Chapter 161 – Nekarion’s Castle (5)

I thought it was a story that only appeared in novels.

The story of becoming a master of swordsmanship by swinging a sword hundreds of thousands, even millions of times, at an iron stake.

But what Lee Ji-gwang was showing me now was not fiction, but reality.

A whole nine years.

Lee Ji-gwang had been chasing an illusory dream, always in the same spot, practicing only horizontal slashes, vertical slashes, and stabs.

The dream that one day, he could escape this brutal place and return to his home, Earth.

In the end, he couldn’t break the shackles by his own power, but he had managed to reach the level of a Sword Expert.

Though, as long as he was bound by the shackles, it was a meaningless achievement.

Swoosh!

Swoooooosh!

Right now, the bones and flesh of countless monsters were being torn to shreds by his sword.

‘How exhilarating.’

The swordsmanship he was displaying, as if venting his frustrations, was almost in a state of selflessness.

A swift sword with no unnecessary movements, and a sword path so full it left not a single opening, was also impressive.

It was astonishing that he could reach such a level without ever having properly learned swordsmanship.

What was most remarkable was that his Jeongjin Sword Style was already at a considerable level.

Despite being sealed for the past nine years due to the constraints of his shackles, his sword style was natural and well-organized.

I had a feeling that perhaps, the two of us rebuilding the Jeongjin Sword Family could be significantly hastened.

Of course, that didn’t mean Lee Ji-gwang’s Jeongjin Sword Style was perfect.

There was an awkwardness, as if there were holes somewhere, and these lost parts would inevitably have to be filled in anew.

But since the foundation of the Jeongjin Sword Style wasn’t damaged, establishing a new branch seemed entirely possible.

‘I think it would get even better with just a little touch from me.’

While I was admiring Lee Ji-gwang’s swordsmanship, the monsters inside the castle were being cleared out to some extent.

I didn’t know if it was because the Lord of Illusory Dreams had a limit to how many monsters he could summon or if he intended to step forward himself. No more monsters were being created, and the rear gate of the castle, where the exit was, drew closer and closer.

The time for me to step in was approaching.

The Lord of Illusory Dreams didn’t even need a lesson taught.

Because I had no intention of letting him live.

***

“I will take care of the last one as well.”

I hadn’t expected Lee Ji-gwang to say that.

The monsters that had fallen to his sword on the way here numbered in the hundreds.

He had already exhausted too much of his energy, so I strongly dissuaded him.

But Lee Ji-gwang’s will was firm.

“I feel like I have to kill him with my own hands.”

I fully understood his feelings.

His ego, suppressed for nine years. And the past years of being thoroughly toyed with.

He wouldn’t be satisfied unless he cut the lord down with his own hands.

But while it might have been a different story if it were a dungeon boss monster, the Lord of Illusory Dreams was not on that level.

He wasn’t much different compared to the powerful Mad Lord.

I even thought that without the advantage of the Holy Sword Bastian’s compatibility, he would still be a difficult opponent for me.

“Returning to Earth is only possible if you’re alive. So just rest.”

“But, nine years ago, our Jeongjin Sword Family, right here…”

“You’ve got it wrong. This is the place that tormented you for nine years, but the target of your revenge is elsewhere.”

The place where the Jeongjin Sword Family was annihilated was not here, but in the Mad Lord’s Castle.

“So for now, build up your strength. That is, if you want to get proper revenge later.”

At my words, Lee Ji-gwang finally flinched.

The Lord of Illusory Dreams just scoffed.

He must have found it amusing that we were debating who would kill him.

After settling the matter, I approached the fiend step by step.

“I have a question for you lords.”

“I don’t know how you got here, but for a mere human, your arrogance pierces the heavens!”

“What exactly are you lords?”

“I don’t see why that’s important. You’re going to die anyway.”

“Are you perhaps demon kings?”

“……”

“But honestly, you seem too weak to be the demon kings of legend.”

“Shut up! How dare a mere human be so insolent!”

Their appearance was based on humans, but they were not human beings.

Moreover, their endless hostility towards humans.

I had belatedly become curious about their true identity.

“Die! Human!”

The demonic energy fired by the Lord of Illusory Dreams began to consume the space.

This demonic energy carried a power that debuffed both mind and body.

If one couldn’t withstand it with a higher level of mentality, they would be helplessly defeated.

The fiend was certain.

Certain that his level was higher than mine.

In fact, it would be difficult for any human to have a higher level than these lords.

But I had been in a position above all others, a being who had transcended the Sword Master.

It was impossible for this kind of mental attack to work on me.

Heh.

I smiled at the Lord of Illusory Dreams.

His expression slowly contorted.

“……How is this possible!”

“What do you mean, how is it possible?”

I raised the Holy Sword Bastian.

The power of the holy light radiated, and the surrounding demonic energy began to dissipate.

Whoooosh!!

Without delay, I threw my sword at him.

***

Two went in, but three came out.

Actually, it wasn’t the first time.

It was a similar picture when I rescued old man Heo Gyeong-woo.

At this point, I felt like I could be a rescue specialist in the Abyss.

I gained two major things from this journey.

I was able to confirm that my family in Kalia was still thriving.

[A mysterious power imbues the map.]

A faint stain appeared on the once-blank portal map of the Red Dragon.

By clearing the quest, the map had been slightly filled in.

