C373
“Oh, there are so many people!”
Cale, who had arrived at the first combat arena, handed a chicken skewer to Alberu and the Heavenly Demon.
“I’m on guard duty.”
Alberu refused with a bright smile.
Pff.
The Heavenly Demon scoffed once, and then ignored the chicken skewer in Cale’s hand.
“…”
Cale felt a little uncomfortable, but he ignored it.
-Churp.
Cale began eating one by one the three chicken skewers he had in his hand, while listening to the sound of the glutton goddess swallowing.
“What about the kids?”
Cale answered vaguely at the Heavenly Demon’s question.
“They’re taking care of the egg.”
The time of Eden Miru’s hatching was gradually approaching. Especially Raon, who was constantly waiting by Eden Miru’s egg, his eyes were completely bloodshot.
‘Human! I will definitely see when it is born!’
His energy was so terrifying.
‘Hmm.’
It was incredible.
Of course, Raon had a clear purpose for doing that.
‘I will see it with mom!’
The Black Castle is still in Apitoyu.
And the one who couldn’t leave the Black Castle within a certain radius was the ancient Lord Sheritt.
Dragon Half-Blood.
Eden Miru is an existence that has inherited the heart of one of Sheritt’s two children.
It might seem like an enemy relationship, but-
‘He’s almost her son.’
Sheritt’s feelings towards Eden Miru, the Dragon Half-Blood, were changing from love-hate to affection.
Raon, Sheritt, Eden Miru.
The three, anyway, are a family now.
Raon planned to return to the Seventh Evil when the recovery rate reached 95%, to the place where Neo’s nest, the Dragon Lord of the Purple Blood Family, was connected.
That place was a basement where Apitoyu and the New World were naturally connected.
‘Whether it’s magic or any other method, Lord Sheritte will be able to see Eden Miru’s hatching.’
The ancient Lord Sheritt. Her reason for existing is to take care of and observe the birth of the two dragons. But she had lost her two children. For her, to see Eden Miru’s birth-
‘It’s unimaginable.’
Cale can’t imagine anything like that.
Anyway, Cale was leaving Raon, On, and Hong in peace.
‘Because they are children who have seen many fights.’
That experience will be very important for those three children.
‘And it will be good for Eden Miru.’
Yes, it will be good for everyone.
Cale nodded, and suddenly he heard laughter next to him.
He turned around-
“What’s wrong?”
Alberu and the Heavenly Demon were looking at Cale.
Cale’s expression, who was sitting between them, changed to an unpleasant expression.
“What kind of look is that?”
Without realizing it, he had spoken informally.
The Heavenly Demon. And Alberu Crossman.
Those two people-
‘Are they looking at me with satisfaction?’
Cale felt very, very uncomfortable suddenly. When his expression started to become unpleasant.
“You are truly kind.”
Huu!
The Heavenly Demon said that, with an expression of disbelief, while throwing out a word.
“You’re quite sentimental.”
It was a word directed at Cale. Alberu looked at him disdainfully, and raised a corner of his lips.
“…”
Cale’s face continued to frown, but Alberu, who smiled cheerfully immediately, told Cale with a rather affectionate expression.
“Are you waiting for Eden Miru’s birth?”
“No.”
“Jaja.”
What?
That annoying laugh?
Cale looked at Alberu with an expression of disbelief, but Alberu and the Heavenly Demon looked at each other and communicated with a silent glance.
‘What’s wrong with these two?’
Cale, who was thinking with an unpleasant expression, turned towards the sound of the drum.
Dong, dong!
“The first competition of the round of 64 starts soon, please maintain order!”
People quickly sat down.
The surroundings, which had been full of noise, began to calm down gradually.
Out of the corner of his eye.
Cale felt the gaze that was looking at him, and he whispered to the Heavenly Demon.
“Truly, the gaze towards the Young Master of the One-Move Sword is incredible!”
Kim Haeil, the Heavenly Demon, who was sitting in the stands.
He has earned the nickname ‘One-Move Sword’.
‘One move!’
Up to the round of 64.
He had won against all his opponents with a single move.
‘What an amazing sword!’
After the first disciple of Path of the Wind, who had lost in the first preliminary round, had called him ‘Sword’, not ‘hand’.
‘Sword?’
