Chapter 249: Sixty-Fourth Floor, Intelligence (8)

[Support the agent in their espionage mission. Time remaining: 84 hours 27 minutes.]

After our encounter with the Blade, we ran for another fifteen minutes. Thankfully, that last fight had practically been a checkpoint, and other than one large fight, we encountered far fewer enemies in the time since.

Besides the decreased enemy count, our journey became easier once we stumbled upon a wide cart path. A group of thirty agents—including three Blades—had also been traveling along it, but they were just a slight nuisance; nothing slowed us down for long.

It seemed like the Empire had realized that we weren’t trying to escape, and were likely waiting for us at the location of the secret.

Because of that, just before arriving at the objective, we finally slowed our pace and took a moment to steady our breath.

“Ready?”

“Yes,” Langley answered promptly.

Parein nodded firmly, although he had an unusually solemn look. Deciding not to ask about it, I resumed walking.

Just as I had expected, the demonic ant nest’s entrance loomed ahead, nestled in the mountainside. Though the landscape had been excavated slightly, it was unmistakably familiar. Seeing it with my own eyes erased my last inklings of doubt.

The Empire had constructed barracks outside the cave, covering it in leaf-patterned camouflage. Besides the barracks, five massive tents were lined up off to one side.

These can’t only be for the agents, can they? It feels a bit much for lodging.

Suppressing my curiosity, I inspected the camp more closely. A figure clad in chainmail armor with a crimson cape stood in the front, most likely one of the Blades.

Their leader, perhaps.

Beyond him, roughly seventy operatives dressed as ordinary villagers stood in formation. Another group of people was watching us from farther back with uncertain and wary eyes. Judging by their attire and demeanor, they seemed to be researchers or mages.

I see. So I don’t even need to reenter the nest.

They had already extracted the demon’s body.

The sheer scale of the setup makes it seem excessive, though.

Perhaps they weren’t just studying the demon’s remains but something deeper within that hellish underground abyss.

“The Iron-Blooded Sword Lord, and the most powerful Sheath, Redirun,” Parein muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible.

“We expected this the moment we saw the Blades,” Langley responded calmly, as if reaffirming the obvious.

Parein paused, then nodded slowly. “Yeah, I suppose.”

His title caught my attention.

So, is that what they call swordmasters here? I wonder if the terms are interchangeable.

At any rate, it confirmed what I had already suspected. If Redirun himself were here, then there was no avoiding a battle.

A heavy silence filled the air as both sides stared each other down.

Eventually, Redirun seemed to have become bored, and he commented, “You've arrived quite noisily, uninvited guests.”

His voice was calm, almost detached, as if he were merely making an objective observation.

Then, off-handedly, he asked, “I don't recall extending an invitation. Where exactly do you hail from?”

His tone suggested he didn’t actually care about the answer. Instead, he was gazing fixedly and intently at me.

I met his stare calmly. His eyes displayed a deepness and steadiness shaped by countless battlefields. Even as he stood still, his mind churned out countless simulations of a potential fight.

The Blades beside him instinctively placed their hands on their weapons as they stepped forward.

What is this?

Their expressions sharpened further, as if they sensed something.

Redirun shifted his gaze toward the approaching Blades, then commanded. “Stand down. He’s not someone you can handle.”

***

Langley’s eyes remained fixed on Nameless’s back. Even in the presence of Redirun, the most formidable of the Empire’s Sword Lords, Nameless stood unwavering. There was not a shred of hesitation in his posture.

Not only had he refrained from offering a single word of courtesy—all warriors were expected to do that when encountering a Sword Lord, enemy or not—he hadn’t even acknowledged the man with so much as a bow.

He simply stood there holding his axe, quiet and composed, while the Iron-Blooded Sword Lord naturally set the stage for their impending duel. Both of their presences alone had set the stage for battle.

This is strange.

Her gaze fell to his weapon. It was a crude-looking axe, albeit carrying a spirit of nature. Somehow, its craftsmanship appeared both rough and refined.

Axes were an uncommon and largely disregarded weapon. She had never heard of a single axe-wielder who had ever come close to the skill of a Sword Lord.

Yet the question that had been gnawing at her throughout their journey resurfaced once more.

