Chapter 373: A Sword (4)

“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 said, refusing with a bright smile.

Pfft.

The Heavenly Demon scoffed and simply ignored the chicken skewer in Cale’s hand.

“…”

Cale felt a little uncomfortable, but he ignored it.

– Slurp.

Cale began eating the three chicken skewers in his hand one by one, while listening to the sound of the glutton priestess swallowing.

“What about the kids?”

The Heavenly Demon asked, his gaze sweeping the bustling arena.

“They’re taking care of the egg.”

Cale answered, his tone casual, yet vague—like it wasn’t something that needed explaining.

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 witness its birth!’

His energy was so terrifying.

‘Hmm.’

It was impressive.

Of course, Raon had a clear reason for his obsession.

‘I’ll witness it with Mom!’

The Black Castle is still in Aipotu.

And the one who couldn’t leave the Black Castle within a certain radius was the former Dragon 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 a relationship born of conflict, but—

He’s almost like her son.

Sheritt’s feelings toward Eden Miru, the Dragon Half-Blood, were slowly shifting.
From love and hate… to affection.

Raon, Sheritt, Eden Miru.
The three of them—are a family now.

Raon planned to return to the Seventh Evil once the recovery rate reached 95%, back to the place where Neo’s nest—the Dragon Lord of the Purple Blood Family—was connected.

That place was a basement where Aipotu and the New World were naturally connected.

Whether it’s magic or any other method, Lord Sheritt 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 couldn’t even begin to fathom what that meant for her.

Still, he chose to leave Raon, On, and Hong in peace.

Because they’re children who’ve seen too many battles.

That experience—they would carry it with them. And it would be important.
Not just for them.

It’ll be good for Eden Miru too.

Yes, it would be good for everyone.

Cale nodded to himself.

Suddenly, he heard laughter next to him.

He turned his head—

“What’s so funny?”

Alberu and the Heavenly Demon were both looking at him.

Cale, seated squarely between them, frowned.

“What’s with those looks?”

He hadn’t meant to speak so casually—
But it slipped out.

The Heavenly Demon. And Alberu Crossman.

Those two—

Are they looking at me with satisfaction?

Cale suddenly felt very uncomfortable.
His expression began to sour—

“You are truly kind.”

Huh!

The Heavenly Demon let out a baffled sigh, shaking his head slightly in disbelief.

“You’re quite sentimental.”

The comment was clearly aimed at Cale.

Alberu looked at him with thinly veiled disdain, lifting the corner of his lips into a crooked smirk.

“…”

Cale’s frown deepened.

But then Alberu, smiling brightly now, looked at him with something almost… affectionate.

“Are you waiting for Eden Miru’s birth?”

“No.”

“Haha.”

…What?

That annoying laugh?

Cale looked at Alberu with clear disbelief.
But Alberu and the Heavenly Demon exchanged a silent glance, wordlessly communicating something between them.

What’s wrong with these two...?

Cale frowned deeper, his mood clearly worsening, but turned at the sound of a drum echoing across the arena.

Dong, dong!

“The first match of the round of 64 is about to begin! Please maintain order!”

People hurried to their seats.
The noisy surroundings gradually began to settle, a heavy anticipation filling the air.

From the corner of his eye—
Cale felt a gaze fixed directly on him.

He leaned slightly toward the Heavenly Demon and whispered,

“Truly, the gaze toward the Young Master known as the Single Slash Sword is overwhelming.”

Kim Hae-il, the Heavenly Demon, sat calmly in the stands.

He had already earned the nickname: Single Slash Sword.

One slash!

All the way to the round of 64.

He had defeated all his opponents with a single move.

‘What an incredible sword!’

After the first disciple of the Path of the Wind—who was eliminated in the first preliminary round—called him a sword, not a hand, rumors exploded.

‘A sword?’
‘Wasn’t he using his hands? I thought it was martial arts...’
‘Unbelievable! So that means—he hasn’t even drawn his sword yet?!’

