Demon Worshipper (1)
【As expected, my lord Sword Master is our savior. Even in death, you’ve guided this humble soul down the path of great feats. I am eternally grateful.】
It was Reinhardt’s voice, one I’d heard countless times in Raise a Sword.
The NPC who’d borrowed my sword.
He was greeting me.
I tilted my head at the sudden mention of a “path of great feats.”
【This world reeks of the demon worshippers who once sought to destroy ours.】
Reinhardt dropped a bombshell.
‘Demon worshippers?’
As a twelve-year veteran of Raise a Sword, I couldn’t ignore those words.
I skipped the pleasantries and cut straight to it.
“Demon worshippers on Earth?”
Demon worshippers summoned the Demon King, called forth evil gods and outer gods, and razed continents. They were the epitome of evil.
【From within the sword’s world, we can sense the affairs of the surface realm.】
Reinhardt Euclid.
The man who saved the world of Raise a Sword—his words couldn’t be dismissed lightly.
【I sensed the aura of a demon worshipper in that mage who fought goblins alongside you, my lord.】
He hit me with a shocking revelation.
‘B-class mage Park Chang-seok is a demon worshipper?’
There was only one requirement to become a demon worshipper.
‘Kill over a hundred people.’
In other words, if I hadn’t been a natural awakener, I’d be dead for real.
‘Why the hell are demon worshippers on Earth?’
This was the moment the currents of the world around me shifted.
I’d looped the world of Raise a Sword over ten thousand times.
That meant I had that much indirect experience stacked up.
‘The starting point.’
Every run began similarly.
An NPC fleeing demon worshippers dives into the Abyss and picks up the sword I’d placed there.
The Abyss there was like the gates here.
Red gates on this side, but far more vicious black ones over there.
Anyway—
‘Looks like I caught wind of the crisis early thanks to that.’
I nodded, gazing at the massive greatsword in my hand.
‘Can’t underestimate NPCs anymore.’
This wasn’t a game now.
It was time to accept that beings who’d seen the end of the Raise a Sword world dwelled within my swords.
A bit sooner than I’d expected, but…
【I sensed he was on the verge of corruption soon—】
That speed was actually a blessing.
Corruption meant falling from the world.
‘What happens on Earth?’
Awakening was overcoming a bizarre, unique trial.
Corruption meant that trial twisted.
‘Probably like in Raise a Sword.’
Of course, no awakeners appeared there like on Earth.
Instead, it was overflowing with superhumans wielding auras or mana from the start.
‘Even other races.’
When the World Tree, guardian of nature, corrupted, elves turned into monsters feeding on humans as fertilizer.
The same could easily happen here.
“A mage’s corruption always turns them into dark mages, so that’s manageable at least.”
I nodded calmly.
Then I thought back to my seventeen-year-old self.
‘I figured a gate-ravaged Earth was like the Raise a Sword world.’
So I believed I’d awaken on my own.
I dreamed of becoming an awakener, slaying the gates that took my parents, and saving the world.
I thought I was destined for that.
‘Of course, got slapped with a gaming addict label and “cured” in one go…’
Reality proved different once I awakened.
My delusions were real.
‘Not like my kid self anymore—’
My resolve hardened.
Not some grand vow to save the world.
‘Just raise my swords well.’
Earth would soon turn into the brutal world of Raise a Sword.
In that harsh place, I’d grow my baby swords into massive powerhouses.
With my mind set, I looked ahead.
Grrrrowl—
Eyeless wolves surrounded the safe zone in the ochre cave, drooling.
And in my hand was a truly magnificent, badass sword.
My final sword, Reinhardt.
“Got about ten minutes.”
The Tower’s safe zone vanished after thirty minutes.
We’d spent twenty chatting about demon worshippers, so now was the time to sort things out with Reinhardt.
‘I’m not that great a Sword Master.’
Reinhardt was under a delusion right now.
He thought I was some legendary Sword Master.
