Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Cho Clan's Ban (5)
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"……You've gotten stronger. Young Master Urong."
Even in his exhaustion, Ban's eyes gleamed. It wasn't just because he'd crushed a pebble with his nostril mucus. Even casually perched on the top of the earthen wall, Ban felt as if he were facing an unstoppable tsunami.
And watching Urong like that, Ban finally realized how much he'd grown himself. It was a level of strength he couldn't have even gauged before. Urong replied nonchalantly.
"You spent a year at the academy—if you hadn't changed at all, that would've been a truly pathetic waste of time. Hmm. That said, it looks like you made the most of your year too. Your presence has sharpened."
"I'm still lacking."
"Who isn't? You just keep filling yourself up until one day it's full."
"From what I see, you've already filled quite a lot, Young Master Urong."
It wasn't flattery. If it were, he couldn't have said it with eyes burning so fiercely. Urong laughed. Right—the Cho Clan taught more than just swordsmanship.
"I heard Ikyeong nearly died. Even after the match was decided, you went for the kill?"
"……Yes. I plan to face him in the next round."
"He's supposed to be ridiculously strong, right? Perfect swordsmanship……and Qi control on the level of a near-Knight, from what I've heard. Basically stronger than you?"
"Yes."
Ban admitted it calmly. Urong narrowed his eyes and asked.
"Hazelrek's stronger than you too, if we're just talking raw power."
"That's true."
"But Hazelrek could never beat you. You know how to beat guys stronger than yourself. Is this one different?"
"It's not the same as Hazelrek. At my current level……no matter how good a sword path I find, I can't gain the upper hand."
"So the gap in level is clear. To the point where technique can't bridge it."
Urong grinned as he looked at Ban—the odd young swordsman who stood out in the power-worshipping Cho Clan through skill rather than strength.
"Then there's no choice. You'll have to build up your power."
"……It's not as easy as it sounds."
Urong chuckled at Ban's words and hopped down from the wall. With each step he took, the pebbles beneath him crumbled to dust. It looked like an ordinary stride……but was that harmony of Qi too?
Urong spoke.
"Is it not as easy as you think? Or do you not think that way?"
"……A riddle?"
"You know I hate complicated stuff. Qi is simpler than you think. It lets you cut what you want to cut and smash what you want to smash."
"I've had plenty of lessons on Qi. Know it, believe it, move it. I know swordsmanship……and I know how to move. Are you saying my faith is lacking? Sounds like a priest's sermon."
"That's Qi for you. Like a god. If you don't believe, it's worth less than a beggar's ramblings, but the moment you do, it becomes everything in this world. And from what I see……your faith is lacking."
Still sounded like a priest. But Urong's expression was quite serious.
"In terms of swordsmanship alone, you're better than anyone in the Cho Clan. Sure, your inexperience shows sometimes, but you have the instincts and judgment to surpass it. Beating Hazelrek without even properly using Qi……it's honestly impossible. You know that, right? Only a Knight can face a Knight."
Only a Knight can face a Knight. That also meant you had no chance against a Qi user without using Qi yourself.
And yet Ban had beaten Hazelrek. That was the very reason he stood out most in this tournament. If someone with such beautiful sword skills could fully coat their blade with Qi……
Just imagining it made his throat dry. Urong bared a rough smile and said.
"You can do it, Ban. Constantly activating Qi—given your skill, you should've been able to do it ages ago. Have a little more faith in yourself."
"I thought I did……but maybe unconsciously, I don't."
Ban smiled bitterly. It made sense—he'd only lived as a sword genius for a little over a year. For someone who'd spent his life as an ordinary pharmacist's assistant, believing he could achieve anything with a sword was no easy task.
But Urong just laughed at Ban. He wasn't worried about him. He knew such worry was pointless.
"You win when you need to. You grow when you need to. This time won't be different. It's just about believing in yourself. If that's hard……let's do it this way."
"How?"
"Believe in me."
Urong pounded his chest with his fist. "Believe in the me who believes in you."
§
He gripped the sword.
It was the Cho Clan's longsword. The hilt was long enough for two hands with room to spare, and the blade was lengthy but not heavy. By now, it was familiar. The weight, the feel, the length.
And the memories contained within.
They were the memories of a young swordsman. Cho Jiyeon—the one whose face he'd never even seen. Beyond the tyrannical power in those memories lay the confidence that even his clumsy swordsmanship could cut anything.
'Lacking power makes you doubt yourself?'
