Chapter 128: Demon Lord's Heavenly Sword vs Taiji Wisdom Sword

“I look forward to working with you.” Kang Woo bowed politely toward me.

I cringed at his boomer attitude. Well, considering the years he had spent in regression, he was technically in his mid-fifties.

“C’mon now, no need to be so formal.”

“No, I can’t do that. You’re my last hope—

my everything!

” Kang Woo adamantly shook his head.

When I first met Kang Woo, he looked like a nouveau riche bum. But now, his gaze burned with the passion of a young boy. Behind him, Sword Demon crossed his arms and nodded, as if looking at a junior.

“Please leave Gustav’s children to me. I’ll be sure to find them.” Kang Woo said.

“Yes, please.” I entrusted it to him.

In Kang Woo’s last regression, he was slain by his comrades due to his unwillingness to stop at nothing. Nevertheless, the same man had taken the world by storm in under two years. Although he’d been off the grid in this timeline, he still relied on the group he knew from his past lives to gather information. Surely, he’d find a clue soon.

I glanced at my watch. “

Uhm

, it’s time for me to go.”

“What? Mr. Sword God, who...?”

Bam!

The door to the suite burst open, and a handsome man entered with a huge smile plastered on his face. “Mr. Sword God~! I’m here!

Ah

! Kang Geom, you’re here too!”

“

Ack!

S-Shin Yoo, you’re here?!” Sword Demon turned around, blatantly scowling.

“I was the one who called him.”

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

“Pardon?”

“Sword Demon, please protect Kang Woo hyungnim with Mr. Shin Yoo from now on.”

“...!”

The words

“et tu, Brute?”

were written all over Sword Demon’s face as he looked at me.

Huh? Why is he so shocked?

After getting a new arm, Sword Demon was no longer inferior to that S-rank crocodile monster. Regardless, I was still worried about leaving him alone with Kang Woo, so it’d be nice to have one more dependable guy. Still, I didn’t want to ask the Sung sisters, since Sung Mi-Na still had a trauma and Sung Mi-Ri was still a student.

Thus, I was reminded of my second fanatic—Shin Yoo. It was the first I’d ever contacted him since I defeated him at the academy, so I didn’t hold much expectations.

—

Huh?!

A-am I dreaming right now?! I never thought Mr. Sword God would personally contact me!

But my worry was baseless. I could hear Shin Yoo’s excitement through the phone. After explaining the situation to him, he agreed without hesitation and said he’d come over immediately. Now, Shin Yoo was here in the flesh.

“

Hmm?”

Whenever Shin Yoo was mentioned, everyone remembered his striking white hair and idol-like appearance. He was a celebrity among celebrities and a fashion icon, after all.

So what the hell is that get-up?!

Shin Yoo was in a ragged green training suit, looking like a local jobless man. His hair was extremely matted, as if he hadn’t showered in a while, and his body was drenched in sweat.

“

Blegh!

” I gagged, reflexively covering my nose.

“Mr. Shin Yoo! What the hell! T-that stench!”

Shin Yoo scratched his matted hair with his scarred hand. “I’ve been practicing so much lately that I didn’t even shower...

Hehe

, maybe I went overboard a bit?”

A bit?

Probably half... no, more than 90% of his fans would disappear if they saw his current appearance. Moreover, that shitty green training suit looked familiar for some reason!

“The Taiji Wisdom Sword you gave me was so complex, I thought it’d be years before I could see you again, Mr. Sword God! We met sooner than expected! I’m so glad!”

Taiji Wisdom Sword?

Ah, right...

I told him that if he wanted to be my disciple, he had to master the Taiji Wisdom Sword. I just wanted to get rid of his pesky ass at the time. All-Cutting Heavenly Sword even said that not even a hundred years was enough to learn it. My conscience was pricked a bit.

“

Hmm.

Well, this is an emergency.”

Shin Yoo smirked, extending his hand to Sword Demon. “Kang Geom, we finally get to see each other here. Please take care of me.”

“

Tsk!

”

Slap!

Sword Demon slapped Shin Yoo’s hand away.

“Kang Geom...?”

“Mr. Sword God, I’m more than enough to be Kang Woo’s bodyguard. This fool is just a menace.”

Shin Yoo was dumbfounded for a moment. He rubbed the back of his reddened hand.

“Am I a menace?”

“That’s right. Go ahead and brag about being an S-rank Hunter, but to me, you’re just a scion with nothing better to do. How much of a help can you be, anyway? You’ve never killed anyone before. We aren’t fighting against regular enemies here. Don’t die in vain and go back home.”

Shin Yoo was shaking. “Take that back right now, Kang Geom! Even if you’re my friend, do not disrespect my sword like this!”

“

Or what?

What are you going to do about it?”

Sparks flew as the taller Sword Demon and shorter Shin Yoo had a ferocious staring match.

“

Ahem.”

Kang Woo cleared his throat, butting in between them. Was he trying to stop them both?

“Enough talking, just fight it out.”

Why was this old man adding fuel to the fire?!

***

All of us moved to the rooftop of the hotel. Sword Demon and Shin Yoo faced each other with their swords drawn. Between the intimidating ex-assassin and the handsome boy in a ragged training suit, the former was expected to win.

But the reality was different. Shin Yoo was one of the top S-rank Hunters in South Korea, and their last fight at the academy ended in bloodshed.

Where did their confidence come from?

Sword Demon might’ve gotten his arm back, but winning against Shin Yoo seemed to be a bit difficult.

“Let’s not waste time. I’ll make this swift with my ultimate move.” Sword Demon channeled his qi into the massive chunk of iron that was his sword. “Demon Lord’s Heavenly Sword Second stance, Demon Lord’s Pratāpana!”

Krrr!

