novelraw Chapter 109 : Chapter 109
Chapter 109 : Chapter 109
Chapter 109 - The Tower of the Forgotten Warrior (8)
Kim Jeong-rak’s sword stretched out fiercely.
His movements were such that it was hard to believe he was injured. Within the flashy feints hid a viper harboring deadly poison, which could become a fatal danger at any moment.
I had seen the sword style of those from the Jungwon Sword Family several times until now, but Kim Jeong-rak’s appearance today was the ultimate form of the Jungwon Sword Style itself, incomparable to previous memories. It confirmed that no matter how minor the sword family, the position of the family head was not something just anyone could obtain.
If only he had struck me when both his legs were intact, he would have had a little more hope.
Craaaaash!
Pushed back by strength, Kim Jeong-rak took two steps back.
I could see his entire body trembling.
The Holy Sword was certainly good.
It was covering for a significant portion of my lacking mana.
Of course, the bigger reason was that Kim Jeong-rak’s physical condition was not sound.
If that weren't the case, no matter how much I had the Holy Sword, it would have been impossible for him to be pushed back in strength. Of course, if that had been the case, I would have fought in a different way as well.
Craaaaash!
I boldly pushed Kim Jeong-rak back, pressing him down with strength.
And the moment an opening was visible, a swift sword unfolded.
Swoooosh!
The edge of his clothes was cut by the blade.
A wave of red splattered in the air.
Kim Jeong-rak let out a groan.
His movements stopped, and drops of blood fell.
Of course, I didn't cut him enough to kill him.
I needed to respect Heo Gyeong-woo’s words, which forbade killing in his domain.
Thud!
Kim Jeong-rak finally brought his knees to the floor for the first time.
I looked at Heo Gyeong-woo.
He was looking down at our fight with an interested face.
“Exquisite power control.”
“If I hadn't controlled it, your dagger would have flown.”
“Then, were you constantly keeping an eye on me throughout the fight?”
I nodded my head.
“Truly a surprising friend.”
“I will leave the head of the Jungwon Sword Family to you. I have no reason to kill him, nor the authority to do so.”
At that moment, Kim Jeong-rak let out a difficult breath.
And then he picked up the sword that had fallen to the ground again.
“Cut the crap and take this!”
His mana exploded again.
At a glance, he seemed like a dry towel, but I knew he still had enough left to be squeezed out.
Swoooosh!
“Aaaargh!”
But his killing intent was immediately stopped by Heo Gyeong-woo.
This time, the dagger was aimed at Kim Jeong-rak’s wrist.
As the sword fell to the floor, Kim Jeong-rak let out a hollow cry of rage.
“Did I not say it. Killing is forbidden in my domain.”
And then another dagger flew.
Surprisingly, this time it was aimed at Kim Jeong-rak’s chest.
“Heok!”
Leaving behind only a final groan, Kim Jeong-rak collapsed as he was.
It was an exquisite skill.
He had pressed a vital point on Kim Jeong-rak with the handle of the dagger, causing him to lose consciousness.
“He was interrupting my conversation with you.”
“I have seen your skills well.”
I was genuinely impressed.
The 40 years spent trapped in the dimension of the Abyss were not entirely in vain.
I had only seen him throw a dagger, but I could tell for sure.
Heo Gyeong-woo was clearly a Sword Master.
“From the looks of it, you seem to be from the Haewon Sword Family.”
“I am the third son of the current family head.”
“It’s a given, but I know nothing of recent news. The current family head must have been a little kid 40 years ago.”
“Indeed, you must be curious about the changes in the outside world.”
“That’s true, but what I’m more curious about than the outside world is you. Among the three who found this place, you are the only one with no connection to me, yet you are the most interesting friend, should I say?”
“I’ll say the same thing back to you. I came here purely out of curiosity, but now that I’m here, I think it was a good decision.”
It wasn't simple lip service.
Heo Gyeong-woo was in a realm that was within the top five of all the humans I had met so far.
It was certain that he was a connection one could not easily meet.
“Hahaha! To speak to me in such a way, this is getting more interesting. Then, I will ask just one thing. Had you already learned our Taeseong Sword Style?”
“Of course not.”
“Then, what about the Soul-Chasing Eight Trigrams Formation?”
“There’s no way I could have known, is there.”
“Yes. That is the common sense I know. But I wanted to check if that common sense had collapsed during the 40 years.”
“It's something that couldn't happen even if 400 years passed, let alone 40.”
Heo Gyeong-woo nodded his head.
“Then, have numerous geniuses emerged in the outside world over the past 40 years?”
“The expression ‘numerous geniuses.’ It’s awkward.”
“That too is a matter of common sense. The conclusion is that you alone are very special.”
There was no reason to deny it.
“Then, I too will ask one thing. Can you now come out to the world again?”
In truth, I didn't know if that was possible.
Because all the workings of the Abyss depended on the Abyss.
“There is one absolute rule in this place. That one person must remain here to rule over the skeletons.”
At those words, my lips instinctively twitched.
“As it happens, there is a replacement right there.”
I pointed to Kim Jeong-rak, who had collapsed unconscious, and continued.
“Isn’t it an exquisite fate? I don’t know the details, but it seems that person there is the one who trapped you here for 40 years.”
“You truly are an interesting friend.”
“Surely you’re not saying you can’t leave because you’ve grown attached to the skeletons here, are you?”