It was still a long way from completion, but there was no need to rush.

Even if this portal map were completed right now, I couldn’t go and face the Red Dragon.

For now, I sent Lee Ji-gwang to old man Heo Gyeong-woo’s house.

He needed a place to stay since he had no family, and I thought it wouldn’t be bad to give the old man a new family member, as he must have been lonely.

Though he said he would live apart from the world, he wouldn’t turn away Lee Ji-gwang, who was in the same boat.

Also, the two could become good swordsmanship friends.

If Lee Ji-gwang would only open his heart, the old man could surely be of great help in restoring the Jeongjin Sword Style.

“Unit Leader. You’ve finally returned!”

The first person to greet me at the Sword Family was, as always, Choi Ho-joong.

It seemed like this guy had a tracker on him that located me.

It had been a longer journey than ever, from Pangaea to Nekarion’s Castle, so the feeling of returning to the Sword Family was new.

“Was there any trouble with the Chamryongdan?”

“There was a lot of trouble!”

“What for?”

During my absence, the Chamryongdan had represented the Haewon Sword Family and participated in a joint dungeon raid.

And among the 14 sword unit alliances, they had recorded the highest contribution and successfully completed the raid.

“You probably just got lucky.”

“No! How can you say that!”

Choi Ho-joong, feeling wronged, passionately argued.

He even mentioned that Kang Su-ah’s sword unit from the Gwangun Sword Family had participated, but our side was recognized for a higher contribution.

“By the way, who was Kang Su-ah?”

“She’s the youngest daughter of the Gwangun Sword Family! As befits the bloodline of Family Head Kang Jae-gu, known as one of the Three Sword Gods, she’s quite a promising newcomer!”

Ho-joong looked triumphant at the fact that they had defeated such a competitor and performed well.

“Alright, alright, come to my room in 30 minutes and report the rest.”

“Yes, Unit Leader!”

Though I teased him a bit, I could immediately recognize Choi Ho-joong’s achievements.

His mana had increased, but the bigger change was that his everyday mana manipulation had become much more natural.

The training through Stupeo was increasingly showing its effects.

If Choi Ho-joong had improved this much, Shin Ah-yeon, who was competing with him, would not be much different.

It was probably natural that our Chamryongdan didn’t get pushed around even in my absence.

30 minutes later, Choi Ho-joong began his report on what had happened.

“Kang Su-ah’s side proposed a Bimu against you?”

“Yes! It seems her pride was quite hurt because of the joint dungeon raid. Above all, Family Head Kang Jae-gu is known for his personality of not being able to stand losing.”

“I guess being hailed as one of the Three Sword Gods by others has made him blind to everything else.”

“……Pardon?”

“Why are you so surprised. Did I say something I shouldn’t have?”

“It’s not that, but the Three Sword Gods are the strongest people in the world.”

I could only let out a chuckle at his words.

“Ho-joong.”

“Yes, Unit Leader.”

“The world is a wide place.”

I didn’t know what kind of person Kang Jae-gu was, but there was someone living nearby who could turn him into a pulp within a few exchanges.

Old man Heo.

And if we expanded the scope beyond humans, Rosie was also included.

Not to mention myself.

“I’ll approve the Bimu proposal, so be prepared.”

“I understand.”

Choi Ho-joong had an expression that said he knew it would happen.

“You’re not saying you’re not confident this time?”

“It’s not a matter of being confident or not, but there is one thing I’m worried about. The Gwangun Sword Family Head is known to hold a grudge, so I’m not sure if it won’t become tiring even if I win.”

“That’s a problem to think about after you win. But you’re not planning to use that as an excuse if you lose, are you?”

“Hey, no way!”

“Kang Jae-gu, was it? You don’t have to worry about his grudges. I’ll make sure to put a pin in it right there.”

“I-I’m not sure if that’s possible. He’s famous for being very strong-willed.”

No matter how strong-willed he was, he was still below the level of a Sword Master.

If he acted out of line, I planned to break him without mercy.

“That’s enough of that, tell me the next thing.”

“Yes. This is actually a rumor circulating secretly only within the Haewon Sword Family, but it’s not certain.”

“What is it?”

“There’s a rumor that all seven members of the Wolyeong Knights were completely thrashed by a single unidentified mysterious person.”

The fact that news of that disgrace was circulating, regardless of the route, was a bit surprising.

Though it would probably be dismissed as a baseless rumor.

“It’s entirely possible. Like I just said, the world is a wide place.”

“No way. I’d bet against it.”

“You should never bet money anywhere you go. Are there any other issues?”

“Actually, this one also sounds a bit ridiculous.”

But for some reason, I had a feeling it would make sense.

“Do you remember the story that went around about the hunters from the Titan Guild getting beaten to a pulp by a single woman on the street?”

“Yeah. I remember.”

It was what Rosie had done.

“The same ghost story is going around again.”

This time, the victims were hunters from the Dongmyeong Guild.

Of course, the one who inflicted the violence was said to be a single woman.

But surprisingly, while there were many witnesses, there was no video evidence at all.

All CCTVs and recording phones were said to have been smashed.

“That’s entirely possible.”

“Because the world is a wide place?”

I nodded my head.

Speaking of which, I should go meet Rosie.

It was necessary to organize the things I had gained through the journey in Pangaea together.

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