The Weight of a Name
"Don't we have something to discuss?"
Grit.
Sowol Daeju ground his teeth roughly.
Hearing that sound, I thought to myself,
Man, this guy has a terrifying look on his face.
I'd been feeling this for a while now, but is everyone in Cheongwol Gate like this?
Every single one of them looks absolutely savage.
Though not quite as bad as the Tang Clan, these folks certainly had their own brand of ferocity.
Well, to be precise, it was closer to coldness than raw ferocity.
Anyway.
Do you have to look like that to get anywhere in this place?
I wondered if you had to look so fierce—or at least be so unpleasant to look at for too long—to hold a position of power.
If that's the case, I'm at a serious disadvantage.
In my past life as Kim Min-chul, I had been one of the fiercest-looking bastards around.
Thanks to that, people used to call me a goblin and all sorts of other things.
But this body is different.
In this life, I was far from fierce. In fact, I had a rather gentle, soft-looking face.
Not that I was complaining. If anything, it was better.
There's no downside to having a handsome face.
I was satisfied with that part, at least.
But that's not what I should be focusing on right now.
Anyway.
I refocused my attention on Sowol Daeju.
"I believe I've fulfilled the condition we agreed upon. What do you think?"
When I brought up our previous arrangement, Sowol Daeju's brow furrowed even deeper.
Twitch! The air trembled.
It wasn't due to atmospheric pressure like last time. Rather than pressure, it was more accurate to say that a simple outburst of emotion had merged with his qi.
To put it another way...
...He's at a realm where merely expressing his emotions is enough to stir his energy.
It meant that even the slightest shift in his mood could make the air vibrate.
Tension naturally rose within me, but I didn't let it show.
"..."
Sowol Daeju was the same. He didn't utter a word, simply staring at me in silence.
Blue eyes met blue eyes.
A brief moment passed.
"What on earth do you want?" Sowol Daeju finally asked.
I smiled and replied, "As I told you last time—"
"No, I already know that is not your true intention."
"Oh?"
"You must know better than anyone that I do not like you."
"That's true."
Of course I knew. He made his dislike so obvious that only an idiot wouldn't notice.
"Knowing that full well, why do you still reach out to me? What is your reason?"
Sowol Daeju looked utterly baffled.
A reason?
"Isn't the reason obvious?"
There was no need for a lengthy explanation.
"It's because your position is the strongest, and I need it."
"..."
He was the strongest entity in the sect after the Moonmaster.
Furthermore, the one who held the most secure position in Cheongwol Gate after the Moonmaster himself was Sowol Daeju.
If anything were to happen to Wolseongeom, Sowol Daeju would act as the proxy Moonmaster.
While Wolseongeom was the practical commander, only Sowol Daeju could directly command the Sowol Squadron.
The master of the strongest elite force in Cheongwol Gate.
That alone was more than enough reason to secure his influence.
"Since my goal is what it is, your strength is absolutely necessary."
"...Ha..."
Sowol Daeju let out a hollow laugh at my brazen reply.
"So you come to me, knowing I despise you, and say this?"
"Whether you like me or not doesn't really matter. Personal feelings are a separate issue. What matters is..."
I narrowed my eyes and said, "Whether you will lend me your strength or not. That is all."
"...Haha."
Sowol Daeju chuckled dryly. Then, his face hardened.
"I cannot understand you," he said, his tone turning cold.
"Even if you ask for my help, do you truly believe I will give it?"
"I won the bet, didn't I?"
I asked with an attitude that said, We made a bet, so why are you trying to back out now?
"Yes, that trivial bet." Sowol Daeju's lips curled upward.
"Since a bet is a bet, I can easily say I will help you. But will words alone satisfy you?"
He could easily offer lip service. He wasn't wrong about that.
"To be honest, I was surprised you defeated Lady Cheon. I was certain you couldn't, so I admit I was wrong on that front."
Sowol Daeju admitted it calmly.
"However, if you think that will win me over, you are mistaken. I still do not like you."
"And why is that?"
"You are not worthy of inheriting the Sword Saint's name."
"Oh."
His words pierced straight to the point. I hadn't expected him to be so blunt.
"To carry his name, you are far too arrogant and conceited."
Arrogant and conceited. Those words didn't suit me at all, but they clearly showed how he viewed me.
"So, you dislike me because you think I'm unworthy of inheriting the Sword Saint's name?"
"Yes."
"Hmm." I scratched my cheek.
I knew Sowol Daeju respected the Sword Saint. How could I not, when he just stated it as the reason for his dislike?
Even without him saying it, it was a well-known fact.
They say Sowol Daeju started learning martial arts after witnessing the Sword Saint's swordplay.
Why Sowol Daeju joined Cheongwol Gate, and the things he always said during his exploits in the Central Plains—I had already looked into all of it.
Everything I do is to follow the will left behind by the Sword Saint.
The things the Sword Saint spoke of, the things the Sword Saint achieved—he was a man who walked in those exact footsteps. That was Sowol Daeju.
In fact, he might have wanted to be the Sword Saint's successor more than anyone else.
Which is probably why he hates me even more.
Because he couldn't be the successor, he was acting out of petty jealousy.
