The Bishop's Shadow
Benjamin, seated in the spectator stands, sighed as he watched Oliver, who had yet to regain consciousness. It was a sigh heavy with relief. It’s a good thing it succeeded. When he had witnessed the aura Kim Ilshin released immediately after the sparring match, he had feared their plan might fail. The gap in skill between Kim Ilshin and Oliver was simply too vast. The only stroke of luck was Kim Ilshin’s arrogant personality. Had he not toyed with Oliver for the sake of showing off, carving the mark would have been impossible.
Any other method… would have been difficult. It was fortunate that Kim Ilshin had chosen Oliver as his sparring partner. Seeing his true ability, Benjamin realized that assassination by any other means would have been nearly impossible. Stealth was the most crucial element in an assassination, and maintaining that against someone like him would have been a fool’s errand.
“How vulgar.”
At that moment, a voice drifted from the seat beside him. Benjamin flinched and turned his head, only to be met by a pair of terrifyingly crimson eyes.
“H-hup…!”
Benjamin immediately bowed his head, cold sweat streaming down his forehead. To a mere ascetic like him, the being sitting beside him was someone he shouldn't even dare to look in the eye.
“B-Bishop, what brings you to this place…?”
A Bishop—the actual fighting force and leadership of the Red Heaven Cult. Among them, Bernika, the vampire present here, was famous for a cruelty that made no distinction between friend and foe. One could be brutally murdered simply for the crime of making eye contact.
“It is a task requested by the Cult Leader. He was uneasy with your competence. It seems that concern was not without merit.”
“…I apologize for showing you such a disappointing display. However… our plan is proceeding well.”
Benjamin pleaded in a trembling voice. It was a statement made at the risk of his own life. Fortunately, the catastrophe he feared did not occur. Bernika’s gaze remained fixed on Kim Ilshin as he exited the sparring arena.
“That is not what I meant.”
“…Pardon?”
“You must ensure he is dealt with.”
Benjamin, who had been momentarily stunned, understood Bernika’s intent and replied.
“…Of course. I will stake my life on it…! I will complete the Cult Leader’s command.”
Soon, the people in the stands began to rise one by one and head for the exits. The exchange match, having completed all its scheduled events, had come to an end.
Swish.
Bernika gestured to Benjamin, who had kept his head bowed. It was a sign that he was dismissed.
“Then, may the gods’ blessings be with you.”
Benjamin bowed so deeply his forehead nearly touched the ground before backing away from Bernika. A pool of sweat trailed his every step. Once everyone around them had vanished, Bernika mused to herself.
…He is dangerous.
When she first received the Cult Leader’s instructions, she had felt a sense of resistance. For a Bishop to personally intervene in a mere assassination operation was not cost-effective. But having just confirmed the target, she fully understood the Cult Leader’s intentions.
He is far too dangerous…
He was fundamentally different. He was not like the other transcendental powerhouses, not even the Great Heroes or the Sword Saint. Bernika saw in Kim Ilshin an abyss whose depth could never be measured.
Ssssss…
Thick smoke rose from below, settling heavily on the floor. Bernika flicked her blackened fingers in rhythm with the movement of the smoke, then murmured with her crimson eyes flashing.
“He is dangerous. He must be killed.”
🏛 Type: Martial Arts Exchange
⚔ Status: Concluded
💀 Target: Kim Ilshin
Inside the smoothly moving vehicle, Hazuki gazed into the void and muttered softly.
“He was truly incredible…”
The movements of Kim Ilshin she had witnessed in the final sparring match were still vivid in her mind. Even though more than two hours had passed since the exchange match ended, the scene refused to leave her thoughts.
“How could he be like that…”
It was like a dream. The realm of embodiment that Hazuki so desperately craved—the ability to transcend the limits of swordsmanship and melt it into every movement—Kim Ilshin was performing it as naturally as breathing. His small steps, the fingers gripping his sword, even every single breath contained countless profound mysteries. It looked as if his entire body were made of the sword itself.
It was a level far beyond the unity of sword and body. It was hard to believe he was the same age as her. Unless he had undergone some legendary rebirth, she couldn't fathom how it was possible. What was even more shocking was that those movements hadn't been intentional.
I wanted to see more.
