Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Martial Arts Tournament (3)
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The Emperor himself attended the finals.
As it was the glorious stage where warriors gathered from across the Empire fought and triumphed to claim victory, the Emperor personally graced the event.
Of course, soldiers from the military, knights, and mages did not participate, but it still held ample value in unearthing undiscovered gems.
In an unusual move, the Emperor descended to the arena floor and directly faced the two finalists who had advanced to the finals.
"I congratulate you both for battling through countless participants to reach this point."
The Emperor first extended his hand to the participant on the left.
The participant, who had never met anyone of such high status in his life, tremblingly grasped the Emperor's hand.
"It... it is an honor, Your Majesty."
"Mm."
Nod—
After a brief handshake, the Emperor turned to the participant on the right.
And extended his hand just as before.
The moment Participant No. 45 on the right smirked and reached out to shake hands—
Splat—!!!!!
Blood sprayed everywhere.
Thud—
Participant No. 45's wrist was severed and fell to the ground. No. 45 writhed, blood spurting from his wrist.
"Gaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!"
"…"
Everyone in the stands, including the Imperial Guard knights protecting the Emperor, froze at the sudden atrocity.
Silence enveloped the arena. Even Lucia and Irene in the VIP box gaped in shock.
The Emperor merely narrowed his eyes and quietly stared at the culprit behind it all.
"…Marquis."
And the culprit, Yujin, calmly flicked the blood off his sword.
Swoosh—
After flicking the blood off his sword, Yujin quietly turned to face the Emperor. The nearby Imperial Guard knights had drawn their blades, poised to strike at any moment.
The Guard Captain in particular glared at Yujin with ferocious killing intent. As a Sword Master himself, the pressure began to crush the surroundings, but Yujin brushed it off nonchalantly.
He muttered inwardly.
…Well, it's good that he's trying to protect His Majesty.
Unfortunately, the target of his vigilance and hostility was misplaced.
What the Guard Captain and the knights should truly be wary of wasn't Yujin, but the one ahead clutching his wrist and screaming—No. 45.
Or rather...
Whoever was wearing No. 45's guise.
Yujin organized his thoughts and looked at the Emperor.
"Your Majesty. Step away from him."
The Emperor, remarkably composed despite the sudden bloodshed, spoke.
"…Is this related to the urgent report from yesterday, Marquis?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"…Understood. I'll trust you, Marquis."
Yujin glanced at Lucia and Irene in the VIP box. Meeting their eyes, he sent them a telepathic message.
—Combat may break out soon. Stay alert and don't let your guard down.
Nod.
They nodded. Honestly, he hoped it wouldn't come to the point where a princess and duchess needed to step in, but if it did, they would be a tremendous asset.
Both were 6th Circle mages, after all.
Come to think of it, the Crown Prince and Northern Grand Duke were here too—
...Hold on.
The Northern Grand Duke was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Sena.
…Did the Northern Grand Duke take her and slip out?
He'd look into that later. It wasn't important right now.
Yujin coldly looked down at No. 45, who was still clutching his wrist and gasping.
"Enough with the act."
"Guh… Wh-what…"
Yujin had intervened from the stands purely on instinct. The ominous feeling every time No. 45 drew near the Emperor.
And he was certain his instinct hadn't been wrong.
"Do you really think your acting would fool anyone?"
"Th-that is…"
"If you're going to act, at least hide that demonic energy first, you filthy demon."
Now I can see it.
That incongruity and unpleasant sensation from before.
It hadn't been his imagination after all.
Now it was clearly visible as demonic energy.
I should have looked closer from the start.
Black demonic energy rippled as if it had never intended to hide in the first place. How had he not noticed?
Tch.
The Guard Captain, having confirmed the demonic energy as well, slowly retreated with the Emperor.
No. 45's body stilled, then began to twitch slightly.
Suddenly, his body jerked back. He burst into mad laughter.
"Ahahahahaha! How in the world did you figure it out? I was so sure no one would notice!"
"Who knows. Probably because your acting was pathetic."
"Haha! Ouch, that stings."
The Guard Captain issued orders to the Imperial Guard knights from behind. They began encircling the area and evacuating the spectators.
"Ahem! Now that I'm busted, shall I introduce myself?"
"Introduction… Why don't you save that for the underground dungeon, you filthy demon."
"Oh? That hurts my feelings."
No. 45's body began to twist.
Crack—
Snap—
The sound of bones breaking and organs twisting echoed through the arena.
And then—
Splatter—!!!!!!
Yujin sliced off No. 45's head.
But the headless body didn't fall. Instead, the severed head on the ground cackled.
