Chapter 100
Chapter 100
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 100
Chapter Title: Hero
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hero.
The flame petals fluttering and rippling in the wind were beautiful.
Petals falling into the night sky.
Each of those petals possessed tremendous destructive power.
Just brushing against them...
The essence of flames that could mercilessly snuff out a person's life.
One could sense it emanating from those burning petals.
But I felt something peculiar from the petals.
Where have I seen something like that before?
I pinpointed the source of my curiosity in an instant.
'...Plum blossoms?'
It was precisely plum blossom petals.
A scene one might expect where plum blossoms bloomed in wild disarray.
Yet the devastation they wrought was utterly horrific.
"Gaaahk!"
The man facing off against Ermé let out a gruesome scream as his body ignited.
Countless petals melted his flesh, dissolved his sword, and soon only ashes remained.
Sss.
Scattered away on the wind.
Horrific, isn't it? In his later years, he attained enlightenment and gained Flame Union... but its essence burns even his own body as fuel, sublimating it into flames. The holy sword spoke in a somewhat bitter tone.
Powers like that are all the same. Think ahead. Not something like that—choose the path that's truly best for you. '...You can wield that from level 7?'
Yes. The power to alter the world's laws—Willpower. They begin wielding it in earnest. However.
The holy sword appended one final word.
But you'll be different. A Sword Hero can't be lumped in with other geniuses. 'Your word choice feels a bit off.'
To become a Sword Hero who wields Willpower at level 7? That's no different from just an ordinary Sword Hero. With talent rivaling the founder, you need to start preparing now. 'To the point where preparation is necessary...'
While the holy sword and I conversed, watching Volkan's petal display...
The crown prince standing behind us gazed at the scene with a laugh.
"Uhahahat! What a fantastic sight!"
Seeing it, the crown prince declared.
"To witness a single strike from the Flame Plum Sword, who once roamed the Eastern Continent. This alone makes the trip here worthwhile!"
Clap clap clap.
The crown prince clapped his hands.
But there were some odd words.
Roamed the Eastern Continent? Nicknamed Flame Plum Sword?
Something didn't quite fit.
Honestly, for a guy built like a 2-meter tank...
'Shouldn't his nickname have a more savage ring to it?'
Such thoughts crossed my mind.
"It's an old moniker."
Thud thud.
Volkan approached and bowed politely to the crown prince.
"An old moniker, you say? There are mountains' worth of people on the Western Continent who'd pay dearly for that name."
"All empty flattery. The kind of fantasy only those with bizarre illusions about the Eastern Continent would entertain."
Volkan's words carried a mocking edge.
Bizarre illusions about the Eastern Continent...
A sudden realization struck me.
'Come to think of it.'
The Western Continent was a world riddled with labyrinths.
The Eastern Continent was the world after the labyrinths had been cleared.
This place had the Hao Gate Lord.
And the Hao Gate itself was relocating here.
'...Something's off.'
This world's Eastern Continent was modeled after ancient China.
I'd wondered why a Japanese game featured China, but setting that aside...
The Hao Gate belonged in the Eastern Continent by all rights.
It even occupied a position similar to the Open Faction, one of the Nine Great Sects.
'And the Gate Lord himself was incredibly strong.'
I wondered how I'd fare against him now—but the memory of just how formidable he seemed back then was still vivid.
Yet such a lord had moved to the Western Continent.
Thoroughly strange.
Normally, they'd defend their turf to the death.
As those thoughts swirled...
The crown prince laughed and addressed me.
"By the way, you're handling the sword I gave you exceptionally well."
"Ah, thank you. I made good use of it."
I shook the blood off the blade, gripped it by the hilt to hand it over easily, and offered it to the crown prince.
He shook his head.
"No need. You protected me, so keep it."
The crown prince spoke matter-of-factly.
He watched me with an enigmatic smile.
"You look reluctant. Better results than expected?"
The crown prince eyed me as he spoke.
"My life was a cheap price for it. If there's anything you need, just say the word."
As expected of the crown prince.
What a magnanimous guy.
I nodded gratefully.
Seeing my expression, Volkan's face twisted.
"Should I really take this one as my direct disciple?"
"Didn't you know I love money?"
"That's precisely why it's appealing. Most guys like you need all sorts of excuses and justifications to move, but you? Just flash some coin, and you're good to go."
Volkan said with a look of disbelief.
I shot him an equally incredulous glance.
'Isn't it obvious you'd go for the money?'
You're the weird one. Hire someone with money, and half the time they pocket it and vanish—or botch the job entirely. The holy sword sounded utterly baffled.
And the higher their level, the more they hold back. Or they just slack off. 'Well, sure.'
People are all different.
Some never click, no matter what.