So, what should I do in a situation like this? A brief thought crossed my mind.
"Therefore, while I may give you my word for the sake of the bet, there will be no weight behind—"
"But tell me," I interrupted, my brief hesitation vanishing.
"Is the Sword Saint's name really that heavy?"
"...What?" Sowol Daeju froze.
At the same time, the air began to sink heavily, just like before.
"What did you just say?"
"I asked if the Sword Saint's name is really that heavy."
My skin pricked. The hairs on my arms stood on end, and a tingling sensation annoyed me, but...
"My master was indeed a great man. But he has long since become fertilizer for the earth."
"You bastard...!" Sowol Daeju's aura flared with absolute fury at the mention of the Sword Saint.
But strangely...
This is better than last time. The pressure crushing my body was surprisingly bearable.
Last time, I felt like my bones were about to be ground into dust.
"It's just a name, after all." Now, I could speak without much difficulty.
What happened? What changed? Maybe it was Yoo Chun-gil's doing. He had yelled to release the pressure on my body last time, too.
"The Sword Saint's name? Sure, it's great. It's the name of the World's Greatest, a hero. It makes sense to revere it."
Thanks to that, I was able to pierce through his aura and speak directly to him.
"But to me, it isn't that heavy."
"You... If you dare speak of him with that pathetic tongue of yours again, I will rip it out of your mouth."
"Ha." I let out a chuckle. Sowol Daeju's face contorted into a hideous scowl.
"I respect your admiration for him, but do not force it on me."
Click. A sharp sound echoed from Sowol Daeju's waist. Before I knew it, his hand was gripping the hilt of his sword.
At this rate, he was really going to draw his blade. I knew that, but...
"To me, the name of the Sword Saint is not something to be endured." My mouth didn't stop.
Sowol Daeju's shoulder twitched. Right then—
"It is merely one of the mountains I must overcome."
Freeze. Sowol Daeju's hand paused at my next words. This was my chance.
"The World's Greatest? The greatest of all time? The hero of Cheongwol Gate? So what?"
I took a step forward, locking eyes with Sowol Daeju.
Respect for the Sword Saint? If I showed that, I might win Sowol Daeju's favor. But...
Favor alone isn't enough. What I needed wasn't something as simple as his goodwill.
I need more.
Simply finding common ground with Sowol Daeju wouldn't cut it.
So, what was the solution?
Well, there's only one way.
Since I already knew what he respected...
Instead of trying to connect by respecting the same person...
It would be far better to make him see that very person in me.
Yes.
Right now...
"Those are just achievements I will eventually surpass anyway."
I had to look like the Sword Saint, Yoo Chun-gil, in his eyes.
Think. What would that old man have said to this guy? What kind of face would he have made?
I adjusted my posture, visualizing the cranky old ghost hovering behind me.
How else? I curled my lips into a smirk and stared at Sowol Daeju with piercing eyes.
He was a master who could kill me in an instant.
But so what?
If it were Yoo Chun-gil, he wouldn't have given a damn. That was the kind of man he was.
"Do I really need to walk on eggshells around you just because the Sword Saint's name is heavy? I have no intention of inheriting his name."
I treated the Sword Saint's name as if it were nothing.
"Inheriting it is boring." That's what Yoo Chun-gil would have said.
"I will surpass him in the near future."
The World's Greatest? The greatest of all time? Just thinking about those titles felt overwhelming. But...
"Does that seem difficult to you?" The burden was mine to bear, but Yoo Chun-gil wouldn't have cared.
"No, it isn't. I will make it happen. So..."
Shring!
"..."
I drew my sword right in front of Sowol Daeju.
The dark Sacred Sword revealed itself.
Whoosh!
A brilliant blue light enveloped the blade.
"You are not looking at some greenhorn who doesn't know his place trying to inherit the Sword Saint's name."
My sword came to rest against his neck, but Sowol Daeju didn't move. He simply stared at me, his blue eyes trembling.
"You are looking at the man who will one day stand alone above the heavens."
"You..." Sowol Daeju tried to respond. I decided to shift gears slightly.
"Let's just say the bet was me showing off a little. So, make your choice."
I handed the choice over to him.
"Will you let the Sword Saint's name blind you and ignore me? Or will you stay by my side and watch what else I can do?"
I had no interest in merely carrying the Sword Saint's legacy. I would become something far higher and greater. So, watch me from the front row. That was my message.
Cold sweat ran down my back. Feeling my clothes grow damp, I spoke to the silent Sowol Daeju. I brought out the final card I had prepared to nudge him over the edge.
"Oh, and if you decide to fully back me..."
I shifted my gaze to my sword. His eyes naturally followed.
"I will teach you the new third form of the Blue Moon Sword Dance, created by my master."
"...!"
I gently placed another weight on the scale. I didn't know how heavy his pride and reverence were, but surely this would tip the balance?
Just as that doubt began to sprout...
Creak.
The scale tipped. It was incredibly subtle, but a change had occurred.
At the same time, Sowol Daeju spoke to me.
"...What on earth do you want from me?"
I smiled at his words.
The question was barely any different from the one he had asked at the beginning, but the meaning behind it was entirely different.