No. Not quite. He didn't think he lacked confidence. Ban knew how exceptional his swordsmanship was. He knew how skilled the owners of the memories he'd stolen were.
Ban could cut rock.
How many hesitations had he slashed through to reach that point?
Ban swung the sword. Once. Twice. Three times. Four.
Over ten times, and the sword didn't stop. If there had been a rock in front of his blade now, it would've been shattered. It was a strike infused with Qi.
—Believe in me. The me who believes in you.
Urong's voice echoed. Yes, he believed in Urong. The man didn't lie. No, most of the Cho Clan were far from deceitful.
Urong must have seen the strength in Ban that he himself hadn't noticed. That's how he could speak with such conviction. Now it was Ban's turn to see that strength. It was that simple.
As the sword's memories blended with his own, his blade traced ever more domineering lines. A momentum that could slice metal even if it stood in his path.
His blood vessels felt like they might burst. Even just slashing empty air, his eyes were bloodshot and his body grew heavy.
Common sense and instinct screamed. This is impossible for you. This isn't power allowed to humans. How dare you try to cut a rock you couldn't even lift? they scolded.
'Shut up.'
The reason he swung his sword was no longer Ikyeong. In all those dreams of Sword God Ban, what had he cut? Sometimes thieves, sometimes renowned swordsmen, but he had cleaved mountains and seas, split the heavens.
And one day, he'd vowed to make those dreams reality.
Ban watched the path his sword traced. He felt it. And he asked: What can this cut? What can't it cut? Will it truly stop at rock? Will this body slump after a few swings at stone?
Endless slashes and thrusts hurled questions at the world. One day. Two days. Three.
And now. On the same arena as always.
Shade stood before him.
Ban opened his mouth.
"……Ikyeong said not to worry about him. That he'd survive in the end. So no need to feel burdened—just fight my fight."
Shade gave no reply. He just stared with an indifferent expression.
"I won't ask why now, either. Calling you a bastard is enough for me."
"Blah blah blah. Talkative. Do you swing your sword with your mouth?"
"……You'll regret it soon. Wish you'd let me ramble longer."
Shade grinned chillingly at Ban's threat. Just then, the trumpet blared, swallowing their words. And that was when Shade leaped like a gale, swinging his sword.
The broadsword, hugging the ground, would devour his legs if he relaxed even a moment. But Ban didn't panic. He'd watched Shade's matches several times. He knew what moves he'd use, how to counter—his mental simulations were more than sufficient.
Ban thrust his longsword. One trajectory had to block the paths of two blades.
Sparks flew before he could catch his breath. The ceaseless clang-clang-clang showed no sign of stopping. His feet danced wildly, closing and widening the distance.
It was bizarre. Ban's sword wasn't shockingly fast. Yet he parried the twin blades effortlessly.
Shade had to admit Ban's swordsmanship. He'd prided himself that few Knights could dismantle his dual-wield style with pure technique, but this guy—who hadn't even entered the academy—moved as if he already knew every step.
Given time, his unpredictability would fade. He had to end it quickly. Shade erased his smile. His snake-cold eyes scanned Ban's vital points.
'End it here.'
Killing a Cho Clan warrior meant no easy academy life ahead, but if he'd cared about that, he wouldn't have tried to kill Ikyeong.
'Disgusting bastards.'
His eyes darkened. He felt his muscles swell to bursting. The blade wailed. Feed me blood. Punish that vile dog of power. Isn't that why you wield me?
And Shade decided to answer the call.
'……Dangerous.'
A shiver like hairs standing on end made Ban grip his longsword tight. Something was coming. Just as Shade's assault seemed to pause— a storm poured forth.
A barrage of strikes unbelievable from one swordsman. Uplifting cuts, thrusts, diagonal slashes, feinted overheads into stabs, parries.
All in one breath. The problem: they flowed without a single break. It felt like two—no, five—swordsmen surrounding and attacking him.
And every strike carried Qi.
Killing intent to shred anyone surged through the flurry. And that intent would bear fruit. Relentless Qi-infused combos—who could emerge unscathed?
At least not Ban.
Not anymore.
[ You are clashing swords with an opponent of equal level. ]
[ Sword path analysis speed adjusted to normal level. ]
Ban smiled as he blocked the onslaught. Shade's murderous face was pitiful—it posed no threat to him now.
He was no longer a half-baked Qi user under restrictions.
Panic finally crossed Shade's face. The expression Ban had wanted. He glared at Shade with a hungry look. A feral chill settled over his curled lips.
Time to punish him.