Chapter 100

[Portal transfer complete.]

[Kingdom of Tekan - Intermediate City Baldoa]

“Urp...”

-Ugh.

As the brilliant white light faded, Ruen and Setsuna looked miserable all over again. Fortunately, perhaps because they had used a portal before, they were faring better than last time.

“Are you all right?”

Despite feeling queasy herself, Ruen checked on Lea. Lea was pale, but perhaps her harsh life had inured her to this much upheaval; she seemed untroubled by the transfer itself. It was withdrawal, rather than dimensional sickness, that was tormenting her.

“You should drink plenty of water. Once we reach the estate, I’ll have a healer brought in immediately.”

“Ahh... uh...”

At Karlan’s words, Lea kept bowing her head, seemingly at a loss over how to respond.

“There’s no need for that,” Karlan said, taking her hand. “Any guest of my master is a valued guest of mine as well.”

‘Thank you.’

Standing behind Lea, Woojin silently mouthed the words to Karlan.

“Wow...”

Weden’s exclamation changed the mood.

“You may be too busy feeling sick to notice, but take a look around. Master, Thorn Bach is the only place you’ve visited since coming to the central continent, isn’t it? A labyrinth village can’t compare to this.”

As Peron had said, the city spread out before them was immense.

“Tekan has the largest capital of all the smaller kingdoms. We have plenty of time ahead of us, so you can explore at your leisure.”

Perhaps it was because he was home again. Karlan sounded quite excited.

“Everyone, form ranks!”

It happened then. A contingent of knights converged on the portal and formed up before the party.

‘Red armor.’

That was enough to identify them. These were the Red Knights, led by the Sword Emperor himself.

“The portal office informed us of your arrival, young master. I’m glad you’ve returned safely.”

The knight dismounted and removed her red helmet. Long hair as red as the helmet swayed alluringly. She was a bronze-skinned woman with sharp eyes, and a greatsword that looked twice her size was strapped to her back.

“If you were so worried, you could have sent a few knights out to find me, Sir Liliana.”

“My apologies. Our lord forbade it...”

For all the imposing grandeur of her enormous halberd, she was remarkably shy around Karlan.

‘So this is her.’

Woojin regarded her with curiosity. The vice-captain of the Red Knights, Liliana the Red Mane. She was the Sword Emperor’s first disciple.

“And these people...?” she asked, looking at the party behind Karlan.

“Ah, my master and my companions. They’re valued guests, so see that they’re well looked after.”

“Y-your master...?”

The look in Liliana’s eyes changed.

‘She’s looking at me like I’m a fraud.’

Woojin smiled wryly. It was understandable. The son of the man considered the continent’s greatest swordsman had just called someone so young his master.

“My name is Khan.”

Woojin offered his hand first.

“You appear to be an adventurer... Do you have a master yourself?”

“I do, though I doubt you’d know him.”

“If you don’t mind, may I ask his name?”

“Raoul.”

“...?”

Liliana tilted her head at the unfamiliar name. Naturally, she had never heard of him; the Raoul of this time would be no more than a novice adventurer.

“I’ve never heard that name... But if you’re capable of teaching Lord Karlan swordsmanship, you must be quite accomplished.”

“I only taught him the basics. A genius can hardly understand an ordinary person’s struggles, after all.”

As the official website explained, she was a genius among geniuses, befitting a disciple of the Sword Emperor—the youngest Swordmaster. For a small kingdom to possess two masters of the sword was extraordinary indeed.

“If the opportunity arises, I would like a lesson myself.”

“Certainly.”

She wanted to test his dubious skills, but Woojin welcomed the proposal too.

She fixed him with a sharp, wary glare.

“Liliana, these are my honored guests. Escort them all to the manor.”

“... Understood.”

She regarded the party with a prickliness entirely unlike the way she treated Karlan.

“Be careful!”

As Karlan descended the steps before the portal, she fussed over him as though he were a child taking his first steps.

‘Overprotective, much?’

Watching her, Woojin smiled wryly. He was beginning to understand why Karlan had failed to grow.

* * *

“Are you really... sure about this?”

“Yes. I’ll be more comfortable that way than at the manor. I have things to do, too.”

Karlan couldn’t hide his disappointment at Peron’s answer.

“A quest?”

“Yes. I left in the middle of it when I heard about you, Master... Now that I’m back, I should get on with it.”

“Can you tell me what sort of quest it is?”

“I’m still... investigating. I’ll tell you once I have a clearer picture.”

Anticipation colored Peron’s reply. Apparently, he was working on a fairly high-ranked quest.

‘If he’s volunteering to leave on his own, this could be promising.’

Woojin nodded to him.

“Contact me if you need anything.”

“Then I’ll come along too!”

“No. You’re staying here.”

“Urgh...”

Weden looked crestfallen at Woojin’s flat refusal.

‘House Balan will be hosting us for a while, and they’re one of the continent’s foremost swordsmanship families.’

Even if Weden was a tank, he still used a sword. This would be a good opportunity for him too.

“Attend us! Young Master Karlan has arrived!”

At Liliana’s shout, the manor doors opened and the household came rushing out.

“Young master!”

