The Iaijutsu-Sharpening Tiger
The old tiger who sharpens iaijutsu dies leaving its hide behind, and a man dies leaving his name.
Narkhan died leaving countless shards of flame.
"Can't absorb this?"
Staring at the massive cluster of flame shards, all sorts of thoughts raced through my mind. Each one pulsed with tremendous power.
Well, they were shards of Cthuga, so that went without saying.
Impossible.
Tyrbing stated it flatly.
I hadn't really expected Tyrbing to absorb them anyway. But I couldn't just leave them lying around either.
They were sealed in a custom-made container for now, but the moment those hit any city, it'd turn into a sea of fire.
No other choice. I shoved the entire container into my subspace ring.
Those who contract with demons are called magin.
But most magin can't adapt to the demon's foul mana and end up grotesquely twisted, turning into hideous monsters.
And why wouldn't they? Becoming a magin is the last resort for the desperate and rejected.
Yet among these magin, a rare few choose that path despite already being skilled mana users. For even greater power, or out of sheer necessity.
Hong Lijin, leader of a Chinese magin syndicate.
Once a 2nd Grade hero, he murdered his comrades and became a criminal. A pursuit team was formed to capture him, but Hong Lijin contracted with a demon and slaughtered them all with magin power.
One of China's worst criminals. Among the magin-infested nation, he's one of the most influential.
"...Just kill one student in Korea, right?"
Hong Lijin murmured softly, and the massive greatsword in his hand replied.
Yes. Kill that guy and offer me Tyrbing, and I'll let you wield my full power.
Gram, the Dragon Slayer Sword. The second-largest shard among the most perfect sword fragments.
Gram's words lifted the corners of Hong Lijin's mouth. He'd already become the king of China's underworld using just a fraction of Gram's power. With its full might?
He might just become the world's strongest magin.
Hong Lijin's hero rank was 1st Grade. But reaching the rank above the heavens—Transcendent...!
No more running. He could even get revenge on that lunatic who strutted around proclaiming himself the world's greatest.
Hong Lijin wielded a great demon's mana without a hint of corruption. Even before becoming a magin, he'd been called the 2nd Grade closest to 1st.
With the right trigger, he could've hit 1st Grade anytime.
And amazingly, a 2nd Grade relic emerged from the gate he'd cleared. Excluding publicly banned 1st Grade relics, it was top-tier, free to use as one pleased.
Its ability and law matched him perfectly, like it was made for him.
But...
'This relic goes to Sharinshi.'
The guild master did something utterly incomprehensible to Hong Lijin's mind.
Not him—the guild's future leader and the one who'd done the most work in that gate—but some bitch who hung back sniping got the relic?
Hong Lijin couldn't wrap his head around it.
He didn't get why a support would use a greatsword relic.
Of course, he protested fiercely.
'Why does Sharinshi get ownership instead of me? Not even shared guild property...!'
He learned later that Sharinshi was the guild master's lover.
Upon realizing that, Hong Lijin slaughtered the entire party, guild master included, on the next gate raid.
'Shundi, calm down!' 'Great hero Hong Lijin, please calm down!' 'You fucking bastards! Do you think I went through all this for nothing?!'
A week into evading pursuit, just when Hong Lijin thought it was over, a massive greatsword appeared before him.
Do you need power?
"Yi Han-su... An Orbis student, huh."
Hong Lijin suddenly recalled the old days. He'd attended Orbis once too.
"Orbis... A nostalgic name."
Hong Lijin had a childhood friend, a true bosom buddy from youth.
'You and me, we'll become China's top heroes.''Heh, sounds good.'
His friend had talent too, enough to enter Orbis.
'I... think I like someone.''Hong Lijin, you bastard! Man up!'
But when he learned his friend was dating the girl he'd liked, betrayal hit hard. Still, Hong Lijin said nothing.
He wasn't her man; he'd just had feelings. And ultimately, the choice was hers.
