Why was he acting like this all of a sudden?
His gaze was far too intense.
Su-ho asked in a deliberately frightened voice.
“You’re a little scary, Master.”
“Why? You don’t like it?”
“No, it’s not that I don’t like it. It’s just... your eyes are a little scary.”
“I understand very well the kind of honor you seek. But do not abandon swordsmanship. Even if you learn other strange arts.”
“Why would I abandon swordsmanship? Swordsmanship is my foundation and my capital.”
“And yet someone who knows that only just now learned Slow Slash?”
“Ah, well...”
Compared to before his regression, he had definitely learned Slow Slash late.
Slow Slash was a technique that truly shone in places where ordinary sword swings were difficult, like underwater.
“Disciple. I want you not to forget your foundation. Of course, to win the indie game, you will need many kinds of power. But if you do not have the technique that serves as your base and foundation, then when things truly become difficult, what could save you will be gone.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. But how do you know I regressed?”
“How long do you think I’ve been watching you, to ask such a foolish question? I’m a Constellation. And I was attached to you even before your regression, so do you think I wouldn’t be after it? And how do you think you managed to obtain an SS-rank skill at the very end when you weren’t even Guardian God rank?”
“Huh? Wait, don’t tell me that was because of you, Master...?”
“I made a suggestion to the system. I told it that you had more than enough qualifications and conditions, but your Player rank was too low, so you couldn’t break through to Formless Sword. I asked whether it couldn’t do something—if only to let a man about to die feel satisfied.”
The suggestion had been accepted.
And from that point on, the system began to keep an eye on Su-ho and Su-ho’s world.
Because if Sword Demon was speaking this highly of him, then perhaps he might give it even greater amusement than expected.
As a result, Su-ho turned out to be even more talented than expected.
And so his regression had been decided.
“Of course, the one who regressed you was the system, so there’s no need to thank me. The system sometimes grants benefits like regression, past life, or reincarnation to a few particularly talented and promising Players.”
“There are regressors besides me?”
“Of course there are. Did you think you were the only special one among all the Players in the world? Geniuses are everywhere. Just gathering up those brats alone is entertaining enough from the system’s point of view.”
This was something he had never imagined.
There were other regressors besides him.
But now that he thought about it, it also made a certain kind of sense.
Grid had once said that if necessary, the system would even reset a world.
‘It really is a dopamine addict that lives purely for entertainment...’
That damned system.
Just how many worlds and Players was it using as its toys?
“Anyway, now that you’ve finally become a High-grade Player, I’ll personally instruct you from here on.”
“Understood. But how will you instruct me? Do I have to come here every time?”
“There’s no need for that. Take this.”
Sword Demon raised a hand, and something began to gather in his grasp. A small lump of mineral appeared.
“My Rune.”
“Huh?”
“Once you learn it, you’ll gain a skill that lets you meet me whenever you want. And.”
[The Constellation Sword Demon wishes to place a bet on your victory in the indie game.]
[Will you accept Sword Demon’s bet?]
[You may refuse the bet.]
Sword Demon had made him a bet.
The moment the notification appeared, Sword Demon smiled as he urged him to accept, like Gatsby raising a wineglass.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you taking it?”
“Ah, yes.”
There was no refusing.
He had no intention of refusing, either.
He accepted immediately.
[You have accepted Sword Demon’s bet.]
That was the end of the notification.
He had half expected maybe some extra bonus stats or something, but there was nothing like that.
A little disappointing, but well, it couldn’t be helped.
Honestly, even hoping for that this time would’ve been shameless.
“Now that you’ve accepted the bet, go ahead and open the Rune.”
Sword Demon placed his Rune in Su-ho’s hand, and Su-ho used it at once.
[Using Sword Demon’s Rune.]
[You have acquired Sword Demon’s Realm (SS).]
[You have acquired Sword Demon’s Blessing (SS).]
The two skills he obtained.
Both were SS-rank.
Su-ho’s lips rounded in surprise, and Sword Demon snorted, then tilted his head as if telling him to check them.
[Sword Demon’s Realm]
# If Sword Demon’s Realm is used in a state of deep concentration, you can meet Sword Demon in the world of the unconscious.
[Sword Demon’s Blessing]
# A swordsman who possesses Sword Demon’s Blessing receives Sword Demon’s Blessing, granting a deeper understanding of all swordsmanship and an assist effect that increases proficiency.
“Oh?”
Just from the names, he hadn’t really gotten it, but after reading the descriptions, the effects hit home immediately.
Satisfaction spread across Su-ho’s face, and Sword Demon smiled.
“Do you like them?”
“Yes. With effects like these, I can meet you and train in swordsmanship anytime, anywhere now, Master.”
“In the end, everything must be grasped by your own effort before it becomes completely yours. What sort of thing truly belongs to you if it was just handed to you with a snap?”
“It’s still mine, technically. But I understand what you mean, Master.”
“That mouth of yours... Well then, I’ve given you everything I needed to give, and done everything that needed doing, so let’s begin your training. Though before that, let me give you one piece of advice.”
As Sword Demon continued speaking, he reached out his hand, and a blood sword appeared in it.
“I know the other Constellation bastards are lining up because they want to meet you too. If you do meet them, they’ll probably make offers similar to mine. They’ll bet on you and urge you to hone their techniques, and the spearman and the fist-fighter in particular will hound you. But you must never fall for their temptations.”
“By never fall for them, you mean...?”
