Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Villain, Yet Not a Villain
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Sword Saint, Jin Gwang-ho. Once called the strongest swordsman in Korea.
Even though he had passed his prime and was gradually declining.
He was still a monster who could cut down both monsters and villains with a single sword.
For that reason, villains never approached the Jin household.
The extremely sharp thing wasn't just the Sword Saint's sword.
His 'super senses' were his true Ability.
No fool would dare enter the lair of a monster.
"But you appearing out of nowhere truly startled me."
"Hahaha. I'm sorry. I had no intention of surprising you, sir."
"Mad or just foolish? I was about to test it on your neck..."
The Sword Saint glanced toward the direction where Jin Seo-ah had disappeared.
"Surprising. Your words weren't lies after all."
He had drawn his sword when the man claimed to be Jin Seo-ah's benefactor.
For a moment, the Sword Saint had felt unbridled rage and nearly swung it.
How dare he threaten by taking his granddaughter hostage?
When a villain mentioned his granddaughter, it could only sound like a threat.
But Jin Seo-ah had appeared herself and confirmed it was true.
Incredibly, there were no lies in the Smiling Man's words.
"My word. This hurts my feelings, Sword Saint. I only spoke the truth."
He rubbed his hands together as if flattering, grinning all the while.
Hurt feelings? This side was bewildered. Absurd.
Even if he was a villain who had killed an S-Rank Hero.
There had been no one there capable of helping the Holy Knight.
In contrast, the Jin household was filled with numerous swordsmen.
Most of them possessed powerful Abilities.
Not quite on the Sword Saint's level, but close.
If they all attacked together, they could at least grab his ankles.
In that time, the Sword Saint himself could land a decisive blow.
'The Jin household is a living fortress of swords. No one dares enter carelessly. It's no place anyone would want to visit uninvited. Yet this man...'
Is he mad? Overflowing with arrogance about himself?
Or is he utterly cold and rational?
The Sword Saint secretly hoped for the first or second.
If it was the last, he'd be a terribly troublesome opponent.
"Though uninvited, you've been upgraded from intruder to guest."
"A guest of the Sword Saint? What an honor. Hmm. Honor reminds me of dried persimmint!"
"..."
Is he really insane?
"Just kidding. You're so sharp, I thought I'd tone it down a bit. Hahaha!"
"Enough. Get to the point. We're not here for jokes."
Hero and villain. Protector and killer. Good and evil.
What could contrast more starkly?
Even now, he was giving him the benefit of the doubt for saving Jin Seo-ah.
But if anything strange came out of that mouth...
"Give me your granddaughter! Grandpa!!"
Shing-.
He'd kill him. Absolutely kill that insolent villain eyeing his granddaughter...
"Kidding. Nothing like that, so rest easy!"
"..."
"Really! Don't glare like that, it's scary! Hahaha!"
He barely sheathed the sword he'd half-drawn.
He was a guest acknowledged by the Sword Saint himself.
If he had something to say, it was only right to hear him out.
"Enough with the pointless jokes. No more next time."
"Aigoo. Understood, Sword Saint."
The grinning Smiling Man elegantly bowed.
"Allow me a proper introduction. I am the Smiling Man."
"No need for mine."
"Of course. What host introduces himself to a guest?"
What a peculiar fellow. So thought the Sword Saint.
Laughter varies wildly by type.
A child's laugh and a wicked one's differ starkly.
In that regard, the Smiling Man's smile was very odd.
Clearly a villain, yet his smile held no other meaning.
No mockery, no deception. No sorrow, no anger. Nothing.
Just smiling. True to his name. Like the Smiling Man.
"The reason I came here is to make one proposal to you, Sword Saint."
"A proposal? Not something a villain says to a hero."
"Possible before a grandfather who has a granddaughter, no?"
"..."
This man. Did he save our Seo-ah just to aim for this?
The Sword Saint eyed the Smiling Man with suspicion.
Yes, he acknowledged him as a benefactor. But that was it.
He'd cut off any rude request or foolish proposal.
That would be the act of an intruder, not a guest.
"I'd like you to check the Union Korea Branch."
"You're mad."
"Such harsh words. It really hurts."
Check the Union? Does that even make sense?
The Sword Saint nearly ordered him out for spouting nonsense.
"Hahaha. Sir, why do this?"
But the next words froze him in place.