Where exactly did Black Butterfly find this man?

She had occasionally siphoned off information through the Wing’s secretary, but she had never been able to discover anything about Nameless. If she survived this, she would have to revise the Kingdom of Berest’s threat level.

After confirming that the Blades had stepped back, Redirun turned his attention back to Nameless. “Thank you for waiting.”

Langley’s breath hitched.

Did he just thank him? Redirun, the Iron-Blooded Sword Lord, thanking someone?

It was a sight so far removed from her understanding that it left her momentarily speechless. Those words alone meant one thing. Redirun acknowledged Nameless as an equal. Or perhaps, even greater.

Nameless nodded silently and raised his axe.

Redirun unsheathed his sword. “I understand. There’s no need for lengthy words.”

Neither spoke further nor moved. Tension thickened in the air.

Is something happening?

Langley wasn’t the only one to notice the strangeness. The operatives standing behind Redirun exchanged puzzled glances, sensing the unnatural stillness.

And then, in the blink of an eye, the two figures vanished.

No, it only seemed like they had vanished.

There was a dissonance between what her eyes saw and what her brain could process.

Boom!

The collision between the axe and sword sent shockwaves rippling through the air.

Langley’s mind finally caught up. The two had closed the distance at an overwhelming speed, clashing in a blur of metal. The delay between her visual perception and cognition made her stomach churn. She stopped trying to analyze it altogether.

This is madness.

She had seen Redirun in battle seven years ago, during the border conflict. He had fought alone against two of Berest’s Sword Lords.

Yet he was far stronger now.

However, despite that, despite his overwhelming might... It looked as if he was being pushed back. That realization struck her harder than anything before.

A flicker of understanding dawned within her. The strange sense of relief she had felt when she had seen Nameless’s smile earlier—her instincts had recognized she was in the presence of, and defended by, a true apex predator.

Clang! BOOM!

The ground shattered with every clash. Their afterimages burned at the edges of her vision, too fast for the untrained eye to follow.

Even among the Blades, some stood slack-jawed, struggling to comprehend what they were witnessing. Only the few who were skilled enough to track the fight wore grim expressions.

However, even those who couldn’t keep up could see one thing clearly: Redirun was losing ground.

Murmurs of disbelief rippled through the ranks.

“Lo-lord Redirun is being pushed back?”

“This is insane. That’s impossible.”

“Who the hell is that guy?”

Amid the growing chaos, Langley sensed something else. A handful of Ears of the Empire had shifted their focus.

They weren’t watching the duel anymore but were watching her and Parein. She noticed them inching closer, almost imperceptibly weaving through the dense forest.

She whipped her head around. From the way Parein’s gaze had hardened, it was clear that he had noticed it too.

Are they trying to capture us now that Redirun is being pushed back?

As if the situation weren’t dire enough, more presences emerged from behind. Whether they were patrol units drawn by the noise or had been stationed in advance for a pincer movement, she couldn't say for sure.

Given that they stopped trying to ambush us after a certain point, it is probably the latter.

A slow, cold fury built inside her.

Cowards.

Grinding her teeth, Langley tightened her grip on her dagger. She knew that even if Redirun was struggling, Nameless couldn’t afford to take care of Parenin and her.

It isn’t like Nameless would surrender if they took us hostage.

At the very least, she couldn’t afford to become a burden.

She clenched her dagger; the chill of the metal felt more tangible than ever.

Then, a blinding flash ignited the battlefield.

Instinctively, her head jerked toward Nameless, but before she could fully process what had happened, a bolt of lightning struck the advancing operatives.

Boom! Pzzzzt!

“

Agh!

”

“What the hell!”

The agents recoiled in sheer terror, eyes wide as they stumbled backward. Their faces were drained of color.

Lightning?

Redirun had never been recorded using lightning before, which meant that Nameless had somehow summoned it.

Someone who is on par with a Sheath, using magic?

She shifted her gaze to Nameless. At some point, he and Redirun had separated a distance.

Redirun acted first, shouting, “Do not act recklessly!”

His thunderous voice carried an unmistakably angry edge. The agents flinched and immediately bowed their heads. Even the ones advancing from behind her halted in place.

Redirun then turned his gaze back to Nameless. “My apologies.”