‘Wasn’t he using his hands? I thought it was martial arts.’
‘Incredible! So, does that mean he hasn’t had to draw his sword yet?’
People started waiting at the same time as they nicknamed him ‘One-Move Sword’.
‘Will he use his sword in the final round?’
‘Yes, surely! The opponents aren’t easy!’
And starting with the round of 64, the competition bracket was published in advance.
‘The heir of the Heavenly Sword, Sorak, against Kim Haeil, the One-Move Sword!’
‘If it’s Sorak, the One-Move Sword will have to use his sword too!’
Sorak, the heir of the Heavenly Sword, who considers the sword to be the end of nothing.
And Kim Haeil, the One-Move Sword, who is shrouded in mystery, is believed to use a sword.
People were waiting for the competition between the two.
Because they didn’t expect to encounter such strong masters in the round of 64, at the beginning of the final round.
But the Heavenly Demon’s competition was still far away.
It was tomorrow. However, he had visited the arena for the first time to see it.
“Do you think Her Majesty will come?”
The Heavenly Demon shrugged at Cale’s question.
“I don’t know.”
Queen Tamahi will attend starting with the round of 64. But she won’t see all the competitions. It’s said that she will attend starting with the round of 4, but for now, according to the queen’s will, she will attend some competitions.
Cale listened to the whispers coming from behind.
“It’s an opportunity to know what participants Her Majesty is observing.”
“That participant will surely be an important person for the kingdom in the future, even if he doesn’t become the crown prince.”
“That’s why, you know.”
People were wondering about the queen’s choice.
“She hasn’t arrived yet.”
“No, she will surely come.”
And most people were sure that the queen would attend today’s competition.
It wasn’t because it was the first competition.
“It’s the leader of the Justice Alliance.”
“It’s true. I can’t miss this.”
Hwa In, the leader of the Justice Alliance. She had announced the start of the final round today.
“And look, the Sword Master, Charun, has also arrived.”
“Truly.”
The Sword Master, Charun. He was the queen’s minister, master, and also advisor.
“…And surely all the strong candidates have gathered here to see the leader.”
“Truly.”
Their gazes also turned to Kim Haeil, the One-Move Sword. But the reason the Heavenly Demon had come to this place was a little different.
-It seems like the Justice Alliance guys, pretending to be from Dark Abyss, have eliminated some of those who were good, right?
Cale nodded at the Heavenly Demon’s words.
-Dark Abyss will be upset.
The Heavenly Demon’s gaze turned to the opposite side of the arena.
Passote, the leader of Dark Abyss, was looking down at the combat stage, arms crossed, with a rather serious expression.
The people around whispered at him, who had come to see the competition for the first time, but Passote seemed not to hear those whispers.
‘Choi Han.’
Choi Han, who was wearing a bamboo hat, was by his side.
-Has the Wanderer not appeared again?
Cale nodded at Alberu’s magical voice.
The list that the Wanderer had given to Passote to kill them.
After Passote had failed to face the Heavenly Demon, he hadn’t touched anyone.
Although the Wanderer could do something to Dark Abyss or Passote, there was no reaction.
‘Meanwhile, the participants had died.’
There were also many who weren’t on the list.
If Passote hadn’t been constantly watching the fate of all the participants, with his nerves on edge, he wouldn’t have noticed.
‘There were traces of Dark Abyss, subtly.’
The traces of Dark Abyss had been left as if they couldn’t be completely erased, in that place.
Passote informed Cale of the current situation, with a sigh.
‘Snow Death Flower is investigating the participants who died. It seems they are suspecting us.’
This situation could end with Dark Abyss taking the blame.
‘But you know.’
But today, both Cale and Passote had come to see the leader of the Justice Alliance.
‘It seems like they are the Justice Alliance guys.’
It was a kind of intuition. But both Passote and the commander-in-chief also had an intuition they could trust.
‘Only the Justice Alliance knows so much about us. To manipulate this to this level. And considering the scale of the operation, it must have been quite expensive, it must be one of the five great powers.’
Therefore, Passote and Cale had come to see the leader of the Justice Alliance today.
Passote, as the leader of Dark Abyss, to confront his enemy.
‘Raon had said it.’
During the previous preliminary competition. Raon had told Cale.