Time passed, they graduated Orbis, and founded a guild together. His friend also announced his marriage.
Hong Lijin congratulated him sincerely. It was his friend's joyous day, after all.
But...!
Why the hell, with such a fine wife, would he do something like that...!
Old memories heated Hong Lijin's body. The past should stay buried, but...
"Hoo..."
He exhaled deeply.
A student... a student, huh. Stirred up all sorts of thoughts.
But...
'Too late to hesitate now.'
Hong Lijin had come too far.
Korea. Orbis graduate stepping on this soil after so long.
'Korea after ages.'
Hurry and spill blood...!
Gram, true to its demon sword nature, craved slaughter ASAP.
But Hong Lijin was different. Fresh school memories bloomed.
'Hey Hong Lijin, buy bread.' 'Hong Lijin, wanna see something good?' 'Th-this! Aaaargh!!! This can't be real!!!'
"......"
Come to think of it, not the greatest memories. But fine.
Youth was precious, irreplaceable even for billions.
Korea had portals everywhere, making travel easy. Sure, fees were a downside, but Hong Lijin had money to burn.
'Used to be free back then.'
He'd used portals a ton in school.
'Hong Lijin, go to Daejeon and grab strawberry shiru.' 'Huh?' 'You bitch, hurry up!' '...If it's for a friend.''Heh, retard.'
More memories surfaced. His friend loved bread, so he'd bought it often.
'Wonder if they still sell it.'
Curious, but he could check after the job. No big deal.
Just kill one student.
Hong Lijin headed for the portal to Orbis.
Ooh... I sense it... Tyrbing... brother!
As he neared Orbis, Gram sensed it and growled low.
Kuh... kuh... we shall be one again...
That's when it happened, as he made for Orbis.
"Hold it right there."
The man stopping Hong Lijin exuded an extraordinary aura.
Kim In-cheol, a 1st Grade hero—one of Korea's top five swordsmen.
"Anyone else, maybe. But you can't fool these eyes."
Kim In-cheol nodded at the sword bound in bandages on Hong Lijin's back.
"Kim In-cheol..."
"You know me?"
"Of course. One of the swordsmen I personally respect."
Hong Lijin drew the greatsword from his back.
Slaughter! Time for slaughter!!!
Bang!
The bandages burst off the greatsword, revealing Gram—a deep purple blade veined like a living thing.
It was too massive to call a sword.
Kim In-cheol grimaced and drew his own blade.
Kugugugu!
Azure sword energy—no, sword beam, a cut above—surged forth.
"Came to see my disciple and son-in-law, but two morons get in the way."
Then an old man stroking his chin approached from behind Hong Lijin.
"Three swordsmen here, but the only true one is me."
Two swords at his waist. And a tone that naturally dissed Hong Lijin and Kim In-cheol.
"...Ian Korpe."
Hong Lijin murmured.
"Ho, you fake-ass swordsman knows me?"
"One of the swordsmen I personally respect."
"Tsk tsk, disgusting."
But Ian Korpe's assessment was cold.
"That oversized sword ain't fit for iaijutsu."
True enough. Gram was huge.
"Iaijutsu is the ultimate—common sense of common senses."
Ian Korpe grinned and drew his sword.
Kwaaaaaang!
No mercy for those ignorant of common sense: a surprise iaijutsu.
Unlike standard iaijutsu, he didn't take stance—just unleashed it from a standstill. Most couldn't even react to someone casually standing there before drawing.
Precise name: stationary iaijutsu.
"......"
Hong Lijin raised his greatsword to block Ian Korpe's strike.
"Heavy."
"Blocking iaijutsu without even using it? Magin scum."
"Just basic swordsmanship."
Ian Korpe's face twisted viciously at Hong Lijin's words—like a wrathful demon.
Like the face of the world's strongest creature on land.
"There's no basic swordsmanship but iaijutsu! You idiot!"
Ian Korpe was pissed!