Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Hero
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Do-yoon stepped up onto the arena.
The area below the arena was still in chaos from Sophie's match. They chattered excitedly about Sophie, the boss monster killer, having grown into such a fine woman, and the massive gains their guild would reap by taking her in.
Only Eloa and Heineken watched Do-yoon with meaningful gazes.
Do-yoon had no intention of playing up the atmosphere. He wasn't interested in inflating his own market value.
'Eloa's guild would be the best choice.'
His mind was already leaning toward the World Tree side.
No matter how enticing the conditions other places offered, he figured the place with his old connection, Eloa, would be the most ideal for growth.
What mattered wasn't money or the like, but whether it provided an optimal environment and conveniences for growth. That was all.
Do-yoon turned his head to look at Eloa. She flinched as their eyes met.
Do-yoon let out a smirk.
'She's really grown a lot.'
Or rather, after a hundred years, had she only grown that much?
The eleven-year-old chick had become a proper young woman in her early twenties. Even so, her hair was still that bright yellow, retaining a hint of the fluffy down from her chick days.
Eloa felt her mind growing hazy.
'Why...'
He was smiling at her. She sensed an inexplicable fondness in his gaze.
It was the same look the guild members—practically family back then—had given her long ago.
A warm gaze that saw her not as a sturdy guild master, but as a little kid who needed protecting. Especially, it reminded her of that person.
Do-yoon looked away, and Eloa swallowed a sigh of regret inside.
'Why... why does that cadet keep reminding me...'
Confused by her own emotions, she still hoped their eyes would meet again. She wanted to feel more of that warm, ticklish sensation she hadn't known in a hundred years.
Eloa found herself continually drawn to him.
Do-yoon watched her briefly and sensed a whirlwind of emotions in her eyes: confusion, longing, joy, delight. Even after a hundred years, her eyes were still so honest and transparent, fully reflecting her heart.
Thanks to that, Do-yoon gained confidence that he could reveal his identity to her.
'A contract can only happen after the Cradle ends...'
For now, he'd send her some kind of signal. Something to make Eloa come find him again.
'What technique would be good?'
A move so visually striking it would be etched in the memory of the eleven-year-old Eloa, who didn't even know the character for sword back then. And it had to be something that could be called Enoch's signature.
'Right. Eloa really loved that technique.'
Do-yoon recalled the move that had made Eloa squeal with delight whenever she saw it, calling it cool—the one she loved most.
It wasn't just Eloa. Those who had witnessed the hero's exploits never omitted this technique when describing his swordsmanship.
In truth, it was less a technique and more an application of Localized Acceleration Control, but to those unfamiliar with swords, it looked like peerlessly beautiful swordplay.
'What was its name...?'
It wasn't Enoch who had named the technique; it was the bards.
The move was simple. Midway through a sword swing, apply Localized Acceleration Control to give the blade instantaneous acceleration. It blended the principles of quick-draw and illusory sword.
The accelerating blade mid-arc seemed to vanish for an instant, leaving only the golden afterimages from Enoch's golden sword aura. This gave viewers the illusion that his sword was turning into light.
The bards who witnessed this simple technique described it as if it were the hero's ultimate move, calling it the Golden Luminous Sword.
Though Do-yoon couldn't produce golden sword aura right now, the instantaneous acceleration of the swinging blade was flashy in itself. As the bards described it, it was a mysterious, beautiful motion like a dance.
No wonder even after Enoch's death, a performance art called "Sword Dance" imitating his ever-changing sword forms had been born.
'It might have spread through words and writings... but no one here has seen Hecleus Style or Buske Style in person, so it should be fine.'
Eloa was the only one present who had seen the Golden Luminous Sword. This technique was perfect.
"Hoo..."
The swordsmanship instructor who had climbed onto the arena let out a deep breath from tension.
Having glimpsed Do-yoon's training so far, the instructor had to admit it: in every aspect except raw output, Do-yoon was superior. So...
'Don't let him set the pace—charge straight in and overwhelm with power.'
He tensed his legs and shoulders while staring at Do-yoon.
The fist fighting instructor cleared his throat as he watched the two enter the arena.
"Ahem, ahem."
This time, the fist fighting instructor was officiating himself. He wanted to witness his prized student's performance up close.
Even if he hadn't taught him anything, even if he used a sword instead of fists. Seeing Do-yoon just made him feel inexplicably proud.
The scouting party's interest in the match was minimal. They'd already seen the boss monster killer, and even checked out the second seat's skills. They'd seen all there was to see, probably.
Some weren't even watching the arena. Only the instructors who knew the full story smirked while holding back laughs at the sight.
In that chaotic atmosphere, Do-yoon and the instructor faced each other.