A bizarre roar, seemingly from a ravenous beast, echoed. Black infernal flames surged out from Sword Demon’s sword.

-

Hoo

, incredible. He hasn’t mastered the Demon Lord’s Heavenly Sword for long, yet he can already ignite a flame. He’s better than I thought.

The Chinese kitchen knife slung at my waist, Demon Lord, exclaimed.

I also found Sword Demon’s sword unusual.

The sun had long set, and darkness settled over the surroundings, yet his black flames cut through the darkness, exuding a terrifying sense of power.

Sword Demon’s eyebrow twitched, raising them. “What are you doing?”

Shin Yoo merely stood in a crossed twin-sword stance. “I’m ready. Come at me, Kang Geom.”

Blood rushed to Sword Demon’s head, the veins on his forehead popping. Only a master would give up the first move in martial arts.

“Don’t underestimate me!”

Slam!

Sword Demon stomped and leaped into the air, his footsteps shattering the ground.

Flash!

Sword Demon’s eyes gleamed like an eagle swooping down its prey. Then, he launched his black flames at Shin Yoo with terrifying momentum.

Kwaaaaa!

Isn’t that dangerous?

Should I intervene?

Tzzz!

Shin Yoo’s twin swords exuded a blue and red aura.

“Taiji Wisdom Sword first stance, Innocuous Taiji.”

The red and blue sword aura spun into a circle, forming a yin-yang symbol in the air.

“No!” Sword Demon’s eyes widened instantly.

Instead of burning everything in its path, his black flames were sucked into the yin-yang symbol that spun at tremendous speed.

Flash!

Moments later, the black flames dissipated. Shin Yoo's twin swords were already pointed at the Sword Demon's neck.

Smiling triumphantly, Shin Yoo said, “How’s that? I won, so no more complaints, right?”

“Darn it!”

Wow, Shin Yoo’s incredible. He’s a pro already! Isn't mastering the Taiji Wisdom Sword difficult?

The sword shone brilliantly in the darkness.

-What a fool! My heir, who had inherited my ultimate move, lost to a mediocre swordsman?!

Demon Lord rattled at my waist. He, who was heaping praises earlier, just seemed like an indecisive old man.

“

Urk!

Don’t think that you’ve won just yet! I only lost because I haven’t fully mastered Demon Lord’s Heavenly Sword!” Sword Demon growled like a fighting dog.

Meanwhile, Shin Yoo smiled, scratching his head. “

Hmm

, good luck. FYI, my Taiji Wisdom Sword is only at the third stance. It’s too difficult to master.”

“...See?! This is why I fucking hate you, asshole!”

Kang Woo, who’d watched the whole thing, smiled faintly.

“

Haha.

They sure are close.”

“

Huh?”

Did he develop farsightedness already?

“In most of my regressions, these two were enemies. Once, I had Shin Yoo kill Sword Demon under my command, and Shin Yoo died not long after. The enemy was a mere A-rank monster...”

A hint of bitterness appeared in Kang Woo’s eyes as he recalled the past.

“Shin Yoo could’ve reached SS-rank, but his mind was weak. Now, that wasn’t the case anymore, and it’s all thanks to you, Mr. Sword God.” Kang Woo turned to me.

“...Why are you calling me that too?”

“

Haha

, everyone calls you that, so I thought why not?”

“

Haa..

. Do whatever you want.”

-Hey! Disciple! Hand me over to that black prodigy!

Demon Lord, who’d been muttering something, suddenly screamed at me. He seemed to have made some sort of decision.

“

Huh?

To Sword Demon? Why?”

-Although I didn’t teach him personally, how dare he lose to such a lowly technique! Absolutely unacceptable!

I didn’t think the Taiji Wisdom Sword was that insignificant...

But Demon Lord’s ego seemed to be bruised. Still, if I handed him over to Sword Demon...

“Well, I don’t think it’s a bad idea.”

Sword Demon might get stronger and become an S-rank Hunter, which would aid me in my Mid-tier Benevolent God quest.

Besides, it was only a matter of time until Sword Demon became an S-rank Hunter. I might’ve taken some shortcuts, but he wasn’t too far behind Gustav’s children, who were S-rank monsters. Moreover, in terms of swords, I still had the Asura Spiritwalker Sword. Maybe this was a good opportunity after all.

“Mr. Sword Demon, you may train with this sword for the time being,” I said, handing the knife over to Sword Demon without hesitation.

Sword Demon was dumbfounded and burst into tears.

“W-why are you crying?”

“

Hic

— b-b-because Mr. Sword God lent me his beloved sword! My t-tears of joy, won’t stop flowing! I’ll make sure to rip that arrogant Shin Yoo into shreds next time!”

“N-no. You guys are friends, right? Don’t be so hostile... Duel in moderation, got it?”

That was how the situation had concluded.

I agreed to keep in contact with Kang Woo. We’d update each other whenever we found out anything about Gustav’s children. Afterward, we parted ways with Kang Woo and the team. Honestly, I was worried because all three of them had such contrasting personalities. Well, if something dangerous happened among them, I’d just step up to handle it. I’d learned from Lin Xiao Ming’s incident that distance didn’t really matter for my Descent ability.

“...”

I was now left all alone in the suite room.

Kang Woo told me he’d reserved it until the end of the month, so I could stay until then. One should not refuse someone's goodwill and hospitality, so I gladly accepted his offer.

“

Hmm.

”

I stared intently at my phone—no, the God-Maker on the table.

I didn’t appear in any of Kang Woo’s regressions. Perhaps, I didn’t manage to Awaken, but now I could and even became a god.

Something sounds amiss...

Perhaps, that was the difference between me and Kang Woo’s regression.

I asked God-Maker.

“What are you exactly?”

Woooong!

Then, God-Maker began vibrating intensely.