novelraw Chapter 87 : Chapter 87
Chapter 87 : Chapter 87
Chapter 87 Life-and-Death Tournament (10)
“Young Hero Jaun.”
Ice Rakshasa sent a fierce look toward Jaun with her hands on her waist.
“Did you really have to do it so dangerously? I held back several times from jumping onto the tournament ground.”
Jaun looked at Ice Rakshasa and smiled brightly.
“Did it really look dangerous?”
At Jaun’s words, Ice Rakshasa, who had been hesitating, pouted her lips.
“Well…… dramatic effects and all that are fine, but even though I know you’ll be okay, my heart still flutters. Please think about the person watching too.”
“To think a lady who knows everything felt her heart flutter. It was quite successful then.”
“Tsk. The spectator seats are in an absolute uproar. You are young, have a good physique, and are handsome. Moreover, you belong to the Murim Alliance but use demonic arts, and your skills are even good. In the last five years of the Life-and-Death Tournament, there probably hasn't been anyone who became such a big topic of conversation, has there?”
At those words, Jaun shrugged his shoulders once and laughed.
Ice Rakshasa looked at Jaun with her arms crossed and opened her mouth.
“I told you, didn't I? The Sado Alliance suits Young Hero Jaun better than the Murim Alliance. It’s just that it’s a bit simple and ignorant here, but if you have the skills, they treat you properly without prejudice.”
“Huh. What a chilling thing to say. No matter how well they treat you, how is one supposed to live in such an unscrupulous city……”
When Ice Rakshasa whipped her head around, Ban Cheol-hwi stopped speaking and let out a fake cough.
“Ahem. No, well, I’m saying that’s how it would be for me, for me.”
“This place is much better than where the Murim Alliance sissies live. Once you adapt a little, it feels like a place where people live, so how good is it? It’s a place overflowing with much more affection than the Murim Alliance.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, Ban Cheol-hwi swallowed the words that had risen to his throat.
Jaun smiled as he watched the two bickering and opened his mouth.
“Anyway, I’ve made it this far without any major issues.”
“You’ve worked hard. I’m glad you weren't hurt. Since it’s the final stage now, let’s push a little more.”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, Jaun raised his head.
“Eh? Final stage? The main rounds have only just begun?”
“The main rounds calculate the result by adding up all the wins so far. Young Hero Jaun has been coming up while winning every match so far, right? I think if you win about one or two more times, you’ll be able to make it into the final fifty.”
Ice Rakshasa nodded as she predicted the tournament results in her mind with her eyes closed and continued speaking.
“Two times at most. If things go well, it’ll be over in one. With that many wins, you can become one of the final fifty. In the end, the Life-and-Death Tournament is about picking the final fifty who will challenge the warriors of the Alliance Leader’s Palace.”
“Then how is the final winner selected?”
Ice Rakshasa looked at Jaun and smiled beamishly.
“A winner is not selected. It is already a real combat without limits, and if they try to determine a winner, the loss of talent becomes too great, so about five years ago, it was changed to a method of only determining the qualification to challenge the Alliance Leader’s Palace. They lost too many talents while trying to pick a winner.”
“Ah, is that how it is? So at most two matches left……”
Jaun turned his eyes toward the door of the inn and fell into thought.
“There isn't much left, right? Still, it will be fine if you show yourself properly in the match with the remaining person. I happen to know that the next opponent you will meet is one of the Five Evils. You remember the kid who carries a staff around, right? Neung Hwa-yeong of the Five Evils.”
“Yes. I remember, but……”
Jaun frowned and was lost in thought for a long time.
“What happens if I forfeit that match?”
“Pardon?”
At the out-of-the-blue words Jaun threw, Ice Rakshasa flinched and then opened her eyes wide.
“Since you have total victories so far, you can still make it into the fifty even if you lose one match, as long as you keep winning the next one. But why? Shouldn't you show something to the Alliance Leader as much as possible?”
“That is why I am trying to change the opponent. If I defeat the child called Neung Hwa-yeong, this Life-and-Death Tournament might end depending on the match results of others.”
Jaun calculated various things in his head and then opened his mouth again.
“If I lose the match with Neung Hwa-yeong, I will meet Yu Ha-rin, that child, right? I thought it would be better to meet Yu Ha-rin, who uses a sword, rather than Neung Hwa-yeong, who uses a staff.”
At Jaun’s words, Ice Rakshasa looked at him with a mysterious expression.
Ice Rakshasa, who had been lost in thought for a while, opened her mouth.
“……Red Flame Flying Sword Yu Ha-rin.”
Ice Rakshasa tapped her forehead and agonized before turning toward Jaun.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea. That child, as you saw, is no ordinary person. Her level is different from other participants.”
“I know. I felt it too. She has already far surpassed the level of a rising star. That is why she is a more suitable opponent.”
“That child will surely do her best. But Young Hero Jaun is not in a situation where he can do that. So it is not something to be taken lightly. It would be better to just defeat Neung Hwa-yeong properly and go up……”
At Ice Rakshasa’s words, Jaun shook his head from side to side.
