The Swordmaster Wants To Live Peacefully [EN]: Chapter 149

Swordmaster Wants to Live Peacefully – 149

Hraesvelgr (2)

In the beginning, there was Ymir, the ancestor of all Jötunn [Giants in Norse mythology].

A giant born from the meeting of the ice fog of Niflheim [the Norse realm of primordial ice] and the heat of Muspelheim [the Norse realm of fire], melting the primordial void Ginnungagap [the gaping abyss in Norse cosmology].

The Æsir gods [the principal gods of the Norse pantheon] Odin, Vili, and Vé killed Ymir, and Ymir’s blood caused a flood, drowning all giants except Bergelmir and his wife.

Afterward, Ymir’s flesh became the earth, his blood the sea, his bones the hills, his hair the vegetation, and his skull the sky.

Numerous Jötunn were born afterward, opposing and sometimes forming relationships with the Æsir and Vanir gods [a group of gods associated with fertility, wisdom, and the ability to see the future], until they faced a great war.

A war called Ragnarok [the end of the world in Norse mythology], in which many gods died.

The Jötunn of the north, Hraesvelgr, also participated in Ragnarok and bore the brunt of the war’s aftermath.

He barely managed to return to his homeland, on the verge of death, and was recovering from his injuries.

Punishing the Jötunn who had fled without participating in Ragnarok according to his will.

He lived like that on the giant rocky mountain that reached the end of the sky, called Hraesvelgr’s Perch.

“The flow of the wind…….”

Hraesvelgr, who had been sitting with his eyes closed, opened them and raised his head.

He was in a small clearing at the very top of the rocky mountain.

A place beyond the clouds, where even the oxygen was thin, and the universe was visible if one raised their head.

Hraesvelgr turned his head.

Twelve humans appeared on the only staircase leading up to this place.

He had never seen humans before.

Hraesvelgr had no reason to go to Midgard [the realm of humans in Norse mythology], and he had only seen other Jötunn, Æsir, or Vanir gods.

“How did humans get here……?”

Could it be related to the recent changes in the wind’s flow?

He hadn’t looked outside since returning to the Perch…….

Among the group of humans, Yoosungwoo, who was at the front, stared at Hraesvelgr.

Hraesvelgr was not in the form of a bird.

He was about twice the size of a normal human, around 4 meters tall, and his entire body was covered in feathers.

His arms were wings, and his legs were like those of a bird of prey, making him look like a ‘Harpy’ [a mythical creature with the body of a bird and the face of a woman] from Greek mythology.

“That’s Hraesvelgr.”

The energy felt at first glance was close to a quasi-divine being.

He was said to be recovering from a major injury sustained in the war.

Even so, such energy was felt; how strong would he have been in his prime?

If it was written in Norse mythology that he controlled the ‘wind,’ it meant he possessed that much divinity.

“He doesn’t seem to be at the level of a Grade 1…….”

“I think so too.”

Yoo Jiwoo and Baek Woohyun muttered, raising their weapons.

The Blue Beryl Sword and the White Banmyung resonated with Hraesvelgr’s energy, ringing out their sword names.

Other Divers also tensed up.

What was in front of them was a being from mythology.

One of the Jötunn that even the gods feared, a monster that stirred the world’s winds with its wings.

“Hraesvelgr…….”

Hetris couldn’t contain her excitement the moment she saw Hraesvelgr.

As someone who sought to recreate mythology, how could she not be overwhelmed by seeing mythology itself?

Her eyes sparkling, she tried to step forward, but Jeanne grabbed her sleeve and stopped her.

“Step back. Unless you want to die.”

“Ah, ah, th-that’s right…….”

As Hetris stepped back, the Divers took their positions.

‘It’s hard to breathe.’

‘Can we fight in this environment?’

It was a space from mythology, but it didn’t defy the laws of physics.

They had experienced several symptoms while riding the ancient escalator.

It was difficult to breathe due to the lack of air, and dizziness came due to the sudden pressure difference.

It was only because of their strong Diver bodies that they could endure it; if they were ordinary people, they would have already lost their lives from boiling blood.

Yoosungwoo had taught them how to breathe smoothly even with little air, but they were still having difficulty breathing because they were not used to it.

Yoosungwoo was the only one who could move without any restrictions in this place.

“Still not adapted? Pathetic. You should finish that quickly. I was going to leave it to you guys, but you can’t do it in that state. Watch until you adapt. No, you won’t have time to watch anyway…….”

He spat out those words and stepped forward with Ilsaeng in one hand.

“The subordinates should fight among themselves, and the leaders should fight each other, shouldn’t they?”

As he reached Hraesvelgr, he swung Ilsaeng and muttered.

“I’ve come to tear off some tail feathers.”

“Insolent.”

KAAANG-!!

Yoosungwoo saw that Hraesvelgr’s sharp claws had arrived in the center between them, even though he had swung his sword first.

Terrifying speed.

As expected of a being that controlled the wind, its speed was extraordinary.

“Even if I am weakened, do you think a human can reach me?”

Hraesvelgr spat out those words and increased his speed even more.

Hraesvelgr’s claws, moving at the speed of light, lacerated Yoosungwoo’s body.

His shirt was torn to shreds, and several red lines were drawn on his body.

“Kugh!”

“Die.”

Hraesvelgr’s claws, which followed again, moved towards his neck.

