Chapter 25. The Chosen Ones (1)
Chapter 25. The Chosen Ones (1)
1
As the dazzling light poured down, the guardian spirit spoke urgently.
-Hey, hold on. If only the top 10 get summoned separately, won't old man Marcus be there too? The old man's eyes will roll back in his head the moment he sees you and he'll charge at you. What are you gonna do?
'Geez, you worry too much. It's fine. What's the worst that could happen? I'd just die.'
-Kim Zombie, you little.......
The guardian spirit's mouth twitched as if about to launch into a lecture. Yikes. I quickly added.
'I'm saying it's fine because I've already thought it all through. Don't you know? I'm Kim Gong-ja, Kim Gong-ja. The shameless bastard acknowledged by the Sword Emperor! Just trust me.'
-You're saying you have a plan?
'Of course! I've got a solid plan. I'll show you right away.'
-Hmph.
The guardian spirit crossed his arms, clearly not pleased.
But whether he had complaints or not, it was already too late. The summoning had begun, and white light completely enveloped us. Whatever ending awaited, I now had no choice but to face the Sword Saint.
I closed my eyes.
[Transfer complete.]
When I opened my eyes again, I had already been summoned to the 11th floor.
The place was completely different from the 10th floor. Polar opposite, you could say. If the 10th floor was a fierce and filthy battlefield where life and death clashed, the 11th floor was a splendid and luxurious palace. It was the imperial palace of the Aegim Empire.
'...No, wait.'
I looked around.
'When it comes to fierce and filthy, palace politics might be just the same.'
Other top clearers were summoned into the throne room one after another. There were some faces I'd never seen before, but the majority were hunters I'd met yesterday—the Witch, the Count, and others. Their reputations were well-earned. They weren't the heads of major guilds for nothing.
I made eye contact with the other hunters.
"Oh?"
"Hmm."
The hunters' reactions were varied. Some beamed as if to say, "I knew you'd be here first," while others furrowed their brows as if to say, "I didn't expect you to take first place again."
"Hunter Kim Gong-ja! That was incredible!"
The Heretic Questioner belonged to the former group.
"I thoroughly enjoyed watching your performance on the 10th floor! I never imagined you'd use the NPCs like that. I was moved!"
The Heretic Questioner scurried over. Maybe because he was so short, he really did look like a puppy running up to me.
"Is that sword at your waist a special item? The NPCs started following Hunter Kim Gong-ja without hesitation after seeing that sword. Did you receive it as a reward for clearing the 9th floor?"
"Well, something like that......."
"I knew it!"
The Heretic Questioner beamed up at me.
"To break through to the very front of the 10th floor using a reward from the 9th floor. Your adaptability is remarkable!"
"No, well. It's not that big a deal......."
"From now on, many people will envy Hunter Kim Gong-ja. They might treat you as a lucky nouveau riche. Ignore them! It's all your own skill!"
Huh.
What's with this person? Is he an angel?
-Hey! Kim Zombie! You idiot!
The guardian spirit suddenly shouted.
His voice was different from his usual teasing tone. It was an urgent cry.
-Watch out! Right now, behind you......!
That moment. Before the guardian spirit could even finish speaking, everything happened at once.
"Hm."
The first person to react was the Heretic Questioner right in front of me.
The Heretic Questioner, who had been grinning cheerfully, narrowed his eyes and grabbed my wrist, yanking me. My posture crumbled as I staggered. One step. The Heretic Questioner shoved me back and stepped forward in my place.
"...Divine art, Flesh God."
It was the instant the Heretic Questioner murmured lowly. Clang! The sound of steel violently striking something rang out. It wasn't ordinary steel.
A sword.
It was a sword strike carrying unmistakable killing intent.
"Ah-ha."
The Heretic Questioner laughed.
His eyes weren't laughing.
"How surprising, Sword Saint. Since when did you change classes to assassin?"
"Move aside."
An old gentleman dressed in a suit. The Sword Saint spoke coldly.
The Sword Saint raised a long sword and pointed it at us.
No.
I misspoke.
"I will kill that bastard."
He wasn't pointing it at us. He was pointing it at me.