“Trying to catch several rabbits at once. I know that’s how you’ve always lived. But when it comes to martial training, swordsmanship comes first. Master swordsmanship first, then move on. Are you really at a level where you can mix in other martial arts all at once right now?”
It was then.
[The Nameless Swordsman’s Battlefield has been activated.]
[While the Nameless Swordsman’s Battlefield is active, the Nameless Swordsman’s status window will become identical to the challenger’s.]
[While the Nameless Swordsman’s Battlefield is active, all combatants within the domain may not use weapons other than ‘swords.’]
[While the Nameless Swordsman’s Battlefield is active, all combatants within the domain may not use skills other than ‘swordsmanship.’]
The Swordsman’s Battlefield activated once more.
At the same time, Sword Demon drove a powerful kick into Su-ho.
Baaang!!
With a huge noise, Su-ho was shoved far back.
He reflexively raised an arm and managed to stop the kick from hitting his torso, but even so, his forearm throbbed as if it were about to tear apart.
“Hurts, doesn’t it?”
“It really does.”
“Isn’t it strange? Our stats are clearly the same, so why does it hurt this much? I didn’t use a single item or skill. All I did was copy your stats exactly and use them.”
“Yeah. What could be making this much of a difference?”
“It’s because the way I use force is different. This is a domain that can’t be explained by skills.”
“What? What kind of nonsense is that...? The system just lets something like that slide?”
“Of course it does. Other worlds have martial arts, and they have magic too. Just like your world alone has firearms. And among such things, some work on monsters and Players, and some don’t. What I’m using is something like that. More precisely, it’s a method of operating power. Depending on how I allocate and concentrate the power I possess, even the same power can produce a world of difference.”
Su-ho listened to the explanation blankly.
He had come this far after learning Player ranks and all kinds of skills, yet he had never even heard of this type of power.
“You’re probably very bewildered. But this is reality too. Don’t worry, foolish disciple. I’ll teach you the method of operating power I just showed you when the time comes.”
At Sword Demon’s taunting, Su-ho also summoned his sword, gripped it, and took his stance.
“Could I ask when exactly that time will be?”
“When you reach a certain level, I’ll tell you then. If you tried to learn this already, you’d only just be taking your first steps.”
“It feels pretty strange. I’ve lived putting in so much effort, and now you’re telling me I’ve only just taken my first steps.”
“If that pisses you off, prove it to me. Earn my acknowledgment, and I’ll tell you everything.”
“And what if I beat you in the process?”
At that, Sword Demon smirked.
“Will such a day really come?”
“That’s something we won’t know until we try.”
“Haha. Everyone has a convincing plan.”
As he continued speaking, Sword Demon rushed at Su-ho with lightning-fast speed.
Claaang!!
The sharp scrape of metal rang through the space.
At the same time, Su-ho’s sword flew far away.
Then, with Su-ho left empty-handed, Sword Demon aimed the tip of his blade at his neck and grinned.
“Until you experience it for yourself, that is.”
Pshhkk!
The sound of blood spraying.
He had swung his sword just like that.
Of course, he hadn’t cut deeply.
With control at an artistic level, he adjusted the force so the blade didn’t touch the carotid artery and only lightly sliced the skin.
At the hot sensation of blood spilling down, Su-ho quickly clutched the back of his neck.
“What are you doing? Hurry up and heal it.”
Sword Demon was still grinning.
Looking at that cruel smile, Su-ho felt like he finally understood why this man was called Sword Demon and not Sword God.
‘If my guys saw this, they’d go crazy over him.’
How many times had he copied himself inside Infinity, using avatars to kill and grind his people over and over?
For some reason, it felt like he was paying for those sins now.
[Restore has been activated.]
Su-ho healed his own wound.
Sword Demon was going at him this brutally because he knew Su-ho had recovery abilities.
Sword Demon spun his sword idly and smiled.
“Your healing ability really is something else. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to cut loose to my heart’s content.”
“Yes. Thanks to that, I’m sure my skills will grow by leaps and bounds again.”
“They won’t improve at all if all you do is get hit. You have to make the effort and do well for them to grow.”
“Still, I am your number one disciple. I’m the only successor who made it here, you know?”
“Yes, yes. So please, do live up to my expectations.”
A blood sword appeared in Su-ho’s hand once more.
And Sword Demon rushed in again.
Pshhkk!
The sound of blood spraying.
This time, it was Su-ho’s.
***
When a long stretch of time had passed like that—
Grid narrowed his brow as he looked up at the clear sky.
‘The East-West War is in two days, so why hasn’t he shown his face at all?’
That was exactly it.
The East-West War would begin in two days.
But after seeing the barrier Phaidiak, Su-ho had not shown his face even once.
And that wasn’t all.
No matter how many times Grid tried to contact him, no reply came back, and even when he tried to go see him in person, he wasn’t allowed near him at all—wherever he was.
Surely he wasn’t going to skip it altogether?
It was just as that uneasy thought began to creep in.
“Where are you?”
Suddenly, Su-ho’s voice rang out inside his head.
“Partner! Where the hell have you been, and what have you been doing? Why couldn’t I reach you?!”
“I’ve been busy. The East-West War is in two days, right? Let’s start preparing. I’ll explain the details when we meet.”
“Got it. So where are you right now?”
“I’m waiting for you with the supplies packed. Come pick us up.”
“Us?”
At the word us, Grid tilted his head and headed to where Su-ho was.
And there, Su-ho was waiting for Grid—
along with every god of Olympus.
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