Chapter 84: Destiny (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 84: Destiny (3)
"To think that guy ended up as the president."
I looked up at the skyscraper behind me. Standing tall and imposing even amidst this forest of steel, the building bore the logo of the Lancelot Company.
I was currently walking back after wrapping up a 'constructive' conversation with Kane, the president of the company. The morning sun in the east warmed my face. It was already morning.
It had been quite a fierce war of words.
At first, he acted like he’d hand over his liver and gall bladder. But at some point, deciding my requests were getting a bit unreasonable, he started making excuses.
‘All Mute letting out heavy sighs beside him was a massive help.’
Under her glare telling him to rein it in, Kane reluctantly agreed to my demands with a bleeding heart. Namely, I told him to cooperate with the Joaquin Graduate School.
I came all the way here to hunt villains, so pushing promotional partnerships out of nowhere was a bit strange, but still.
The more urgent the situation grew, the more critical the growth of the Joaquin Graduate School became. That conviction only solidified while I was clearing out the villain cells.
‘Magic isn't the only thing we need to worry about.’
Who could have guessed those villain bastards knew how to use possession techniques?
It used to be the exclusive domain of the Corps Commanders, but now their former minions were abusing it left and right. Things were taking a dangerous turn.
In a direction that was hard to predict.
That was why I needed to gather brilliant minds capable of analyzing these anomalous phenomena at the Joaquin Graduate School.
Episode. Destiny
Anyway.
To do that required money. A lot, lot of money.
"The money I extorted from the Emperor is running low, too..."
The Emperor's account, which I assumed to be an endless cash cow, was closed a few days ago. So I called the Royal Steward, Garyeon, to ask about it. She said the Swiss bank shut it down because the spending was ridiculously excessive.
That happened yesterday.
—Heavenly Sword-nim... Saying this might tarnish the dignity of the Imperial Court, but... just how much did you spend? Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is for the Imperial Court to be asked by a Swiss bank if we were victimized by voice phishing...?
"I didn't spend that much."
—Just looking at the number of zeroes makes my head spin.
"Isn't it better than the Emperor's neck spinning?"
—If you keep this up, Heavenly Sword-nim... my neck will be the one on the line... His Majesty promised generous support, but please, at least don't make the Imperial Court sound like we got scammed by voice phishers.
I cheerfully brushed off her whining. A promise is a promise, so I laid down a mild threat for her to hand over a newly opened account.
Even over the phone, Garyeon let out heavy sighs that tickled my eardrums.
—...They say opening a new account will take about two weeks. Until then, even if we want to assist, we simply can't.
I could hear the genuine distress in her final words.
I'm not completely heartless. I wasn't shameless enough to push further when the account was genuinely empty.
Just as I was looking for a new financial backer to cover the two-week spending gap—
‘Heaven helped me.’
A cell of the New Villain Coalition happened to show up in the US right on cue, threatening All Mute’s life. I handled what could have turned into a major catastrophe.
I hate bargaining with human lives, but the beneficiary offered to pay. It would be rude to leave empty-handed.
That's the whole story behind the deal. I merely asserted my rights legitimately. There was a small (?) squabble with Kane, but it was resolved amicably. Kane might disagree, but I was satisfied.
‘Lucky me.’
Extort—wait, no. It wasn't a deal that was entirely one-sided in my favor. I added a clause accommodating the Lancelot Company management's stance as well.
And now, I was headed off to execute that clause. Though, since my stomach was rumbling, I planned to grab breakfast before leaving.
"Let's see. Is there anywhere selling soybean paste stew?"
I strolled lazily through the side streets of New York, looking for a restaurant. The scenery wasn't much different from Seoul.
‘Is Seoul better?’
I pulled my cap down low, so nobody recognized me. Or so I thought.
"Geomma-kun!"
A familiar voice pierced my ears—a sharp, high-pitched tone laced with a cheerful brightness that drew everyone's attention.
"...Rachel."
"Where are you going without me?!"
I yanked my hat brim further down and cast my eyes down. An aggressively overwhelming sensation shot up my spine. My jaw instinctively jerked back.
"Hey, hey. Back off a bit."
"No way, no way! Ryozo and Abel aren't here, so I'm stickiiiing to you!"
Right. The Spear Saint family has always been notoriously slow to listen. But their bodies are honest.
Schwing.
"I surrender!"
"Wise choice."
At the resonant hum of the sword, Rachel stepped back in a flash. As expected, the sashimi knife was super effective.
I sheathed the sashimi knife back in the middle of New York. People were so indifferent to one another that drawing a blade didn't even get a second glance.
I am who I am, but nobody recognized Rachel just because she put on a pair of sunglasses. What a cold, dreary city New York is.
The moment I sheathed the knife, Rachel couldn't help herself and approached me again. With a bright smirk on her face, she said:
"You're having breakfast, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then let me eat with you! I was just getting hungry anyway."
"Hmm..."