2
Silence fell over the throne room.
My whole body tingled as if electricity were flowing through the air.
"Hm."
Only the Heretic Questioner responded, his tone not much different from before.
"Pardon me. By 'that bastard,' you don't mean Hunter Kim Gong-ja, do you?"
"Of course I do."
The Sword Saint answered.
"If you don't move aside, I'll cut off one of your arms as well."
The Heretic Questioner smiled brightly.
"That's a bit troubling! I can't step aside for you right now. Hunter Kim Gong-ja is someone recognized by the five major guilds, including our Pantheon. If I let him die here, the five major guilds' reputations would fall to the ground!"
"So you're determined to throw away one of your arms, young man."
"Ah, that's also a problem! My arms still have plenty of use."
The Heretic Questioner tilted his head, still smiling.
"Could you tell me why you're targeting Hunter Kim Gong-ja?"
"I have no obligation to do so."
"Are you saying you have no intention of giving up?"
"Stop chattering and move aside."
The Sword Saint refused firmly.
Right. From the old man's perspective, I was a mass murderer who had killed over four thousand people. As long as he didn't know about my skill, the Sword Saint had no choice but to come at me like that.
"I'll say it again. I will kill that bastard."
"Hmm! Then I have no choice."
The Heretic Questioner brought his hands together.
"I will subdue you here. Divine art, Sending God."
At that moment, light burst from behind the Sword Saint. Flash! Two hunters emerged from the burst of light.
Heavenly Martial Sect Master Viper, Vigilante Corps Vice-Captain Paladin. The two hunters, widely known as combat specialists, let out battle cries. They swung their weapons at the Sword Saint's back.
"Haaaah!"
The Sword Saint furrowed his brow.
"Gnats......."
The Sword Saint clicked his tongue. In the time it took to click his tongue once, his sword swung once. Blue aura split the air, raising small sprays of blood. Two cuts. With just two sword strikes, Paladin was cut on the cheek. Viper's forearm split open with a sword wound.
"You, you monster of an old geezer!"
The exchange had happened in an instant.
"What the hell does an old grandpa eat to be this spry! Come on, please just get old! Retire already! Because of you, young people like me can't catch a break!"
Viper shrieked.
The Sword Saint let out a small snort.
"Aren't you past forty yourself? To real young people, you're just as old."
"That's hilarious! Your forties are still your prime! If anything, real life starts at forty—"
"Heavenly Martial Sect Master! You are definitely old! For one thing, your face looks ancient!"
"Is that damn cultist actually on my side right now? Huh?"
"Haah."
Paladin sighed.
"Focus on the enemy in front of you, Viper. We're at a disadvantage here."
Even while sighing, Paladin didn't let her guard down. No, she actually seemed more tense. The Heretic Questioner, Viper, and Paladin. Even with three top-rankers surrounding him from three sides, the Sword Saint stood alone and aloof.
"Hmm. We're certainly at a disadvantage like this."
Had the Heretic Questioner also sensed the current state of the battle?
He smiled brightly and called for reinforcements.
"Count!"
"What."
"Please give me some money!"
"How much do you need?"
"Fortunately, the Sword Saint hasn't lost his reason. Subduing him briefly should be enough. I'd like 10,000 gold, please!"
"Interest at 15 percent. Compound."
The Count, who had been quietly watching the fight, fanned herself.
"Three-month interest-free installment plan. Would those terms be acceptable?"
"Ahaha! You've misunderstood me! I didn't ask to borrow money. I asked you to give me some."
"Huh. Are you forcing a donation out of a merchant right now?"
"Yes! That's right! Isn't your wealth earned through dirty deeds anyway? I'll put it to good use, so donate generously to the temple and go to heaven!"
"You're a more vicious robber than I am......."
The Count shook her head and pulled something out.
A pouch with a snail pattern drawn on it.
The Count untied the golden thread cinching the pouch's opening.
"Withdrawal, 10,000 gold."
The pouch opened its mouth. Shhhhrrrrk! Countless gold coins poured out. That pouch itself was probably a very rare item. Once the gold coins had piled up into a low hill, the Count put the pouch away.
"Here. Take it, Priest. Exactly 10,000 gold."