The people began to watch him with growing anticipation, whispering among themselves as they gave him a name:

Single Slash Sword.

‘Will he finally draw his sword in the final round?’
‘He has to! His opponents won’t go down so easily anymore!’

And starting with the round of 64, the official competition bracket had been released ahead of time.

‘The heir of the Heavenly Sword, Sorak, versus Kim Hae-il, the Single Slash Sword!’

‘If it’s Sorak, then even the Single Slash Sword will have to his sword!’

Sorak—the heir to the Heavenly Sword.
A man who believed that the sword marked the end of all things.
And Kim Hae-il, the Single Slash Sword—shrouded in mystery, yet rumored to wield a blade.

People were holding their breath, eagerly awaiting the clash between the two.
No one had expected to witness a duel between such powerful masters this early—right at the start of the final round.

But the Heavenly Demon’s match was still far off.
It was scheduled for tomorrow.

Still, he had come to the arena for the first time today—to watch.

“Do you think Her Majesty will come?”

Cale asked casually.

The Heavenly Demon gave a shrug.
“I don’t know.”

Queen Tamahi was set to begin attending from the round of 64.
However, she wouldn’t watch every match.
It was said that she’d personally attend starting from the round of 4, but until then, she would appear at select matches—based solely on her own interests.

Cale listened silently as whispers floated from the seats behind him.

“It’s a rare chance to know which participants Her Majesty is watching.”

“That participant is bound to become important to the kingdom’s 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, Sword Master Charun has arrived as well.”
“Truly.”

Charun—
The Sword Master.
He was Queen Tamahi’s minister, her former teacher, and her closest advisor.

“…And no doubt, all the top candidates have gathered here to witness the Justice Alliance's leader.”
“Of course.”

Their gazes slowly shifted…
To Kim Hae-il, the Single Slash Sword.

But unlike the others, the reason the Heavenly Demon had come to this place—
was a little different.

– Seems like the Justice Alliance folks, disguised as members of Dark Abyss, have already taken out a few promising candidates, huh?

Cale nodded at the Heavenly Demon’s quiet observation.

– Dark Abyss won’t be happy about that.

The Heavenly Demon’s gaze shifted toward the opposite end of the arena.

Passote, the leader of Dark Abyss, stood there with arms crossed, his eyes fixed on the combat stage. His expression was grave.

This was his first time attending the competition in person.
People whispered about his unexpected appearance—
But Passote didn’t seem to hear them.

‘Choi Han.’

Choi Han, who was wearing a bamboo hat, was by his side.

– Has the Wanderer shown up again?

Cale nodded silently in response to Alberu’s magically transmitted voice.

He was thinking of the list.
The list that the Wanderer had once handed to Passote—
A kill list.

After Passote had failed to assassinate the Heavenly Demon, he hadn’t touched anyone.

Even though the Wanderer had the means to provoke or manipulate Dark Abyss—or Passote himself—there had been no visible movement.

‘And yet... participants kept dying.’

Many of the dead weren’t even on the kill list.
If Passote hadn’t been watching the tournament with unnerving focus, tracking the fate of every participant like a hawk—
He might have missed it.

‘There were traces… faint, but undeniable.’

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 knew so much about Dark Abyss—
Enough to orchestrate such a precise and large-scale scheme.’

Considering the scope, the cost…
‘It had to be the work of one of the Five Great Powers.’

That’s why Passote, as the leader of Dark Abyss, had come to personally face his enemy.
And Cale had come to watch closely—with suspicion in his eyes.

‘Raon had said it.’

Back during the previous preliminary round, Raon had tugged at Cale’s sleeve and whispered.

‘Human! I couldn’t hear it well because the arena was too big… but someone sent a message about Dark Abyss and Hyun Seong!’

The arena was massive.
Countless voices, endless whispers, magical transmissions—
It was hard to catch anything clearly.

But Raon wasn’t just anyone.

Even amidst that chaotic storm of sound, he had picked out those words.
Though he couldn’t identify exactly who had said it—
He couldn’t even confirm if they were from the Justice Alliance—

Still…

It had been enough to plant the seed of suspicion.

