way?]
"Have you forgotten how that white-snake-headed bastard taunted me today?"
[Mmm, I see. But still... I'm a weapon...]
It was a misunderstanding born from their different life experiences.
However, the Gale Blade was a bit disgruntled that a moment that should have been dramatic had turned comical.
So, it deepened its voice once more and spoke.
[Ahem, anyway, what I truly desire is a physical body. Can you give me that?]
"If it's mine, that's a problem, but I can get you someone else's."
[Impossible. I can only take the body of my contractor.]
The Gale Blade's eye curved like a crescent moon as it let out a sinister voice.
[Accept my contract, and I will become your one and only comrade, granting you infinite power. Accept me. Surrender your body to me.]
After pondering the Gale Blade's words for a moment, Gwiyeong turned her head away, her face slightly flushed, and replied.
"Hmm, but hearing it again, the phrasing still sounds rather lewd."
[You fucking... seriously...]
The Blacksmith, frustrated that things weren't going his way, finally let his true colors show.