Chapter 55
Chapter 55
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 55
Chapter Title: Honeyed Words, Sword in the Belly (14)
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The blood flowing from my severed arm finally stopped. Only then did I toss the arm holding the dark sword onto the ground. My mind was a chaotic mess, giving me a splitting headache.
The memories of the freed Sword Demon had mingled with my own, bringing no small amount of confusion. At first, I thought it was just inheriting the old man's—no, the Sword Demon's—inner energy.
But that wasn't the end of it. The Sword Demon had his own schemes. Could the reason he saved a mere infant like me have been that from the start?
But it didn't add up in many ways. The old man had clearly advised me to walk the righteous path, and those teachings were still etched in my mind.
Of course, he hadn't taught me systematic etiquette or scholarship like the orthodox warriors. Still, at the very least, he'd instilled that I shouldn't do evil.
So why was he suddenly baring his fangs now?
It was quite confusing, but for now, I calmly sorted through the situation. I didn't know the Sword Demon's exact intentions, but it was clear his memories were encroaching on me.
In fact, while fighting the Nangong clan's dark sword, a portion of the Sword Demon's memories had been released. Thanks to that, I'd gained power closer to the Sword Demon's, but the side effects were far from minor.
"...Right now, I can clearly recognize that I am myself. But if I keep using the Sword Demon's inner energy and memories, will I still be able to clearly recognize that I am myself then?"
Unfortunately, I couldn't give a definite answer to that question. But not using this immense power would undoubtedly be a loss. The Sword Demon's strength was overwhelmingly superior.
As proof, during the fight with the dark sword: at first, I was being pushed back, but as the Sword Demon's memories partially awakened, I completely overwhelmed it. Though I ultimately failed to kill the dark sword.
'Even the same sword becomes a murderous weapon in the hands of a killer, while in a soldier's hands, it becomes a guardian upholding the emperor's law.'
Even if I wanted to excise the Sword Demon's memories, there was no way to do it right now. So for the time being, I'd have to use this power while searching for a solution.
Of course, I wasn't gleefully embracing this power. But right now, I had no choice but to face the Demonic Cult. After all, I'd already become their enemy.
They wouldn't stop until they killed me. So I couldn't stop until I'd completely uprooted the Demonic Cult. And naturally, I'd need power for that.
'I realized it while facing the dark sword this time. More than anything, I desperately need strength.'
The dark sword was a warrior on a completely different level from anyone I'd faced before. For example, fighting the Moyong clan patriarch Moyong Gang felt like two forces clashing head-on with all their might.
In contrast, the dark sword felt like it was blocking me from exerting my full power at the source. Because of that, I couldn't even use techniques like Mount Tai Pressure or Horizontal Soaring Heaven and was forced back.
And the reason that was possible was probably because the dark sword had reached the Flower Realm. With me barely at the Absolute Pinnacle, it meant I had no choice but to be overwhelmed.
'But after partially regaining the Sword Demon's memories, things changed.'
To be precise, it felt like the Sword Demon's memories were controlling my body. In any case, it was undeniable that those memories were far stronger than my current self. I let out a sigh.
Of course, I had no intention of relying on the Sword Demon's memories forever. Someday, I needed to defeat masters like the dark sword with my own power. Only then could I triumph over the Demonic Cult.
"Great Hero! Are you alright?!"
"We didn't expect the Great Hero to come."
"...Why are you two emerging from there?"
Oh no, I let it slip without thinking.
Despite the familiar faces climbing up from the basement of the collapsed building, a sharp tone escaped my lips unbidden. The two young men looked greatly flustered as a result.
It seemed the Sword Demon's memories were still influencing me. I cleared my throat to lighten the mood. The fights were all over. There was no need to stay on edge.
"It's nothing. More importantly, what were you doing here?"
"Truth be told, we were thrown into prison right after arriving."
"That dark sword tried to kill us."
"H-Hey, buddy. Even if it's true, saying it so bluntly..."
"It's not like I'm making it up."
I see. A rough picture formed in my mind. That dark sword bastard had planned to pin all the blame on the Sword Demon and use it as a pretext to wage war against the Demonic Cult.
