Chapter 299
Chapter 299
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 299
Chapter Title: ACT 60. The Sword That Reaches the Heavens (3)
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Kwoooaaaah!
Once again, an immense amount of mana pressed down on me.
It felt warm like a spring breeze, gentle and kind, but hidden within was a sharp dagger, always aimed at my neck.
It felt as though it would nonchalantly slip past my defenses, take my life, and then calmly ask me what had happened, as if nothing was wrong.
...The atmosphere was different, but I'd already overcome this kind of pressure before.
'Focus my mana into one spot and pierce through it.'
Pachang!
The sound of cracking echoed in the empty air.
The mana that had been constricting me from all sides scattered to pieces.
I had broken through the pressure that those with high mana exerted by turning the surroundings into their domain, by piercing it at a single point.
'It wasn't difficult, since I've done it once before.'
The Heavenly Sword's smile changed slightly.
But it was a subtle change, and her smile resembled a poker face, making it hard to tell what she was thinking.
[See! I told you he'd overcome it!]
[What the... Hey! You secretly gave that human something, didn't you? There's no way he could withstand the Heavenly Sword's pressure otherwise! She's one of the world's top-tier monsters! She's said to be nearly on par with that Crow guy!]
[Hmph, what are you talking about? It's not my designated region to begin with, so how could I give him any real help? Find something else to complain about. I get that you don't want to admit it, but hand over the coins.]
[Grrr...]
[Oh, by the way, I didn't mention it. You might not know, but Kim Se-hyeon has already overcome Crow's pressure back in Korea.]
[Wh-what!? Hey! You damned scammer! If you'd told me that, I wouldn't have made the bet!]
[I didn't tell you because we made a bet!]
Besial and the demon in charge of managing Japan were arguing.
...So that bastard made a bet on me without my permission.
Looks like I'll have to have a long talk with him about this later.
"That should be enough!"
Xie stepped forward again.
This time, her eyes showed a strong will, as if she had no intention of backing down.
"Please let us talk. I'll prove that there's no need for us to fight."
"...What are you talking about, Xie? I had no intention of fighting."
The Heavenly Sword tilted her head.
Xie, flustered, waved her hands.
"But just now..."
"Oh, that was just a small test for him. A final gateway, you could say. His fundamentals are very solid. Indeed, it seems he's someone worth the special attention that person gave him."
"By 'that person,' you mean...?"
"Someone you know well. You'd know him if I said... Crow, right?"
"Of course I do. But, then, what is your relationship with Crow-nim?"
"That is..."
The Heavenly Sword's gaze shifted elsewhere.
Perhaps because of the considerable commotion, people were starting to gather.
At that, the Heavenly Sword gave a troubled smile and turned around.
"Shall we talk while we move to another place? It's been a while, Xie, so don't be shy and follow along."
"...I'm glad it was resolved peacefully, but I'm having trouble following the situation. What about you, Kim Se-hyeon?"
"If it's resolved, that's all that matters."
I wasn't in any condition to fight anyway, having just fought the Doje.
Besides, even if I were in top condition, my chances of winning were low.
As for me, I was satisfied with this outcome.
'This game really keeps you on your toes.'
Just when I thought I knew most of the powerful players, reclusive masters with no available information started appearing.
Ain and Velode, presumed to be on par with Crow. And now, the Heavenly Sword.
Fortunately, I hadn't encountered them as enemies yet, but there was no guarantee the next one wouldn't be a foe.
'...Come to think of it, a major event is scheduled to open soon.'
A fierce battle in the European region to claim a very small amount of top-tier rewards.
I'm sure I'll clash with Salvatio then too, but I'll have to overcome that and claim them.
"I'll send a message to the Prophet-nim, so please wait a moment."
The Heavenly Sword guided us to a room and then immediately went elsewhere.
Xie looked quite bewildered.
"The Prophet...? Se-hyeon, don't tell me you came here to meet the Prophet?"
"That's right."
"I've never heard that the Prophet was living with the Kensei's family. I knew they were protecting someone important, but Yuki told me before that the person wasn't here."
I silently fiddled with my teacup.
I ended up being invited along with Xie, but the conversation I needed to have with the Prophet was important enough that I didn't want anyone else to overhear.
The Prophet probably felt the same way.
"By the way, you use a pretty gentle tone with the Heavenly Sword. I guess you two are close."
"Ugh...?"
Xie choked on her tea and started coughing.
"Wh-what are you suddenly talking about... It's not important. Ignore it."
"Really?"
I chuckled and lifted my teacup.
Han Hyeok-jun was like this, too.
He insists on using a serious tone so people don't look down on him, speaking formally to everyone except his close friends.
In Xie's case, as the master of the Bonghwang Guild, she might be careful with her speech as well.
Her glaring gaze remained fixed on me, but I pretended not to notice.
"Geez, if you don't want to talk about the Prophet, just say so. Don't try to change the subject."
"I really was curious, though. I know someone who talks just like you."
"Han Hyeok-jun, I see. Hmm. Maybe we are... similar."
Xie gave a bitter smile.
'...What was that?'
I just felt a strange sense of unease.
It's the kind of feeling you get when someone is hiding something.
The fact that Xie had clammed up and was avoiding eye contact was proof.
"Thank you for waiting, Se-hyeon-nim."
The Heavenly Sword opened the door with a soft sound.
"She asks that you wait just a few more minutes."
A few minutes.
It's not that long, so I can wait a little longer.
Besides, there was something I wanted to ask the Heavenly Sword.