"You're already thinking you need to check the Union, aren't you?"
"...!"
The Sword Saint unwittingly gripped his sword again.
But different from before.
Not rage at a 'beast' eyeing his granddaughter.
Vigilance toward a 'powerhouse' who pierced his very thoughts.
How? He'd never confided in anyone?
How could he speak with such certainty?
"The Union started as a small hero gathering but has grown to mock even national governments. If this continues, it'll subjugate every country's government."
"Not bad. In this situation, only the Union can manage heroes on a multinational scale. In emergencies, we can get aid from heroes of other nations, and..."
"Absolute power corrupts absolutely."
The Smiling Man's words sent chills through the Sword Saint again.
He spoke as if knowing every thought in his mind.
A villain, yet he understood the terror of power well.
"Uniting as one and being ruled by one are different. Sword Saint."
"..."
"The Jin family won't welcome the Union's monopoly either. Swordsmen belong in sword families. Bundled with those who don't even understand swords, they'll be treated like antiques."
"...You speak as if you know well about the sword sects. And you're no swordsman."
"I'm just saying the Union is too arrogant."
The man was right. The Union was crossing lines.
Each country's heroes had their own traits and domains.
The Union sought to unify them under uniformity and efficiency.
'No, not unify. Essentially dominate.'
Even Korea's heroes were starting to watch the Union's mood.
The government had ceded almost all control to them.
In exchange, lawmakers got fat stacks of cash and heavy gifts.
As long as heroes exist, the Union will only grow stronger.
It might be late, but checks were needed.
"You're right. Yes. The Union is arrogant. But you're forgetting one key fact."
"What is it?"
"You."
The Sword Saint pointed at the Smiling Man with his finger.
"Smiling Man. You're a villain. A hero like me heeding a villain's words to check the Union? What's funnier than that?"
The Smiling Man smiled faintly.
No hostility emanated still.
But that only irritated the Sword Saint more.
The meaning of that smile. Conviction that things would go his way.
"A guest is coming."
"Guest?"
Only then did the Sword Saint sense someone approaching from beyond the training ground.
One of the household servants. He'd just noticed the presence.
The Sword Saint sighed. They'd been talking the same amount.
Yet the Smiling Man had noticed first.
"I'll take my leave now, Sword Saint. Why you should accept my proposal—the answer lies with the guest arriving now."
"..."
"Ah. And. Don't draw your sword so carelessly. It's too dangerous!"
In the blink of an eye, the Smiling Man vanished.
Unbelievable stealth, considering this was the Jin household.
If he'd come with ill intent.
He might have ended up in quite a predicament.
"Heh heh heh."
The Sword Saint burst into absurd laughter.
A ghost of a man. No wonder the Holy Knight fell to him.
And shortly after, someone approached.
"A guest has arrived."
"Who?"
"S-Rank Hero, Valkyrie."
The young junior who always grumbled 'old man' appeared.
The Sword Saint told them to escort the guest inside politely.
'The answer is with the guest now arriving.'
The riddle left by the departing villain.
No, now even he questioned if it was truly a villain.
"There you are."
"You've come."
"Let's go in. I have things to... Wait. What? Something happen? Why's your face like that?"
"Your speech never changes."
Too friendly when she was young, and now this.
Should've told that disciple of his to raise his daughter properly.
"I nearly drew my sword."
"What out of nowhere?"
"Insolent bastard."
"Me?"
"The Smiling Man stopped by."
Valkyrie gasped at the Sword Saint's words.
Then checked his body, asking if he was okay.
"He said strange things. And told me to get answers from you."
The Sword Saint looked at Valkyrie and continued with conviction.
"You know something. Don't you?"
"Wow. That villain, just how far does his reach extend?"
Valkyrie sighed and said to go to the study first.
This was no place for such talk.
Peeing-
"...?"
A strange energy emanated from the sword hilt.
Upon inspection, a single Mana Thread was coiled exactly where he'd grip the sword.
Seeing it, the Sword Saint unwittingly chuckled in disbelief.
If he'd truly tried to draw, it would've definitely stopped him.
Not impossible, but delayed for sure.
In that instant, the Smiling Man could've counterattacked easily.
"Don't draw your sword so carelessly. It's too dangerous!"
At first, he'd thought it was advice from his perspective.
Turned out, it was concern for him.