Naturally, living witnesses like these two would only be a hindrance. So the dark sword had tried to eliminate them personally. But I'd arrived first.
"Then first, we should return to the Moyong clan..."
"Great Hero? Are you alright?"
"Blood from your mouth...!!"
"Damn."
I grimaced. Along with pain like hundreds of needles stabbing my organs, fresh blood poured from my mouth. But it wasn't from injuries sustained in the fight with the dark sword.
I instinctively realized it.
Internal injuries from the Sword Demon's brutal fighting style.
But the moment I realized that, my consciousness began to fade.
Fortunately, thanks to Ma Gang and Go Gyeom, Nameless at least avoided collapsing on the wet ground in the drizzle. They immediately transported him back to the Moyong clan.
When Nameless returned unconscious on Ma Gang's back, the ones most shocked were none other than Sua and Seolhwa. They'd witnessed their master's formidable power firsthand.
Especially Sua—it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she knew her master's greatness and strength far better than Seolhwa. So for her master to suffer internal injuries from another warrior?
'I can't even imagine such a thing. There must be another reason.'
'Master couldn't possibly be injured by someone else.'
However, everyone except Sua and Seolhwa had no choice but to assume it was from the fight with the dark sword. After all, the Nangong clan's dark sword was a renowned master.
"The Nangong clan's dark sword—isn't that the absolute master from the Nangong clan who survived the Sword Demon War?"
"That blade of vengeance, honed for decades, may have finally reached the Sword Demon Great Hero."
"The Sword Demon Great Hero must have suffered great internal injuries from the Sword Demon War as well. Add the passage of time, and it's not incomprehensible that he was wounded by the dark sword."
'I'm thirty, you idiots.'
Treated so naturally as some backroom geezer, Nameless couldn't help but wake up in indignation. Besides, it wasn't a severe injury to begin with.
To put it in words, it felt like his body couldn't keep up with the memories. The resulting strain had overloaded his body, leading to the internal injuries.
The place where Nameless regained consciousness was the residence where the Moyong clan was staying. It had originally been prepared for talks with the Nangong clan, but unfortunately, those talks had fallen through.
"I've caused you unnecessary trouble. My apologies, Patriarch."
"It's fine. If we'd made an enemy of the Great Hero, we wouldn't have joined hands anyway."
"Thank you. For upholding righteousness."
"You're the benefactor who saved our Moyong clan—how could we not do this much?"
Moyong Hyeon waved his hands as if it were absurd, stopping Nameless from bowing his head. If not for Nameless, the Moyong clan would have fallen into the Demonic Cult's hands by now.
'We owe the Great Hero not just our lives, but our entire clan. So the Moyong clan will walk the path with him to the end and uphold our bond. However, there's one thing that weighs on my mind...'
"Master!!!"
The disciples rushed in the moment they heard Nameless had awakened. And among them was Moyong Hyeon's younger sister, Sua. She threw herself straight at Nameless.
"Master! Are you alright?!"
"I'm fine. But you're all grown up—how can you just cling like this?"
"It's fine if it's Master."
"This girl."
'...Sua doesn't harbor feelings for the Great Hero, does she?'
It was good that she followed him well, but her actions carried too much emotion. Moyong Hyeon felt a flicker of worry, but soon shook it off.
Looking back, she'd grown up without her parents' love, unlike others. So she must simply trust and rely on the Great Hero like a parent.
'In fact, we should thank the Great Hero for that. It's no different from him caring for Sua in our place.'
And even if Sua secretly harbored romantic feelings. He believed the Great Hero would handle it properly. However, Nameless was thinking something else entirely.
"What happened with the talks and the Evil Path Union?"
"Ah. W-Well... they ended alright, more or less."
"So there are others in the martial world willing to stand against the Demonic Cult, besides the Moyong clan and Evil Path Union?"
"Not many, but they're not entirely absent."
Nameless nodded at Moyong Hyeon's words. The forces opposing the Demonic Cult needed to be united. And at the same time, he had to find a way to control the memories.
The path ahead was long and perilous.