Others fit perfectly.
Over time, allies turn to enemies.
Or the mismatched ones turn out fine.
What a strange guy. One moment you're as worldly as they come, the next you're acting like some enlightened priest deep in ascetic training. "...Possesses divinity, yet chases material wealth. Treats honor like scraps for dogs. Truly an inscrutable man."
A voice I'd heard before.
I followed it to see a man.
'Black Abyss Lord.'
So Yeonhwa's master.
One of the pillars upholding the empire.
He eyed me with a frown. He resembled Volkan, but where Volkan seemed forged in the wilds...
This man was a refined urban middle-ager.
Neatly groomed hair and beard. Black uniform.
I could feel him sizing me up.
"Care to learn the sword from me?"
He tossed it out casually. Beside him, So Yeonhwa's eyes lit with faint hope.
"What scheme is this punk pulling?"
Volkan growled.
"Scheme? Call it my desire to nurture the empire's talent."
"Desire to snatch a guy I've already marked?"
"Marked?"
As Volkan and the Black Abyss Lord bickered...
So Yeonhwa gave me a strange look.
"Got a thing for that?"
"Nonsense. No way, no way."
I waved it off like scolding a kid and glanced back.
The trio—Rozante, Ermé, and Diago—were fidgeting anxiously, having heard the crown prince, Volkan, and the Black Abyss Lord were here.
And Veronica...
"Let's hurry to the clan house and grab some food."
She spoke at her usual pace.
Had she left dinner in my hands or something?
'...Well, they earned it this time.'
They'd made a huge contribution keeping the crown prince safe in my absence.
Ermé, Rozante, and Diago didn't look hurt either.
"By the way, why do you always make my disciple cook for you?"
Perhaps irked by the scene, Volkan scowled at Veronica.
'Who said she's your disciple... Oh, right, the disciple deal.'
I swallowed the reflexive retort and watched them.
"Hah? As the church's Saintess, I'm eating a meal as payment for my work. Can't I at least get that?"
"...Huh? You're saying you did all that for one meal?"
Volkan scowled, glancing between Veronica and me.
"Haha, already hustling like a cheap mercenary."
Volkan sounded deflated.
He seemed to be laboring under some deeply unpleasant misconception.
"You wouldn't know, would you, Lord Volkan?"
"Hm? About that kid... Well, he keeps pulling surprises, so yeah, I might be out of the loop."
Volkan nodded sagely.
"It's actually a secret, but... Han Yuseong has an incredible Gift."
"Has a Gift, and he works for one meal... Wait a sec."
"No way..."
The Black Abyss Lord and Volkan's eyes went wide.
They stared at me.
"Y-You... Did you obtain it...!"
"The secret technique no human has grasped in a century...!"
"...?"
What the hell were they talking about, calling it a "secret technique"?
I was utterly baffled.
The only things I had that qualified as secret techniques were Sword Ghost, [Thief's Extremity (S)], [Steal Strike (S)], Fighting Demon, and Extreme Thunder God · Violet.
But they'd have called me out on those ages ago if that were it.
'No way.'
I told you—elf alchemy packs that kind of punch. '...'
No, surely not.
They couldn't be reacting like that to cooking, of all things...
"Hoo, well, as a commemoration for taking you as my disciple, guess I have no choice. I'll mooch a meal off your clan today."
"I'll lend a hand with your sword training on the way. Ahem, if it's too much trouble, treating me to one meal would be nice."
"... "
A thought suddenly surfaced.
They say people turn childish with age.
'Seriously, can't even act their age.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Hasn't the mansion gotten way too dreary lately?"
"What can we do? With Lady Cheong in that state."
The maids whispered among themselves.
The Beast King scowled fiercely at their words.
'Tch. How the hell did it come to this?'
Lately, the Beast King had been in a foul mood.
Among the humans, there was one he trusted—a promising prospect.
Things had been flowing nicely, so he'd given him a nudge and let it ride.
'But they couldn't even seal the deal and let him slip away!'
A colossal blunder.
Was spreading those favorable rumors to boost her appeal a mistake?
As such doubts crept in...
The Beast King arrived at his destination.
Knock knock.
He rapped gently on the door.
No response.
The presence inside was faint—anyone ordinary wouldn't sense a soul.
But the Beast King knew.
This was precisely why he'd come.
"Daughter, it's me."
Still no reply.
"I'm coming in."
The Beast King forced the door open.
Creak.
A sliver of light spilled in, revealing the room's state.
Her once snowy tail and hair had lost their luster.
And those eyes—glowing blue.
Or rather...
'How did it end up like this?'
Doll-like.
Completely lifeless eyes staring back at him—Lady Cheong.
The sight choked the Beast King.