C371
The first disciple of Path of the Wind admitted his defeat.
“…”
“-”
But the cheers didn’t come immediately.
Although the competition had ended faster than any other competition that had been held in the third combat arena.
Although the arena was trembling due to the roar and wind that had been caused by the terrifying martial arts.
No one could react easily.
“The victory goes to Kim Haeil!”
But the moment the referee announced the winner’s name...
Waaa!
Woo!
People started expressing their excitement with deafening cheers.
“Wow, did you see that?”
“No, did you see it?”
“No! I didn’t see it!”
“Yes, you didn’t see it!”
Those who weren’t warriors hadn’t seen anything.
However, they couldn’t contain their excitement.
“How strong is he?!”
“Damn! As expected, the one who passed the qualification test in the shortest time has something special! Incredible!”
The first disciple of Path of the Wind. They had definitely seen the martial arts he was showing, the shape of a dragon made of wind.
People had felt his strength, his noble and powerful energy.
But Kim Haeil had won.
“Yes.”
An Elder murmured softly. His voice trembled.
“Truly, the strong are not seen with the naked eye.”
The Elder remembered several decades ago.
“The current queen, Her Majesty, was also like that.”
When the current queen, Tamahi, had fought against the previous king. She had won the competition against the king, without breaking a sweat, in the combat competition to confirm her position as the heir.
Ordinary citizens couldn’t understand the process properly.
But one thing was clear.
‘Strength doesn’t have to be visible.’
Queen Tamahi.
She had said those words in the place where it had been confirmed that she would sit in the highest position of the Kingdom of Lan.
Those words remained in the hearts of the people of the Kingdom of Lan.
“…A suitable heir has appeared.”
As the Elder had said, people couldn’t help but cheer for Kim Haeil, who had dominated the first disciple of Path of the Wind with ease, in a way that ordinary citizens couldn’t see.
Because this competition was to choose the future of the Kingdom of Lan.
Although it might be good to show mercy, like Hyun Sung of Snow Death Flower. But in the end, the Kingdom of Lan was based on the idea that the strongest becomes king, so people cheered for ‘strength’.
“Who? Kim Haeil?”
“Oh. Where did that person come from?”
Moreover, Kim Haeil was an unknown.
But-
“They say he passed the qualification test in the shortest time?”
“They say he cut the sacred stone with a single blow? Is that information reliable?”
He wasn’t an unknown.
He had already proven himself once.
Out of the corner of their eye.
Moreover, people clearly saw.
“…”
The Phantom Swordsman, who had been silent until now, jumped up.
“…”
“…”
The other participants in the preliminary round were looking at him with a murderous gaze.
The competitors’ reaction had made the people around him feel Kim Haeil’s presence.
Waaa-
The cheers subsided. When people’s gaze turned towards Kim Haeil.
“…”
The first disciple of Path of the Wind, who had admitted his defeat, lowered his head. A shadow fell over him. He raised his head.
“It was a good dragon.”
Kim Haeil’s extended hand was reflected in his eyes.
“!”
The first disciple of Path of the Wind, who was looking up with wide eyes, didn’t show any special expression.
But Kim Haeil said one more word.
“Moreover, it’s a dragon that can become more free.”
Wind Dragon.
The martial arts that the first disciple of Path of the Wind had used.
“But why are you tying it up?”
Kim Haeil said indifferently.
“The path is important.”
Path of the Wind.
A place where the path, training, and discipline are valued.
“Isn’t the wind something that you tie up?”
“!”
The first disciple felt as if lightning had struck him, at the words that Kim Haeil had said softly.
“Since it already contains a lot of wind, it wouldn’t hurt to release it a little.”
Ah.
The first disciple, without realizing it, let out a sigh of awe.
He extended his hand.
His two hands grabbed Kim Haeil’s extended hand.
“G, thank you, master.”
He lowered his head again, without realizing it. His body was still trembling.
It wasn’t a head bowed due to defeat and frustration.
His body wasn’t trembling out of fear.
Rather, his body was trembling with excitement and great understanding.
“You’re welcome. I just told you what you already know.”
Kim Haeil’s words.
The first disciple, who had gotten up, grabbed his hand with both hands, respectfully, and shook his head.
“No. Timing is also important for words. It’s not easy to say the necessary words at the right time.”
Huu.
A smile appeared at the corner of Kim Haeil’s lips.
“Your training is quite deep, huh?”
At the words that were said calmly, the first disciple lowered his head again.
“Thank you for the teaching.”
“You’re welcome.”
The first disciple released the hand he had been holding respectfully, and Kim Haeil released it naturally.
“It was a good competition.”
The first disciple of Path of the Wind, who had lost, said that with a relieved face, and Kim Haeil nodded slightly.
And without hesitation, he got off the combat stage and headed to the waiting room.
- Heavenly Demon, powerful Heavenly Demon! The Human says you are very good at pretending to be kind. Jiji!
Pff.
A crooked smile appeared at the corner of the Heavenly Demon’s lips, but then it disappeared.
