Heavenly Demon Divine Art (1)
The sound of rustling paper filled the quiet room. Garein had always prided himself on the many unique experiences he'd accumulated throughout his life. He'd fought against monstrous beings that defied imagination—like the demon archduke—and even colossal creatures the size of entire islands. Through those battles, he'd awakened a sixth sense, what people commonly called intuition. Thanks to that intuition, he'd created miracles, finding opportunities to counterattack and survive even in the most lethal situations where his life hung in the balance.
That sword... what the hell was it?
For the first time, Garein found himself doubting and wanting to reject his own intuition. Until now, it had always guided him to victory by spotting enemy weaknesses and creating footholds to turn the tide. But today, that same intuition had screamed at him: Don't engage. Run. Get out of there immediately.
It ignored every other option—attack, defense, ambush, support—and offered only one choice: flee. Garein was thrown into confusion. This wasn't some random weapon. It was a sword made by one of his own students. Yet those thoughts were instantly erased by the aura radiating from the blade. The energy it emitted was so dangerously primal that it triggered every survival instinct in a living being.
His hand began to tremble. Clack. Clack. Clack. Clack.
“Still shaking, huh.”
Just recalling that moment made his body react instinctively. It remembered the terror. If he was like this, what would have happened to the students if he hadn't protected them? The thought alone was horrifying.
“Just thinking about it gives me chills.”
Still, Zeon must have done something to conceal the sword's aura right away. That was a relief. Of course, the blade's durability seemed to have taken a serious hit in the process.
“And it looks like it put some strain on his mind, too.”
Garein was inwardly worried about how Zeon had started talking to empty air or muttering to himself. The boy's talent for summoning such a dangerous weapon was undeniably extraordinary—almost too much to put into words. But if it had caused some mental issue, that changed things.
Combined with Garein's own small suspicions, if Zeon's thoughts had somehow twisted and he began unleashing that power recklessly on people instead of monsters...
“...I can only hope that never happens.”
No matter that it was only the first day, Zeon was his student. If anything went wrong, it was his responsibility to clean up the mess. That was what his position demanded.
“Zeon. I'll do everything I can.”
So please, you do your best too.
Even as the day stretched late into the night, Garein quietly flipped through documents, organizing tomorrow's lessons and his thoughts about Zeon. All to prevent the worst-case scenario he could imagine.
-This dorm is rather cozy.
“Is it?”
As soon as I entered the dormitory, Cheonma threw herself onto the bed with a satisfied smile. Originally, a soul that had entered a weapon shouldn't have been able to come out unless it grew to a certain level... So what exactly was the Cheonma moving around on the bed in front of me?
-I can see every thought running through your head. It's simply because the power I possess is that immense.
“That's amazing. But is there really no way to fix this?”
I pointed at the dedicated weapon I'd propped against the wall. It was covered in cracks, and just as she'd said, it looked like it would shatter if swung even a few times.
-Right now, it's impossible.
“Haa... Then I guess I need to get a new weapon.”
I have a few candidates in mind, but they're hard to obtain right now.
I remembered the locations and acquisition methods for several high-performance weapons. But acquiring them immediately was extremely difficult. Besides, I'd have to leave the academy for several days, which was impossible during the semester.
-If that's the case, I could solve it for you.
“Really?”
When I asked quickly, she gave me a mysterious smile.
-Yes. In return, explain properly how my traces ended up on you.
Ugh. That's...!
-You're in a position where you have to tell me anyway. Wouldn't it be better for you in many ways to speak now and solve the problem at the same time?
She wasn't wrong. Since she was attached to me, she'd find out the answer one way or another. But... but...!!
I still haven't come up with an excuse!
That's right. I hadn't thought of a proper explanation to give her yet. What should I do now? As I clutched my head in distress, Cheonma's gaze grew increasingly sharp. It was the kind of look that said, After I went this far for you, and you still won't talk? It was starting to resemble the eyes that had killed us in the game.
How should I even say this... Wait...?
In that moment, several pieces of information flooded into my mind. If I combined them, maybe it could work? I steeled myself and met her eyes. Noticing the change in my expression, a small spark of interest flashed in her gaze.
-Have you decided to speak?
“Yes. I'll tell you.”
-Good. Let's hear it.
“......”
-What are you doing? Why are you closing your mouth again...
Alright. Recall it. The phrase written in that place in the game!
“I leave behind the girl sent from the heavens and the sword that divided the boundary.”
Cheonma's mouth, which had been about to say something, snapped shut immediately. Her eyes widened in shock as she stared at me. I'd wondered if she might not know it, but fortunately, it seemed she did. What I'd just recited was the inscription on the stele at the entrance during Cheonma's raid.
-......