"I'll take it gladly!"
The Heretic Questioner beamed and brought his hands together.
"Divine art, Offering God!"
The gold coins spilled on the floor emitted light. Golden light filled the throne room. At its center, the Heretic Questioner moved his hands busily and murmured.
"Divine miracle, physical enhancement. Enhancement targets, Paladin. Viper. Enhancement duration, 300 seconds each. Gold shall seize our hands. Art complete!"
"Hm."
"Tch......."
Then something strange happened. The gold coins piled on the floor vanished without a trace.
Instead, the light that had radiated from the gold coins transferred entirely to Paladin and Viper. A golden light, just like aura, rippled over the two hunters' bodies. "Now then," the Heretic Questioner spread his arms wide.
"For the next 300 seconds, Paladin and the Heavenly Martial Sect Master will be noticeably different. Sword Saint! No matter how strong you are, you'll have a hard time enduring a combined assault from me, the Count, Paladin, and the Heavenly Martial Sect Master!"
"......."
"Above all, the Count's vault is still far from empty. Haha. Actually, I wonder if the Count's vault will ever run dry! If you'd like to test whether the Count goes bankrupt first or your head flies off first, please feel free to try!"
The Count, standing far away, pouted.
"Why drag my innocent vault into your test? I merely made a donation because a cultist asked me to. Goodness. Whether it's the outside world or the Tower, being a merchant is truly difficult......."
"...One additional remark."
A cold voice flowed out. It was the Witch. The rank 2 hunter, the Black Dragon guild master, broke the silence she had maintained until now.
The Witch looked at the Sword Saint with an expressionless face.
"The combined assault won't end with four people. I'll make it clear that I'll be joining as well. Hunter Kim Gong-ja formally entered into an agreement with us yesterday, under the observation of the five major guilds."
The Sword Saint furrowed his brow.
"An agreement?"
"Yes. An agreement."
The Witch nodded.
"Hunter Kim Gong-ja isn't subordinate to any specific guild. He joined all five major guilds. In exchange, we promised to treat him as an equal to the guild masters. Sword Saint. If you point your sword at Hunter Kim Gong-ja, it's the same as attacking all of us."
"......."
"Of course, the 'us' I mentioned means the five major guilds."
The Witch took out a mirror.
"Black Dragon. Merchant Alliance. Pantheon. Heavenly Martial Sect. Vigilante Corps."
The mirror rose on its own. Then it flew through the air in circles. One. Two. Three. Six mirrors in total circled around the Witch like guard dogs protecting their master.
"Can you really take on all of us, Sword Saint?"
Shing.
Five hunters aimed their weapons at the Sword Saint in unison.
"......."
The aged swordsman remained silent.
That's right.
'No matter how terrifyingly powerful the Sword Saint is.'
At this very moment—
'He's not strong enough to make enemies of all five major guilds.'
This was why I had made the agreement with the guild masters.
Maybe someday I would become stronger than the Sword Saint. No, I would make it happen. But that day wasn't coming today or tomorrow. So until that day came, I had no choice but to set up a plan.
I grinned inwardly.
'Remember what I said on the 10th floor?'
-What did you say?
'I said there are two ways to deal with a powerful enemy.'
Become a one-man army strong enough to chew up the enemy alone.
Or build my own army and fight back.
'The Sword Saint is nothing more than a solo player.'
But I was different.
'I've already secured allies.'
Therefore, if the Sword Saint and I fought right now, my victory was certain.
'See? This is the plan I was talking about. Hurry up and be impressed.'
-Tsk tsk. Who else but a shameless bastard.......
The guardian spirit sighed.
But his expression wasn't bad, surprisingly. He seemed quite satisfied with the fact that I hadn't climbed to the 11th floor thoughtlessly—that I'd had a plan all along. This ghost, despite appearances, had a personality full of petty worries.
I stepped forward.
"Sword Saint."
The eyes of the hunters in the throne room focused on me. Among them were the Sword Saint's eyes as well. I deliberately smiled to show composure.
And I looked directly at the Sword Saint.
"Would you like to have a word with me?"
Listen carefully. These are the words of Gong-ja.