Chapter 6
Chapter 6
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: The Armory Guardian
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And she was the only direct descendant who didn't participate in the successor struggle.
Generation after generation, the guardian of the armory never took part in the fight for succession.
From a young age, she had shown interest in nothing but swords above all else.
She collected all sorts of blades or even forged her own to match her desires.
In a way, she was the oddest one among the direct descendants.
But no one in the clan dared ignore her.
She was a peak 5-star swordsman, one of the clan's top powerhouses.
Moreover, when it came to armory matters, even Clan Leader Shin Sung-il deferred to her with utmost trust.
'She's got a picky personality.'
Normal-grade weapons were no issue at all.
But anything magic-grade or higher? She wouldn't hand them out to just anyone. Only to those she deemed worthy.
The problem was that a longsword capable of enduring Dark Soul Blaze needed to be at least magic or rare grade.
She wouldn't easily give a magic-grade or higher weapon to Shin Yu-hyun, who hadn't unlocked his vital energy until turning twenty.
Not even now that he'd unlocked it and become a 2-star superhuman.
But...
"Think I can pry a rare-grade one out of her at least?"
Shin Yu-hyun curled his lips into a smirk.
The next morning.
Shin Yu-hyun set out from Black Tortoise Hall to meet his second sister, Shin Ji-ah.
He had no escorts.
He hadn't yet earned the recognition of the Black Tortoise Hall swordsmen.
If anything, they'd harbor plenty of resentment toward him.
While he was away as hall leader, the other sword halls had looked down on them, poached their talent, and the clan hadn't provided proper support.
'I'll fix that soon enough.'
With that resolve, Shin Yu-hyun gave the Black Tortoise Hall building one last glance before heading toward the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan's armory.
The armory lay to the southeast of the clan leader's quarters at the heart of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan.
It was a single-story warehouse-style building with top-tier security in the clan.
Multiple layers of steel walls surrounded it, and Shin Ji-ah's subordinate warriors patrolled hourly.
'Still the same as ever.'
Arriving at the armory, Shin Yu-hyun wore a nostalgic expression.
"Halt."
As Shin Yu-hyun approached the armory, the two guards at the main gate eyed him warily and spoke up.
Shin Yu-hyun walked toward them and opened his mouth.
"I'm here to see my second sister."
"It's you, Shin Yu-hyun."
Recognizing his face, the guards' expressions softened a touch.
They knew who he was.
And they showed no sign of disdain.
That was thanks to his second sister, Shin Ji-ah.
She was one of the few in the clan who looked out for Shin Yu-hyun.
"This way."
The guards led him to a fingerprint scanner beside the main gate.
Bzzz, bzzz.
Shin Yu-hyun placed his palm on the scanner. It hummed as it scanned, then a mechanical voice rang out.
Rumble rumble rumble.
The massive steel main gate of the armory began to slide open.
"See you later."
"Yes. Have a good time."
Leaving the guards' farewells behind, Shin Yu-hyun passed through the thick steel gate and entered the armory building.
The sharp tang of iron assaulted his nose the moment he stepped inside.
A vast, open space with a cool breeze and high ceilings.
Various swords hung on the walls or stood displayed in central cases.
This was the first weapons warehouse.
'Just normal-grade longswords, though.'
Shin Yu-hyun scanned the blades as he ventured deeper. Shin Ji-ah's subordinates were tending to the displayed swords inside the armory.
A bit further in stood a vault door like something out of a bank, at least two meters in diameter.
Beyond that vault door lay the second weapons warehouse, storing magic-grade longswords and gear.
And right in front of the vault door, at an elegant wooden desk, sat a figure examining an array of longswords.
Neat bob haircut reaching the nape of her neck, round red-framed glasses.
A languid expression to top it off.
If not for the swords on the desk, she'd fit the image of a literary girl perfectly.
This was the armory's overseer—and Shin Yu-hyun's second sister—Shin Ji-ah.
"Sis."
"Yu-hyun, you're here."
Shin Ji-ah, who had been languidly inspecting the longswords moments ago, looked up at Shin Yu-hyun.
In that instant, Shin Yu-hyun realized something.
'So this is how my second sis has always looked at me.'
Eyes filled with pity and sympathy.
She must have seen him—a guy who couldn't unlock his vital energy even by twenty—as pathetic.
That's why she'd worried over him and comforted him.
He hadn't noticed in his previous life.
Back then, he was too busy scrambling to survive the moment, desperate not to get kicked out of the clan.
But now, things were different. He had the mental leeway.
Probably thanks to those harsh past experiences, his memories, and that 100-point mental strength.
"So, what brings you here?"
Shin Ji-ah asked with a kind smile.
Just like in his previous life, when she'd worried and cared for him.
Excluding Mother, she was likely the only one in the clan who'd treated him with genuine kindness.
