Chapter 297
Chapter 297
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 297
Chapter Title: The Sword that Reaches the Heavens (1)
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“You're leaving Salvatio?”
“Yes.”
Yaogami said, his expression quite serious.
“I've had my doubts for a while, but this incident confirmed it. Salvatio's direction is different from what I seek.”
“You're not the only Progressor in the Yamato Guild. Not everyone will agree with you. It could even lead to a rebellion.”
“I'll gladly accept it. Those who prioritize personal gain have no place in the Yamato Guild.”
I thought of Himura.
The only Progressor I'd seen among the Yamato Guild's executives was Himura.
There seemed to be more among those who remained at the Osaka branch, but I hadn't had time to look into it.
Himura would probably side with Yaogami.
I took a sip of my tea.
“I'd think you'd still want the power to rule the world.”
“I won't deny it. But there is no king in a country without people. The directive Salvatio issued this time was an act that completely disregarded that fact. If our response had been even a little slower... no, without your help, who knows how many casualties there would have been. If things continue like this, I have no intention of aligning myself with Salvatio.”
Yaogami's will was firm.
I had a feeling it would turn out this way, but to see him actually go through with it...
Salvatio losing strength is a good thing.
But not right now.
“I think leaving is too hasty.”
“...And why is that?”
“Instead of leaving immediately, wouldn't it be better to stay as long as possible and dig up information on Salvatio? It'll make them easier to deal with when you eventually turn against them.”
The Yamato Guild was already friendly toward me.
If they could act as spies in this situation, I would naturally gain a lot of information.
Just like with Sie in the Bonghwang Guild.
“That makes sense. But you're not just considering our benefit, are you?”
“Of course not.”
“You're quite the fox. Understood. I'll share anything I learn. We used to communicate with Korea's five major guilds, so I'll use that network again.”
“If possible, do it through Taegeuk. It's faster for me to get information that way.”
“...Taegeuk? I heard Seon Woo-jin died. Are they still standing?”
“We rebuilt it. If it was falling apart because it lacked a focal point, all we had to do was create a new one.”
I shrugged, and Yaogami's eyes widened slightly, as if seeing me in a new light.
“You truly are a man one can't let their guard down around. This is my gift to you.”
Yaogami took out two small wooden boxes and held them out.
One of the boxes contained a Dimension Stone in excellent condition.
And the other contained something of a scarlet (緋色) hue.
“Wait. Is this...?”
“I knew you'd recognize it.”
“Hihi'irokane.”
There are very few metals with that color, so I had my suspicions.
I carefully picked up the Hihi'irokane and examined it from all angles.
[Activating skill, 'Extreme Eye'.]
[Fragment of Hihi'irokane (緋々色金)]
A legendary metal said to hold the power of the sun.
It possesses incredible purity.
“And it's even top-grade.”
“Coating any equipment with Hihi'irokane dramatically improves its performance. To put it bluntly, you could say its grade increases. With quality like that, you can expect great things.”
“This is extremely difficult to obtain, even if you set your mind to it.”
“I acquired it along with the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi when I cleared a certain dungeon a while ago. It's rare, and I was saving it for something truly important... but I felt it was only right to give this much to you.”
Yaogami smiled faintly.
My opinion of Yaogami skyrocketed.
If he's this clear about debts and grudges, it's better to have him as an ally.
People like him never betray those they are indebted to.
“As for that stone, I don't know the details yet, but it was found where the gate Ibaraki-dōji appeared from vanished. I thought you might know something about it.”
I fiddled with the Dimension Stone and thought of the Disaster of Solitude.
In fact, there was a similarity between that time and this incident.
Something that shouldn't have appeared was forcibly brought forth through some kind of intervention.
During the Disaster of Solitude, the gate's location was buried deep underground, making it impossible to check, but if a Dimension Stone was used then as well...
‘...The Order has many Dimension Stones, which means this could happen again in the future.’
The moment that thought crossed my mind, I suddenly realized something new.
‘Besides Cromwell and Shurue, was there another member of the Order who infiltrated Japan?’
If they intended to make the gate go berserk using a Dimension Stone, that must be the case.
Cromwell was expelled from the Order, so he couldn't have had a Dimension Stone. And if it were Shurue, he would have taken Cromwell with him when he came, so he's off the list of suspects.
But with so much time having passed, that person must have already left Japan.
There was also the possibility of Spade... but considering he's a spy planted in Salvatio, that seemed unlikely.
“I've taken up a lot of your time. Are you heading back to Korea now?”
“No, I still need to finish my conversation with the Prophet.”
“Hmm. We interrupted you back then, didn't we? My apologies.”
“It's fine. If you feel sorry, just take care of my party until I get back.”
“Of course. I swear on my honor, I'll treat them so well they won't even think of returning to Korea.”
Yaogami's eyes sparkled as he placed a hand on his chest.
...No, that's a bit much.
“I doubt that'll happen, but thanks anyway. I'm off.”
“Kim Se-hyeon.”
“What now?”
“Be careful.”
“...What's this all of a sudden?”
“It's, no. Um. My apologies. I can't say any more. I fear the consequences.”
Yaogami cleared his throat and averted his gaze.
That was the look of someone who was genuinely afraid.