"Both contestants, to your positions."
The instructor had already drawn his sword, taking a superior high guard for attack.
"Ready."
Do-yoon lightly placed his hand on the hilt.
And.
"Begin!"
With the instructor's charge and Do-yoon's draw.
Clang-!
The match ended.
"...!"
The swordsmanship instructor, the fist fighting instructor, and the scouting party—all tore their eyes wide open.
Clink.
The broken blade of the swordsmanship instructor fell to the floor.
In the silent air where no one spoke, only the hum of Do-yoon's extended sword and the faint golden afterimage tracing a thin line from the tip lingered.
Do-yoon calmly sheathed his sword. He rubbed the still-vibrating blade against his forearm to soothe it.
Click.
No one spoke until Do-yoon's sword fully settled into its scabbard.
He bowed politely to the instructor.
And so, the sixth friendly match between cadet and instructor concluded in a single exchange.
The cadet's victory.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Th-this won't do! The scouting is over..."
"Wait! Let me talk to that cadet for a moment!"
"Are you a boss monster killer? Just answer this—is that cadet a boss monster killer?!"
"We can't disclose personal cadet information..."
"That's the guy! Our instructor said it—a sword user! It's him!"
The area below the arena turned into pandemonium in an instant. The instructors had to exert all their effort to hold back the scouting party.
Among them, the Earthling apostle who had come as Heineken's attendant resisted especially fiercely.
"Fuck...! Just let me meet him and I'll leave! Just a moment! Hey, over there! Sorry! I didn't mean to do it on purpose...! Ah, let go, you...! You bastards! Do you know who I am?!"
For some reason, his face was pale as he bellowed at Do-yoon. If left alone, he looked ready to run to Do-yoon and drop to his knees.
But Do-yoon didn't even remember his face. It was just a thief hopping mad because his legs had gone numb.
Heineken scowled deeply at the sight.
"This fucking embarrassment...!"
He grabbed his subordinate by the scruff and slammed him to the ground.
"Ack!"
"Stay put, you idiot! My head's already a mess..."
Heineken rubbed his throbbing forehead and sorted his thoughts.
'That guy just now, definitely...'
The situation made no sense. The cadet's exceptional skill and him being the boss monster killer were secondary. What he couldn't comprehend was...
"Ha... fuck..."
He shook his head to clear the tangled thoughts. Then he hurried off.
The star of the chaos, Do-yoon, left the aftermath to the instructors and slipped away somewhere. The instructors were pleased he'd startled the scouting party, but resented him for causing this mess.
The swordsmanship instructor stood dazed on the arena, holding his broken sword.
'What the hell...'
He had clearly seen the draw. And reacted. But when half the blade emerged, the sword vanished.
The flashing afterimage hit his eyes only after the tearing shock reached his grip.
Then the match ended. His sword felt light in his hand, the severed blade spinning to the arena floor.
'Accelerated the sword mid-trajectory...? How?'
It felt like he'd been possessed by a ghost.
If that strike had targeted his throat instead of his sword?
Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine. He might not even have realized he'd died.
'What kind of...'
Lethal, sharp sword was that?
He stood there in a daze for a long while.
Meanwhile, calculations raced through the scouting party's minds.
A cadet had beaten an instructor. Unprecedented.
Hwang Bo-jun, said to be the son of the Heavenly Demon from the Murim dimension. And Salamander, who handled the fire spirit, a divine being.
They were monsters, geniuses. But neither had been strong enough to beat an instructor right after entering the Cradle.
Yet this freshly arrived cadet, not even ripened by the System's blessings, beats an instructor? Literally a pipe dream.
That's why it was a friendly match. No real stakes, just a show.
And that's why the scouting party had raved over Sophie. Even Heineken had nodded briefly, recalling she was a boss monster killer. Though the instructor had gone easy, she'd held her own admirably for a bit.
But Han Do-yoon had beaten the instructor. In one exchange, overwhelmingly.
Having glimpsed the true might of a boss monster killer, the scouting party's blood boiled. A far cry from their reaction to Sophie.
They desperately wanted just a word with Do-yoon. To tout—no, offer—their guilds' advantages and lavish recruitment terms.
Sophie was long forgotten in their minds. Ah, so that's a real boss monster killer, they thought.
"The next schedule's a break anyway! Just let us meet once, please!"
"Who are you! How do you know the Cradle schedule..."
"Ca-cadet! 'Black Cat'! Guild 'Black Cat'! Remember us!"
"'Amaterasu'! The meteoric rookie guild rising in Skeletonia! 'Amaterasu'!"
"'Gold Ship'! 'Gold Ship'!"
"Th-this won't do! Other cadets are in class—keep quiet..."
"'Pacific Reeeeeam'!!!"