The only regrettable part was that the sparring opponent hadn't been able to draw out Kim Ilshin’s full power. Kim Ilshin had overwhelmed his opponent without even showing all of his strength. He hadn't even really used his sword. If only the opponent had been me… Hazuki imagined what it would have been like if she could have faced Kim Ilshin instead of Oliver. She didn't dream of victory, but she would have been able to see and feel so much more than by watching from the sidelines.
“You said Kim Ilshin left immediately, right?”
“Yes. I was told he went home as soon as the schedule ended. I heard he went to meet his acquaintance, the hero Park Eun-ho, who was in the stands.”
“Ah…”
Hazuki felt a deep sense of regret. If she had known, she should have tried to strike up a conversation before the exchange match began. As she was feeling disappointed, the secretary driving the car spoke up.
“Don’t be too disappointed. You will be able to meet him again soon.”
“What? How? Weren't we heading back right away?” Hazuki asked, surprised. Having missed this opportunity, she had thought the next chance wouldn't come for a long time, or perhaps not at all.
“Yes. That is correct.”
“Then how can we meet again…?”
“The main family intends to invite student Kim Ilshin directly. The timing will be in about a week.”
“Wow…!”
Hazuki let out a cheer of joy. She didn't know why the main family was inviting Kim Ilshin, but just the fact that she would have another chance to see his movements made her happy. When that time came, she would definitely try to talk to him. If possible, she wanted to ask for advice on training methods or tips on his movements.
As she was basking in her excitement, a thought suddenly occurred to her.
“But, will he accept the invitation…?”
An ordinary person wouldn't dream of refusing an invitation from the prestigious Endo family, but Kim Ilshin was absolutely not an ordinary person. It wasn't easy to move between their worlds, as the distance between them was quite vast.
“He will have no choice but to come.”
“Is that so…?”
The secretary seemed firmly convinced that Kim Ilshin would accept the invitation. Hazuki had been skeptical at first, but once she heard the reason, she was quickly convinced.
“The Head of the Family extended the invitation personally. They also mentioned that the Baek family had made a request.”
Among those belonging to the Baek family, the only person who could make a direct request to the Sword Saint was Baek Ho-san, the Head of the Family. If that were the case, the invitation delivered to Kim Ilshin would contain the will of both Baek Ho-san and the Sword Saint. There was no way he could refuse.
“What is the reason for the invitation?”
“They said it was some kind of reward… I don't know the exact details yet.”
It certainly wouldn't be an ordinary reason, but Hazuki didn't have the capacity to worry about that. She was too busy imagining their meeting a week from now. She looked forward to the high-density swordsmanship exchange she would share with Kim Ilshin.
***
Inside a crumbling, abandoned building on the outskirts of the city. Benjamin stood under a flickering light and spoke.
“Is your body alright?”
“…Yes, Master.”
Oliver answered Benjamin’s question with great difficulty. His staggering physical state was severely compromised. It was the complete opposite of his intact outward appearance. There were no visible wounds; not only was the only attack he had taken the final punch, but the traces of that attack had been cleanly erased by healing magic. The problem was not on the outside, but on the inside.
In addition to his significantly shortened lifespan, his dantian, where he stored his mana, had been completely shattered. The mana that rampaged periodically continued to inflict terrible pain upon Oliver. It was only natural that he could no longer operate his mana properly. If he had been cut by a sword or suffered an external wound, it would have been neatly regenerated during the healing process. But Kim Ilshin’s punch had caused the shock from within the dantian itself.
…A vicious bastard.
Even if he tried to heal by calming his mana through meditation, he had no idea how much time it would take to fully recover. In such a situation, without proper treatment, he might never fully recover even after this mission was over.
However, Oliver prioritized the Cult Leader’s command over his own future. Having sacrificed so much, he believed the gods would surely be greatly pleased.
“Will you be able to perform the ritual without any issues?”
“Of course.”
The preparations for the ritual were perfect. He had been preparing ever since the sparring opponent was decided. Thanks to that, even in his poor physical condition, he was able to trigger the curse through the ritual.
Goooo…
Soon after, Oliver, who had taken his place in the center of the prepared room, began the ritual.
Thud.
Oliver’s head, having fallen limply, rolled across the cold floor.