But I couldn't figure out why, so I just scratched my head and headed to my final destination.
***
“...She's gone?”
The place where the Prophet had been was silent.
Only a day had passed, yet it had become as deserted as an old, abandoned house.
‘All her belongings are still here...’
I went inside and looked around; not much had changed.
It was as if she had left in a hurry.
It wasn't much different from when I had spoken with the Prophet.
Except for one thing: a piece of paper lying face down on the table.
In games, things like this were always objects that signaled an event.
‘In other words, the story usually doesn't progress unless you check it.’
With a reluctant expression, I flipped the paper over.
[Behind you]
*Shwaaak!*
The moment I read the paper, a sword shot out from behind me, tearing through the air.
Fast, yet heavy.
I had faced a sword like this before.
With our blades locked, I spoke to my ambusher.
“You didn't have to do it like this.”
“Looks cool, doesn't it?”
The Sword Empress, the Sword Saint's older sister.
She chuckled lightly, then withdrew her sword and stepped back.
“Have you been waiting all this time?”
“I figured you'd come back here.”
The Sword Empress was about to rest her sword on her shoulder, but then she seemed to think of something and lowered it again.
“I'd like to say that *she* isn't someone just anyone can meet... but in truth, you've already met the conditions. You saved many people, and by extension, our country. It would be ridiculous to call such a person unqualified.”
“Then why did you attack me?”
“For personal reasons.”
The Sword Empress was still smiling, but the atmosphere shifted dramatically.
“I hear you had your fun with my little brother.”
A storm of killing intent battered my entire body.
There was a simple reason the Sword Empress had appeared from behind.
To block my escape route.
It was a silent pressure, telling me to forget running and fight.
[His older sister is especially fond of him. If you fight the Yamato Guild, you'll definitely face her.]
Only then did I remember what Sie had said.
Since there were no conflicts until we became friendly with the Yamato Guild, I thought the matter was settled.
But now that everything's over, she decides to show up?
‘She's a wall I have to overcome anyway.’
The Sword Empress was undoubtedly strong.
Strong enough to be ranked number one among Japan's players.
But looking at it another way, that's all she was.
“I have to surpass the Crow, so I can't let myself be stopped by the Sword Empress.”
I don't even need to look that far ahead.
I was pushed back by that bastard, the head of Salvatio, and there are still many Disasters to come.
To overcome all of them and finally reach the Exterminator...
I will surpass the Sword Empress with my sword alone, without using any other abilities.
“I did have a lot of fun with him. It was amusing how he kept challenging me with new techniques even though he lost every time.”
“I'm looking forward to it.”
The Sword Empress's smiling eyes narrowed.
Here she comes.
*Swaak!*
Following the path of her sword, the building was cleanly sliced apart with a thunderous roar.
If I hadn't followed my instinct to dodge instead of block, I would have taken a significant impact.
“Are you sure it's okay to just destroy this house?”
“If an outsider like you knows about it, its secrecy is already gone. We were planning on abandoning this place anyway!”
As if her previous attack was just a greeting, this time she charged at me directly, our swords clashing.
*Kaaang!*
In a single second, our blades met countless times.
Even though the sparks from our clashing steel made it hard to see, I relied on my senses to parry all of the Sword Empress's attacks.
Violent.
Truly violent and destructive.
A ruthlessness that allows for no mistakes.
The moment my concentration breaks, even for an instant.
That instant will spell my defeat.
‘The title of Japan's strongest isn't just for show.’
The Sword Saint's potential was outstanding, but he was no match for the Sword Empress.
She had already mastered swordsmanship and wielded her aura freely.
The sheer density of her attacks was on a completely different level.
It was hard enough just to follow the storm of sword energy dazzling my eyes, but I also had to push back the internal energy flowing through my wrist the moment our blades met, keeping my nerves on edge.
“You must know you can't beat me with such crude swordsmanship!”
The Sword Empress was right.
Even with high stats, a lack of technique lowers your actual attack power.
Simply put, attack power is the product of strength and skill.
Even though my stats far surpassed the scope of the second generation, without proper swordsmanship, I couldn't overcome the Sword Empress, a once-in-a-generation genius even among the first generation.
‘So I have no choice but to use a systematic sword style myself.’
*Kwwaang!*
I put my strength into one push, shoving the Sword Empress back and creating distance.
And then, I remembered.
The one and only sword style I knew.
“Oh, what's this? You've learned a sword style from somewhere? Interesting.”
Irene's swordsmanship.
If there's one I possess, that's it.
“Things will be a little different from now on.”
Irene's swordsmanship is specialized for one-on-one combat.
After all, it was a style created solely to defeat the Disaster of Solitude.
Even if it wouldn't all work on the Sword Empress, it's impossible to quickly adapt to a sword style you're facing for the first time.
Especially if it's one that relies on unpredictability.
Even for the Sword Empress, facing a style that could take down a Disaster with its unpredictability alone for the first time was proving difficult, and she couldn't easily counter it.
And finally.
*Kaaang!*
For the first time, the Sword Empress's feet were pushed back.
As if she couldn't believe her own actions, the Sword Empress looked dumbfounded for a moment, then her lips curled into a wide grin.
“Not bad...! You were still hiding this much power?”