"You asked earlier about my relationship with Crow-nim, didn't you?"
As if reading my mind, the Heavenly Sword brought up the very thing I was about to ask.
"I am Crow-nim's second disciple."
"Disciple...?"
At some point, Crow began training talented individuals to foster the next generation.
This was a fact you would naturally learn as you progressed through the game.
I knew he paid special attention to training a few gifted individuals during that process, but I never imagined the Heavenly Sword was one of Crow's disciples.
'It makes sense that I didn't know, since the Heavenly Sword's own existence was hidden.'
Being Crow's disciple, no, even her absurd stats and skill composition now made sense.
It was said that she was exceptional even among the first generation and was well-regarded everywhere.
If the masters of major guilds were Tier 1, Crow's disciples were Tier 0. Crow himself was on a level where trying to classify him by tier was disrespectful.
That's how they could be categorized.
Drrrk.
The Heavenly Sword opened the door on the opposite side.
It seemed to connect to a garden, revealing a beautifully decorated landscape.
"Crow-nim bestowed special techniques upon his disciples. Something beyond the Myungwang Gugeom, the swordsmanship we all received in common. The one I received is... Xie. Could you help me for a moment? Attack me. A light strike will do."
"Attack you...?"
Xie hesitated before drawing her sword and facing the Heavenly Sword.
The Heavenly Sword glanced at me with a slight smile, as if telling me to watch closely. She extended her sword hand forward and held her other hand in a stance that resembled judo.
A special technique taught by Crow.
Was she planning to demonstrate it?
'Calm.'
Not a single flaw, like the surface of a still lake.
Amidst the silence that made her opponent anxious, Xie made her move as if she had made up her mind.
"Haaat!"
Her sword drew an arc.
The Heavenly Sword stood perfectly still, taking no action even as Xie's attack was about to land.
Chaeng!
Like watching a manga with a missing panel, the situation was reversed in an instant.
"...?"
Unsure of what had just happened, Xie blinked and searched for her lost sword.
A moment later, her sword fell some distance away, embedding itself in the ground.
Chwarak.
At that moment, the sleeve of Xie's clothes was slightly cut and torn.
"This is the technique I received from Crow-nim as his disciple. You could call it a counterattack."
The Heavenly Sword said, straightening her clothes.
...I couldn't believe what I was seeing.
In that single instant, she not only nullified the force behind her opponent's attack and knocked away the sword, but she also launched an immediate counter.
It only ended with a torn sleeve because this wasn't a real fight; had the Heavenly Sword aimed for her neck, she could have easily taken it.
Even Tsubame Gaeshi has a slight time lag between slashes, but this technique showed no such thing.
"That's an incredible sword technique. But what was your intention in showing it to me?"
"I was asked to by Crow-nim."
['Kazumoto Yurie' wishes to impart the skill, 'Myeonggyeongjisu-pa (S)' to you.]
A prize just fell into my lap while I was doing nothing.
With my Speciality enhanced, I have five skill slots remaining.
With plenty of room to spare, there was no reason not to learn it.
[You have learned the skill, 'Myeonggyeongjisu-pa (S)'.]
"To be taught a sword technique by the Heavenly Sword..."
Xie's face was filled with envy.
Since they grew up together, Xie would know the Heavenly Sword's strength better than I.
It was only natural for Xie to react that way.
Especially since she was the one on the receiving end of that technique just now.
"It should be about time. Se-hyeon-nim, please head inside. Xie, shall we have a chat? It's been a while."
"Ah. Yes, I understand!"
Since the Heavenly Sword kept Xie with her, it naturally created an opportunity for the Prophet and me to speak alone.
I nodded and, as the Heavenly Sword had instructed, walked down the corridor and into a room further inside.
"We meet again."
"It's been a while, Prophet-nim."
"It's only been two days, but I suppose it feels like a long time."
The Prophet laughed awkwardly.
Two days.
It really feels like too much happens every single day.
"Shall we continue our conversation from last time? Where were we... Ah, what Ain-nim discovered and what he did, was it?"
"That's right. I would appreciate it if you could tell me as much information as you know, Prophet-nim."
"Understood."
The Prophet took a deep breath and slowly began to speak.
"What I know for certain is that Ain-nim somehow 'bought time'."
"Bought time?"
"Years ago, Earth was fated to be invaded and destroyed by a being known as the 'Annihilator'. Ain-nim used some method to delay the coming of that destruction as much as possible. At least... until someone who could clear EOA appeared."
[The set time limit has been reached.]
So that's what those words meant.
The puzzle pieces are starting to fall into place.
I habitually tapped the table.
"Then, that method was..."
"Ain-nim didn't say much. Therefore, I don't know the deepest details either. But there is one other thing... I remember something he mentioned in passing."
"What was it?"
"To forge the sword that reaches the heavens. Ain-nim definitely said that."
"...Does that mean the Heavenly Sword, Kazumoto Yurie?"
"I don't believe so."
The Prophet gently shook his head.
"She is certainly strong. The power she possesses is the 'sword of the heavens,' and she certainly holds power befitting that name to some extent... But if it were her, I think she would have met with him and discussed things when she came to see me."
"It would have been simpler to just train the Heavenly Sword and have her play EOA. There's no reason to take such a roundabout path."
"Yes. Therefore, if I had to say, it would be you. The one who inherited the power left by Ain-nim and was acknowledged by Crow-nim... The one person in the entire world with the potential to end this apocalypse. You are the 'sword that reaches the heavens' that Ain-nim spoke of."