Chapter 370: A Sword (1)
Alberu Crossman adjusted the straw hat he was wearing. He was already dressed in the traditional attire of the Kingdom of Lan—a long tunic that resembled a skirt, with wide, flowing sleeves.
“The escort has changed!”
Whispers were heard, but Alberu remained impassive, standing behind the Heavenly Demon.
– Crown Prince, Crown Prince, doesn’t the Human look quite curious?
A smile appeared without him noticing, but he quickly restrained it.
“Young Master, take a sip of this. It’s a drink I prepared for you to relax before the first preliminary round.”
Cale was playing his role as a servant very well.
– Crown Prince, that’s surely a lovely drink!
“…Servant.”
The Heavenly Demon’s face wrinkled, and Raon’s cheerful voice echoed again.
“Pfft.”
Alberu had to hold back his laughter.
“…”
“…”
The Heavenly Demon and Cale turned to look at Alberu.
Through the straw hat, they could faintly see his eyes—and in those eyes, they sensed something hard to describe. A subtle sense of distrust.
“A different escort, I see.”
At that moment, a woman approached.
It was Hyun Seong, a member of the warrior group composed solely of women from the Five Great Powers of the Kingdom of Lan.
The clan leader’s sister greeted the Heavenly Demon, Kim Hae-il, with a bright smile.
“Will you be participating today?”
“Yes.”
There were 300 participants in the preliminary round. Numbers were assigned randomly once again, and the matches would be held across three different locations for an entire week.
“…”
Kim Hae-il nodded silently.
Hyun Seong, seemingly having nothing more to say, smiled faintly and turned to leave.
Of course, she left one final remark.
“They say an assassin attacked.”
“…”
As the Heavenly Demon turned his gaze toward her, Hyun Seong—still wearing that same serene smile—continued.
“They say several participants in the preliminary round have vanished. I truly wonder why.”
With that, she walked to a corner of the participants’ waiting room, sat down cross-legged, and shut her eyes tightly, entering meditation.
But her words had already done their damage.
A wave of unease swept through the participants in the third preliminary round.
“Disappeared? Who?”
Someone muttered nervously—someone clearly unaware of the news until now.
“Hmm.”
Those who had heard the news, but didn’t expect it to be mentioned so openly, were surprised.
“…”
And those who were silent, looking around—
– Cale.
Alberu transmitted his voice to Cale with magic.
– Were there 10 in total?
This morning.
Passote, the leader of Dark Abyss, had relayed a report.
Cheon Rye, the sub-leader of the assassin group that had once targeted the Heavenly Demon, had delivered a note:
<The people who disappeared this morning have reappeared.>
<They are not from our side.>
<It is presumed that another power is involved, and we are currently investigating.>
Cale silently conveyed his response to Cheon Rye, who was trembling in fear, While waiting.
‘Please let me know if you find any more information.’
‘…Yes.’
Cheon Rye replied with difficulty, then quietly left.
Alberu spoke to Cale again, who was still replaying the morning’s events in his mind.
– It seems another force is involved besides Dark Abyss. I’m not sure how far the rumors will spread.
It was true.
But—
– Maybe this incident happened without the Wanderers’ involvement.
Cale didn’t continue the thought.
Alberu was already following the same line of reasoning.
Truly…
It was always easier to talk to someone who understood you without needing everything spelled out.
“Silence!”
The competition official entered the waiting room.
“The preliminary round starts in ten minutes! All participants, please prepare!”
The buzz of conversation quickly faded.
“Also, those who are not participating—please exit the waiting room!”
Cale and Alberu turned and quietly left.
“…….”
The Heavenly Demon sat calmly atop the wall, arms crossed.
“Young Master, you can do it!”
Naturally, Cale didn’t miss the chance to cheer—shamelessly and with zero hesitation.
Pfft.
The Heavenly Demon let out a soft laugh at Cale’s audacity, amused by how brazen and arrogant he was.
Then, he quietly closed his eyes.
* * *
Cale headed to the stands with Alberu.
“Over here!”
Rosalyn waved from their seats, where she had clearly been waiting. She wasn’t alone.
– Human, you’ve arrived!
Nya!
Nyaa!
Two cats meowed in unison—alongside an invisible young dragon.
And nestled in a small basket, wrapped carefully in cloth, was an egg.
There was quite a commotion around Rosalyn.
“Even the preliminary round is full of excitement!”
Her voice carried a hint of excitement as well. Cale accepted the basket from her and took his seat.
“Truly… this doesn’t feel like a preliminary round.”
Even Cale seemed a bit impressed.
“I’m selling skewers! Raise your hand and I’ll come over!”
“Cold barley tea! Refreshing barley tea!”
“Umbrellas, hats! Come get yours!”
Street vendors bustled around the seating area of the combat arena, calling out enthusiastically.