He raised his head and looked towards where Cale was.
Cale flinched when he made eye contact with him.
‘Is he looking at me with hostility?’
Although he had told him to tell Raon that it was a kind of compliment. That guy, the Heavenly Demon, has a slightly twisted side, so he couldn’t tell how he would react.
At that moment, the Heavenly Demon’s transmission was heard.
- "Well, I’ve always been good at pretending to be kind, even pretending to be benevolent."
Huu.
The moment Cale let out a laugh of disbelief.
-It’s quite fun.
After saying that, the Heavenly Demon entered the waiting room and disappeared from the combat arena.
Dong-!
“Today’s preliminary round is over! Maintain order when leaving!”
The sound of the drum announcing the end of today’s competition was heard, along with the guide’s voice.
People, full of excitement, left the arena one by one, or stayed to talk about the competition that had ended.
“…”
“Hmm. Leader?”
But the Ten Tigers of the Heaven.
The five of the Ten Tigers of the Heaven, who moved only for their leader, didn’t move easily, nor did they speak easily.
Cheon Po, the leader, stared intently at the entrance where Kim Haeil had disappeared, and then looked away.
“…”
“…”
His four subordinates were looking at him.
He opened his mouth.
“Did you see anything?”
No one could open their mouths easily.
Then, Cheon Po transmitted a message to them.
-It’s a sword.
“!”
The eyes of two of his subordinates widened.
-A sword technique? Wasn’t it martial arts?
-I thought it was martial arts.
Cheon Po shook his head.
“It’s a sword. Definitely, it was a sword art.”
A sword art of such a refined level that even Cheon Po couldn’t easily imitate it.
Kim Haeil.
He had only made one move, from top to bottom. His hand wasn’t holding anything, but his body, his posture, his hand. Everything was clearly a sword.
“…We’re leaving.”
Cheon Po felt uneasy.
‘My lord.’
His only lord.
I must go see my lord.
And I must inform him.
‘Kim Haeil.’
That person is different.
Cheon Po felt again the ‘emptiness’ he had felt when he first met his lord, a very long time ago.
It was the second time he had felt that emotion.
And in the place where the Ten Tigers of the Heaven had disappeared.
“…….”
Hyun Sung of Snow Death Flower, who had disappeared from the combat arena, appeared in the place where Cheon Po had been.
Hyun Sung, who had walked slowly to where he was, looked down.
“…Truly, is justice just a mask that hides ugliness?”
“Boss.”
A woman came out of the shadow. She told Hyun Sung softly.
“…They say Dark Abyss has gotten their hands on the participants.”
Hyun Sung asked.
“Do you believe it?”
“…I believe in the evidence. But I can’t know the truth of that evidence.”
Hyun Sung closed her eyes. She remembered that the Ten Tigers of the Heaven, who only followed their leader’s orders, had appeared in the capital of the Kingdom of Lan, and that they had appeared in the three combat arenas.
“I must prepare for the final round.”
At the same time, she transmitted a message.
-I must infiltrate the Justice Alliance.
Her gaze turned to the center of the kingdom.
‘Her Majesty.’
The capital of the Kingdom of Lan. There will be people from the king everywhere.
‘What is she thinking?’
He surely knows everything.
Why isn’t he acting?
‘Maybe-’
The position of heir to the Kingdom of Lan.
The next king.
The position that has that sweet name-
‘It could be a trap.’
The eyes of Hyun Sung, who knows that she must seek power, but never fall into that swamp, had still not found their center.
* * *
“Leader.”
The commander-in-chief of the Justice Alliance.
He was in a small mansion, located outside the capital of the Kingdom of Lan, after leaving the shelter.
Inside the mansion.
The main house shaped like ㄷ.
A small pavilion located in the center of the garden.
He was standing in front of the pavilion door, bowing his head respectfully, and opened his mouth.
“Cheon Po says he has a report.”
A transmission was heard towards him, who had bowed his head.
-Tell him to come in.
“Yes.”
He turned around and told Cheon Po.
“Come in.”
“…”
Cheon Po nodded without saying anything, gestured to the commander-in-chief, opened the pavilion door, and disappeared inside.
Tap.
The commander-in-chief’s gaze sank deeply when he saw the closed door.
‘What an unpleasant guy.’
Cheon Po and the Ten Tigers of the Heaven.
The ten tigers moved only for their leader.
Therefore, they didn’t listen to the commander-in-chief’s orders.
It was correct to see them as an individual organization that exists within the Justice Alliance.
And Cheon Po, the leader, had maintained basic courtesy, but there was a feeling that he was subtly ignoring the commander-in-chief.
He was only loyal to his leader.
‘It’s fortunate that my lord has Cheon Po, that guy, under control.’
If it weren’t for that, Cheon Po would have been a big headache.
“Tsk.”
He clicked his tongue softly, and then left the pavilion and headed towards the main house.
There were still many meetings he had to carry out.
“Commander-in-chief.”
