novelraw Chapter 230 : Chapter 230
Chapter 230 : Chapter 230
Chapter 230: Sorting Out the Pecking Order (2)
The Sword Demon rushed in with fierce momentum.
“Wai-!”
Da-yeon tried to step between them to stop the Sword Demon, but Ho-cheol reached out and stopped her first.
He wasn't just aiming for a pecking order sort-out or his accumulated ill feelings.
Even if he was in the middle of acting like a villain, would he really fight a hero just because he was an eyesore?
This was an unparalleled opportunity for the two students, who were watching from behind with worried expressions.
How often would they get to see the full power of an S-rank hero, let alone the Sword Demon, the strongest among them?
Da-yeon and Ye-jin had solid fundamentals and had recently gained a lot of practical experience, but most of that was gained while facing subpar opponents in safe situations.
What the two lacked now was an overwhelming strong person.
The existence of a wall.
This battle would broaden their horizons and perspective, and also be good stimulation.
Ho-cheol clearly believed so.
He would gladly take on this villain role for his students' growth.
The Sword Demon, having closed the distance, swung his sword.
Despite it being just a simple vertical slash, the series of movements was so fast and perfect that the two students only realized the Sword Demon had swung his sword just before it reached Ho-cheol’s head.
However, Ho-cheol, as if he had anticipated the attack the two couldn't even see, raised his hand with leisure.
He flicked his thumb, striking the flat of the sword.
Kaang―!
The trajectory was thrown off, and the sword, aimed at the crown of his head, narrowly grazed Ho-cheol’s shoulder.
As if he had naturally expected it to be blocked, the Sword Demon roughly changed direction and continued his attack.
Ho-cheol wasn't an opponent to be taken lightly either, so he unhesitatingly drew his Purple Crystal Sword.
Sword and sword collided, sending crimson sparks flying.
Kaang―! Kwang―! Kkigigik―!
Each and every clash was threatening enough that even an S-rank hero could barely block it, and held a powerful force.
But Ho-cheol easily blocked all the attacks and launched counterattacks that were even more threatening.
At the end of a brief power struggle, their bodies were pushed back as if bounced.
The Sword Demon, fixing his stance, narrowed his eyes.
“I'd always thought that I wanted to crush that arrogant nose of yours someday.”
“Haha.”
Ho-cheol laughed lightly.
He wasn't that type, and should a hero really be running his mouth so emotionally.
And if he was going to use such standard language for a taunt, this side would have to show him how to really get under the other person's skin.
He whispered in a small voice, so only the Sword Demon could hear.
“I was wondering why your daughter's personality was like that at the start of the semester, but now I see her home education was a mess.”
The formal language made it an even stronger mockery.
“I'm the one who made her human. You should be grateful. You disqualified hero of a parent.”
A crimson vein looked ready to burst on the Sword Demon’s forehead.
Even if he pretended not to, Da-yeon was his perfect weak spot.
“I’ll kill you!”
“A truckload of guys have rushed at me saying that, and all of them are buried underground. Still, you're a hero, wouldn't it hurt your pride to lie next to villains.”
“You son of a bitch!”
If it were any other villain, he wouldn't bat an eye at this level of taunting, but Ho-cheol was an exception.
The dissatisfaction he usually had, his inferiority complex, and even the jealousy of having his daughter taken away.
The Sword Demon, having lost his composure, swung his sword.
Kwaang―! Tukwang―! Kaang―!
Unlike the flippant conversation, their battle was of that level.
No, it was on a different plane.
Kagagak―!
Da-yeon and Ye-jin could only stare blankly at the battle unfolding before their eyes.
Now that they were somewhat used to it, they could barely follow, but the density, as if dozens of exchanges were compressed into one, was not something that could be understood just by watching.
A single motion of swinging a sword forced several choices on the opponent.
A fatal exchange where all but one perfect answer could take a life.
But the two produced the perfect answer without a moment's hesitation.
Da-yeon, or maybe Ye-jin, muttered.
“What is. That.”
They had seen Ho-cheol fight several times, and even fought against him.
And now they finally realized.
What Ho-cheol had shown them at Clinton for the purpose of practical training wasn't just on the level of hiding his strength.
Child’s play?
Even that evaluation was too generous.