“Who do you think will win?”
“Is that today’s participant list? Whoa, even the royal palace prepared this—it’s perfect!”
“Hey, I’m betting on this side. You in?”
“No way! Hyun Seong is competing! I came at dawn just to see her!”
The seats were packed. Some people stood behind the rows, while others squatted along the roadside just for a glimpse.
The third round’s combat arena was overflowing with people—alive with noise, energy, and anticipation.
According to rumors, crowds had gathered outside the arena.
Some came just to watch the competition.
Others came to gamble.
And many… to catch a glimpse of the one who might become the next king.
The capital of the Kingdom of Lan was buzzing for all sorts of reasons.
“Young Master.”
Rosalyn gently tapped Cale’s arm.
His gaze shifted toward the opposite side of the arena.
“He’s persistent.”
Alberu’s voice rang out beside him.
Across the stadium—
“…….”
—sat the Phantom Swordsman, also known as the Ghost Sword, arms crossed in silence.
“Damn, it’s the Phantom Swordsman!”
“Why’s he here?! His preliminary round isn’t for another three days!”
“It’s obvious. He’s scouting. The heir of the Heavenly Sword is fighting in Arena One today, right?”
An elite group known for one thing—swordsmanship.
Naturally, some called them obsessed. Fanatics, even.
But no one questioned their skill.
So, it made sense that the Phantom Swordsman would show interest in Arena One—where Sorak, heir to the Heavenly Sword, was set to compete.
“Ha!”
The quiet whispers suddenly halted.
“Wh-What…”
“Ha, they actually came…”
A group of five entered the stands.
Five warriors.
“The Ten Tigers of the Heaven!”
The Justice Alliance.
The largest of the Five Great Powers—said to uphold justice and loyalty.
Though, in reality, some followed only one thing: their leader.
The Ten Tigers of the Heaven were legendary warriors known for that loyalty.
Tigers who moved only for their master’s will.
Their faces were unmistakable—because—
“Tiger—”
Each of them had a blue tiger emblem engraved on the back of their robes.
“…Ha, five tigers at once…?”
Not one. Not two. Five of the Ten Tigers had appeared.
“…Is something big about to happen?”
“Quick, hand me the participant list! I need to check again!”
A ripple of chatter spread like wildfire. People scrambled, flipping through papers, whispering, speculating.
“…….”
“…….”
But the five tigers—three men and two women—sat in complete silence, gazes fixed on the combat arena below.
“…….”
The Phantom Swordsman turned his eyes toward them.
Just for a moment.
Then, his gaze returned to the arena—
—but not before lingering for a few extra seconds… on Cale.
And then—
Doong—!
A thunderous drum echoed through the arena.
Every voice fell silent.
The first day of the preliminary round had begun.
The third arena's matches were underway.
* * *
“Oh!”
“Everyone has considerable skill!”
“They’re not from the Kingdom of Lan—they’re from the Eastern Empire! Well, who cares, as long as they can fight!”
“This is fun. That one lost, but he's got potential.”
The atmosphere, which had been a little tense at first, became more intense as the competition progressed.
“Third match!”
Dong!
With the sound of the drum, Hyun Seong of Snow Death Flower slowly came out.
Waaa!
Hyun Seong! Hyun Seong!
Cheers were heard from everywhere, directed towards her.
“Hmm.”
Among the Ten Tigers of the Heaven, one leaned slightly toward his companion and transmitted a message—silently, through aura.
– Leader, didn’t you say that Hyun Seong was infiltrating?
– Yes.
The leader of the Ten Tigers of the Heaven—Cheon Po, the Blue Tiger—gazed sharply at Hyun Seong, his eyes unblinking.
– Leader, but even if that’s the case, I don’t think Hyun Seong can find out what we did?
– Wasn’t it a clean operation?
– Most likely. The clues she found through all that effort in Snow Death Flower… they’ll lead her to Dark Abyss instead.
He didn’t respond to his subordinate’s words.
“…”
He merely lifted his hand slightly.
At once, the other Tigers turned their attention to the arena.
“Please take care of yourself.”
“And you as well. May we both stay safe.”
Hyun Seong briefly greeted the young warrior, and the match began.
Her opponent was an unknown, but his posture was straight, and his aura was pure.
At that moment, Hyun Seong took out her lance.
Swoosh–
The long lance was revealed.
Waaa!
Waaa!
The crowd’s excitement surged as a renowned master—known throughout the Kingdom of Lan—stepped into the third combat arena.
Dong!
And the match began.
Crash! Slam!
Hyun Seong calmly blocked her opponent’s attacks.
- Hyun Seong is really compassionate.
Cheon Po nodded at the words his subordinate transmitted to him.
A powerful blast echoed—BOOM!—followed by another sharp impact!
But Hyun Seong wasn’t overwhelming her opponent.
