Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Hero
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The next morning, I was on my way to the Adventurer's Guild.
I spotted the woman who had trespassed into my precious home yesterday standing right in front of my door.
“...”
The woman stared at me with silent eyes.
But chills ran down my spine.
What the hell did she do to get here already?
I felt a strong suspicion about my home.
Id spent so much platinum here.
When Id pressed the security bell, guards had rushed right over.
This was the safest spot in all of Cradle.
Why did a stalker have to latch onto me?
I looked at the trespasser.
She seemed perfectly fine on the surface.
But who in their right mind writes Im crazy about you on their own face?
I eyed her suspiciously.
“...”
She gazed back at me with downcast eyes.
Still, it was a bit puzzling.
Sure, my looks had improved dramatically and I was far more handsome now.
But were they stalker-worthy?
From an objective standpoint.
Pretty tempting, huh.
My appearance here was on another level.
Others had mentioned I had this mysterious aura too.
This mana-rich place was full of handsome men and beautiful women, yet mine still stood out.
Shes my stalker.
Once I started seeing her that way, everything looked different.
Her blank stare seemed even more vacant.
No, is she really a stalker?
But there were suspicious points when I thought about it.
For some reason, shed said it when she saw me.
Sword Hero.
...Had rumors spread in the meantime? Unlikely.
No way.
Id come straight home from the Labyrinth; no time for rumors.
So this woman was...
Who?
I stared at her.
She looked back with dazed eyes, then finally spoke.
“Listen up, Han Yuseong.”
“Who the hell are you?”
“...?”
She stared at me blankly.
It hit me anew just how pretty she was. Eyes sparkling like jewels, golden hair gleaming with luster.
Shame she seems so incredibly dense.
I watched her.
She tilted her head, mimicking me.
“Oh, right.”
She mumbled in a dazed voice.
She rummaged in her pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper.
“Its a message from the Imperial Chancellor.”
“And who are you?”
“...?”
She looked at me and tilted her head again.
“You dont know me?”
How would I know you?
Well, I had a guess.
It just didnt seem possible that she was the person everyone warned me about. She was too airheaded.
“Genius Slayer.”
I spoke up.
She squinted and replied.
“Yeonhwa.”
“...?”
“So Yeonhwa. Thats my name.”
So Yeonhwa declared.
*
Genius Slayer, So Yeonhwa.
Anyone who should know her name here did.
Even if the Empire hid her like a secret blade.
Her talents in the process had been too overwhelming.
Shed been kept under wraps to groom her as the Sword Hero, but as they say, a pearl stays hidden only so long.
Before long, everyone who mattered knew about her.
And.
Genius Slayer.
That nickname came from breaking and crushing countless geniuses.
There were plenty of prodigies.
But they all shattered against her sword talent.
The title wasnt given lightly.
So Yeonhwa blinked and looked at me. I leaned back casually and met her gaze.
“So, whats your business here?”
“I was ordered to investigate you.”
“...?”
Normally, wouldnt someone gather info discreetly?
Showing up right in front of me, demanding it outright?
Like Id tell her.
She must think Im an idiot.
“So tell me.”
“...”
My head started to ache.
First time dealing with this type.
“What do you want to know about me?”
“No idea. I was just told to find out.”
“By who?”
“The Imperial Chancellor.”
“...Cant you just skip it?”
“No. Then Id have to attend banquets for a while.”
Shouldnt it be the other way around?
Well, Id only heard about her personality a few times, but for So Yeonhwa, it fit.
Probably from swinging her sword day and night.
Her social skills were seriously lacking.
“Fine, cross swords with me then.”
“Swords?”
“Yeah.”
So Yeonhwa looked at me with eager eyes. Those sparkling red eyes were intensely burdensome.
She seemed purely, genuinely interested.
A spar, huh.
I studied So Yeonhwa.
Her talent was terrifyingone look at a sword technique, and she could replicate it perfectly.
Diago had called fighting her idiotic.
At first, anyway.
Honestly though.
When Id first heard, Id thought, so what?
She mimics swordplay. Im confident in mine too.
And later.
Diago acknowledged me.
-You could become the Sword Hero.
Just like that. I looked at her.
The Empire had hidden her, so she probably hadnt leveled up much in Cradle.
Similar to me, or maybe a bit higher.
One or the other.
Sparring now wouldnt be bad.
Why should I?
Honestly, I had too much to sort out.
New abilities from leveling up.
The holy swords final technique, Heaven Splitter.
I was swamped just mastering those two.
Now this Genius Slayer pops up.
I couldnt neglect my training because of her.
“No.”
“...Then tell me.”
“No to that too.”
“Why keep saying no?”
“Because I dont want to.”
So Yeonhwa squinted briefly, then spoke.
“Ill grant you one requestwithin reason.”
“Dont really want anything.”
I truly didnt.
Sure, Id gain a lot from sparring So Yeonhwa.
But I had another certainty.
Shed take something from me too.
My instincts whispered it.
*
Guard Hans was in a good mood.
More precisely, he had been until yesterday.
The reason was simple.
The upscale neighborhood for adventurers and nobles staying in Cradle.
Hed been patrolling when the security bell rang, so hed rushed over.
This place?
Home to Han Yuseong, famed disciple of Sword King Volkan.
Even nobles marveled at the price, but the lands unique magic made it priceless.
Crucial for brewing medicine or poison, so Han Yuseong had tearfully bought it.
Thats where the bell rang.
Chance.
Hans saw opportunity. Disciple of Cradles power player, Volkan.
He didnt crave high powerit didnt suit him.
Just squad leader would do.
So hed worked hard.
Locked up the woman.
And now faced demotion.
“...Pardon?”
“Sorry. The woman you imprisoned... Shes an Empire countess, under orders from the Empires strongest figure outside the palace, the Chancellor...”
“...”
Hans paled.
He might avoid demotion.
This was Cradle, not the Empire.
But Cradle allied closely with the Empire.
Detaining a countess on the Chancellors orders...
“Theres room for leniency. Luckily, higher-ups are interested in Han Yuseong.”
Opposition might pull strings.
But Hans knew.
They wouldnt for him.
So when he went to Han Yuseongs home to beg mercy...
“...”
The two facing off turned to him.
...Demon Kings?
They looked less like heroes.
More like conquerors poised to overrun the world.
Hans fainted on the spot.
*
Why did this guy pass out?
I suppressed a sigh.
So Yeonhwa was handful enough without some weirdo collapsing.
I called nearby guards to handle him and headed to the Adventurer's Guild.
“Join my clan.”
“Declined.”
“What do you want?”
“Nothing much.”
Id eaten plenty of elixirs.
Money wasnt an issue.
Worst case, borrow from Ermé.
If anything...
Maybe some armor.
Time to upgrade these.
Lost in thought, I quickened my pace.
Not worth it, though.
Shes in the way.
So Yeonhwas looks drew too much attention.
Holy sword-taught hero gait.
Light, far-leaping steps: Flying Cloud Stride.
I slipped into the black market to lose So Yeonhwa.