What Must Be Protected (3)
James Hamblton. Why did that name sound so familiar?
Yun-seok pondered for a moment before realizing the reason.
Raguna Hamblton, James Hamblton.
It was the same surname as Raguna, whom he'd met on the 4th floor and who had offered advice after hearing about his run-in with Lee Chang-hoon. And this was 500 years in the past...
No way... is this the ancestor she mentioned?
It was a reasonable suspicion. But James didn't look like a Challenger no matter how Yun-seok examined him.
Maybe it's because this is before he was dragged into the Tower of Heaven...
Of course, it was just a hypothesis. It could be a mere coincidence of surnames, or even if they shared blood, one of his siblings or direct family might be Raguna's ancestor.
Whatever the case, it wasn't that important. Still, curiosity piqued, Yun-seok decided he'd look into James a bit more once day broke. With that thought, he closed his eyes and sank into meditation.
"......"
Fortunately, no more visitors came through the night. Yun-seok emerged from his trance and quietly opened his eyes. The surroundings were still dark but gradually brightening.
He opened the carriage door and gently shook Kanna awake. She mumbled her habitual "Just one more minute..." before jolting upright, her fatigue-evident eyes bloodshot red.
Leaving Wellington and El in the carriage, Yun-seok woke James as well to continue their unfinished conversation from the night before.
"...Y-You're being pursued by heretics?"
Did he think they were just ordinary travelers? James paled upon learning Kanna's situation.
"Heretics of the Trinity faith... that means Trejan cultists, right...?"
His eyes pleaded for denial, but Kanna nodded coldly.
"Yes, that's correct."
She went on to explain that 3rd-grade holy knight Wellington was injured, leaving Yun-seok as their only real guard. And finally:
"If you wish to leave, we won't stop you."
Was it just his imagination, or did her eyes convey a silent please just go on your way? Probably not. James let out a heavy sigh in response.
"No. I, James Hamblton, am not the sort to abandon others for my own safety and flee. I'll go with you."
"Hoo... Alright. This must be the will of the gods."
James's joining was now a done deal. Time to address the next issue.
"Mm... ngh..."
Kanna woke the soundly sleeping El and infused holy power into the unconscious Wellington. Soon enough, he regained consciousness.
"Urgh!"
Wellington tried to rise but clutched his wound and collapsed again.
"Stay still. The poison isn't fully purged yet. It'll take a few more days."
The word "poison" suddenly reminded Yun-seok of the active effect of his Judgment Sword: Light of Purification. It expelled all unclean energies, right? Given how it had purified the entire Hydra poison zone in battle, it might cure Wellington instantly.
No, Yun-seok was almost certain of it. But he kept the thought to himself.
"......"
He'd regained consciousness in just a day. With extra holy power, he could even move on his own. And even without intervention, he'd recover fully in a few days.
Since Light of Purification had a 72-hour cooldown, it was wiser to save it for emergencies. Kanna might get poisoned in the meantime, after all.
"Then let's depart."
Kanna, El, and James boarded the carriage. Wellington took the empty coachman's seat left by the Challenger attack's fallen driver.
James offered to drive since he knew how, but Wellington insisted he could manage despite his condition, stubbornly refusing.
Perhaps he didn't trust the total stranger James. For reference, Yun-seok perched on the carriage roof.
"...Truly, my thanks."
The words came from Wellington as he drove from the coachman's seat. His gaze fixed ahead, but Yun-seok knew the gratitude was for him.
"I won't ask who you are. Even if you discard me as bait, I'll accept it with a smile. But please... promise me you'll protect High Priestess Kanna Blitz no matter what."
"...Yes. I will."
Hearing Yun-seok's reply, Wellington fell silent, focusing solely on driving. Yun-seok, atop the roof, spread his senses wide and closed his eyes.
Inside the carriage, James and El chatted animatedly.
"A ship that won't sink even with thousands aboard? Leban really has something like that?"
"Indeed it does. Since you're heading to Leban too, little miss, you'll see it for yourself soon enough."
James knew a lot and had a silver tongue. El nodded eagerly to every tale of the outside world he spun.
The situation wasn't exactly jovial, but Kanna let their conversation slide without complaint. It felt almost like a last supper.
"Mister! Do you know about the Ten Strongest too?"
"Not 'mister'... ahem! Anyway, asking about the Ten Strongest? Good question. Of course I do—one of them, the Sea King, I've even seen in person."
"Who's the Sea King?"
"He's the ruler of the Shadow Archipelago. And Leban's arch-nemesis."