Dozens of butlers and maids gathered in the garden to greet Karlan.

“Welcome home, young master!”

“Why didn’t you send word even once?”

“We were so worried after your guards returned without you!”

Their concern sounded sincere. And despite being his subordinates, they treated Karlan with easy familiarity.

‘He has a reputation as a wastrel... but it looks like he treated people well.’

It made sense. The Karlan he knew wasn’t a bad person. He had simply been twisted by the inferiority complex that had built up over the years.

“Where’s Father?”

“He’s in his study, sir.”

Karlan nodded at the butler’s answer, his expression tense.

“Shall I accompany you?” Liliana asked worriedly.

“No. I’ll be fine.”

Karlan turned to Woojin.

“Let’s go.”

‘She looks ready to shoot lasers from her eyes.’

Rejected in Woojin’s favor, Liliana glared daggers at him.

‘Anyway...’

Though he couldn’t see its source, he could feel an inexplicable presence even outside the manor. It felt like needles pricking his skin.

RUMBLE...

The sound of the manor doors opening made him feel as though he were entering a dungeon.

* * *

“Welcome back.”

Woojin swallowed. The overwhelming presence he had sensed outside was no illusion. Watching the man close his book and rise, he involuntarily swallowed again, his mouth dry.

The man was slender, yet looking at him felt like gazing up at an enormous mountain. Though the man carried no weapon, Woojin’s hand kept straying toward the sword at his own hip.

[Using Focused Eyes.]

“...?!”

Name: Aswell Balan

Class: Sword Saint

Level: 93

Description: The level difference is 20 or greater. Detailed information cannot be viewed.

THUD!

At that instant, an invisible force surged from the man and knocked Woojin back.

“How rude.”

Blood trickled from Woojin’s nose as he sat sprawled on the floor, dazed.

“My apologies. ... Setsuna. Apologize.”

Recovering his wits after the sudden turn of events, Woojin pulled her out from where she had been hiding against his chest.

-I-I’m sorry.

Dragged into the open, Setsuna addressed Aswell in a subdued voice.

“A fairy...? No, something slightly different...”

Aswell regarded Setsuna with interest.

“She’s a Phantasmal Spirit.”

“Remarkable. I’d only heard rumors. To think they really exist...”

-Sir Aswell, please forgive my rudeness. Your power was so tremendous that my ability activated before I knew it.

“It’s all right. Thanks to you, I’ve had a rare experience myself.”

Fortunately, he did not take issue with her actions.

‘Setsuna used her ability without permission... That’s never happened before.’

Had fear driven her to it, as though she were facing a predator? Woojin soothed Setsuna as she clutched her head, apparently just as bewildered herself.

‘Still, level 93...’

He truly was an incredible monster.

“I thought you’d dismissed your guards and shut yourself away in the Dark Forest alone... You’ve done well to make it back.”

“Yes. A great deal happened. I think you’ll find it quite interesting.”

“Hmm.”

After studying his son for a moment, Aswell slowly nodded.

“It seems you’ve made some progress.”

He had noticed Karlan’s change immediately.

“Yes. Thanks to my master.”

“... Master?”

‘Ha ha...’

Aswell had merely turned his gaze on him, yet the pressure Woojin felt was beyond anything Liliana could compare to.

“Are you the one who taught Karlan swordsmanship?”

“I could hardly call it swordsmanship. Everyone on the continent knows how outstanding the Sword Emperor’s swordsmanship is.”

“Then what did you teach him?”

“The fundamentals.”

A chill ran through Woojin. That answer seemed to have offended Aswell even more.

“The fundamentals? Are you saying I failed to teach my own son even the basics?”

“No. I’m simply saying that we have different standards for what constitutes the basics.”

“Different standards...?”

“Someone born with wings cannot understand a person who hasn’t even learned to walk, let alone run.”

“I have taught many disciples over the years. And every one of them has become a capable swordsman.”

“Because they’re geniuses, just like you.”

“Then are you saying my son has less aptitude than they do?”

“Yes.”

Aswell’s face twitched, then hardened at Woojin’s unhesitating reply.

“Ordinary people have their own way of doing things. All I did was open the way for him to begin.”

“Opened the way, did you... Do you have a master?”

“Of course.”

“He must be a remarkable teacher, if you feel qualified to criticize my instruction.”

“Yes.”

The eyes fixed on Woojin burned. He seemed to have struck a real blow to Aswell’s pride.

“Well, then. Shall we cross swords?”

‘Got it.’

Woojin inwardly cheered.

“If you’re offering me a lesson, I won’t refuse.”

“I wonder whether there’s anything for you to learn.”

Aswell rose and left the room.

“Will you be all right?” Karlan asked, his voice full of concern.

“Yes. I’ll be fine.”

Woojin could smile. He had known it would come to this anyway.

[Quest Name: Sparring with the Sword Emperor]

▶ Rank: B

▶ Endure three sparring matches against Aswell Balan.

▶ Last at least one minute in any one match to succeed.

▶ Rewards vary according to how long you last. (Maximum: 10 minutes)

The quest window had appeared the moment he opened the study door.

▶ Reward: A skill of the Sword Emperor

Woojin’s heart began to pound.