The Swordmaster Wants To Live Peacefully [EN]: Chapter 109

Swordmaster Wants to Live Peacefully – Episode 109

The Witch Assembly

The guild founding ceremony was postponed.

Baek Woo-hyun also had to withdraw from the Korean Swordsmanship Association, and with other procedures pending, the official founding was postponed until Yoo Seong-woo returned from Europe.

Shua-nel and Yuwol decided to accompany him on this trip.

“Why do I have to go if you’re just taking that rabbit?”

“How long are you going to stay cooped up at home? You need to get out and do something.”

Europe was a place steeped in legends and myths.

From the well-known Greek and Norse mythologies to countless others, it was a cradle of ancient tales.

It was a land of mythology that had greatly benefited since the Great Cataclysm [a world-altering event that unleashed magic and mythical creatures].

After all, the Witch Assembly, Walpurgis itself, was a guild rooted in such traditions.

Jeanne, an elder, was clearly a witch who had lived for centuries…

“I’m the pillar of the house, so where would the pillar even go….”

“Where did you even learn that phrase? I need to cut off your internet. Seriously.”

It was a moment that confirmed Shua-nel was indeed a *kkondae* [a Korean term for an older person who is condescending or stuck in their ways].

He realized anew that an elf who was a shut-in could turn out like this if they became a *kkondae*.

A shut-in, a homebody tyrant, and a *kkondae*이라니… [a Korean expression expressing disbelief or dismay at a situation]!

It was a truly hopeless combination.

“Shua-nel probably has her own reasons.”

“Reasons, my foot…”

If he had left her in Korea again, she would have been glued to the computer all day.

He was beginning to understand the frustration of parents whose children wouldn’t leave their rooms.

Anyway.

Yoo Seong-woo and his party were currently heading to Europe on a private plane provided by the Witch Assembly.

Jeanne had gone ahead to prepare for their arrival.

The assembly was being held in Italy this time.

Venice, Italy.

Dozens of witches scattered throughout Europe would gather there.

Solely for Yoo Seong-woo.

It was the greatest sign of respect they could offer.

After flying for over ten hours, Jeanne greeted the three at Marco Polo Airport in Italy.

It was her first time meeting an outsider, and she held a crookedly written Korean sign that read, ‘Welcome! Yoo Seong-woo!’

“They’ve set up a barrier that only we can recognize.”

Shua-nel immediately informed him of the magic she had detected.

This was also why Yoo Seong-woo had brought her along.

Shua-nel could detect even the slightest flows of magical power that others couldn’t.

Moreover, she had a wealth of knowledge about magic, so she could quickly identify any tactics the Witch Assembly might employ.

“Welcome to Italy!”

“Arrivederci.”

“That’s a farewell greeting, though.”

“Is it?”

Come to think of it, it was.

Yoo Seong-woo brushed it off and got into the limousine Jeanne had arranged.

“I was expecting a more unique mode of transportation, since they’re witches. Like a broom.”

“Want to try it? Aside from the fact that it hurts your crotch… it’s not bad.”

“Was that one thing enough to overshadow all the other advantages?”

“I guess so. Still, this limousine is a decent mode of transportation too.”

Jeanne said, tapping the interior of the limousine.

Then, the sound of a horse neighing came from the front of the limousine.

…It wasn’t an ordinary limousine.

It was likely magic layered with the expertise of those who had lived for a long time.

The disguise magic was so seamless that he hadn’t noticed it.

Shua-nel, whom he had brought to notice things like this, was asleep with her eyes closed.

Yoo Seong-woo looked at the front of the limousine and saw something interesting.

There was a winged horse.

Two pegasi were pulling the limousine.

No one else seemed to notice, as their attention wasn’t focused on it.

“Pegasus, huh…”

“We succeeded in breeding pegasi centuries ago. But since their numbers are so small, even when we succeed in breeding them, we barely manage to maintain double digits.”

“I’d like to have one if possible. It would be useful.”

“I’ll suggest it later. Everyone will be in favor.”

For some reason, Jeanne seemed to have taken a liking to him.

He had no idea why, but at least she didn’t seem like a bad person.

Yoo Seong-woo prided himself on being a good judge of character.

“We’ll be arriving soon.”

As Jeanne spoke, the scenery outside the limousine changed.

They were clearly driving on a road, but it instantly transformed into a forest.

‘Is it an isolated space?’

There was no way such a forest could exist within the city, so it was safe to assume it was a separate space created by magic.

To construct a space of this scale, one had to be well-versed in space magic.

“It’s starting to appear. That’s where the assembly is being held this time.”

Yoo Seong-woo opened the limousine window and looked outside.

The limousine was approaching a huge tree.

It wasn’t on the scale of a World Tree, but the moderately large tree was spreading its roots everywhere, as if to demonstrate its age.

Soon, the limousine stopped.

Jeanne got out first, and Yoo Seong-woo followed, carrying the sleeping Shua-nel under his arm.

He wondered how much this elf slept.

“Wake up already.”

Yoo Seong-woo shook Shua-nel violently to wake her and made her stand on her own two feet.

She staggered, but soon followed Yoo Seong-woo.