“It seems difficult to create a match that will remain in the Alliance Leader’s memory by facing Neung Hwa-yeong. And there is also something I want to test on that child Yu Ha-rin.”
“……A test, against that child?”
Ice Rakshasa, frowning, looked at Jaun with worried eyes.
“It’s okay. I’m not trying to overdo it. More than that, Yu Ha-rin. That child also had total victories so far, right?”
“Yes. That’s right. For her too, the match will be over in about one round.”
“Hmm…… Then it is not a situation where we can meet just because I set my mind to it alone.”
“Exactly. So don't create a dangerous situation for nothing and just defeat Neung Hwa-yeong. And try to draw a picture where you show something more in the match with the warrior from the Alliance Leader’s Palace.”
Jaun, who had been lost in thought for a moment, slightly squinted his eyes and raised his head.
Jaun, who had been carefully examining Ice Rakshasa’s expression, smiled as if he had realized something.
When Ice Rakshasa let out a fake cough and avoided his gaze upon feeling Jaun’s stare, the smile on Jaun’s lips deepened.
When Jaun did not open his mouth and just stared intensely at her, Ice Rakshasa, unable to bear it, let out a small sigh first.
“Ah. What is it. Tsk. Young Hero Jaun. Do you already know?”
“Know what?”
When Jaun answered with a smile, Ice Rakshasa pouted her lips.
“Why are you testing me when you know everything? You should have just said it from the beginning.”
Jaun smiled and opened his mouth.
“I saw you and Yu Ha-rin talking for a moment earlier. At that time, I didn't know what the two of you had to talk about. But when I thought carefully about the content you told me, I think I know. Why Yu Ha-rin spoke to you.”
At Jaun’s words, Ice Rakshasa let out a sigh and shook her head from side to side.
“Anyway, they are all the same people. Whether it’s Young Hero Jaun who notices it or Yu Ha-rin who says such a thing. I really don't know why they jump into the fire.”
“If one is a warrior, they would want to clash with a powerhouse even at the risk of death. Yu Ha-rin. That child said she would forfeit the next match, didn't she?”
Ice Rakshasa nodded as if she couldn't help it.
“I tried to hide it until the end but…… that’s right. That brat said something quite audacious. She told me to tell Young Hero Jaun to forfeit the next match!”
Ice Rakshasa’s mouth pouted forward.
“She said she would definitely forfeit her next match, so let’s meet in the match after that. She said her desire to have a proper bout with Young Hero Jaun has grown larger than winning the entire Life-and-Death Tournament. She said that kind of thing.”
Jaun nodded and stood up from his seat.
“I only saw her for a moment, but I thought she would be like that if that was her personality. I felt her gaze continuously even during the match. While she thought in her head that this was a loss, her heart was drawn to it, so she must have been troubled. She must have been weighing the pros and cons for a long time.”
Jaun stood up slowly from his seat with an expression that it was rather a good thing.
“Since it seems that child has made up her mind, I just need to decide.”
“……Do you really have to go that far to have a match with Yu Ha-rin?”
“That is the best picture. The situation has been created, and there is no reason to avoid it.”
When Jaun answered, Ice Rakshasa let out a deep sigh.
“Tsk. You’ve already decided, haven't you? Phew. I don’t care anymore.”
Jaun nodded and looked outside the inn with eyes mixed with expectation.
****
“Hey. Yu Ha-rin!”
Neung Hwa-yeong burst open the door of the lodging and entered.
“Did you hear?”
“What?”
“That bastard from the Murim Alliance forfeited this match.”
“Is that so?”
At Neung Hwa-yeong’s words, the corners of Yu Ha-rin’s mouth slightly rose.
“I was going to beat him like a dog, but he tucked his tail and avoided me on his own. That guy. He must have known I was scary.”
Neung Hwa-yeong spun her staff and rested it on her shoulder with a thud.
“But…… he didn't seem like the type to avoid someone because he was scared. Did something happen?”
“It must be because he’s a warrior.”
At the words Yu Ha-rin spat out while cleaning her sword, Neung Hwa-yeong tilted her head as if she couldn't understand.
Yu Ha-rin, looking at Neung Hwa-yeong, let out a small sigh and asked.
“You. Do you know the rules of the Life-and-Death Tournament?”
“I know. You just have to beat everyone up without killing them.”
Yu Ha-rin started to say something, then shook her head and carefully laid her sword down in front of her.
“Well, whatever. This will be easier instead. I was even prepared to be cursed at by you.”
“What. What do you mean? Why would I curse at you?”
“You don't need to know.”
Yu Ha-rin carefully picked up her sword, slid it into the scabbard, and stood up from her seat.
“But if it turns out like this, are you and I the only ones with total victories among the Five Evils? Eh? Where are you going?”
Neung Hwa-yeong tilted her head as she watched Yu Ha-rin preparing to leave the lodging.
“Yu Ha-rin! I asked where you’re going!”
“To forfeit.”
Yu Ha-rin walked toward the door while putting on a thin outer garment.
“……What? Hey. