Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: The Demon-Slaying Sword's Call
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This familiar sensation.
I know it all too well.
Something that had stayed with me like a part of my own body for so long, having accepted everything about Yong-un.
'Demon-Slaying Sword...'
The only thing capable of making Yong-un's heart race.
The Demon-Slaying Sword was calling to Yong-un.
Krunch.
As if heeding its call, Yong-un tore open the limousine's roof.
Black demonic energy poured out from within.
The thick demonic energy that had once belonged to Yong-un.
"Hiiik!"
Damon, catching sight of Yong-un's face, let out a terrified shriek and rolled across the floor.
Screeech!
The limousine, racing at high speed, skidded to a halt with smoke billowing from its tires.
As the car came to an abrupt stop, everyone inside slammed into the walls.
But Yong-un, perched atop the roof, casually reached out toward the wooden box without a care.
Crack.
The tightly sealed wooden box crumpled at its lock, and a sword with a pitch-black blade shot out from inside.
"Have you been well?"
Vmmm!
The leaping Demon-Slaying Sword settled back into its rightful place in Yong-un's grasp, as if returning home.
It trembled fiercely, almost whining about where he'd been.
At the same time, Yong-un's eyes turned pitch black.
A sinister smile crept across his lips, just like in the days when the Sword Demon had plunged the martial world into terror.
"Craving the taste of blood, are you?"
Vmmm, vmmm!
As if in answer, the Demon-Slaying Sword vibrated once more.
But the moment passed quickly.
Clang.
Yong-un's blackened eyes returned to normal, and the smile faded from his lips.
The Demon-Slaying Sword slipped from his hand and dropped back into the wooden box.
Vmm?
The sword vibrated faintly.
But Yong-un's gaze remained resolute, unmoved by the sword's pleading affection.
"I'm sorry."
The Demon-Slaying Sword seemed to buzz in confusion, as if questioning him.
Yet Yong-un turned his head away, ignoring its allure with effort.
"I will never return to being the murderous demon, the Sword Demon."
Vmm?
"Find another master and live well. This is our final farewell."
"Stop! Hands up!"
Yong-un rose to his feet on the roof.
GHO Hunters who had pursued him soon rushed in, aiming their guns at Yong-un.
But before the GHO Hunters could act, Yong-un's figure vanished from the spot.
As if he had never been there to begin with.
After causing a brief commotion, Yong-un's figure reappeared in front of his house.
"Is this what they mean by a troubled heart?"
He had sent away the Demon-Slaying Sword, the very symbol of the Sword Demon.
The Demon-Slaying Sword had been like Yong-un's only friend during his time as the Sword Demon.
That was why he had answered its call.
He hadn't even been able to give a proper farewell to his old companion.
'Live well.'
Though he had stirred up some trouble, he had at least met it as it wished and bid it goodbye.
From now on, Yong-un had no intention of responding to the Demon-Slaying Sword's calls.
The Demon-Slaying Sword was a demonic blade.
If a human unable to withstand its will wielded it, they would become a murderous fiend slaughtering people indiscriminately.
Of course, Yong-un, as the one who had forged the Demon-Slaying Sword, could overcome its will.
Even so, he had no plans to ever touch it again.
Because the Demon-Slaying Sword was a blade horrific enough to stir murderous intent even in him.
'I hope it finds a good master.'
Wishing he could wield it no longer, Yong-un hoped inwardly.
He hoped some virtuous soul capable of subduing the Demon-Slaying Sword would temper it.
Of course, if someone got ensnared by its killing intent and turned into a murderer, there was nothing to be done.
'That's no longer any concern of mine.'
It would work itself out somehow.
No matter what happened, Yong-un would not take up the Demon-Slaying Sword.
Because to Yong-un, family was far more precious than his old companion, the Demon-Slaying Sword.
Yong-un shook his head slowly.
Then he smiled.
With the farewell behind him, his heart felt lighter as he buried the old friend deep within his chest.
With a refreshed smile calming his troubled mind, he walked into the house where his family awaited.
"How intriguing."
Though it had only been about 30 seconds, quite the uproar had unfolded.
Yet not a single news article about it appeared in the mass media.
"Is this a good thing?"
Was it because the incident was too brief for reporters to cover?
Or had someone with enough power to control the media taken the Demon-Slaying Sword?
'Whatever the case, it doesn't matter.'
Satisfied that no news related to the Demon-Slaying Sword had leaked up to this point, Yong-un set down Guild Master Jin-cheol's tablet PC.
"Huff... huff..."
"One more lap."
"Urgh..."
From the morning schedule onward, he had been drilling the Unwoo Guild members mercilessly.
Their faces were pale, breaths coming right up to their throats.
Yet Yong-un's training showed no signs of letting up.
Even if a few fainted.
"Better to pass out. Did you think getting stronger would be easy? Without bone-grinding effort, how can you surpass others? If you want to be the best, don't give up. Die trying first."
No response came to Yong-un's words.
They didn't even have the strength left to reply.
"Good."