Their 'full power,' which they were seeing for the first time, was reminiscent of an overwhelming wall.
Could they ever dare to break or overcome that.
Furthermore, that wasn't all.
The power from each of their sword swings was easily enough to vaporize this entire area, and it wouldn't be strange at all.
And yet.
Kaang―! Kagagagak―!
Each time they clashed, only a very faint wind rustled Da-yeon’s hair.
They don't let their power leak.
Heroes often say you shouldn't let your power leak, to minimize damage to surrounding civilians or property, but this was the first time they had seen it actually proven.
Just a dozen or so seconds, and they had exchanged hundreds of blows.
The taut balance of power, the one who broke it first was, surprisingly, the Sword Demon.
Tuung―!
The Sword Demon stomped the ground hard, launching his body like a bullet to close the distance.
He put his foot between Ho-cheol’s legs to trip him.
He swung the reverse-gripped sword, simultaneously thrusting his empty left hand straight forward.
An enemy on the same level as himself.
Ho-cheol’s senses, sharpened to the extreme, instinctively told him the answer.
More dangerous than that sharp sword jabbing at his side was the left hand, which at a glance looked empty.
Ho-cheol, grasping his sword in a reverse grip, blocks the swung sword.
And he strikes the left hand with the back of his hand, and reaches for the Sword Demon's wrist.
If he catches it, even if the opponent is S-rank, he can bend that wrist into an S-shape.
However, just before his hand touched, Ho-cheol pulled his hand back.
“Good instincts.”
Ho-cheol muttered, clenching and unclenching his hand.
“There's definitely nothing there.”
Ho-cheol’s five senses clearly perceived the Sword Demon’s left hand as empty.
But his sixth sense was screaming a completely different answer.
The Sword Demon lightly swung his left hand.
Space shimmered around him.
Even though he wasn't holding a sword, the interval and flow of power were clearly a sword.
“……Did you get an invisible sword or something?”
“It's not that I wield a sword, but what I wield is the sword.”
“You're gripping air and wielding it like a sword?”
Ho-cheol let out a scoff, as if it were absurd.
It's just talk, gripping air.
If he was really just solidifying air and swinging it, there was no way Ho-cheol wouldn't perceive it.
That isn't even air.
“Right. The mind is the sword.”
“That's some considerable bullshit.”
A sword that, beyond being invisible, couldn't even be perceived.
It seemed to be a trump card he had recently awakened to.
“Well, there's probably no hero or villain in the world as absurdly diligent as you.”
Separate from the Sword Demon having a bad personality, he had no intention of denying his effort.
His talent was top-tier, and his training volume would easily overwhelm even himself and Smiley.
It wouldn't be strange for him to awaken to a ridiculous technique like this.
The new sword the Sword Demon drew.
(Heart Sword).
He readjusted his grip on it and continued his attack on Ho-cheol.
An invisible sword; even Ho-cheol couldn't help but get minor cuts until he had a perfect grasp of its size and range.
Was it a relief that he couldn't just increase and decrease the size at will.
How long did that fierce exchange continue.
The same thought crossed both their minds.
For Ho-cheol, as long as that Heart Sword existed, he would be unilaterally pushed onto the defensive, and it was useless for the kids' education.
For the Sword Demon, just drawing the Heart sword put a considerable physical and mental burden on him.
The sword’s form would probably start to blur in just a few seconds.
He originally thought no other S-rank would last 3 seconds against the Heart sword, but Ho-cheol had already been facing the Heart sword for over a minute.
If these 10 seconds also passed meaninglessly, his chances of victory were slim.
Therefore.
They had to decide the victor with one final blow, right here.
As if by promise, they both kicked off the ground at the same time.
Ho-cheol twists his body to the right, and using that acceleration, adds the elasticity of his waist.
His arm, bent at 90 degrees, draws a crescent moon as the sword is shot toward the Sword Demon.
At the same time, the Sword Demon also rotates his body and swings his reverse-gripped sword.
A strike aimed at each other's vital spot.
Coincidentally, the trajectories of those two attacks met at a single point between them.
Kiiiiing―!
Space distorts with an impact that seems to twist it.
A roar, as if space itself was being torn apart rather than steel hitting steel, and for the first time, its aftershock spread to the surroundings.