Jeanne, standing in front of the huge tree, recited a spell, and the roots moved to open a path.

“This way.”

As they went inside, the scenery changed again.

A large hall, and a wide corridor leading further in.

Subtle lights swirled on the walls lined with tree roots.

Numerous witches were walking around and talking in the hall.

“Ah! Jeanne!”

Witches who spotted Jeanne entering rushed over.

She seemed to be quite popular among them, as they flocked to her, each saying a greeting.

Jeanne raised her voice, as it seemed they wouldn’t be able to move forward at this rate.

“Everyone, step back! An important guest has arrived!”

The shout, imbued with magic, made the witches step back.

The witches stepped back, and Yoo Seong-woo confidently walked through the gap between them.

The witches’ gazes turned towards him.

The Witch Assembly was a forbidden area for men.

Even if they were invited as guests, no one had ever participated in the assembly itself.

“A man? How did a man get here?”

“Isn’t he actually a woman?”

“He looks like a man no matter how you look at it…”

Suspicion was rampant, and it seemed like he would have to drop his pants to prove he was a man.

Jeanne spoke again, telling the witches not to be rude, and walked down the corridor.

“The other elders are all waiting inside.”

The Twelve Elders of the Witch Assembly.

He would soon meet the witches who had lived for centuries.

Yuwol seemed a little nervous.

Shua-nel was just yawning.

It was hard not to be nervous when intense magical power was swirling within the quiet corridor.

Shua-nel was calm because she had the ability to withstand it.

Jeanne lightly tapped the magnificent door at the end of the corridor with her staff, and the door slowly opened.

Crossing the threshold, there were eleven witches sitting around a round table.

It seemed that all the elders were present, as there was only one empty seat, Jeanne’s seat.

Besides that, there were three seats for guests.

Jeanne, who had entered, said.

“It’s been a while, elders. Jeanne, the Witch of the Holy War, has brought a distinguished guest to attend the assembly.”

“Welcome, Jeanne. Thank you for your hard work. And welcome to you as well. It must have been difficult traveling from so far away? I hope you understand that many of the witches of Walpurgis can’t leave this land, so we had no choice but to summon you here.”

One of those sitting at the round table stood up and spoke.

She didn’t look old at all.

The woman, who appeared to be in her early to mid-20s, was wearing a robe and a deeply pointed hat.

All that could be seen was her light vermilion hair.

She introduced herself.

“I’m Medi, the Witch of Peace. Now, let me introduce the others…”

The ten people excluding Medi and Jeanne briefly introduced themselves.

Tragedy, Curse, Fairy Tale, Evergreen, Lake…

The witches’ epithets were all different, and their appearances varied as well.

Women of various ages, from girls to old women.

The gazes of the women who had finished introducing themselves were all directed at Yoo Seong-woo.

He sat down and said.

“I’m Swordmaster Yoo Seong-woo.”

To be honest, Yoo Seong-woo felt a little embarrassed every time he introduced himself as a Swordmaster.

He was glad the world had changed in such a way that it was now a valid title.

The witches chattered at his words.

“Really a Swordmaster? I thought all the Swordmasters on Earth had disappeared… who was the last one?”

“I remember there being a few swordsmen from the East.”

“Yeah, yeah, Master Yi. I remember. Ah, seeing that that man is also from that country, could there be something special about that country?”

Yoo Seong-woo listened to their stories in silence.

Each and every detail was information.

He had told Yuwol in advance that it would be good to understand the relationships between the witches.

No one could match her when it came to having a keen ear.

“If you’re really a Swordmaster, can you show us something?”

“Show you what?”

“Usually, Swordmasters imbue their swords with magical power and shape it.”

“There’s no need to go as far as a sword.”

Yoo Seong-woo gathered his aura in his hand and lightly flicked it.

The aura that fell from his hand maintained its shape and spun around like a coin.

And when he caught it again, the aura disappeared without a trace.

The witches’ eyes flickered at the sight. Aura, a mass of magical power, maintained its shape even after separating from his body.

Usually, magical power gradually dissipates after being emitted.

Especially if it’s weak magical power, it dissipates even faster.

But Yoo Seong-woo had defied that law.

After that, he flicked and caught the coin made of aura with his fingers as if it were a real coin.

“I think this is enough. Then let’s have a serious conversation now. You guys seem to already know about the Ascenders…”

The witches’ complexions turned grim at the mention of the word Ascender.

Jeanne had said that they had already grasped the situation regarding the Ascenders and the Ascender Church.

Having lived for so long, they should know how dire the situation was.

Medi said.

“That’s right. Master Yoo Seong-woo. We have already identified several Ascenders. We are tracking their movements through magic.”

“I see.”

Yoo Seong-woo answered and looked around at those seated at the round table.

His intuition was telling him something: that what Medi said wasn’t the whole truth.

Yoo Seong-woo closed his eyes and heightened his senses.

The more delicate control of his aura led him to an even higher level of perception.

And soon, he sensed it.

It was hidden well, but it couldn’t be concealed from his senses.

Yoo Seong-woo opened his mouth.

“It seems like there’s an Ascender in this room too, Medi. Shall we have an explanation?”