In an instant, they all started chanting their guild names. Even though Do-yoon had already vanished somewhere.
The scouting party rioted like protesters trying to break through the instructors. And amid that chaos, only Eloa stood dazed far behind them.
She stared blankly at the spot where Do-yoon had disappeared, as if entranced.
'Definitely... definitely...'
She had definitely seen it. That technique.
The sword that looked the coolest in the world a hundred years ago. The one that directly inspired her to become a swordswoman.
The sword he had shown her extra, subtly, whenever she squealed with joy in the guild house front yard.
'Golden Luminous Sword...'
The sword only that person, whom she missed so achingly, could wield.
There was no golden sword aura, but it was definitely that technique.
And Eloa had clearly seen it: the faint golden thread-like trail left in the air, like firefly afterimages that vanished quickly, the thin line from the sword tip.
It was the phenomenon of a tiny amount of mana flowing into the sword, strengthening it—like a precursor to sword aura.
This trace hinted at Do-yoon's exceptional skill, further igniting the scouting party, but to Eloa, it meant something else.
'The color of the mana...'
Do-yoon's unique mana color. It was the same brilliant gold as his.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Do-yoon hadn't shown more skill than necessary and ended the match quickly. His goal wasn't to boost his value anyway, but to signal Eloa.
But his nonchalance in one-shotting the instructor created a spectacle, skyrocketing his market value sky-high—but that was no longer his concern.
That was done. More importantly, Do-yoon focused on dealing with something else that had been nagging at him since earlier.
'Seems like it...'
Deep in thought, Do-yoon walked a secluded path outside the building.
Right against the outer wall, shadowy and narrow. No one came here usually.
With his arm hooked on the hilt at his waist, Do-yoon scratched the fabric with his fingers.
Someone approached from the opposite direction: the Minister of Finance from Viren Kingdom, who had come with Heineken.
But Do-yoon ignored him. The minister did the same.
Narrow, shadowy path. Their shoulders brushed past.
"..."
"..."
Chirp-! Chirp-!
No sound rang out.
Not even when the minister's black dagger clashed with Do-yoon's sword. Not the slightest noise. Not even the sound of cutting air.
Only the faint friction of Do-yoon's draw was buried in the wind and birdsong.
An unnatural phenomenon.
"Tch."
Do-yoon clicked his tongue at the dagger he'd blocked, swung at his throat.
His grip tore from the single clash. Even though he'd anticipated and reinforced his hand with Localized Acceleration Control.
Far stronger than expected—an opponent he absolutely couldn't beat right now.
Do-yoon narrowed his eyes and glared at the minister.
"It was right... Huh?"
Do-yoon widened his eyes and peered closely at the man's.
"...Demonkin?"
He showed no expression. Basic training for an assassin: give no hints to the interrogator.
He wasn't surprised. He was the captain of the current Demon King's direct assassination squad. With 'that person's' legion commander seat vacant, he was effectively the Demon King's strongest assassin.
The unexpected skill in the match, blocking the sword, recognizing him as demonkin—all surprises.
But ultimately, just a target to kill here.
No matter the variables, assassinate the target. Business as usual.
He calculated from the repulsion in his sword. This cadet was truly strong. Considering he was a cadet, freakish combat power. Fitting for a boss monster killer.
Moreover, he was weakened by Skeletonia's 'holy stones.' With the ambush failed, his assassination edge was nullified.
'Troublesome.'
It'd take over twenty seconds to kill. Enough time for nearby powerhouses to hear and come.
'Force it to ten seconds.'
He tensed his wrist, slowly scraping Do-yoon's sword with the jet-black dagger. Strangely, no friction sound.
The black dagger, absorbing all light and depth perception, seemed to swallow sound itself.
Do-yoon's sword was gradually pushed back.
He watched Do-yoon's eyes, showing no hint of panic, with interest.
Then, suddenly, déjà vu made him shudder.
'...What?'
His nape prickled coldly. His veteran assassin instincts from over a century screamed.
"Hey."
Do-yoon spoke.
"You a demonkin?"
Do-yoon's pupils turned golden.
The minister’s pupils contracted at the sight. An intense sense of danger buzzed in his head.
'These eyes...'
Death's terror etched deep in his bones forcibly dragged up memories from a hundred years ago.
The moment the Demon King's direct assassination squad was annihilated.
The moment the strongest legion commander 'that person' fell.
The moment intense golden light illuminated the shadows.
That vivid gaze burned into his mind.
It matched perfectly, chillingly.
'How...'
Logically impossible. But he was an assassin. He trusted trained instinct over reason.
Before his eyes stood.
The one who plunged a blade into the Demon Queen's heart.
'Războinic...!'
The hero.