Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 77
Chapter Title: The Sword I Desire
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“Groan...”
Shin Cheol-jin groaned as he took Shuv's killing intent head-on.
It wasn't just Shin Cheol-jin.
The killing intent and pressure radiating from Shuv bore down on everyone in the Clan Leader's Hall meeting room.
No one could so much as twitch.
Everyone except Shin Yu-hyun and Shin Sung-hyun.
But even Shin Sung-hyun, a fellow 6-star, had no choice but to feel the considerable pressure.
“Shuv.”
Shin Yu-hyun called out to her in a low voice. Like magic, the killing intent and pressure vanished.
Only then did the people in the meeting room breathe easy again.
“As you can see, she's my summon. And she made a huge contribution during the Iron Flower Unit's raid. So please treat her as a guest of the clan.”
Acting Clan Leader Shin Sung-hyun swallowed a groan and eyed Shuv at Shin Yu-hyun's words.
“Shuv, you say?”
“Yes.”
Shuv responded to Shin Sung-hyun with a smile. It was a complete one-eighty from how she'd faced Shin Cheol-jin moments ago.
“Word is she's not human?”
“Yes, that's right.”
Shin Sung-hyun's head throbbed at her reply, delivered with a beautiful smile.
Likely because she wasn't human.
But Shuv didn't use her charm's demonic eyes on him.
They were the same 6-star rank, after all.
“Very well. You may stay as a clan guest. But do not reveal your true form.”
In the end, Shin Sung-hyun accepted her.
The Grand Dharma Protector of the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan—his word was as good as Clan Leader Shin Sung-il's while the man was away.
It spoke volumes about how much Shin Sung-il trusted him, and the clan leader himself would have welcomed Shuv.
She was bound by contract to Shin Yu-hyun and had saved the clan from peril.
The condition, though, was that she remain in human guise.
If word got out that a non-human was in the Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan, it would spell nothing but trouble.
“Then please extend guest status to Dia as well.”
“The little girl you've been keeping with you?”
“Yes.”
Shin Sung-hyun's brow furrowed deeply as Shin Yu-hyun nodded.
But he'd already approved Shuv, so one more shouldn't make a difference.
And weren't they both Shin Yu-hyun's summons?
“Fine. Same conditions.”
“Thank you.”
Shin Yu-hyun bowed his head in gratitude. Dia was accepted as a clan guest under the same terms—no true form revealed. Now Shuv and Dia could operate openly within the clan.
“Never thought you'd wield necromancer powers, of all things.”
Shin Sung-hyun gazed at Shin Yu-hyun with wonder in his eyes.
The Heaven-Splitting Sword Clan had climbed to one of Korea's four great houses on swordsmanship alone.
Yet here was a direct descendant inheriting necromancer strength.
“I didn't expect it either.”
Shin Yu-hyun gave a wry smile.
The clan had been stunned at first to learn Shin Yu-hyun possessed necromancer abilities.
No one had imagined he'd pair his swordsman prowess with necromancy.
But the shock quickly soured to disappointment.
Necromancer, of all things?
In this world, necromancers were pathetically weak, worth next to nothing.
While they chanted spells to summon undead, superhuman swordsmen could land ten strikes.
But they had no choice but to recognize Shin Yu-hyun, who had appeared one after another at the east, west, and south gates to subdue the magic beasts.
Over two hundred skeleton soldiers boasting presence rivaling 4-star superhumans.
The colossal Hecaton Hyper Beetle, Kairon—not even flinching against a 4-star boss-grade magic beast.
And Shuv on top of that.
Cute little Dia and Ka-mang-i were just icing.
How could they deny it after witnessing that?
“The 3-star aura you wielded at your 2-star breakthrough—was that necromancer power too?”
“Use your imagination.”
Shin Yu-hyun grinned.
In that instant, Shin Sung-hyun realized it.
Shin Yu-hyun had awakened his necromancer powers back then already.
He shook his head in disbelief.
“Understood. As acting clan leader, I'll bestow a reward. What do you desire?”
Shin Sung-hyun pried no further into Shin Yu-hyun's powers.
In superhuman society, questioning another's abilities was taboo, unwritten rule or not.
‘A reward...’
Shin Yu-hyun pondered.
He'd racked up achievements for the clan up to now.
Today alone: repelled the magic beast assault and captured the Iron Flower Unit's executives gunning for the clan.
Not to mention rescuing Black Tortoise Hall members from the Arachne nest and saving Namdu Group's heiress Nam Yeon-ah from an unidentified dungeon gate.
All monumental feats bolstering the clan's prestige.
‘Now's the time to claim it.’
A smile tugged at Shin Yu-hyun's lips.
“Then I'll take a sword.”
“A sword?”
An intrigued expression crossed Shin Sung-hyun's face.