Sharing a meal should be fine. Besides, I needed to talk to her about yesterday's incident. Her memories seemed to be gone, but I should remind her. Rachel had played a big part in the Parsi Massacre, after all. She had a right to know.
Plus...
Anyone from the Spear Saint family has a huge appetite. They're all absolute food fighters—big eaters, yet foodies at heart.
I nodded.
"Fine."
"Okay!"
Excited, Rachel pulled out her smartphone. Her fingernails tapped rapidly against the screen as she scrolled.
"Is there anything you don't like?"
"Pizza, burgers, French fries."
"...You're joking, right?"
I wasn't joking.
"Geomma, what... do you actually want to eat?"
"Soybean paste stew, kimchi stew, cheonggukjang."
"Eww. So unrefined."
Rachel stuck her tongue out in disgust.
Despite her theatrical groans, Rachel led me to Koreatown. Man, I missed this smell. It had been a whole day since I last smelled it.
As I savored the rich aroma of fermented bean paste, Rachel narrowed her eyes at me.
"You know, Geomma, sometimes it feels like you do this on purpose. Like you're trying way too hard to emphasize that you're Korean...?"
"It's not that. Like you said, I just have rustic tastes."
"That's because you eat vegetables all the time! You gotta eat meat too if you want your palate to become sophisticated!"
What is she even talking about...?
"And speaking of meat, America is famous for it!"
"Ah."
So that's what she meant. I feigned ignorance and walked past her. She had seen right through me. Smiling slyly, Rachel trotted after me.
We ate breakfast at a Korean restaurant. Come to think of it, this was the first time I'd ever been alone with Rachel.
Contrary to my expectations, Rachel was quite well-behaved. She ordered politely, ate impolitely, and that was it. No flirtatious jokes, no forcing herself close to me.
‘So this is what Rachel is normally like.’
Even back in our cadet days, she was like this. She acted like a muscle-brain, but her mind was actually sharp and quick. She was deep-hearted, too. She probably felt guilty toward her friends, Ryozo and Abel, if she flirted too much with me, so she was nipping it in the bud herself.
Thanks to that, I was able to enjoy my meal comfortably—even if I had to duck my head like a whack-a-mole game to dodge flying grains of rice every now and then.
Meanwhile, conversation flowed back and forth over our bowls. To summarize, I thanked her for her help during the Parsi Massacre. Rachel waved her hand dismissively, sending a few more grains of rice flying.
"Don't mention it! I was getting bored out of my mind wearing this hero badge anyway. Dragged to ceremonial events every day, photo shoots every time I turn around... The celebrity life? It's not bad, but it feels like wearing ill-fitting underwear. Though if I took it off, my bust wouldn't have any support and it'd feel chilly, you know? Anyway, despite what I say, I kind of like it. It's fun."
"I'm glad it suits you."
That was the only businesslike response I could give. Listening to her, a 'Hero' was fundamentally different from a traditional hero. They seemed closer to celebrities than true heroes.
A true hero could have a garbage personality for all anyone cared. For a Hero, popularity was everything. A profession focused less on actual strength and more on acting out the 'image of a hero' that people wanted. That was a Hero.
Rachel's mental fatigue must be immense.
‘She’s suffering in her own way, yet she tries so hard not to show it.’
Why did my food suddenly taste bitter?
Spoons scraping against the earthenware bowl signaled the end of the meal. I picked up the check and stood up. Then I glanced at Rachel, who was patting her stomach.
"I know you find the Hero work fun."
I cast the bait. Whether to bite or not was Rachel's choice.
"Don't you think being a dark hero sounds fun too?"
"..."
Rachel stared up at me. Then, her heart-tinted eyes curved into arches.
"You really are a player."
CRUNCH. Rachel crushed her sunglasses in her grip and sprang up from her chair.
"Let's go. I need to work up a sweat for the first time in a while."
After stretching thoroughly, she flung the door open. Smiling faintly, I charged the meal to Rachel's tab.
* * *
One day.
In just a single day, the location of the New Villain Coalition's cell was uncovered. This was because Joaquin Academy and the Graduate School had launched a full-scale search operation.
On top of that, I, Kang Geomma, deployed an Inescapable Net using Sword Control charged with lightning. While the main base might still be under investigation, I had just received intelligence regarding their strategic stronghold. From Nox Auditore.
I teleported with Rachel using lightning magic. Rachel's eyes went hazy a couple of times, which was pretty impressive for her first time. Ryozo and Abel had treated me to a display of whatever they had eaten right beforehand.
The villain cell's stronghold was located in Hoengseong, Gangwon Province, just twenty kilometers away from Joaquin Academy. They were illegally squatting in an abandoned ranch village.
The saying 'it's darkest under the lamp' really held true. What gave these bastards the nerve to set up camp right next to the academy?
‘It is a good spot, though.’
