The Swordmaster Wants To Live Peacefully [EN]: Chapter 143

Swordmaster Wants to Live in Peace – Episode 143

Swordmaster Wants to Live in Peace 143

Hetris (3)

Raksel was now close to the border, and the dining conditions were, to put it mildly, rough.

However, Titan, much like a well-organized American guild, had brought plenty of staff to manage meals and other necessities seamlessly.

Sword Soul and Black Sky Dragon members ate at the buffet provided by Titan, while key representatives, like those seen in the conference room, gathered separately for a formal course meal.

‘What a waste of money…’

But he couldn’t deny it was a welcome change.

Of course, a chef’s meticulously prepared course was far superior to standard combat rations.

Seated at the table, Yoo Seong-woo savored each dish as it arrived, occasionally glancing at the two individuals flanking him.

They, too, ate in silence, subtly observing each other as they continued their meal.

Finally, the representative from Titan broke the quiet.

“Nice to meet you both. The reason I invited you here today is that I believe we need to foster some camaraderie among ourselves.”

“You say that so brazenly.”

“Of course! Do you know how difficult it is to find like-minded allies in a foreign land? Especially when enemies are coming at us from all sides.”

Titan’s representative, Mark, possessed a naturally outgoing personality.

He flashed a friendly smile as he addressed the representatives of Sword Soul and Black Sky Dragon.

“Sword Soul’s guild master, right? Yoo Seong-woo, wasn’t it? Shooting Star, a memorable name.”

“Mark Teiner, if I recall correctly?”

“That’s right! Mark Teiner! You remembered my name. I’m flattered.”

“And you?”

Yoo Seong-woo inquired about the name of the Black Sky Dragon representative, a name he hadn’t encountered before.

“I am Heuk Seon-mu. I lead the Black Sky Dragon Sect and also serve as the leader of the Heavenly Demon Church.”

“Mark Teiner, Heuk Seon-mu.”

Yoo Seong-woo committed the two names to memory before speaking his mind.

“So, what brings you all the way to the edge of Europe? I’m eager to hear it.”

“What do we seek by venturing so far?”

“Yes.”

At his pointed question, Mark paused, seemingly gathering his thoughts before answering.

“Why, to find some amazing artifacts, of course! Do you know how much a guild’s power can be amplified by just one exceptional artifact?”

“You’re after artifacts… and what about you?”

“We share the same goal. We journeyed here seeking items that will benefit our sect.”

Both claimed to be in pursuit of artifacts.

It wasn’t surprising.

Given this Abyss’s connection to mythology, numerous guilds had converged, hoping to unearth artifacts of corresponding power.

But even with Titan’s straightforward ambition, there was something about Black Sky Dragon’s presence that felt slightly off.

Yoo Seong-woo turned his gaze to Heuk Seon-mu and remarked,

“In China, with the Demonic Sect and everything… I assumed you’d be preoccupied with internal affairs. Did you really have the time to travel all the way here?”

Heuk Seon-mu’s brow furrowed at his words.

If Black Sky Dragon was indeed a Demonic Sect, it was a relatively new force that should be focused on solidifying its foundation, making a long journey to Northern Europe seem illogical.

“It’s called the Heavenly Demon Church.”

“Demonic Sect.”

“Heavenly Demon… never mind. In any case, the Heavenly Demon Church has several branches. The Black Sky Dragon Sect is responsible for procuring items from overseas this time. My absence for a while is permissible.”

“Hmm.”

Did they possess such abundant manpower that they could simultaneously manage internal affairs and conduct overseas expeditions?

The old saying that China relied on sheer numbers was outdated.

In the past, China had struggled to effectively manage the Great Disaster, resulting in over 100 million deaths and the fragmentation of the country into dozens of territories ruled by local warlords, a return to a medieval state.

That’s why the central government couldn’t manage it, and various forces are emerging in various places.

“Perhaps you’ve joined forces with the Murim Alliance [a coalition of martial arts clans]? If so…”

“Why would I align myself with those fools? It would only sully my hands.”