It could be related to the Wanderers.

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.

Sword Master Charun stood at her side.

– There is no royal decree.

Her husband, the king, had not appeared.
It was just the two of them.

They took their seats quietly.

There was no grand announcement.
No ceremonial greeting.
Instead, the officials around them urged the crowd to remain orderly.

Dong!

The first match began without delay.
Neither the queen nor Charun spoke a word aloud.

But they were speaking—through transmitted messages.

– Charun.
– Yes, Your Majesty.

– There are many strong candidates in the stands today.
– This is the first match… and with the Justice Alliance leader participating, it makes sense.
– I see.

The queen’s next question came softly.

– Then tell me… who killed the participants?

Charun hesitated.
– …Your Majesty.

A quiet fury began to surround Queen Tamahi.

She said nothing more.

Dong!

Her gaze shifted slowly—
Toward the combat stage.

“On the left, Supe Sa!”

A well-known master stepped onto the stage from the left.

“On the right, Hwa In!”

The leader of the Justice Alliance emerged from the right side.

Waaa!
Waaa!

A thunderous roar erupted—so loud it shook the once-silent arena.

Dong!

The match began.

Supe Sa immediately leveled his lance toward Hwa In and dropped into a ready stance.

“…”

Hwa In didn’t move.
She simply stood there—calmly watching.

Hmm?

Cale’s eyes narrowed.

– Kim Hae-il.

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.

The lance in his hand moved like an ancient tree—
Firm. Rooted. Unbending.

His lance technique carried the weight of nature itself.
There were no elaborate tricks. No deception.

Rather, it was simple.

“That simplicity is scary.”

As someone had said.

His lance was terrifying.

Not because it was flashy or fast—
But because it was honest.
Heavy.
Without hesitation.

Swoosh–

The wind stirred as the lance cut through the air.

Wooong.

A powerful aura rippled from the weapon—
Like the presence of a towering, ancient tree.

“…”

Hwa In stared silently, unblinking.

Then—
Just as the lance closed the final step between them—

Swoosh.

Hwa In drew her sword.

Kwaaang!

A thunderous roar exploded across the arena.

No one dared speak.

A cloud of dust surged upward from the impact—
But it was faint. A whisper, compared to the roar it followed.

Swoosh–

A stream of wind swept the dust away.

And in the clearing air—
The scene came into focus.

“Kgh!”

Supe Sa’s face distorted.

An ancient tree that seemed like it wouldn’t break in the face of any storm.

But now, his lance had been cut.
Cleanly.

Half of it dropped to the combat stage with a dull thud.

The symbol of his strength… had snapped.

“…”

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.

“Hrk!”

Supe Sa’s face distorted, with frustration and anger towards himself, as he bowed his head.

Hwa In opened her mouth.

“Your strength will only grow stronger with time.”

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 flicker of emotion stir inside him.

“…Thank you, leader.”

“It was a good match.”

Supe Sa, who had heard the leader’s response, looked at the referee.

The referee announced that the competition had ended.

“Victory goes to Hwa In!”

Five minutes.

Truly, the match had ended in less than that.

And if one were to subtract the cautious moments at the start—when Supe Sa had remained on guard—their actual exchange could not have lasted more than a few seconds.

Waaa!

Thunderous cheers erupted.

A fierce, back-and-forth match had its own appeal—
But this kind of overwhelming victory carried a weight of its own.

“The leader has reached the final round. She won’t show mercy to her opponents anymore!”
“Yes! Before, she used to share a few moves!”

The Single Slash Sword.

That name had dominated the whispers until now.

But today, it was Hwa In who stood at the center of it all—
The one who had ended her battle with a single strike.
Unlike the preliminary rounds, there was no hesitation. No holding back.

At that moment—

“Eh?”
“Hmm?”

Just as Supe Sa stepped down from the stage, his steps faltering, and quietly disappeared beyond the arena—

Hwa In remained where she was.