Tucked deep within a slope and secluded from human presence, it was apparently quite a pain to locate. Considering it took the Auditore 24 whole hours... or rather, precisely because it was the Auditore, they managed to find it in just one day.
—According to the reports, the villains at the stronghold are no different from the ones ten years ago. It seems the closer you get to the core of the Coalition, the more native villains there are, rather than the possessed types you mentioned.
'Native villains.' That's fresh wording.
"One less thing to worry about. Thanks."
—If you want, say the word, and the Auditore will move as well.
"No need. The person who started this should finish it. Besides, Rachel's with me. It'll be over soon."
—Bongseon...? Geomma, are you again...
"Again what?"
—...I'll pretend I didn't hear that.
Is this bastard for real?
I tucked my phone inside my coat. Rachel was stretching with fluid, graceful movements. Behind her, the Sky-Piercing Halberd pierced the midday sunlight.
"Ready?"
"I've been ready since I gobbled down cheonggukjang first thing this morning. Just say the word."
The Sky-Piercing Halberd spun. The air contacting the spearhead screeched. Rachel's eyes flickered with a feral glare as she spoke:
"I'll show you what a hero's entrance looks like."
"Then let's go."
Before I could even finish my sentence, Rachel launched herself off the ground. Her figure shrank into a speck in the distance. Not wanting to be left behind, I sprinted too—not with lightning magic this time, but purely through physical speed.
Oho. Rachel's back was still far ahead. Fast. Was it thanks to her leaping power? Smirking, I accelerated. The air resistance was formidable. It felt like slicing through water at first, but soon it felt like slamming my nose right into a solid wall.
The scenery rushing backward blurs into mere lines. My body creaked under the strain, but it was fine. This brought a different kind of thrill compared to teleporting with lightning magic. Surpassing Rachel was even more exhilarating.
In a single burst, I crossed the mountain valley winding along the slope. Beyond tattered plastic tarps hanging like the lungs of a heavy smoker, shrill screeches echoed out. They were practically broadcasting their location.
I adjusted my grip on both sashimi knives, holding them reverse-style. Slashing an X through the plastic tarps with crossed blades, I breached the interior. My eyes scanned the area in a split second, locking onto my first target.
"H-Heavenly Sword...!"
I swung my blades.
A fishy smell and sticky liquid drenched my hair. I didn't let myself get hit. The instant my foot stepped to the side, I thrust Murasame forward. The violent vibration traveled from the heel of my palm up to my shoulder. Retrieving the blade that had split open a skull, I sliced the throat of another bastard lunging from the side. Blood spurted a beat late.
"B-Block him...!"
I spun my body around. Harnessing the rotational momentum, I drove the sashimi knife through a collarbone. The blade protruded from his shoulder like a thorn.
Slices!
I cleaved straight down. Limbs tore apart. Moving swiftly once more, blood splattered thick and heavy against the plastic tarps.
I couldn't tell where the blades ended and my fingers began. The sashimi knives felt like an extension of my own flesh. Even as the God of Sword, it had been a long time since I felt such unity.
Curling my lips up with murderous intent, I thrust my blade forward. CRACK! Ribs snapped. Slicing diagonally with a second strike, intestines gushed out.
"D-Do something—!"
I whittled them down from the periphery. Whenever needed, I kicked them to throw their formation into chaos. Slashing through without using magic had its own satisfying thrill.
Screams erupted. Shouts of desperation trying to cast spells fluttered the plastic sheets. Some sank to their knees, sobbing. Sword flashes glinted, and terror-stricken faces slid off severed necks. Everything around me turned red with blood.
I calculated distances and charted a path between them. The moment my estimation was complete, the sashimi knives whipped around in sharp arcs.
One villain died. Or maybe two.
Was it because this was an abandoned ranch? The bloodbath was exhilarating. Becoming a whirlwind of blades, I mercilessly slaughtered the villains. Every time my blood-soaked face was reflected on the steel, I reminded myself of their atrocious deeds—the vile atrocities they had committed against civilians.
Swaying my shoulders, I stepped smoothly. I swung Murasame in a wide arc. The trajectory grew even sleeker. The blade severed multiple necks in a single sweep.
Drip, drip, drip.
After taking ten breaths, I surveyed the interior. Red. Everything was red. The ceiling, walls, and floor glistened with a greasy coat of blood. It felt as if I had stepped inside the entrails of a monster.
"Haaah..."
White breath exhaled into the air. Standing awkwardly, Rachel stared at me blankly. Her gaze cooled my heated head. Soon, my legs wobbled, and I sank to the ground. Not out of fatigue, but because a sharp ache throbbed in my chest.
I had lost my mind for a few seconds.
"Geomma, you..."
Rachel stumbled toward me. She reached out and took my blood-covered hand. Though it must have been nauseating, she wrapped her arms around my neck.
"Your humanity... you're still..."
Rachel—that muscle-brained Bongseon—
"...fighting for it all on your own, Geomma."
She knew a secret that even my wives didn't know.