“The one you're using isn't good enough?”
“It is. Demon Sword Ignis is an excellent blade.”
Rare-grade, no less.
“But I've reached 4-star now. Time for an upgrade.”
Shin Yu-hyun chuckled.
“4-star...!”
The clan members' eyes wavered at his words.
They were only just hearing he'd hit 4-star.
And it'd been mere months since his 2-star breakthrough.
4-star already?
That normally took years.
“Is it true? You've reached 4-star?”
“Yes. That's how I managed the contract with Shuv.”
“Hmph.”
Shin Sung-hyun masked his shock with a grunt.
Soon the Clan Leader's Hall buzzed.
Clan members murmured in astonishment—from the Dharma Protectors to Shin Cheol-min and Shin Cheol-ho, even second sister Shin Ji-ah wore disbelieving expressions.
If true, it was monstrous talent.
2-star to 4-star in months!
Unfathomable growth.
‘Necromancer powers at play?’
Shin Sung-hyun figured as much.
“How on earth did you gain such power...”
He shook his head, staring at Shin Yu-hyun.
He itched to grill him: how he'd acquired necromancy, how he'd shot from 2-star to 4-star so fast.
But Shin Yu-hyun merely smiled under his gaze.
“Fine. What sword?”
“A Unique-grade one.”
“Unique?”
The room erupted again.
Demon Sword Ignis was Rare-grade, fit for 4-stars.
But Unique-grade? That was 6-star territory, beyond even 5-star Exceptional Rare!
“You want the Sacred Relic Vault opened?”
“Yes.”
Shin Yu-hyun nodded.
Deep in the clan's armory lay the Sacred Relic Vault, stocked solely with Unique-grade weapons.
Only those vouched for by guardian Shin Ji-ah and boasting major merits gained entry.
And Shin Yu-hyun had more than earned it, short tenure notwithstanding.
“Shin Ji-ah.”
Shin Sung-hyun turned to her.
The armory was her domain.
“At 4-star, he qualifies.”
Shin Ji-ah endorsed him.
Shock rippled through the room.
Precious few in the clan even wielded Unique-grade or better.
Unique weapons weren't issued below 5-star.
Yet here she was greenlighting a 6-star-caliber blade for him.
Sure, he'd pried Rare-grade Demon Sword Ignis from her at 2-star, but circumstances differed.
Rares fell under her discretion—and back then, he needed a blade to handle his Black Flame.
“His growth is insane. When did he get this strong...”
“No kidding.”
“Who could've predicted Yu-hyun turning out like this?”
“Guess blood will tell.”
The clan nodded along with Shin Ji-ah's words, convinced.
‘So this is superhuman society.’
The clan was starting to accept Shin Yu-hyun, piece by piece.
Yet amid it all, he felt a pang of bitterness.
Just three months back, pre-qi awakening, he'd been dismissed—nearly cast out.
But the moment his power and talent surfaced, attitudes flipped.
He didn't hate the recognition.
Still, it left a bitter taste.
This world, judging all by strength.
Even sans magic beasts or superhumans, nothing would change.
The yardstick would just shift from star ratings to cash.
“As acting clan leader, I authorize Black Tortoise Hall Leader Shin Yu-hyun access to the Sacred Relic Vault.”
“Thank you.”
Shin Yu-hyun bowed to the ruling. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The clan meeting dragged into the night.
Resolving the Iron Flower Unit raid aftermath took time.
Once done, Shin Yu-hyun sent Shuv and Ishia to Black Tortoise Hall.
Ishia, his secretary, had waited through it all.
Then he headed to the armory with Shin Ji-ah.
En route, she finally spoke, a touch sulky.
“You vanished for ages—must've been swamped?”
He hadn't visited since claiming Demon Sword Ignis from her armory.
She couldn't abandon her post often, only attending full convocations like today.
Shin Yu-hyun rarely showed for meetings either—their first encounter since.
“Sorry. Yeah, busy.”
No lie: post-qi awakening and Ignis acquisition, he'd been nonstop.
Brain crammed with power-ups, prepping for Getia before they struck.
In between, Getia worshippers surfaced; clashes with Iron Flower Unit ensued.
“Still, glad you're safe. Stay out of danger—Mother worries.”
“No worries.”
Shin Yu-hyun flashed a reassuring smile.
From his past life on, Shin Ji-ah was among the clan's scant few who truly cared.
Being with her eased his mind.
Idle chit-chat carried them to the armory.
Her presence fast-tracked security.
“Any weapon in mind?”
“Yeah, one specific.”
The clan was strict about dispensing Uniques for good reason.
They'd originally housed around twenty.
Half claimed; ten or so remained.
Among the vault's Unique arsenal, what suited him best now?
“The weapon I want is...”