She was holding back, giving him space—time to showcase his skills.
An unknown.
But she understood how much this opportunity meant to a nameless warrior.
She wasn’t just fighting—she was letting him grow.
Maybe she’s even teaching him something.
Hyun Seong was the kind of person who could do that.
Driven by ambition, yet guided by compassion.
It was a trait often seen in the women of Snow Death Flower—especially its leader… and Hyun Seong.
Cheon Po’s expression grew colder by the second.
She’s wasting her time with kindness.
At the moment, the Ten Tigers of the Heaven had split up, each visiting different combat arenas in groups of two, three, or five.
– Hyun Seong seems a little too soft. Pointlessly so.
Cheon Po didn’t respond to the words his other subordinate transmitted to him.
– If we’d been the kind ones and eliminated the competitors, shouldn’t we be celebrating by now?
The disappearance of ten preliminary round participants…
It had all been the work of the Justice Alliance.
To be precise, the Ten Tigers of the Heaven.
– Well, even if someone digs up the truth, it won’t reach us.
– Ah… this is going to be fun.
The subordinate’s tone grew playful.
– Wouldn’t it be great if Dark Abyss and Snow Death Flower clashed?
– Dark Abyss’s reputation would tank completely. Hah… hilarious.
The moment that smug laughter echoed through the transmission—
Clang!
The young warrior’s sword fell to the ground.
“I have lost.”
The young warrior admitted his defeat—
but his expression was bright.
“It was an honor.”
“I hope you remember it as a good memory.”
Hyun Seong smiled and shook his hand with ease.
Waaaah!
Hyun Seong! Hyun Seong!
Cheers erupted from every direction once again, all for her.
Clap! Clap! Clap!
The crowd applauded not just the victor—but also the young warrior, who had graciously accepted defeat and displayed his skills with pride.
He’ll go far someday.
“It’s beautiful.”
Alberu’s voice was quiet, but full of sincerity. It truly was a sight to behold.
Clap! Clap!
Rosalyn joined the applause, nodding at Alberu’s words.
“It’s alright.”
Cale, who had been listening silently, adjusted his posture—eyes a little sharper now.
“Fourth match!”
The last competition that would be held today in the third preliminary round.
Cale jumped up from his seat. And while holding the basket, he shouted.
“Wooo! Young Master, you’ve got this!”
No matter how Rosalyn and Alberu looked at him, Cale cheered for Kim Hae–il, who was coming out to the arena.
“…….”
Swoosh.
Kim Hae–il, who had taken a look at the arena, smiled at Cale, and then went up to the combat stage.
“Oh. He doesn’t have a weapon. Does he practice bare-handed martial arts?”
“Ah, wait—I remember now! They say he’s the one who passed the qualification test in the shortest time!”
“Really? Kim Hae-il… Never heard of him before.”
There were no cheers for the Heavenly Demon.
Most people didn’t even recognize him.
Only some who knew that he was the one who had passed the qualification test in the shortest time, showed their curiosity.
– I’m leaving.
Cheon Po, who had gotten up from his seat, as if there was nothing more to see, stopped. The moment Kim Hae–il’s opponent went up to the combat stage.
Waaa!
Path of the Wind, Path of the Wind!
Applause broke out for the thirty-year-old man clad in a gleaming white suit that shimmered with an eerie light.
Path of the Wind.
A place where those who seek the path and value training gather, their mysterious colored white suit, which swirled towards the color of silk thread, was famous.
“…”
He was the first disciple of Path of the Wind—
a master in his own right.
Though his influence didn’t quite match that of the young master who had entered the tournament, his skill was undeniable.
The five great powers had allowed anyone who wished to participate in the combat competition, besides their representatives.
– Leader, just look at the first disciple of Path of the Wind!
At his subordinate’s transmission, Cheon Po hesitated for a moment and then sat down again.
“…It will end in an instant.”
If it’s the first disciple of Path of the Wind, his opponent will lose in the competition in an instant.
“Hmm.”
But the moment he saw the opponent, Kim Hae–il.
– Leader, how many moves do you think he will make? I think Path of the Wind will win in three moves!
– Path of the Wind is not an opponent that an unknown can play with.
Ignoring his subordinate’s words, his gaze focused on Kim Hae–il.
“Leader?”
The moment the subordinate, who had been silent until now, felt a sense of déjà vu and looked at Cheon Po.
“…”
He raised his hand. He didn’t say anything, didn’t transmit a message, didn’t speak.
What’s wrong?
He couldn’t quite explain it,
but there was something… off about Kim Hae-il, who stood silently in the arena.
Strange.
A sudden realization sparked in his mind.
“Wait… is that Kim Hae-il?”
His previously silent subordinate transmitted a message.
– Yes. Dark Abyss sent assassins after him—but they failed.
Dong!
At that moment, the match began.