“Of course not. I am sick and tired of these skeletons.”
In that moment, the countless Skeleton Soldiers all bowed their heads in unison.
“Then, Kim Jeong-rak, from now on...”
“He will spend the rest of his life with the skeletons in my place.”
I thought that this might be the most perfect revenge.
The reality Kim Jeong-rak would face when he woke up would be harsher than death.
“By the way, the world is about to get noisy.”
Heo Gyeong-woo.
He was an overwhelmingly strong individual.
The Three Sword Gods existing in the outside world? The only one I had met was Han Byeong-cheol, but the two were on such different levels that it was an insult to compare them.
“No. I don't plan on that. I intend to live quietly.”
“How can that be as you wish. The world will not leave you alone.”
“You must have misunderstood my words. Living quietly means I will not reveal myself to the world. In that sense, I don't plan on returning to the Taeseong Sword Family either.”
“No. Why would you...”
“Because I want to live as if I don't exist.”
His will was firm.
As if he had been preparing for today’s events for a long time, Heo Gyeong-woo calmly revealed his plans.
“May I ask the reason?”
“I should say that standing in front of people is now awkward. It’s only natural, having lived like this for a full 40 years, isn’t it? Also, I do not wish for the world to change because of my appearance. Including the Taeseong Sword Family.”
There was no right or wrong in the judgment Heo Gyeong-woo had made.
It was just a shame for the people of Earth.
Because they would not be able to witness the appearance of a Sword Master, which might have been the first.
“So, there is something I want to ask of you.”
“Please speak.”
“I would like you to arrange a place for me to stay.”
Well, if he wasn't going to return to the Taeseong Sword Family, he did need a place to stay.
All of Heo Gyeong-woo’s personal information would have been erased, and naturally, there would be no property left in his name. But.
“It's not a request to make on our first meeting.”
“That’s why I’m making such an apologetic face right now, isn’t it.”
He didn't really look like it.
“And in my memory, the financial power of the Haewon Sword Family was the best 40 years ago. That’s still the same now, right?”
“It’s about the same.”
“Then, my request is not too unreasonable.”
“Alright. But there is a condition.”
“What is it?”
“The residence will be near the Haewon Sword Family.”
“An easy condition.”
“And I will visit whenever I wish.”
“That’s even better.”
A smile appeared on Heo Gyeong-woo’s lips.
“Then, let me make you a proposal.”
“Please speak.”
“Won't you be my secret friend?”
“What?”
“It's literal. I need a window to the world.”
A secret friend.
In that moment, a shiver ran down my spine.
“The expression is a bit much.”
“In fact, it's as good as done. Because there is a very big secret between us.”
In the past, old man Han Byeong-cheol had asked me to have a Gyoje, and now this. The old men of Earth all had a bizarre way of expressing themselves.
“Then, would you excuse us for a moment? We have talked too much amongst ourselves in front of your kin.”
Heo Gyeong-woo’s gaze turned to Heo Jeong-ah.
She was still just staring at us with the eyes of a startled rabbit.
***
Kim Jeong-rak did not wake up until the portal closed.
Still, there would be a kind Abyss message, so there was no need to worry much.
Also, being trapped there was not entirely negative.
Although he could never come out to the outside world again, as a martial artist, he would be able to aim for much higher achievements.
This was guaranteed by Heo Gyeong-woo, so I could only wish him luck.
“Young Master! Your return was much later than expected. How was your journey in the Abyss?”
The one who greeted me at the sword family was, as always, Choi Ho-joong.
“Well, it was nothing special.”
“I see. By the way, who is the person next to you, Young Master?”
Since it was late at night, I had brought Heo Gyeong-woo to the sword family for the time being.
My plan was to have him stay one night in a separate annex, and then move him to the newly prepared residence tomorrow.
Choi Ho-joong looked at Heo Gyeong-woo with a curious gaze.
Just by his appearance, he looked no different from a homeless person.
His hair was disheveled, his clothes were nothing but rags, and above all, the smell was to the point where even I found it hard to bear.
“He's a person who will be staying here for one night. Prepare a room for him in the annex.”
“Yes. Understood.”
“But why are you looking at me like that?”
“I just think you are a very kind-hearted person, Young Master.”
It was clear he saw Heo Gyeong-woo as a homeless person.
“Did anything happen to the Chamryongdan while I was away?”
“If you mean anything special, there was one thing.”
“What is it.”
“There was someone who came, wanting to join the Chamryongdan.”
Even though I hadn't posted a recruitment notice.
Besides, the Haewon Sword Family wasn't some neighborhood corner store that just anyone could visit, so it was clear that some interesting person had come.
“What kind of guy is he?”
“...It’s not a guy.”
“Then, it’s a woman.”
“That’s right. But her background is a bit surprising.”
“How great can her background be.”
“Don’t be surprised. She is the president’s daughter.”
It was surprising that he thought I would be surprised by this.
“What’s the big deal about that?”
“I knew you would react that way. Anyway, when I told her you weren’t here, she left her contact information. What should I do?”
“What do you mean what should I do. If she’s desperate, she’ll contact us first.”
“Still, you’re not saying you won’t meet her?”
“I didn’t say I would meet her either.”
A thought suddenly came to me.
About what had happened in the president’s family.
It just piqued my interest a little.