Yoo Seong-woo waved his hand dismissively, conveying, ‘Don’t speak nonsense.’

At his retort, Heuk Seon-mu simply muttered, ‘I see,’ and took a sip of his tea.

Yoo Seong-woo then posed another question that had been nagging at him.

“But why didn’t Black Sky Dragon challenge Sword Soul?”

Black Sky Dragon seemed content with second place, as if they had deliberately conceded the top spot to Sword Soul.

Yoo Seong-woo had secretly hoped that Black Sky Dragon would engage Sword Soul in a fierce battle.

Heuk Seon-mu’s skills appeared formidable enough to rival Baek Woo-hyeon or Yoo Ji-woo.

At his question, Heuk Seon-mu lowered his gaze and replied,

“There was nothing to gain from fighting. I could easily defeat the Murim people from other sects, but it didn’t seem like I could easily beat you.”

“Our members are a bit strong.”

“But if I had stepped forward… weren’t you planning to intervene yourself?”

Yoo Seong-woo acknowledged Heuk Seon-mu’s keen perception.

Indeed, had Heuk Seon-mu entered the fray, Yoo Seong-woo had intended to personally step in.

To make it abundantly clear who they were dealing with.

However, Heuk Seon-mu had avoided the confrontation, securing second place without sustaining significant losses.

“I sense a very potent killing intent emanating from you, to the point where I can’t even fathom how many lives you’ve taken with those hands.”

“Isn’t that what the Demonic Sect is supposed to be like? Their usual image is that of bloodthirsty maniacs.”

In modern media, the Demonic Sect was often portrayed as cool and sophisticated, but in older works, they were depicted as a group of ruthless fanatics.

Yoo Seong-woo, familiar only with that older image, asked casually, prompting Heuk Seon-mu to shake his head and clarify,

“The Heavenly Demon Church was founded to alleviate the suffering of the people, to empower them to defend themselves against the bizarre creatures emerging from the black holes, the Abyss.”

“Hmm, so you don’t engage in practices like human sacrifice?”

“Isn’t that obvious? What kind of… in this day and age would do that.”

“Is there really something like the Heavenly Demon Divine Art [a powerful martial art technique]? I read quite a few martial arts novels in my youth.”

“Um, gentlemen. You two seem to be engrossed in a fascinating conversation, but may I join in? I don’t understand a word you’re saying.”

Mark, unable to follow the exchange between Heuk Seon-mu and Yoo Seong-woo, wore a crestfallen expression.

It was a rather pitiful sight for a middle-aged man to behold.

“I was merely remarking that their organization seems like a charity.”

“Really? Black Sky Dragon? Cool name.”

“It’s Black Sky Dragon.”

“Yeah, Black Sky Dragon.”

It appeared there was some miscommunication occurring with their respective translators.

Mark chuckled and waved his hand before continuing,

“Anyway… the main point is this: let’s cooperate with each other. We can’t allow those annoying foreign devils to run rampant.”

“If you’re referring to foreign devils, you seem to fit the description more.”

“I agree. At the very least, let’s avoid harming each other. What do you say?”

Mark and Heuk Seon-mu’s gazes converged on Yoo Seong-woo.

Mark’s expression seemed to convey, ‘You’re not going to refuse after I’ve treated you to such a delicious meal,’ while Heuk Seon-mu’s face suggested he wished to avoid making Yoo Seong-woo an enemy.

Despite their differing motives, their intentions aligned. Yoo Seong-woo glanced back and forth between the two with an indifferent expression and smacked his lips.

“Hmm, then Black Sky Dragon, how about we venture in together?”

“…Venture in together?”

“Yeah. Well, it’s a 1st class Abyss, so it’s said to be vast. There will likely be multiple paths. In any case, our guild only has one specific objective.”

The reason Yoo Seong-woo had traveled all the way to Northern Europe on this business trip was because Hetris was insistent on acquiring Hraesvelgr’s tail feathers [a mythical bird].

It was also an opportunity to assess the skills of his guild members.