The ground split, and the nearby alley walls disintegrated into units of dust.
Ho-cheol pulled his body back.
If that phenomenon touched his body, it would be disintegrated, regardless of defense.
It wasn't that he couldn't endure it, but there was no need to take the risk.
And the Sword Demon did not miss that judgment and opening, which was distant from combat.
“Got you!”
He cocked his left arm back as if loading it.
And before Ho-cheol could regain his balance, he extended his arm.
Until now, it was a Heart sword whose form was clearly fixed.
But, in truth, he could change its size according to his will, if he pushed himself, just once.
Ho-cheol would have perfectly grasped its range by now, so he had no choice but to be caught by this unfamiliar size.
The Heart Sword, flying with fierce momentum.
Even if it was unseen, Ho-cheol could also feel that it had already flown right in front of him.
He muttered softly.
“Right.”
As expected, his fundamentals are so solid, a direct fight takes too long.
This is the only way, show an opening, and set a trap.
Ho-cheol, in his still stumbling posture, threw the Purple Crystal Sword.
Its power and force were not that strong.
But the act of throwing away his essential weapon was enough to make the Sword Demon flinch, at least for a very brief moment.
He swatted the crystal sword away, turning the Heart sword's direction.
“A Heart Sword, is it. If the heart wavers, the sword must waver too.”
There's no loss. And if not?
I just take a stab, that's all.
In that instant of swatting the Purple Crystal Sword, the Sword Demon exposed the Heart sword's new range.
Also, that fleeting moment of swatting it was enough time for Ho-cheol to correct his posture.
Ho-cheol dodged the sword by leaning his upper body back.
The sword, which had stabbed the empty air where Ho-cheol's solar plexus had been, pulled back.
But Ho-cheol did not miss that opening.
In the same posture, leaning back, he reached his hand up and grabbed the Heart sword.
His grip, bent like an eagle's talon, caught the sword, swung it, and simultaneously slammed the Sword Demon into the ground.
Kwaang―!
“Keoheok―!”
The Sword Demon let out a pained sound, creating a giant crater.
Even in that state, he was still holding onto his sword until the end.
Ho-cheol, who uses a sword as a simple tool.
The Sword Demon, who regards a sword as his life, a part of his body.
That difference decided the winner.
Of course, the Sword Demon still had strength left.
If Ho-cheol had rushed in through the dust cloud to land a critical blow, he might have been able to take out an eye.
But Ho-cheol didn't move.
A puzzled Sword Demon slowly raised his body.
Ho-cheol’s voice was heard from within the dust cloud.
“That's enough. Anyone can see this is my win by decision. I've relieved some stress, and sorted out the pecking order.”
“Don’t make me laugh! Not yet!”
But the Sword Demon couldn't swing his sword again.
The dust cleared, and Ho-cheol was, at some point, standing behind Da-yeon, his hands on both her shoulders.
“Ah, surely you're not going to call a villain 'cowardly' for taking a hostage?”
Da-yeon, who hadn't even realized she was a hostage for a moment, let out a small exclamation belatedly.
“Ah. I've been caught.”
It was an awkward tone, as if reading from a textbook, but for the Sword Demon, the father, not the hero, it was fatal.
Ho-cheol lightly pressed his fingernail against Da-yeon’s neck.
It was a light gesture, so weak it would be a wonder if it left a faint nail mark, let alone a wound.
“……Stop.”
But for the Sword Demon, at least, it was an unacceptable wound.
The Sword Demon, who had finally regained his composure, bit his lip.
“If you harm her in the slightest, I'll never let you leave.”
“You say that, but you still look murderous. The Heart Sword seems gone, but you're still holding your sword.”
The Sword Demon released the strength in his hand.
Ttaenggeurang―
The sword he was gripping fell to the ground.
He admitted it meekly.
“I lost.”
“Right. Adults should know when to admit defeat.”
“……What are you going to do with me?”
At the Sword Demon's question, Ho-cheol asked back, as if he couldn't understand.
“What should I do with you?”
After thinking for a moment, Ho-cheol said curtly.
“Just work hard at your hero activities. Don't go poking around here and there trying to get your kid back. Well then…….”
Ho-cheol obsequiously bowed his waist in greeting.
“I'll be seeing you, Da-yeon's father.”