Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Heavenly Sword Army's Sovereign
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“Hmm! Excellent! At first, I wondered who dared to raise the Heavenly Sword Army's banner, but this one isn't a fool. Perfect fit. What do you think? Yucheong, your thoughts?”
“A true sovereign doesn't need to be foolish or arrogant—that alone covers half the battle. And this one knows himself and his enemies, listens to his subordinates. At the very least, he won't tarnish our Heavenly Sword Army's reputation.”
“Then we can entrust this sword to him without worry! Congratulations, Your Majesty. We recognize you as the master who has reestablished the Heavenly Sword Army in this era, this place. We pledge to serve you until our dying breath.”
“You said to serve freely, so we shall serve freely, Your Majesty.”
Watching them bow with perfect decorum once more, Yoo Seongwon desperately managed his expression, but he couldn't hide his bewilderment.
He wanted to shout for them to just leave, but the intensity in their eyes and the overwhelming pressure made the words stick in his throat.
If he said it, the place might turn into a battlefield in an instant. And if things went wrong, summoning these knights could backfire into a loss. So he held back with all his might and chose his words carefully.
“Um… first off, I'm no one worthy of being called Your Majesty. And I don't have any grand ambitions worthy of leading great knights like you two!”
“It's fine. Ambitions can be built from here on out, Your Majesty.”
“Our original lord, His late Majesty Yucheon, started as a mere bastard son—a wastrel and thug who only studied swordsmanship. Compared to that, Your Majesty's state is excellent. Haha! No need to worry, Your Majesty.”
Seeing them laugh casually, understanding him, Yoo Seongwon had no choice but to give up.
Fine. As long as they understood him a bit, gaining these extraordinary knights and reducing the Heavenly Sword Army's cost was pure profit in every way.
“Hmm… Looks like you've become emperor overnight. Congratulations, Your Majesty?”
Guild Master Shin Somi's observation of the whole scene was enough to strip away even more of Yoo Seongwon's facade.
But in a way, that was self-sabotage… Watching it, Jinseok and Yucheong misunderstood their relationship.
“As expected, this must be Her Majesty the Empress.”
“Ah, not yet!”
“Not yet.”
“You two make a fine match. Anyway, from now on, I'll take over management of finances and schedules for Your Majesty, the Heavenly Sword Army, and this knight order. Is that alright?”
Yucheong, who had introduced himself as the Heavenly Sword Army's strategist from the start and looked every bit the schemer, bowed and said as much. With no reason to refuse, Yoo Seongwon agreed immediately.
He then shared key schedules, the money he had, and this era's economic structure.
“Hmm, it's an era with much to learn. It won't change overnight, but we'll figure it out step by step. For now, I'll proceed only with Your Majesty's approval.”
“…First, could we change that 'Your Majesty' title? It's weird being called that without people or territory to rule.”
“What are you saying? The Heavenly Sword Army is the conquering emperor's personal guard, the emperor's army. How could we call such a one anything else? No matter what others say! We are the Heavenly Sword Army! Thus, you are Your Majesty.”
*Please don't.*
His plea was desperate, but Yucheong and Jinseok both had resolute eyes on this one point, refusing to yield. Outmatched in spirit, Yoo Seongwon suddenly found himself saddled with an unwanted emperor title.
With the chaotic knight summoning concluded and the organization reorganizing… Yoo Seongwon didn't even need to step in; the knights handled it themselves, like a reserve unit gathering.
“Indeed, Lord Gaulf is Your Majesty's contractor? Perfect. You'll serve as His Majesty's intelligence chief. Lady Seom-myeol is the captain, so you'll handle direct protection duties. Lord Akaron looks like quartermaster material. When our Heavenly Sword Army's supply officer arrives, you'll make a great pair. Finally, Lord Krokbane, stand by and assist where needed.”
[Good… Understood.]
“So be it.”
[Hmm-hah! Now it finally feels like a proper knight order.]
“Your Majesty, if there's anything about the lineup you dislike, command us freely.”
But there was no need—Yucheong had organized them flawlessly, a composition even the other knights had no complaints about.
And right away, Yucheong gathered info on Yoo Seongwon from the other knights with unbelievable speed for ones just summoned, even sorting out the schedule.
“So, tomorrow you have that signing ceremony with this 'Association.' No worries. Heh-heh, event protocol. Your Majesty obtaining the Heavenly Sword Army and summoning us—it was all intentional.”
“No, it was just force reinforcement, unrelated to that…”
“No worries. This Yucheong has long managed the Heavenly Sword Army. We'll proclaim Your Majesty's might across this 'Earth' with a proper procession…”
“No! I'm just going to sign and leave casually! I have no plans for that! My skills are in bad shape anyway, so I can't summon many troops! Even with you two reducing costs, elite soldiers cost 90 mana each—I can only summon 20. That plan was already set, so please! Please! Don't get any weird ideas.”