It was just one sentence, but it must have been enough of an answer. Cheonma didn't press me any further. I'd originally planned to reveal more information here... but her reaction was deeper than I'd expected, so I decided to wait a little longer.
-...I see.
Then, with a slightly hollow expression, Cheonma straightened up and looked me straight in the eyes.
-So you found my grave.
“Huh? Grave?”
-Yes. That's what you obtained there.
What was Cheonma saying right now? A grave? That place was her grave? That enormous area?! Then what was the Cheonma that appeared in the game? If she was the same soul, how did she have a physical body that could get injured and bleed?
-Still, I never imagined you'd rob my grave.
Ah, so that's why I couldn't speak. Now it made sense. It was understandable, but still incredibly infuriating.
“What do you mean, rob?! And a grave? What are you talking about!”
-There's no need to play innocent. I'm already dead, after all.
It felt like our thoughts were clashing violently in completely different directions. Cheonma might be willing to let it slide graciously, but if I let this pass, I'd end up as a grave robber who'd dug up a dead person's tomb. And I'd have to live with the owner of that grave from now on.
Wait. Maybe this isn't so bad...?
Rather than my half-baked setting, wouldn't it be better if Cheonma misunderstood like this? She said she wouldn't harm me anyway. And no one else knew this story or would want to know it.
Having organized my thoughts, I hardened my expression, prostrated myself before her, and shouted.
“I'm truly sorry!!”
-Hehe, it's fine. Raise your head. It's not like you defiled my physical body. You simply consumed the spiritual medicine I condensed from my power.
“Y-yes! I only ate the spiritual medicine! That's all!”
-To think our connection would lead to this. My feelings are quite complicated.
At Cheonma's words that it was truly time to get up, I sprang to my feet.
-Since you spoke honestly, I suppose I should tell you the method as well.
Tap. Tap.
-Sit down and listen.
“Yes.”
-If you don't have a sword, just make a new one. Note that I don't mean buy a new sword. Unfortunately, most swords cannot withstand my power. So what should you do? It's simple. You create the form of a sword using the power I possess and use that.
What immediately came to mind from Cheonma's words were the weapons Mir had used right before we caught the Sand Snake. Armaments shaped from her own power. Yes, if it was like that, I wouldn't need to worry about a weapon right away.
-Before I begin teaching you, I'll explain the power you'll be learning.
“Yes, Master!”
-Master, huh. It's my first time being someone's master, so it feels rather embarrassing.
“Then, Cheon... Sword God!”
-Just call me Master. Anyway, what I will teach you is the foundation that will become the cornerstone of everything you'll learn from now on.
In my mind, I recalled the power Cheonma had used. The aura that had spread from her dedicated weapon, and during the game raid, the near-black purple energy that had dominated the space around her like a spreading wave. It couldn't simply be called mana—it had special effects, and during the raid, we'd frequently taken fatal damage from that energy.
Just touching it reduces all stats by 10%. Does that even make sense?
If you didn't wrap your entire body in mana to protect yourself from the energy touching your skin—using self-defense techniques or barrier-type skills—your combat power would weaken immediately. That meant we had to constantly carry potions that recovered mana.
Otherwise, your mana would run out in the early phase and you'd get deleted instantly.
Just counting the potions we'd used to defeat Cheonma, the amount was enormous. I think we'd used more potions on her than on all the other raids combined.
“Um, Master? Then what is the name of this power?”
-A name, huh. Come to think of it, I never really thought about one. I gave names to each technique, but never named the vessel of power that serves as their source. Now that I think about it, it's quite amusing.
Cheonma said this while fixing her gaze on me.
-Since it's the power you will learn from now on, you should name it yourself.
“What?! No, what do you...”
-If you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have realized it. So you should be the one to name it. If you really hate it... consider it your first homework. Since it will be the power both you and I will use, I hope it's something cool.
Isn't this too forced!
I regretted saying anything, but it was already too late. Cheonma was looking at me with eyes full of expectation. Still, I wasn't particularly worried. From the moment she'd asked me to name it, I'd already decided on a name for this power in my head.
“I've decided.”
-Faster than I expected. So, what name did you choose?
“The name is...”
If it was the power Cheonma used, there was no need to even think about it. It was something many people already knew—the power that came to mind the moment you thought of Cheonma. The absolute power that only the great being called Cheonma could wield.
“Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”
The strongest power that didn't exist in this world, but would begin to exist from now on.
“I'll go with Heavenly Demon Divine Art.”
An unparalleled divine art had just received its name, right here and now.
-...That's lame.
“Ehh?!”
-No matter what, I'm called the Sword God, yet you gave it the name of a demon. You really have no talent for naming things.
“No, this is the will of countless people...!”
-Fine. From now on we'll call it the Heavenly Demon Divine Art, so don't get so worked up. ...I should've just named it myself. You can hear everything I'm thinking, can't you?!