Rematch 1
How long has it been since Atonement Slice shut down? But I'm already getting withdrawal symptoms. Woke up this morning and my hands are trembling, cold sweat breaking out. Mom made kimchi stew, but the smell hit me and I dry-heaved. My brain only recognizes pepperoni and cheese combos as food now. Can I file for workers' comp? Can I sue the boss?
Holy Church, Knights' Exclusive Dining Hall. It was dinnertime, but the hall was as silent as a monastery. Closer to a funeral home, really.
Prime steaks and salads made from top-grade ingredients sat untouched on the tables, the knights merely poking at them with forks.
"……Tasteless."
The 1st Battalion Commander set down his fork with a mutter. Dark circles hung under his eyes, his face gaunt after just a few days.
"This meat… tastes like chewing rubber. No juices, no juices!"
"Commander, this is A++ grade Hanwoo beef, sir…."
"Shut it! It's not that oily, spicy ham from atop the pizza!"
The commander slammed the table. His rage made the surrounding knights bow their heads.
"Priest Yohan… still nothing? No sign of that shop reopening?"
Yohan, stirring green porridge in the corner, shook his head weakly.
"Intel says… they don't even know why it closed, and the owner Lee Han vanished, cutting off supplies entirely."
Yohan trailed off. Morale in the Holy Church had hit rock bottom.
Lee Han's scheme was far more lethal than they'd imagined. Addicting their tastes and stomachs to pizza, then yanking the supply—nothing could be crueler.
Run a ranch in Gangwon-do. Got an official notice from the Association today. Monsters targeting dairy zones only. Cows stressed out, no milk. Know what that means? No cheese soon. They said last time only domestic cheese gives that flavor. Fuck. Even if Atonement Slice reopens, no cheese means no pizza. Pizza prices? Gold tier now.
Silence hung over the abandoned house. The Silence Sanctuary spread by the Silent Elder.
Isha von Estel scanned her surroundings. Her red eyes swept the barrier's boundary.
"……A perfect seal indeed. From outside, no one knows what's happening in here—who's dying or whatever."
"You get it. Means we can go wild without holding back. No need to keep up saintly dignity."
I picked up the broken sword hilt from the floor, dusting it off.
"A rematch, huh?"
Isha's brow furrowed at my words.
"That word choice…… honestly pisses me off."
"……Whoa, whoa. Saintess, you've been on the galleries too much. Your vocab's gotten brutal. Heard your smartphone got confiscated once—still got that edge? Need more detox."
"Shut up. Enough talk—pick up your sword."
Isha gripped her holy sword's hilt, done with banter. Her eyes burned with resolve. She'd cut me down if needed, take the horn, and avenge her last humiliation.
"Fine. Terms?"
I asked, and Isha answered without hesitation.
"I win, you hand over the Demon King's Horn. And you walk into the Holy Church underground prison—nice and easy, with me as your captor."
"Simple. Deal."
I nodded. Isha's gaze demanded my terms.
"I win."
I pointed the broken blade at the ceiling.
"Holy Church drops their dragnet. And you go into 100-day seclusion training starting tomorrow."
"……Huh?"
Isha let out a disbelieving scoff.
"How'd you even know that?"
"Not important how I know. Question is, accept?"
"But—"
I cut her off as she tried to argue.
"No backing out already. Winner takes all, right?"
Isha's lips pressed into a thin line. She glared, then nodded with resolve.
"Fine. Not like it'll happen anyway. I'll win, you'll lose."
"Confidence. Nice."
"Win condition…?"
She asked, then answered herself.
"To the death?"
"Too crude for a saintess's lips, no?"
"Against a devil, purification is the answer."
"Pass on the blood. Can't kill a regular customer, even if she costs me business."
I told her,
"Surrender or incapacitated."
"No issue."
We backed off, about 10 meters apart. Far for swords to reach, close enough to close in a blink.
Tension froze even the dust in the air.
No openings.
I observed Isha. She held her holy sword at an angle, statue-still. But her balance was primed to launch, holy power flowing flawlessly through her body.
World's top dog, as expected.
I took a defensive stance. My condition wasn't peak—blood mandrake aftereffects and prior fight fatigue stacked up.
Isha was pristine. Head-on, I'd lose.
One minute, two. Our stares stretched the silence.
"Dragging this out?"
Isha spoke first. No impatience—just bored of the probe.
"Dunno. Why not come at me? You said you're confident."
"Too cheap a taunt. Won't bite."
Isha snorted.
"You're baiting a counter. Moment I step in, you exploit with that freaky reflex."
"Knew it."
I shrugged. That 0.1-second post-strike gap—we both knew it decided everything. Neither moved rashly.
We measured distances, stabbing with words instead of blades.
"One thing I'm curious about."
Isha stared into my eyes.
"When did you investigate me so thoroughly? My tastes, sword habits, patterns… whatever."
"……."
"Who the hell are you, really?"
Her gaze sharpened. Doubts about Lee Han's origins.
"Saintess. Holy Church isn't the only one with intel. I've got my aces."
"Not spilling easy."
"Trade secret."
"Hah, figures…."
Isha sighed, stopping her steps. She regripped her sword.
"You're chatty today. Annoying."
"Same."
I adjusted my stance. Probing was pointless now. But words wouldn't end it.
"This'll go till dawn."
"Yeah."
I spoke first.
"While we're talking, negotiate output?"
"Huh?"
"No holding back. Go all out—we're busy."
Isha's eyes lit up. Same wavelength.
"Deal. Limits?"
"Full power."
"……!"
Her eyes widened. Full power meant not just mana—all cards, hidden aces. Even System-granted Authority.
"Titles too?"
"Obviously. No bitching after."
A smug smile curved Isha's lips. Her Noble Saintess title—one of the world's noblest buffs. Using it meant crushing me for sure.
"Cool. Agreed."
I nodded.
"Begin."
—Kuuuung!
Isha moved first. Eyes closed, hand on chest.
A dazzling pillar of light pierced the ceiling. The ruin's darkness vanished instantly. Isha emerged from the glow, sanctity incarnate. Radiant wings of light sprouted behind her, silver armor gleaming brighter. Her holy sword revealed its true form.
"Justia, release."
—Chaeng!
The blade split in two, holy power erupting like plasma between. Space warped from the dense energy. Where she stood felt like a slice of the divine realm.
"Lee Han."
Isha looked down at me, gaze of absolute superiority—like viewing an insect.
"Your turn."
I faced the overwhelming light, slowly closing then opening my eyes.
"Flashy. Blinding just to look at."
I drew a deep breath. Deep in my chest, the Dragon Heart thrashed wildly.
"Guess I should return the courtesy."
—Kwaaaaang!
Golden aura exploded from my feet. If Isha's light was holy and serene, mine was feral and scorching. Veins bulged across my body, faint dragon scale patterns rising on my skin. My pupils slit vertically like a reptile's, hot steam leaking from my mouth.
"Grrr…."
Behind me, a massive dragon silhouette rose in haze, roaring.
Saintess's white light clashed with Dragon Slayer's golden aura, the air inside screaming as if torn apart.
Isha's face hardened. She'd felt it. This wasn't some regular hunter power.
"As expected… you're dangerous."
Isha gripped Justia tight.
"So I'll break you here. With my full power!"
"Bring it."
I reverse-gripped the broken dagger—no, now claw-like blade.
"See if it snaps or bends."
—Paat!
We kicked off simultaneously.
Saintess and Dragon Slayer. Two colossal forces charged at each other.