James began with an anecdote of glimpsing the Sea King during a maritime treaty visit to Leban, then delved into explanations of the Ten Strongest. It was a collective term for the continent's mightiest warriors. Yun-seok perked up with interest.
"......"
A different dimension. 500 years in the past, no less. And power scales entirely unlike the Tower of Heaven.
Even so—no, precisely because of that—Yun-seok felt intense curiosity. How strong were this world's powerhouses? Could he match them at his current level?
Regrettably, the questions went unanswered. James shared every rumor he knew, but as a mere civilian's perspective, it lacked reliability.
That aside, the stories were captivating.
"So, who's the strongest among the Ten?"
El's innocent question had Yun-seok listening intently from above, equally curious.
James answered without hesitation.
"Ranking their power is pointless. Matchups matter, and no one knows their exact strengths. But..."
James was a natural storyteller. Just as disappointment set in, he'd trail off slyly, building suspense before continuing.
"The question of who's strongest is too easy. Even they'd all name one person."
"Who?"
"No one knows his name. They just call him 'Calamity' out of fear."
"Calamity? Why?"
"Because of the unique curse on him."
James, grinning eagerly, was about to explain the curse when—
Thud!
The carriage slowed to a halt.
* * *
"Gersay..."
"Yes, I sense it."
Yun-seok leaped down to the front of the carriage and waited. Soon, the presences numbering nearly a hundred from beyond the woods emerged.
The heretics and demon legion, who had retreated once every three days. Their numbers were down too—likely minus the 'Apprentice' difficulty Challengers.
"To think they'd return so soon..."
Wellington gritted his teeth. Just that morning, he'd suggested putting distance before they regrouped. Yet here they were after barely a day.
Made sense—if they'd confirmed only Yun-seok remained, no need for lengthy preparations.
"Too late to turn the carriage. Even if we flee, they'll catch us."
Wellington dismounted despite his frailty, weakly drawing his sword and turning to Yun-seok.
"Remember what I said? I'll buy time—take the others and run."
He knew his duty and had the courage to act. But Yun-seok refused.
"No need."
"Listen, don't be stubborn—hurry...!"
Wellington shut his mouth, realizing it was too late.
"Hand over our savior, dogs of the vile Trinity!"
With the heretic's shout, demons charged the carriage. Around a hundred, but their superior builds radiated overwhelming pressure.
Yun-seok eyed them calmly. No—eagerly, even.
Sweep them all this time, and it'll be smooth sailing ahead.
He drew his twin swords and stepped before Wellington. Vastly outnumbered, yet utterly relaxed.
James, watching from the carriage, was the opposite.
"H-Hey! Sir Wellington! Sh-Shouldn't we run? Get back on the seat—what are you doing?!"
James yelled, urging Wellington. The knight just stood firm.
He'd seen Yun-seok dispatch the prior Challengers easily, but didn't know his full power. Stronger than him, sure. Fighting stance suggested far more. But...
One man against that demon horde? Unthinkable.
Yet Wellington couldn't flee. Precisely, he couldn't.
"Flee where?"
Frail holy knight, healer priestess, civilian merchant, little girl. Even if they escaped now, how long could that group last?
They had to trust. Trust this dual-wielding swordsman had the might to save them.
"......"
Wellington prayed, crossing himself more fervently than ever in his life.
That instant, Yun-seok's swords sliced the air.
Whooooosh!
A deafening roar rattled eardrums.
A miracle unfolded on earth.
Slashslashslash!
Thudthudthud.
Thump!
Splat!
Clang!
Heavy armor-clad demons cleaved in armor. Shield-bearers parted with shields intact. Crescent red sword-qi etched horizontal lines across bodies, bisecting them cleanly.
The sole exception: small ones the qi overshot. But follow-up slashes claimed them futilely.
Boomboomboom!
Each swing halved seven or eight charging foes effortlessly. Was this even combat?
The onlookers couldn't help but think it—a scene defying reason.
"......"
3rd-grade holy knight Wellington froze like a man witnessing calamity.
Ironic, perhaps... but for a moment, he glimpsed his god in the spectacle. Something transcending humanity—omniscient, absolute.
Yun-seok no longer seemed human.
The sentiment wasn't his alone. All watched the slaughter in the brush, speechless.
"Are... all the Ten Strongest people like him?"
A child's pure question. Kanna and Wellington's ears perked instinctively, equally curious.
But...
"......"
The silver-tongued James fell utterly silent.