Transcendent (1)

I summoned the fierce devils to absorb the blood.

And with that, I saved the nation.

Yet for some reason, it was judged as an "evil" act.

The blood of the Red Sea was far thicker than I'd imagined—enough to nearly tip the baby sword's good-evil ratio to 1:99.

'Not chaos, but a full-blown evil sword.'

A slew of terrifying options had popped up for my sword.

I'd been watching the situation without choosing, when Reinhardt adjusted the baby sword's ratio back to 50:50.

—Good work. Thanks as always.

I praised him using my Communication ability.

Communication felt like telepathy or mind speech.

Something I'd realized while using it.

1st Sword, Reinhardt Euclid.

He was like a hearty bowl of beef soup—solid and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠reliable.

—I'll count on you going forward.

【Loyal!!!】

For reference, Iris Luzvela died 1,023 times before seeing the ending.

Reinhardt? Just once.

I'd seen his ending in Raise a Sword.

'He was always dependable.'

Same back in my Raise a Sword days.

Reinhardt never disobeyed my orders once.

The other swords threw tantrums, but he followed silently every time.

Train? He trained.

Learn something? He learned it.

Secluded training for 10 years or 30? He'd nod and get to it.

'That's why there's this slight discomfort...'

The discomfort was just in my head.

A minor mishap from building his setup.

Water under the bridge now.

Reinhardt didn't dwell on it anyway.

Anyway.

What mattered now was the baby sword's growth.

Thanks to Reinhardt, it regained its 50:50 ratio, preserving its full chaos trait—

'Please change!!!'

Fwaah!

Atop all those brutal options, the chaos-aligned sword I wanted appeared.

Considering the slaughter-devil-cannibal horrors from moments ago, this was a massive shift.

'Harmony of holy and demon sword.'

Fwaah!

Without hesitation, I chose the top-tier chaos build.

And with that, my baby sword evolved.

I wanted to dive into a Tower or Gate right then to test it, but—

'How long is she gonna keep this up...'

The place and situation were the issue.

I was riding in a luxurious ceremonial limousine headed for the Blue House.

For the record, I was in the prime seat.

Across from me sat Chief Prosecutor Kang Mu-jin.

He'd insisted I take the top seat, so here I was.

'At least explain something.'

They'd dragged me here and said nothing.

Finally, impatience got the better of me.

"Chief Kang, how long are you gonna sit there in silence?"

A moment later, he fixed me with his piercing gaze.

"You asked about the Red Sea's secret?"

"Yes."

My first question upon getting in was, "What's the source of the Red Sea?"

To progress the World Quest that triggered after handling it.

Anyone could pick up a World Quest if conditions were met.

But rewards were tailored to each individual Awakener.

Like with the Tower, world-issued quests customized their prizes.

'A sheath for the baby sword?'

Irresistible.

"The Red Sea's secret... you'll hear it there."

We'd arrived at the Blue House.

As someone who'd wielded the 2nd Sword, Iris's power firsthand, I got why the government's response was so swift.

It had been that terrifying—and potent.

But...

"Greetings to Korea's second Transcendent, Shin Si-woo."

This was beyond swift—overkill.

President Lee Seok-hyun himself came out to greet me.

He even opened the door and escorted me like a bellboy.

"If 'second' offends... I sincerely apologize."

As I stood blankly, those words came.

I said it was fine and hopped out quick.

'Patriot-level treatment?'

Dazed but striding confidently.

Reinhardt was watching.

Even after learning the truth of Raise a Sword, he backed me endlessly.

I didn't want to look weak ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠as Sword Master before him.

"Have a seat."

We reached the presidential office.

Sitting on the 'ㄷ'-shaped sofas, we held a secretive meeting.

My spot? The president's prime seat.

Kang Mu-jin to my left, the president to my right.

Swish—

They exchanged odd glances.

Signaling right in front of me.

Not sitting well.

I seized control, cutting straight to it.

"What's the source of the Red Sea, exactly?"

I stared at the president coolly.

No looking down on me.

I could wield omnipotent power, even if just for 4 seconds.

Once the baby sword grew, maybe something beyond that.

Plus, the situation favored me.

Patriot absent.

Red Sea overflowing.

My emergence.

'Things have spiraled irreversibly.'

Without me, Seoul might've drowned in blood.

With my feats, I could push hard.

As expected, the president looked spooked and spilled the truth.

"Truth is, the Red Sea was a Gate artificially grown by Gye Man-hwi, leader of the cult Gaecheonji."

But that truth was weird.

"Weren't all the cults wiped out?"

Gaecheonji, Tongil Church, Jesus and the Children.

Dozens more infested the country.

Back in high school, Gaecheonji zealots preached doomsday at Gates everywhere.

But their leaders and brass? All executed under the Patriot Special Act.

"Gye Man-hwi survived. He's in Japan now."

The president gestured oddly to Kang Mu-jin again.

Thinking I wouldn't know?

'Watch for now.'

I listened calmly.

The tale was so riveting—and brutal—that petty rudeness got overlooked.

"12 years ago, post-Gate catastrophe, cults ballooned. Gaecheonji had 400,000 followers nationwide. And..."

Gaecheonji.

They did human sacrifices.

Thus completing the blood sea, Red Sea.

Unknown to Korea's people.

Me included.

"Don't the public think Gye Man-hwi's dead?"

"Gaecheonji's leader and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠execs all fled alive to Japan."