But even she had been brutally murdered by the 67th of Getia, Duke Amdusias of the Thorns.
Impaled on a skewer, slowly tortured to death.
Not just her, but everyone in the clan Shin Yu-hyun held dear.
While Father and the clan's main forces were away from home, Amdusias's ambush had wiped them out effortlessly.
'Not this time. I won't let it happen.'
Gazing at the smiling Shin Ji-ah before him, Shin Yu-hyun vowed.
This time, he would protect that smile.
"Got some business with you, sis."
"With me?"
Shin Ji-ah tilted her head cutely at his words.
"I want you to give me a sword."
"A... sword?"
Her expression darkened in an instant.
She loved swords.
That was why she only handed them out—or gifted them—to superhumans she approved of.
But she'd never once given one to Shin Yu-hyun.
"Yu-hyun, you know what I always say. I want you to do what you can do."
Shin Ji-ah said with a serious look.
Her words warmed his chest.
In his previous life, he hadn't understood her intentions. He'd thought she was just like the other direct descendants, looking down on him.
But now he knew clearly.
She'd said it out of genuine worry for him.
She'd wanted him to avoid the dangerous path of the sword and take a safe, peaceful road instead.
"I know you're worried about me now, sis. But I can't back down either."
Shin Yu-hyun replied firmly.
To get revenge on Getia, he had to walk the path of the sword.
"You..."
Seeing his resolute demeanor, Shin Ji-ah realized her little brother had changed.
Like Uncle Shin Sung-hyun, she'd always seen Shin Yu-hyun as timid and cowed.
But not now. He exuded composure and confidence. One might even call it manly.
"And besides, my sword ended up like this."
Shin Yu-hyun drew his sword and showed it to her.
"What's wrong with it?"
Shin Ji-ah took the sword and drew it from the scabbard.
In that moment—
Crush...
Shin Ji-ah's eyes widened like a startled cat as she stared at his sword.
The shattered blade inside the scabbard crumbled into powder and poured out.
"What the...?"
She looked utterly incredulous. How could a blade shatter like this?
"Wanna know?"
Shin Yu-hyun gazed at her with a sly smile.
"No way, did you...?"
Seeing his brimming confidence, Shin Ji-ah suddenly realized it.
Shin Yu-hyun had unlocked his vital energy.
To drive the point home, he drew mana from his chakra.
Hummm.
Intense mana erupted from his body in a powerful surge.
"When did you even unlock your vital energy...?"
"Yesterday."
"Yesterday?!"
Shin Ji-ah's face was a mask of disbelief.
She knew him well. Talented in swordsmanship, but hopeless with mana—her pitiful little brother.
She'd figured he either never would, or it'd take ages if he did.
But yesterday?
And that wasn't all.
The amount of mana pouring from him was no joke. It felt vaster than a typical 2-star superhuman's.
"How on earth did you hide your mana like this?"
Shin Ji-ah eyed him curiously.
You could somewhat suppress mana to conceal it.
But hiding a full vital energy unlock as a 2-star swordsman? Impossible.
Especially from higher-grade superhumans like her.
"Sorry, sis. It's a secret. Can't tell even you."
Shin Yu-hyun chuckled.
He could hide it thanks to the Chakra Cultivation Method and Maria's mana control techniques.
But no need to spill that. Superhumans hid their power all the time.
Revealing the source could expose weaknesses.
It made a perfect excuse for his newfound strength without explanation.
"You're a true Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan member after all."
Shin Ji-ah nodded.
Her other siblings never shared their power secrets either.
Nor did she.
Everyone in the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan had some innate talent.
And now her brother had bloomed his.
"Congrats on becoming a 2-star superhuman anyway."
Whatever the reason, he'd unlocked it and reached 2-star.
She knew how badly he'd wanted it, so she congratulated him.
She couldn't stop him from walking the sword's path anymore.
"Thanks. So, as a congrats gift, how about a sword?"
"Deal. I'll push for magic-grade."
Magic-grade?
Shin Yu-hyun stifled a laugh inside.
Magic-grade wasn't just for swords—it was main gear for 2- or 3-star superhumans.
But he was aiming higher.
"Rare-grade would be better, if possible."
"Rare-grade? You've been 2-star for a whole day and you want rare already? My Yu-hyun's got big dreams."
Shin Ji-ah laughed playfully, but she meant it.
She doted on him, sure, but on swords? No compromises. Pride wouldn't allow it.
Giving even magic-grade to a fresh 2-star felt excessive.
"Has to be rare."
Shin Yu-hyun glanced at his old longsword.
Curious, Shin Ji-ah spoke up.
"Speaking of, how the heck did it get smashed like this?"
She'd seen countless swords, but never one this wrecked.
Parts of the shattered blade looked like brittle ash.
Shin Yu-hyun flashed a meaningful smile her way.
"Curious...? You know."