‘Human! I couldn’t hear well because the arena was too big, but someone transmitted a message to me about Dark Abyss and Hyun Sung!’
The arena was very large, and there were many whispers and messages transmitted by people.
Raon couldn’t hear everything correctly.
Only because it was Raon, he could hear that amidst all that noise.
But he couldn’t tell if those who had said that belonged to the Justice Alliance.
And after knowing all this, Cale had come to see the leader of the Justice Alliance.
‘It could be related to the Wanderer.’
With that suspicion.
He had arrived at this place.
“Oh!”
“Ah, there she is!”
Suddenly, the surroundings became noisy.
“…She has arrived.”
The moment the Heavenly Demon murmured that. Cale’s gaze turned to the empty place, where the combat stage could be seen better.
‘Tamahi.’
It was Queen Tamahi. It seemed that the Sword Master Charun was by her side.
-There is no royal decree.
The queen’s husband hadn’t appeared.
It was just the two of them.
They sat down.
There was no event like bowing because the queen had arrived.
Rather, the officials around asked people to maintain order.
Dong!
The first competition began immediately. Neither the queen nor Charun opened their mouths.
-Charun.
-Yes, Your Majesty.
But they were talking through transmitted messages.
-There are many strong candidates in the stands today.
-It’s the first competition, and the leader of the Justice Alliance is participating, so it seems that’s why.
-I see.
The queen asked softly.
-Then, who killed the participants?
-…Your Majesty.
Queen Tamahi was enveloped in a silent rage.
Dong!
But soon, her gaze turned to the combat stage.
“On the left, Supe Sa!”
A rather well-known master appeared on the left.
“On the right, Hwa In!”
And the leader of the Justice Alliance appeared on the right.
Waaa!
Waaa!
A deafening shout, which made the silent space vibrate, suddenly exploded.
Dong!
The competition began.
Supe Sa immediately pointed his lance towards Hwa In, and took a stance.
“…”
And Hwa In remained still, silently observing.
‘Hmm?’
Cale stopped short.
-Kim Haeil.
Then, the Heavenly Demon sent a sound transmission.
-Are you observing right now?
Hwa In’s gaze remained on the Heavenly Demon for a moment, but quickly turned to her opponent.
“…….”
“…….”
Supe Sa, with a tense expression. On the contrary, Hwa In remained calm and serene.
That silence was soon broken.
Bang!
Supe Sa moved forward forcefully, and his body shot forward.
His lance was like an ancient tree.
Containing a powerful and unbreakable force.
His lance technique, which resembled that nature, was honest and didn’t have any major changes.
Rather, it was simple.
“That simplicity is scary.”
As someone had said.
His lance is scary.
Because it’s honest, heavy, and without hesitation.
Swoosh-
The wind blew as the lance moved.
Wooong.
An aura reminiscent of a tree was reflected in the lance.
“…”
Hwa In was staring intently at him. And when the tip of the lance had finally left only one step between him and Hwa In.
Swoosh.
Hwa In drew her sword.
Kwaaang!
A roar echoed.
No one opened their mouths.
A dust cloud rose, but it was only a small dust cloud compared to the great roar.
Swoosh-
A stream of wind cleaned all the dust, and a clear scene was reflected in everyone’s eyes.
“Kuu!”
Supe Sa’s face distorted.
An ancient tree that seemed like it wouldn’t break in the face of any storm.
The lance had been cut. Half of the cut lance fell onto the combat stage.
The ancient tree had broken.
“…”
Hwa In looked at Supe Sa without saying anything.
“…I have lost.”
Supe Sa had put all his strength in from the beginning.
Because Hwa In was an opponent he had to face with force.
And in the end, he lost.
“Kuu.”
Supe Sa’s face distorted, with frustration and anger towards himself, as he bowed his head.
Hwa In opened her mouth.
“Your powerful strength will become more solid as time passes.”
Supe Sa looked at her. Hwa In said indifferently. Therefore, her voice was full of truth.
“Like an ancient tree that finally overcomes all storms and rises proudly.”
It was said that the leader didn’t speak much.
The fact that she said that to someone she had seen for the first time was something quite significant.
Supe Sa felt a little emotion.
“…Thank you, leader.”
“It was a good time.”
Supe Sa, who had heard the leader’s response, looked at the referee.