However, Yoosungwoo deflected the attacks that could cause fatal injuries and followed Hraesvelgr’s movements with his eyes.

The speed was absurdly fast.

Yoosungwoo could only follow with his eyes, so he couldn’t find a gap to counterattack.

The level was different.

The divine beings he had faced so far were those who had temporarily reached a state of transcendence as humans.

Maynard, the owner of the Blue Beryl Sword, the Elf Elder who had become a corrupted World Tree, Thomas of the Vatican…….

However, Hraesvelgr in front of him was born as a god.

His very origin was different.

‘Still…….’

It wasn’t as if there was no way at all. It wasn’t the first time he had faced an enemy faster than himself.

Following Hraesvelgr’s movements with his eyes, he chased the monster’s attacks with his sword.

He moved his sword nimbly.

He deflected all attacks on the neck or heart, parts that could be fatal, and ignored the shallow wounds etched on his skin.

“Tenacious.”

Hraesvelgr accelerated even further.

He could no longer follow with his eyes, but for Yoosungwoo, his eyes were only a secondary sense.

He activated all the senses in his body and chased Hraesvelgr’s movements with every sense.

“It will be impossible to kill me unless you are faster than this.”

The moment Hraesvelgr’s claws reached out, Yoosungwoo’s body turned, and their eyes met.

The moment the red sword was swung greatly, Hraesvelgr stepped back and looked at him.

Yoosungwoo, who swung Ilsaeng, took a stance and said.

“Is this all? You deserved to lose the war. I know your level very well.”

“You damn human… I’ll throw you into Muspelheim [the Norse realm of fire]!”

“Sauna is not my thing.”

As Hraesvelgr swung his winged arms, sharp winds covered him.

The compressed blades of wind would easily tear apart a person’s flesh.

Yoosungwoo read the flow of the wind with his skin and moved his body.

“…Falling petals.”

Explosive acceleration from an extremely low stance.

For a single moment, Hraesvelgr missed Yoosungwoo’s movement.

He had disappeared as if he had suddenly vanished, and he appeared in front of Hraesvelgr, leaving a long heat line on the floor.

“And, it’s not a speed I can’t catch up to completely.”

What was the wind, after all?

If the other side was the wind, this side could become a ray of light.

The sharp winds that Hraesvelgr had poured out all burst out.

And at the same time, Yoosungwoo’s Ilsaeng soared sharply from below, heading towards Hraesvelgr.

“Kugh!”

Hraesvelgr leaned back to avoid Ilsaeng and stretched out his claws.

Yoosungwoo took the claws on his shoulder and dug further inside, biting his shoulder with his teeth.

“Keuha… Ack!”

Hraesvelgr, who had his shoulder bitten, flapped his wings and stepped back, examining his shoulder.

The Jötunn’s blue blood was flowing profusely.

Yoosungwoo, who had a handful of Hraesvelgr’s flesh in his mouth, chewed on it and spat it out on the floor.

Wiping the blue blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, he said.

“It tastes terrible. I don’t think I can eat it even if I grill it because of the smell.”

“Y-you human bastard…….”

“Tsk, you ruined my appetite. I should eat chicken when I get home.”

Hot and crispy Gumje Chicken, that is.

Hraesvelgr roared loudly at Yoosungwoo, who was spouting nonsense.

He was not an opponent to be taken lightly just because he was human.

He was someone who even Sleipnir [Odin’s eight-legged horse], Odin’s steed, could not catch up to, and yet he had shown a speed that surpassed him, even if only for a moment.

Hraesvelgr flapped his wings and soared into the air.

The wind swirled.

As if the saying that he controlled the wind was not an exaggeration, a great wind swirled in the small clearing with each flap of Hraesvelgr’s wings.

Yoosungwoo shouted at the guy who had become a small star.

“Come down, you cheap bastard! You pathetic bastard, you’re running away to the sky because you can’t do it on the ground, you pigeon-like bastard…….”

The stratosphere, even higher than that.

From a place where the stars could be seen, Hraesvelgr flapped his wings and looked at Yoosungwoo with the eyes of a hawk.

“You detestable human, I can’t even chew you enough…….”

If you want me to go down that much, I’ll go down now.

Hraesvelgr folded his wings and began to descend.

He kept his wings as close to his body as possible, straightened his body, and repeatedly accelerated with the wind.

Hraesvelgr became a shooting star.

Yoosungwoo, who was watching the scene from the ground, clicked his tongue in disbelief.

“That crazy bird is really insane…….”

That was not something that could be received head-on.

No, even if he did receive it…….

The foothold would be shattered to pieces.

He had to avoid it.

If that fell here, it would be like being hit by a meteorite.

Yoosungwoo ran towards the Divers who were fighting the 괴조s [strange birds], quickly killed all the 괴조s, and shouted loudly.

“Run! Run, you bastards! Run like hell if you don’t want to die!”

“Wh-where to?!”

“Down! Just down! Jump off the cliff!”

Only then did people’s eyes turn to the sky at his urgent cry.

They had been too busy fighting the 괴조s, but something unbelievable was falling from the sky.

As soon as they saw it, they were terrified and jumped off the cliff as Yoosungwoo said, and Yoosungwoo also jumped off the cliff with Hetris in his arms.

And soon.

Hraesvelgr, who had become a meteorite, collided with the ground.