Taking massive mystery with them...

"The Patriot let that slide?"

Patriot hated two things most.

Scammers preying on the weak.

And pro-Japan traitors.

'Plus a mad cult leader growing a Gate with sacrifices—why leave him?'

"His one blunder. Back then, he focused on drunk driving penalties over cult crackdowns."

What to say?

Framing it as cooperating with me by airing Patriot dirt.

Even offering all intel on Gye Man-hwi if needed.

'Wanting me to check the Patriot?'

The thought hit.

President never mentioned Patriot flaws before—at least not to me.

"—Whatever Si-woo wants, we'll accommodate fully."

Silence fell.

They locked eyes again.

Enough.

"Quit the gestures and signals. Spit it out straight."

My raised voice made them flinch.

Kang Mu-jin—Seol-ah's dad—spoke next.

He knew I was uncomfortable there.

Same steady tone, but shocking words.

"Right, Shin Si-woo. We want you to keep the Patriot in check."

Unbelievable.

But true.

—Ep. 06 Transcendent

"We'd like an official appointment ceremony as SSS-rank Hunter and Transcendent."

"Patriot won't leave Gates for at least a week, max a month. We must prepare everything before then."

Their ask was simple.

Make me Korea's official second Transcendent.

'Appointment ceremony, huh...'

Step up as national guardian—with money, power, honor.

'Benefits are huge.'

Tax exemption baseline, plus blanket immunity from crimes.

Universal for Transcendents.

'Problem is, I'm not ready yet.'

Swords' manifestation time short, baby sword growth might take ages.

Clashing with Patriot? High risk.

Logically, bide time.

Yet I hesitated.

'He's a mad bastard, honestly.'

Checking him? Totally get it.

I respect his deeds, not his ideology.

Back when he executed rapists, murderers, traitors—I was a diehard fan.

Smashing Gates—my parents' killers—on sight? Heroic as hell.

"How crazy is the Patriot going that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you'd pitch this the second a new Transcendent appears?"

Patriot seemed steadfast, but changing.

Craving control over Korea his way?

"This Korea... exists to appease the Patriot."

Balding President Lee Seok-hyun.

I instantly got his hair loss.

"Heard real estate regs tied up your cash too, Si-woo."

"Seol-ah tell you?"

"Yeah. Broke your savings, dumped 4 mil on some guy? Dad had to ask."

Anyway, their point:

'Real estate next—what? Stocks? Traffic laws? Cigarette sales ban?'

Endlessly yielding to Patriot's nonsense would collapse Korea.

"He ignores economy or whatever. Obsessed eradicating what he deems evil. Look at real estate. Loan curbs drop prices?"

"They dipped some."

"Well, yes, but..."

No investment savvy, apparently—Kang trailed off.

President picked up.

"Forcing Seoul homes under 1 bil average? Unrealistic. Government's pondering a 1 bil cap on all housing instead."

1 bil cap.

No selling homes over 1 bil.

This ain't commie gangster land...

"My place is up for redevelopment—fees and taxes push it over. I'd lose money."

"True. But it's the Patriot's demand."

"Ah..."

Reality sank in.

"Government's his leash, huh."

"Something like that."

Another Patriot blunder unknown to the public.

"International relations are worst too. Portals with mystery? Tourists ain't coming. Japan ties need fixing."

"Japan bombing..."

Patriot hit Japan over Dokdo.

Japan agreed: no more "Takeshima," recognize Dokdo as Korean, use "East Sea" officially.

Epic win, yet President's face paled.

"Heard he targeted empty spots... casualties?"

"Yes, plenty civilians. Confirmed."

"Why's Japan quiet?"

"SSS Transcendent summons Yi Sun-sin, sails carriers. Assassination impossible. Patriot's got Sword Master Cheok Jun-kyung too."

Still didn't add up.

"Japan's Transcendents just sitting?"

Japan had three.

"What do you think Gye Man-hwi's doing there? Blew a lava Gate on Fuji, made a hellscape. Their Transcendents dying in shifts containing it."

President's hair seemed to thin as he spoke.

"WorldNet's got evidence floating—how's it secret?"

"Both nations' Transcendents agreed, governments looked away—who spills?"

Massive mystery scrubbed WorldNet vids and posts, basically.

World wobblier than I thought.

"Transcendent Shin Si-woo, as president, I beg: please check the Patriot!"

After Shin Si-woo left.

Defense Minister visited the office.

"Think he'll agree?"

"Who knows... but he's the prophesied one."

President pulled a ring.

Glowing red.

[Ring of National Fate]

Red meant calamity-bringer, nation-doomer.

"Ring never changed color."

"True Transcendent."

Temporary outside power-users existed quietly.

Needed S-rank Hunter minimum.

True Transcendent like Si-woo—

"He could destroy Korea anytime, anywhere, on a whim."

"But doesn't. Like the Patriot..."

Patriot's ring stayed red too.

"No chance Si-woo turns like him?"

"Known Kang Mu-jin long. He'll be fine. Plus that, right?"

"Fate Saintess's prophecy?"

"Yes."

Government secretly protected one woman.

Should've been executed.

"Fate Saintess, Im Ji-ah. She insists on meeting Si-woo herself."

"If she says so, he's safe."

President nodded.

"He's headed to the underground bunker now. Meet the Saintess, give his answer on checking Patriot."

After, president and minister fell silent.

But they prayed fervently.