He turned around at the call of his subordinate, who had entered the meeting room.
“They say Snow Death Flower has found evidence.”
Snick.
The corners of his subordinate’s lips curved upwards.
“They will suspect Dark Abyss.”
All the evidence had been directed at Dark Abyss.
“Tsk.”
But the commander-in-chief clicked his tongue, and his expression turned cold.
“Do you think Hyun Sung is stupid?”
“…Yes?”
“Hyun Sung is the one who put the leader in that position. That woman is very suspicious. We can’t let them discover our trail!”
His subordinate, at his firm voice, quickly bowed.
“Yes! That will never happen!”
“Yes. Let me know of any reports.”
“Yes.”
The commander-in-chief looked away.
There were many reports about each power, along with the map of the capital of the Kingdom of Lan.
“…For the common good, small sacrifices are inevitable.”
He focused on the report again. Meanwhile, Cheon Po was walking inside the pavilion, and he knelt in front of the door located at the end of the hallway.
“My lord.”
Drrrk.
The door automatically opened to the side.
All of this was done with his Inner Energy.
Cheon Po wasn’t surprised at the amount of Inner Energy he had and his ability to control it.
“What is it?”
Inside the open door, his leader was sitting cross-legged, eyes closed.
She was a 50-year-old woman, her name was Hwa In.
She was a high-level master, whose name was on the list of leaders of the Justice Alliance.
“It seems I have found a rat.”
The moment Cheon Po’s words were heard.
“…”
She opened her eyes. The old master’s gaze was deep.
“A rat?”
“Yes, my lord.”
Cheon Po, who had been kneeling, bowed deeply.
With a posture that looked like a bow, he opened his mouth.
“It seems it is the rat that my lord was looking for.”
Swoosh.
Hwa In got up from her seat and slowly walked towards Cheon Po.
“Cheon Po.”
He raised his head. There was Hwa In.
She wasn’t a 50-year-old woman. She was like a 10-year-old girl.
“Yes, my lord.”
And her appearance resembled someone that Passote knew.
Sohyi, the Wanderer.
Hwa In, who had rejuvenated, was the same as Sohyi.
Hwa In, who had suddenly appeared as the secret heir of the previous leader. She had been living for the Justice Alliance since she was 30. No one knew what she was like when she was young. But Cheon Po had seen Hwa In’s true form.
She had always been this young.
The voice that had trampled Passote reached Cheon Po.
“I thought the rat was in the Eastern Empire. Is it in the Kingdom of Lan?”
“It’s an assumption, but I suspect it is.”
A strange aura enveloped Sohyi’s eyes.
“Who do you think the rat is?”
“Kim Haeil.”
Oh.
Cheon Po told her indifferently, at her slight expression of surprise.
“I felt the same emotion I felt when I first met my lord.”
“!”
Sohyi’s eyes blinked.
She smiled.
“These words give me a lot of confidence.”
Cheon Po.
This boy had a good eye.
And he was blind to her.
Therefore, Sohyi had shown him her true form and kept him by her side.
“Go.”
“Yes, my lady.”
After she dismissed him, she murmured, alone in the pavilion.
“Ahn Roh Man’s assistant, that AI is in the Kingdom of Lan. Moreover, it’s Kim Haeil-”
Ahn Roh Man, who is destined to become the crown prince of the Eastern Empire.
The AI that helps him.
Two guys who will be poison to this new world.
Sohyi was looking for the AI, the dangerous rat, no, the rat that bothered her.
“I hope it’s really the rat this time.”
That way, she wouldn’t have to listen to the complaints of the Transparent Blood Family guys.
Sohyi looked outside.
It was still daytime.
“When is the final round?”
Although she hadn’t participated in the preliminary round yet.
For the final round-
“I must go see him.”
Kim Haeil.
It seems like it would be perfect to go kill him.
* * *
“It seems the guys who left their trail, pretending to be us, and who killed the participants, are from the Justice Alliance.”
Passote, the leader of Dark Abyss, said with a serious expression.
Cale let out a sigh at hearing that.
‘This place is quite complex.’
I must see the face of the queen’s husband.
Of course, I must give him a lesson.
Why are there so many things to do?
Should I invade the royal palace?
But it wasn’t easy due to the magic barrier.
‘Hmm.’
A calm and relaxed voice was heard, while Cale was thinking.
“Shouldn’t we just eliminate him?”
Cale turned towards the direction where the voice had come from.
The Heavenly Demon was looking at him with a smile.
Cale looked at him and said disdainfully:
“Are you amused?”
“Yes, I’m amused.”
The Heavenly Demon was enjoying this new world to the fullest.
“…”
Cale’s expression became more and more unpleasant.
Alberu approached him.
“Let’s go out for a while.”
“Outside?”
That meant leaving the game.
Alberu handed Cale a small letter.
<I have found a way to connect the Black Castle portal.>
<And I have also found clues to reveal the corruption of ㈜Transparent.>
It was good news from Rosalyn.
It was time to go outside, to Earth 3, to work again.