The referee announced that the competition had ended.
“Victory for Hwa In!”
Five minutes. Really, the competition ended in less than five minutes.
Probably, if you subtract the time that Supe Sa had been careful and had been on the defensive at the beginning, the time they had been in contact wouldn’t have been more than a few seconds.
Waaa!
Deafening cheers were heard.
Although a close competition is also good, such an overwhelming fight is also good.
“The leader has reached the final round, so she’s not going to be kind to her opponents anymore!”
“Yes, before, she shared some moves!”
The One-Move Sword.
Cheers were heard towards Hwa In, who had dominated her opponent with a single move, unlike the preliminary round.
At that moment...
“Eh?”
“Hmm!”
The moment Supe Sa got off the combat stage, with difficulty, and disappeared from the arena.
Hwa In was simply standing. In the same place where she had stopped at the beginning. When everyone was looking at her curiously…
Swoosh.
She moved the hand holding the sword.
Would she be trying to put it in the scabbard?
Those who had thought that stopped.
“!”
“Eh?!”
The tip of her sword stopped, pointing in a direction.
“Ah!”
“Huu-”
The end of the sword pointed towards the stands. There were many people in that direction, but people soon realized who the leader had pointed at.
“The One-Move Sword!”
“Kim Haeil, right?”
“Huu, the leader is doing this-”
Kim Haeil, the Heavenly Demon, was sitting with his arms crossed, in the direction she had pointed.
The atmosphere began to boil in an instant.
The Justice Alliance.
The leader of that huge group, with the most members, who usually doesn’t speak much and is known for being silent, was showing this attitude, so the atmosphere couldn’t help but heat up.
“Ah! The One-Move Sword!”
And some began to realize. The move that the leader had shown today.
“Kim Haeil, the One-Move Sword!”
Kim Haeil, who dominates his opponent with a single move.
The leader’s current competition, as if she were looking at Kim Haeil.
People marveled.
“What relationship do those two have?”
“What story is behind it?”
But some were wondering what was between Kim Haeil and Hwa In.
Moreover-
“Isn’t he too calm?”
“That’s right. And Kim Haeil seems much younger than the leader.”
It was like that because the Heavenly Demon was looking at the tip of the sword so calmly.
“Jaja-”
No, rather, he laughed.
“!”
“…!”
When the people around were surprised…
Swoosh.
Hwa In put the sword back in the scabbard, and without hesitation, got off the combat stage.
-Kim Haeil.
Cale stopped at the Heavenly Demon’s voice transmission.
The Heavenly Demon was smiling, but his transmission was terribly cold.
‘What’s happening, what’s happening?’
When he was looking with fear, unable to speak. The Heavenly Demon smiled mischievously and said.
-The leader transmitted a message to me, asking if I knew Ahn Roh Man.
Eh?
What does that mean?
When Cale was confused.
-So I said yes.
The Heavenly Demon knows Ahn Roh Man. Although he hadn’t seen him in person, he knew how things were unfolding.
Both the Heavenly Demon and Ahn Roh Man knew each other.
-Then, the leader told me.
The Heavenly Demon’s smile intensified, but his transmission became colder.
-'It’s incredible that you haven’t escaped and dared to seek me out.’
Cale said without realizing it.
“What does that mean?”
What is the leader thinking now?
‘The Justice Alliance.’
The leader of that place. And the existence of the Wanderers.
Lastly, Ahn Roh Man.
Cale’s mind began to spin wildly.
“Eh?”
The moment a supposition, which didn’t make sense, but did make sense, came to him.
-Kim Haeil.
The Heavenly Demon’s transmission continued.
-I don’t care why the leader is treating me like this.
His voice was terrifying. It seemed like it smelled of thick blood.
-But since she dared to mention that I would escape, the leader will have to pay the price.
Gulp.
Cale swallowed.
Tap, tap.
Alberu, who had been observing silently, patted Cale on the shoulder, and whispered affectionately.
“Why are you so scared?”
This crown prince is really…!
When Cale was looking at Alberu, full of anger.
The Heavenly Demon murmured softly.
“It’s fun. It’s really fun.”
If Raon had seen it, he would have said that the Heavenly Demon’s eyes had gone crazy.
Cale was a little scared.