Exploiting that could give me an edge, but it’d blow up eventually.
I didn’t want that risk.
Honest and straightforward—that’s my charm, right?
“—and that’s how I ended up meeting you. I’m just an ordinary guy.”
I spent the ten minutes recounting my twelve-year saga.
Reinhardt replied without a hint of hesitation.
【You… looped our world over ten thousand times to lead it to salvation… My, my lord—】
He sounded even more shocked.
Even showed signs of reverence.
‘What the?’
I played Raise a Sword.
After twelve years and countless tries, I unlocked all six endings and awakened.
I had zero sword skills or combat experience.
That was the whole story.
【You showed the path to a lost family’s heir, guided a mere mortal’s talent to the pinnacle… Oh, exalted and great one…】
But Reinhardt seemed even more moved.
【Though unworthy, I am called Sword Emperor.】
【I, Reinhardt Euclid, swear eternal loyalty to Sword Master Shin Si-woo.】
A knight who’d never sworn fealty even to emperors.
He pledged loyalty to me.
The status window presented the reward.
Now I understood what [4/100] next to the sword meant.
【I can remain by your side in this place for about four hours, my lord.】
‘So that’s the manifestation timer.’
Fill it to 100, and it’s 100 hours.
Longer than I thought—wonder what it’s for…
‘Something useful, probably.’
Awakening abilities were full of unknowns until you figured them out.
So I sheathed the sword, planning for next time.
“Thirty minutes up.”
Time to clear the Tower’s monsters with my swords from that world.
I gripped it with determination—
【Must my lord soil his hands? Entrust it to this humble one.】
Suddenly, Reinhardt spoke in earnest.
What could a sword’s soul even do?
No sooner had I wondered than changes began.
‘Huh?’
Sword Intent: Meteor Shower
My sword could unleash its power on its own.
Vmmm—
The gem at the blade’s tip gleamed.
Countless swords—enough to blanket this vast space—shot skyward.
Auras formed into sword shapes.
Each moved with a will of its own.
Stab! Stab-stab-stab!!!
A blue meteor shower rained down.
It massacred every monster around me.
The breathtaking sight of swords filling the sky, then plummeting to slaughter every demon—in just one second. Unbelievable.
And my eyes caught every detail clearly.
‘Is this true sword cognition?’
Nothing like the insights I’d absorbed before.
The world moved in slow motion.
Omnipotence surged through me.
Even though I hadn’t wielded the power…
‘Feels like I could do it too.’
The thought bubbled up naturally.
‘Wanna try mimicking it?’ But the flood of absurd rewards left no chance.
【Communication with swords unlocked.】
Level didn’t budge after dozens of goblins, but one floor shot it up.
That was just the level-up bonus.
The real prizes came next.
1. Baby Sword growth begins.
2. Tower Entry Tickets x3
3. SSS-Grade Random Box
4. 10,000 Coins
After claiming the rewards, I was forcibly ejected from the Tower.
Back home.
‘Cleared floor 1…’
Three tickets worth 100 million each.
Sell one, and I’d more than cover the 40 million I borrowed from Seol-ah noona.
But ticket prices fluctuated wildly—no need to sell.
Other rewards too.
‘10,000 coins.’
Market value: 1 billion.
Or buy 10,000 with a billion.
Coins bought growth items for awakeners only.
Unique methods and powers meant custom shops per person.
“First things first—”
I pondered my path ahead and set the sword on the bed.
And…
“Huh?”
My eyes widened in shock.
I could draw the sword outside gates or the Tower?
As I marveled—
Poof—
About four seconds later, the sword on the bed crumbled to dust and vanished.
Slips from my hand, returns on its own.
No theft worries.
“Still, pulling swords into reality…”
Even among transcendents, few could manifest powers here.
But I could, easy.
【Likely… because my stature transcends this world’s laws.】
Seeing my shock, Reinhardt explained.
‘My stature, huh.’