“That’s not something you need to apologize for. It’s not your fault, so I won’t accept that apology.”

At Nameless’s response, Redirun let out a faint chuckle.

With that, their brief conversation ended. The battle resumed once more.

How can he engage in a one-on-one duel so calmly amidst all this chaos...

Langley found it difficult to comprehend the scene unfolding before her. Yet, regardless of her confusion, the speed of their weapons only grew faster.

For a fleeting moment, she thought she caught glimpses of joy on both Nameless’s and Redirun’s faces.

These lunatics.

Despite that thought, Langley soon found herself engrossed in their duel as well.

She had always believed that those who reached the pinnacle of martial arts were incomprehensible beings. However, witnessing this battle firsthand changed her perspective.

It was... beautiful. It felt as if the hundred or so people surrounding them had faded away, leaving only those two in this space.

She couldn't tell if it was Redirun growing weary or Nameless becoming faster, but as time passed, the outcome of the battle became increasingly apparent.

A monster of a man.

Langley favored the latter’s chances. The Iron-Blooded Sword Lord wouldn’t tire so easily, though.

Unexpectedly, the battle ended far sooner than she had anticipated.

Langley couldn’t clearly follow their movements, but she saw Redirun swing his sword, while Nameless stood motionless. The blade slashed straight through him.

She was about to scream. Before she could, however, the seemingly cut in half Nameless vanished like an illusion. In the very next instant, he reappeared behind Redirun, bringing the axe down on the Sheath’s back.

“

Urgh!

”

The Iron-Blooded Sword Lord staggered forward, blood seeping from the torn fabric of his cloak as he collapsed.

A heavy silence descended upon the battlefield. Every single person present stared in disbelief at Nameless.

“Lord Redirun... lost?!”

“My god!”

“Capture him!”

Even though their leader had just fallen before their eyes, the Ears and Blades of the Empire rushed in recklessly, swarming like moths to a flame. It was a foolish act, but Langley understood them. Sitting still or fleeing weren’t viable options, and she would’ve done the same in their position.

Nameless drove his axe into the ground, the handle standing upright.

Even with dozens of armed enemies charging toward him from behind, he turned to glance at her and Parein. “What are you waiting for? Grab your weapons.”

That faint smile of his felt utterly more reassuring than ever.

***

[Support the agent in their espionage mission. Time remaining: 83 hours 54 minutes.]

“

Phew.

”

I let out a deep breath and steadied my breathing.

More than a hundred people lay sprawled on the ground around us.

Of course, none of them were dead. Even the Imperial agents who had joined in from the rear were no exception. I had simply beaten them senseless, ensuring they wouldn’t be able to move any time soon.

I didn’t handle all the cleanup myself, as Parein and Langley took care of tying them up. It spared me from the hassle, which I appreciated.

“

Whew.

Well, that’s all sorted.”

“I suppose so...” Parein trailed off as he snuck a glance at me. “In all my fifteen years as an agent, I’ve never experienced anything like this. Just barging in and knocking everyone down.”

“Same here,

haha

.” Langley laughed dryly and nodded in agreement.

Not long ago, they had been arguing over whether or not to kill each other, but in the span of just one day, they had begun bantering like nothing ever happened.

“Man, life’s full of surprises. Anyway, shall we take a look around? See what’s here?” Langley turned toward me, as if seeking my approval.

I inclined my head slightly. “Yes, let’s do that. Start by checking the large barracks. I’ll catch up soon.”

She looked at me uncertainly. “Do you have something to do?”

It was understandable, given that it could be disastrous if I disappeared.

I shook my head faintly. “No, I just feel a little stiff.”

It was an offhand excuse, but Langley’s eyes widened. “Oh! I see. That makes sense. Please, take your time.”

She had likely assumed that my duel with the swordmaster had left me completely drained. I was tired, but not to that extent.

I didn’t bother correcting her. After all, I had sent them ahead for a reason.

***

「Invisible message: Langley, the double agent, now trusts Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok.」

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has completed the first stage of the hidden mission ‘Sleeping with the Enemy.’ All stats increased by 1.」

「Invisible message: Hidden mission ‘Sleeping with the Enemy’ is still in progress.」