"Impressive! I didn't even see that sword strike…! As expected of the Empire's youngest Sword Master..!"
At the same time, No. 45's body split in half.
The bisected body toppled sideways, spurting blood. Yet No. 45's mouth didn't stop.
"Allow me to introduce myself! I am one of Pandemonium's Seven Deadly Sins Seats, holder of the Seat of Greed! Please call me <Greed>! Hahahahaha!"
Pandemonium's Seven Deadly Sins Seat: <Greed>
Yujin deemed responding further pointless and continued slashing at No. 45—or rather,
Greed's body.
But.
"That hurts! Enough to make me feel truly alive…!"
Greed seemed utterly unbothered.
Only then did Yujin stop slashing.
He realized that no matter how finely he diced it, the opponent wouldn't die.
Because Pandemonium's Seven Seat, Greed, had transcended human limits? Because Yujin was weaker than Greed?
…No, that's not it.
The Greed on the ground, its mouth moving amid the minced flesh, wasn't truly Greed.
"…You're just a clone, aren't you? Your real body is elsewhere."
"Hahahaha! You figured it out! But it's too late now!"
"What do you—"
"Because you and the Emperor will die here!"
And at that moment,
Vibrations began emanating from various spots in the arena.
Simultaneously, people in the crowd started exploding and dying.
"Kyaaaaahhh!!!"
"Uwaaah! Run…!"
Dozens exploded head-first in an instant. Demonic energy burst from the corpses.
"…Pre-planted humans, huh."
A few among them were the ones he'd sensed oddly before. The rest were probably added later or well-hidden—demons.
The demonic energy that erupted covered the entire arena uncontrollably. And a certain pattern etched itself into the sky.
Yujin instinctively realized the arena had been cut off from the outside world.
At the same time,
"D-demons…!"
"S-save me…!!"
"Uwaaaaaah!!!!"
Yujin slowly surveyed his surroundings.
Demons and possessed humans were attacking everywhere in the arena, emerging from who-knows-where. The Imperial Guard knights and those with some power fought back against them.
"You're quite brilliantly radiant, but sadly, you must die here. Leaving you alive would be too much of a hindrance."
Greed's dismembered clone floated into the air.
A storm of demonic energy swirled through the arena.
Rumble—!!
Boom—!!
The merged flesh split and recombined repeatedly. The writhing mass coalesced into a massive demon gazing down at Yujin from the sky.
—Hahahahahahahahaha!!!!!
…Is His Majesty safe?
The Emperor was protected by the Imperial Guard knights and Guard Captain, unharmed. The attending Crown Prince and Second Prince as well.
Lucia and Irene were fighting demons but seemed fine for now. When their eyes met, they smiled reassuringly.
Yujin twisted his lips. He recalled Greed's words.
"…Die here, you said?"
Yujin assessed the situation.
The opponent was Pandemonium's Seven Deadly Sins Seat, Greed.
According to reports, each of the Seven was a Sword Master-level powerhouse or equivalent.
"Pathetic."
But this Greed was just a clone.
Not even the real body—a mere clone daring to claim it would kill him and the Emperor? Especially when the Emperor was guarded by another Sword Master, the Guard Captain?
Yujin coldly glared at Greed's clone, now a massive demon.
The opponent was arrogant.
Greed unleashed attacks on Yujin.
Gigantic coins manifested in the sky and rained down on him. Each coin brimmed with inexplicable power.
Bang—!!
Boom—!!!!
Yujin effortlessly dodged.
But—
"Gaaahhh—!!!"
"Guh—!"
Greed's attacks poured down like rain over a vast area, striking people left and right.
The ground crumbled, and those directly hit by the coins turned to gold entirely before crumbling to dust. Several knights and civilians vanished into powder.
Their presences could no longer be felt.
—Hahahahahahaha!!!
The airborne Greed spread its arms gleefully at the sight. The coins in the sky doubled in an instant.
…The casualties are mounting too fast. I need to end this quickly.
—Just dodging like a rat? Sword Masters are nothing special!
Greed cackled and dropped its arms.
—Take this one properly!!!
An overwhelming barrage dwarfing the previous assaulted him. Just before it struck—
"…No."
Yujin murmured quietly and lowered his sword.
"…The one who needs to take the attack isn't me. It's you."
This was his unique swordsmanship.
Crafted solely for slaughter and the extinction of life.
A technique he hadn't used since the war, now on the verge of reemerging.
The world fell eerily silent in an instant. As if time had stopped.
All light was sucked into his sword.
And—
A slash that devours all light and existence.
"Oblivion Flash"
The world shattered with the upward slash toward the sky.
Splaaaaaat—!!!!!!!!