Thinking they were about to do something outrageous, Yoo Seongwon hurriedly intervened. Reading his intent, Yucheong relented with regret this time.
“Hmm, if Your Majesty insists, no choice. And I don't know this world's customs well yet, so we'll do it later.”
“Talk to me first before doing anything from now on, okay? Anyway, stay in the knight order's sanctuary for now. Need anything? I'll get it right away.”
“Then alcohol, please. To commemorate the Heavenly Sword Army's banner rising again, I'd like a drink with Captain Jinseok.”
Their request wasn't unreasonable, so Yoo Seongwon immediately bought soju, whiskey, beer, and plenty of snacks, handing them over.
Receiving them, the two bowed neatly to Yoo Seongwon and entered the sanctuary.
It seemed skill info transferred automatically to knights he summoned.
“Finally, a breather. Haaah~ That was hectic. Just adding two, but why so chaotic?”
“You gained two S-rank knights, so that's to be expected.”
“Huh? Those two from earlier are S-rank too?”
“Yes. Congratulations. Now you hold six S-rank knights. No joke anymore—you could wage war on a country for real.”
One SS-rank and six S-ranks. If he wanted, he could start a war with any minor nation anytime.
Of course, logistics and diplomacy would factor in, but the sheer possibility made it a game-changing force.
“Of course I could, but I don't want to. Anyway, now I can really take it easy.”
He still had to hunter work, but his preconditions were steep—no one would hire him easily.
1 trillion won wasn't pocket change; they'd sooner hire other S-ranks.
“Not time to relax yet. Let's rehearse to avoid shaking tomorrow and study possible questions.”
“Ah, right.”
As she said, no full complacency yet, so Yoo Seongwon followed Shin Somi's lead and prepped for tomorrow.
***
The next day, at the Association headquarters.
From early morning, the Korea Hunter Association HQ swarmed with people, packed to bursting.
Word spread yesterday afternoon—broadcast stations, guild spies as standard, undercover foreign agents everyone knew about, even Shin Gangnam incident victims hit hard financially. All gathered to see the Golden Demon Knight, who sparked the scavenger war that ruined Shin Gangnam.
“Association President! You're just letting the Golden Demon Knight hunter freely without legal or administrative punishment?”
“…What else? He's SS-rank alone, plus four S-rank knights. Stake Korea's fate on war? Him offering a pact with the 'Association' is a miracle.”
“But is a mere 'pact' without control measures effective?”
“We both want something—think of it as a deal. We get order and safety; he gets dispute-free dungeon runs. And…”
At the HQ entrance, a press conference for Association and government officials was in full swing.
The pact happened too fast for public notice, so they planned to explain it all when he arrived.
The president sweated bullets, struggling through questions.
“What about future disputes between Shin Gangnam victims and the Golden Demon Knight, or Seoul Guild and him?”
“We'll resolve via mutual agreement, avoiding conflict. The incident started from a ugly crime by Chairman Jeong, a Shin Gangnam sponsor. Both sides at fault…”
“Will Shin Gangnam victims accept that?”
“So you're silencing citizens for an SS-rank hunter.”
“What's the government's stance?”
Arrows turned to government reps; the conference was chaos.
Defense Minister and others wanted to flee from the barrage, but held out till the Golden Demon Knight arrived.
“That matter… uh… needs more detailed review.”
“Please limit to Golden Demon Knight questions today. Others are inappropriate…”
“We'll meet the President and staff later…”
Politicians deflected skillfully, buying time.
Reporters twisted questions endlessly for scoops; Association and officials defended—this was war by another name.
“Next que— Wait! Dragon! E-everyone, the Golden Demon Knight has arrived!”
Under morning sun, reflecting off blue sky, a golden dragon appeared. Atop it rode the Golden Demon Knight in ornate golden armor.
All eyes and cameras locked on. As the massive gold dragon descended slowly, people cleared space instinctively.
“Whoa… that's too many.”
Countless gazes and cameras unnerved Yoo Seongwon despite himself.
He'd drawn attention on battlefields, but fights let him ignore it. Here, the event was the point—tension spiked.
[Oh, by the way, events incur extra fees.]
“Hm? You just carried me—why extra? Not in the contract.”
[Joke to ease nerves. No matter the stares, they're all beneath you—makes it easier.]
“…Haha, thanks. Hyah! Here goes!”
Eased by Eldraen's advice, Yoo Seongwon psyched up, dismounted, and faced the crowd.
Their eyes brimmed with malice, hatred, rage, greed…
Human negativity poured at him.
He'd flee this hellish cauldron if possible, but for future peace, he had to wade through. Deep breath—he plunged in.