Meant I could summon [Sword 1, Reinhardt] anytime danger struck.
‘Heard about demon worshippers, and now I feel way safer.’
They cultivated the corrupted.
That was their goal.
And I was just a fresh newbie hunter.
“Gotta grow fast first.”
World in crisis—need strength ASAP.
Raise my main weapon, the Baby Sword.
How far?
‘Till it has enough stature to pierce the world’s laws.’
Meaning 24/7 sword access.
A day passed.
I headed to the Yeouido Awakener Management Agency as usual.
【No demon worshippers here.】
Could talk to Reinhardt without drawing the sword now.
Thanks to level 2’s communication perk.
‘No demon worshippers, so meet Seol-ah noona first.’
I called her to the rooftop.
Soon, long straight hair swaying, Kang Seol-ah noona appeared.
(Post-loan, “Manager Kang” upgraded to “noona.”)
“Here’s the money.”
“Crazy, you made this in a day?”
“Hunters rake it in, but you’ve leaped way ahead.”
I joked while handing over 45 million with interest.
“Why so much?”
“Got a favor to ask.”
“What now…”
Daily interest: 5 million.
Included collab fees.
“That guy from my exam.”
“Oh, B-class mage Park Chang-seok?”
“Yeah.”
“Why him?”
I debated spilling on demon worshippers.
‘Concept not even public yet.’
Just suspicion, and I’d look like a “crazy natural awakener.”
Or draw unknown demon worshipper ire…
‘Got the sword, but transcendents are everywhere.’
I hinted vaguely at bad news on Park.
“Feels like he’ll cause trouble.”
“Trouble?”
“My sword reads killing intent. He’s got intense malice toward random masses.”
Painted him as a psycho.
Reinhardt already confirmed he was a demon worshipper.
‘Demon worshippers are killers.’
About a hundred deaths to qualify.
Same in Raise a Sword.
(Tried naive plays letting worshippers grab swords as a kid—they never could.)
“He’ll pull off a mass slaughter soon, mark my words.”
“Hard to believe, but gotta…”
Seol-ah noona mumbled incoherently.
“B-class mages pass as civilians outside, but…”
“You know civilians rack up more killers? Bombers, Middle East chaos still.”
“True.”
She steeled herself.
“You’re thinking of my dad, right?”
“Yup.”
Her father was an ace prosecutor.
Years back, SSS-class Patriot flipped the prosecutors’ office.
He recited crimes of ten corrupt scumbags publicly executed—Kang Seol-ah’s dad.
Still buddies with Patriot too.
“Can’t just handle a B-class mage on my whim.”
Seol-ah noona pondered, then nodded.
“Indiscriminate murder’s a bit…”
Senior Prosecutor Kang Mu-jin grimly reviewed the file.
“B-class mage, Park Chang-seok.”
He’d just heard dire news from his daughter.
A lunatic plotting terror in Patriot-protected Korea.
‘Hmm… Ordinary philosophy grad student, awakened via mage tower trial.’
Didn’t scream mass murderer.
‘Good sociability, solid communication, zero violence. For a natural awakener, practically a sage.’
Didn’t look like a terrorist type.
But his precious daughter begged earnestly.
“Call in the special team to check him out.”
Senior Prosecutor Kang Mu-jin.
His title meant little—his authority was immense.
His department: Hunter Special Team.
Plus Patriot’s backing.
“Hmm—”
Kang Mu-jin felt uneasy.
Park’s residence was dangerously close to his daughter’s workplace, the Yeouido Awakener Management Agency.
‘Probably volunteered for the awakener test since it’s next door.’
Short commutes were universal truth for all.
He figured ‘what could go wrong?’ and handled other work.
Moments later—
Sir!!!
Park Chang-seok manifested powers externally!!! Currently occupying Yeouido Awakener Management Agency...
Kang Mu-jin froze at the news his daughter’s office was taken.
More than that—
‘A B-class became a transcendent?’