Reconnaissance had revealed that the 1st class Abyss, ‘Hraesvelgr’s Perch,’ was indeed expansive, offering several distinct routes.

The plan was to secure a relatively safe route and avoid unnecessary overlap.

“Let’s not waste time unnecessarily. You both want to complete the task quickly and return home, correct?”

“That’s true… but is that really alright with you? It feels like an act of excessive kindness. It’s difficult to accept so readily.”

“If you truly wish to repay us, give the Murim Alliance guys a hard time. They’re the bastards who imprisoned our company’s researchers.”

Yoo Seong-woo hadn’t forgotten the Murim Alliance’s transgressions.

The bastards who forced him to travel such a great distance…

Murim trash…

Damn swordsmen…

“That’s what happened. I had heard rumors, but I didn’t realize it was true…”

Heuk Seon-mu nodded as he listened to Yoo Seong-woo’s account and accepted his offer.

Mark nearly burst into tears, pleading to be included, but Yoo Seong-woo instructed him to follow later. He finished his meal and rose from his seat.

Then, before departing, he spoke in a hushed tone, ensuring only Heuk Seon-mu could hear.

“And I’m not sure why you’re pretending to be the Heavenly Demon, but I hope you encounter the real Heavenly Demon someday.”

At his words, Heuk Seon-mu’s expression hardened. He nodded slightly, rose from his seat, paid his respects to Mark, and exited the dining area.

Left alone, Mark ran a hand through his hair and sighed deeply.

“Ha, this isn’t easy…”

* * *

“Heavenly Demon… if you betray him, he will become a formidable enemy. You must keep him close and cultivate him as a powerful ally to aid in the grand plan.”

“I understand. I apologize for making you impersonate the Heavenly Demon.”

“No. The Heavenly Demon’s commands are my greatest joy. I would follow them even at the cost of my life. Heavenly Demon…”

Heuk Seon-mu, the leader of the Black Sky Dragon, spoke in a dimly lit hotel room, his forehead pressed against the floor before a single figure.

Seated on a chair before him was a tall woman with long, ebony-black hair.

She was the leader of the Heavenly Demon Church, known as the Heavenly Demon of this era.

The savior of the believers, destined to rescue the suffering with the teachings of the Heavenly Demon and to bring peace to the world through power.

“Black Sky Dragon Leader, do not forget that this endeavor must succeed. The success or failure of the grand plan hinges on this matter.”

“Of course. Fortunately, Yoo Seong-woo seems to harbor no ill will towards us, and he appears to share a common enemy, so he will undoubtedly be of great assistance to the Heavenly Demon. He yielded to us this time, so if the Heavenly Demon expresses gratitude, I believe it will foster an even stronger bond.”

“Then I will express my gratitude separately at a later time. I am curious as to how Yoo Seong-woo so quickly discerned that you were not the true Heavenly Demon. He possesses remarkable insight.”

The contemporary Heavenly Demon, Heuk Sa-hyang, was intrigued by how Yoo Seong-woo had detected that Heuk Seon-mu was not the Heavenly Demon.

She would have an opportunity to inquire directly later, so she quietly closed her eyes.

* * *

“This is Hraesvelgr’s Perch…”

The following day, Sword Soul and Black Sky Dragon, having entered the Abyss, were awestruck by the sight before them.

The endless sky and the towering cliffs.

This place, perpetually swept by fierce gusts of wind, truly felt like a realm from mythology.

“There appear to be approximately six routes to ascend the mountain.”

Baek Woo-hyeon, who had scouted ahead and returned swiftly, sketched a rough map on the ground with the tip of his sword.

It was somewhat crude… but recognizable to some extent.

“Route number 2 is the gentlest, while route number 6 presents the most challenging terrain.”

“Then we should opt for route number 2.”

“Yes, I believe that would be the most prudent course of action.”

Baek Woo-hyeon and Yoo Ji-woo concurred, favoring the easiest path to the summit.

However, their opinions were swiftly overruled.

“What are you talking about? We’re obviously taking route number 6. Are you out of your minds?”

Yoo Seong-woo declared, settling the matter.