Kim Hae-il and the first disciple of Path of the Wind stood at opposite ends of the arena, a considerable distance between them.
“…”
“…”
The two warriors exchanged a brief nod.
No pleasantries.
No words.
They weren’t the type to bother with kindness—
only the bare minimum of courtesy.
And in the combat arena, courtesy–
‘It’s just combat.’
Tap.
The first disciple of Path of the Wind stepped lightly onto the ground.
I can’t believe Hyun Seong made it this far…
All eyes were still on her.
And on the unknown warrior who had stood against her.
I can’t afford to lose that spotlight.
He bore the name of Path of the Wind.
He couldn’t let Snow Death Flower outshine him.
Yes—perhaps that kind of thinking wasn’t befitting someone who “seeks the path.”
But—
As a human… it’s natural to have ambition. To calculate.
He wasn’t doing anything wrong.
He was simply earning recognition—fairly.
And right now, the best way to claim it was simple—
One move.
End the match in a single, decisive strike.
The first day of the preliminary round.
The final match in the third combat arena.
There was no better way to leave his mark.
The moment his hands traced a strange, flowing pattern in the air—
Vwooom—
Aura surged, gathering with intensity.
His specialty was martial arts—
just like his opponent, Kim Hae-il.
“I’m sorry, Young Master.”
He offered a quiet apology to the man who, despite setting a record in the qualification round, would soon be eliminated.
Then—
he pushed off the ground.
Boom!
His foot slammed into the arena floor, cracking the stone beneath.
“Wind Dragon!”
Someone shouted from the stands.
Rooooar—!
A fierce stream of wind burst from his hand, spiraling into the shape of a dragon as it shot toward Kim Hae-il.
That wind—refined and elegant—carried a noble, commanding aura.
It wasn’t just powerful.
It was dignified.
“Ohhh!”
“As expected of the Path of the Wind!”
The audience flinched—
instinctively shifting in their seats, their shoulders tense—
as they witnessed the raw force of high-level martial arts.
BOOOOM!
A thunderous roar ripped through the arena.
From above—
“!”
The five members of the Ten Tigers of the Heaven rose to their feet in unison.
“…….”
The Phantom Swordsman gripped the scabbard of his sword tightly, knuckles pale.
“…As expected.”
And Hyun Seong, who had lingered quietly until now, turned away and left the arena.
Whoosh—
A sharp stream of wind swept across the stage.
“Ha… ha… ha…”
Thud.
The first disciple of the Path of the Wind collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath—
his shoulders trembling.
He admitted his defeat.
“……”
A dragon.
A massive imprint had been carved into the ground.
It was the Wind Dragon—the very technique he had unleashed just moments ago.
Wild. Free.
A dragon made of wind, fierce and unrestrained.
The form etched into the arena floor mirrored it perfectly.
“……”
But that dragon—
It had been cut.
Split clean down the middle.
A single vertical line had sliced through the dragon’s body—
so precise, so absolute—
stopping just inches in front of where he now sat, collapsed.
His hands trembled.
No—
his entire body did.
The ground beneath him bore the silent proof of what had happened.
“……”
He raised his head. He could see Kim Hae–il, who was still standing in that place, staring intently at him.
“Ah–”
He was the same as before. However, the first disciple clearly saw. A hand movement that had torn his dragon, brutally cutting his martial arts.
That hand looked like a sword.
And the black eyes that were looking at him beyond the torn dragon.
It seemed like they didn’t contain anything, but at the same time, his eyes were as if everything existed in them.
“He… he lost…”
The first disciple of the Path of the Wind lowered his head in defeat.
And the Heavenly Demon—
He simply stared back at him.
Calm. Inevitable.
As if this outcome had never been in question.
------
Proofreader's Comment:
He didn’t fight for show—he erased an entire dragon with a flex of his pinky.
[P/R: “Wind Path” was previously used. It has been corrected to “Path of the Wind” to better reflect the original phrasing and intent.]***
If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.
Thank you for reading!
[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]
[Translator – Anowa]
[Proofreader – Mayank]
([postCard][label:_random][title:You Might Like]) ([fullHeader][background:https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsNww31LmT9MEFS1TRan6U029JYS5TUIFFDG1bfc0h8hQsIPn2714hXiIOwm2b_CYbUciEiAKbK35RlX3Wgp7Qw5qW2tOLY8JSl3iWfdyKJO0YhO0o3Mb95YAxZUJtrZ7svGOTCMC3eofdj2MTDoHNHHzgiyo08KpJxrdOmQe1ElHIXUC-I4J4z1k1W8PY/s1600/wp11397860.jpg][subtitle:Trash of the Count's Family, TCF, Lout of the Count's Family, LCF, قمامة عائلة الكونت, 伯爵家の暴れん坊になった, 백망되, 백작가의 망나니가 되었다])