The very place she had stood from the beginning.

Motionless.

And as the crowd stared at her, puzzled and silent...

Swoosh.

She moved the hand holding her sword.

Would she be putting it back into its scabbard?

That was what many thought—until they stopped breathing.

“!”
“Eh?!”

The tip of the sword didn’t lower.
It stopped midair.

Then slowly…
It pointed in a direction.

Huh–
Ah…

The blade now aimed toward the stands.

There were many seated there, but soon, people began to realize.
They understood who the leader’s sword was directed at.

“The Single Slash Sword!”
“Kim Hae-il, right?”
“Huu… the leader actually pointed at him…”

Kim Hae-il, the Heavenly Demon, He was seated with arms crossed,
Right in the direction that Hwa In’s sword now pointed.

Unmoving. Silent.

The atmosphere began to boil in an instant.

The Justice Alliance.

Their leader—known for her silence, her calm, and her restraint—
The one who rarely spoke, let alone acted with such clarity…
Had now made her intent visible to all.

And because it was her—
Because it was Hwa In—

The arena could no longer stay calm.

“Ah! The Single Slash Sword!”

People began to connect the dots.

The move that Hwa In had displayed today—
That overwhelming, clean strike...

“Kim Hae-il! The Single Slash Sword!”

The martial artist who defeats every opponent with a single blow.

And now—
The leader of the Justice Alliance had mirrored that very style.

As if her match…
Had been directed at him.

The crowd trembled in awe.

“What relationship do those two have…?”

“What story is behind it…?”

More and more began to wonder—
Just what was the connection between Kim Hae-il and Hwa In?

Moreover—

“Isn’t he… a little too calm?”
“That’s right. And he looks much younger than the leader.”

Indeed, the Heavenly Demon showed no surprise.
He simply gazed at the tip of the sword pointing toward him—
With perfect composure.

And then—

“Haha—”

He laughed.

“!”
“…!”

Gasps echoed nearby.

And at that moment—

Swoosh.

Hwa In sheathed her sword.
Without hesitation, she turned and stepped down from the combat stage.

– Kim Hae-il.

Cale froze as the Heavenly Demon’s voice echoed in his mind.

The Heavenly Demon was smiling outwardly—
But the voice in the transmission was ice-cold.

What’s going on…? What’s happening now?

Cale’s mouth opened slightly, but no words came out.
Just unease.

The Heavenly Demon’s mischievous smile deepened.

– The leader just asked me something.
– She asked if I knew Ahn Roh Man.

Eh...?

Cale blinked.

What does that mean?

Before he could ask—

– So, I told her, yes.

The Heavenly Demon knew Ahn Roh Man.
He hadn’t met him in person, but he knew the name.
He knew what had happened.
He knew how things were unfolding behind the scenes.

Ahn Roh Man knew the Heavenly Demon.
And the Heavenly Demon… knew Ahn Roh Man.

– 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 was the leader trying to say?
What was she thinking right now?

The Justice Alliance.

The leader of that place. And the existence of the Wanderers.

Lastly, Ahn Roh Man.

All the scattered pieces—
Suddenly started falling into place.

“Eh…?”

The moment a possibility came to him—
A theory that shouldn’t make sense, but somehow did—

– Kim Hae-il.
The Heavenly Demon’s transmission continued.

– I don’t care why the leader is treating me like this.
His voice was terrifying—thick with a scent of blood, as if it could drip through the message itself.

– But since she dared to say I would run away, the leader will have to pay the price.

Gulp.
Cale swallowed hard.

Tap. Tap.
Alberu, who had been silently observing, patted Cale’s shoulder and whispered in a teasing tone.

“Why are you so scared?”

This damn crown prince…!
Cale glared at Alberu, burning with silent fury.

The Heavenly Demon murmured softly, almost to himself.

“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.

 -------

T/L: A sword pointed across the arena says more than a thousand words—Hwa In wants blood, and Kim Hae-il isn't flinching.

***

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]