Yong-un nodded in satisfaction at the sight.
Sword Tiger, standing beside him, clicked his tongue in pity and asked,
"Why push them so hard?"
But the answer surprised Sword Tiger.
"Is this harsh? No one's hurt, no blood's spilled. If this is harsh, then don't aspire to be mine."
Sword Tiger was stunned.
He'd suspected as much, but this level of ruthlessness...
Still curious, Sword Tiger rephrased his question.
"Why drive them to exhaustion?"
"Simple. To let them experience their limits."
"Their limits?"
"The human body is wondrous. Hit your limit, and you collapse. But when that body recovers and rises again, it forges strength that surpasses that limit."
"Ah..."
Sword Tiger nodded as understanding dawned.
"Do this for just two weeks, and they'll have the vessel to learn my martial arts."
"But can they even manage it? Knowing is one thing, doing it another..."
"They will. If not, I'll just take the ones who do."
"But two weeks straight..."
"Not enough? True, three months would be ideal. No time, though—we'll ramp it up after the qualifiers."
"Ahh..."
Sword Tiger was speechless at Yong-un's outrageous statement.
And so a day passed, then two, until the third day.
As expected, complaints began surfacing among the guild members.
They didn't want to join what seemed like pointless, sadistic training.
Having foreseen this, Yong-un issued the same order as he had to the Demon Subduers.
'Those who don't want to come don't have to.'
On the third day, only four out of twenty remained at the training grounds.
The three Jang-gwi and one hunter who looked weak at first glance.
Anyone else would call it a pitiful sight.
Only four people where twenty had once filled the space.
But Yong-un carried on with the morning schedule as if unbothered, gazing at the four.
He repeated the daily routine with the four Unwoo Guild members and Sword Tiger countless times.
Days turned into one, then two, until the eve of the World S-Rank Competition arrived.
"Day thirteen, huh."
"Yes!"
It had been ten days since most Unwoo Guild members dropped out, and thirteen days since Yong-un decided to train them.
"Looking good."
"Thanks to you!"
The more they trained, the more the expressions of the remaining three Jang-gwi and one Unwoo Guild member changed.
And today, on the thirteenth day.
The faces of the four standing Unwoo Guild members brimmed with anticipation and fighting spirit.
"Having fun?"
"Yes! Can't wait to run more!"
They had realized it now.
The way to surpass their limits and conquer themselves.
The sense of accomplishment from overcoming oneself.
And finally, the joy of training.
"As you all know, I won't be around for a while starting tomorrow."
"We know."
"Training is repetition, habit. Lose the habit once, and it's gone forever..."
"Agh, bro! We got it—no need to nag, you're doing great now. Quit lecturing and let's start!"
As Yong-un's words dragged on like a principal's speech, Myung-un cut him off abruptly.
But instead of anger, Yong-un smiled at Myung-un.
"Alright, get to it."
"Start!"
How could he not smile?
In just thirteen days, they had discovered the joy of training.
That was the sole difference between the Demon Subduers and the Demon Spirit Killers.
The joy of training, and the pure fighting spirit to surpass one's limits.
"Heh."
They were no longer Demon Subduers—they had become Demon Spirit Killers.
For the first time in thirteen days of watching them from the same spot every day, Yong-un stood and walked away.
They wouldn't stop the morning training now, even if told to.
"The Jang-gwi are complete. Now for the rest."
The hard part was over; what came next would be easy.
Those guys would handle it.
"Faster than expected. This'll be fun."
Yong-un, who had paused to look down at the training group, lightly kicked off the ground.
The change wasn't limited to those four.
The greatest transformation might belong to the one standing before Yong-un.
"Sword Tiger."
"You called?"
It was probably day nine.
When he had forced Sword Tiger into secluded training.
And now, seeing him again today.
Instead of a sharp glare, Yong-un gifted Sword Tiger a smile.
"Looking good."
"Thanks to you! But... you won't ask?"
Sword Tiger smiled back.
"Do I need to ask to hear the answer? Your eyes are already telling me everything."
At Yong-un's words, Sword Tiger suddenly set down his sword and slammed his head to the ground.
Thud!
"Thank you. Allow me to greet you properly once more. Master."
Age no longer mattered.
Now that he had obtained what he desired.
The word "master" etched in Sword Tiger's heart existed solely for Yong-un.
"You've achieved it. Take care of yourself. You'll have much to do for me ahead."
"Yes, Master!"
Yong-un smiled down at Sword Tiger's battered sword blade, then turned away.
He glanced at the many people around and called out.
"Sword Tiger!"
"Yes!"
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
Today was the day of the World S-Rank Competition.
Ignoring the swarm of reporters, Yong-un and Sword Tiger headed toward the plane.
For the newfound might of South Korea.
Vrooom!
The cameras of the reporters flashed relentlessly until the plane carrying Yong-un and Sword Tiger took off.
Shocked by Sword Tiger's actions, the reporters had no idea.
That even as they snapped away, certain of their scoop.
A far greater scoop—a legend—was beginning...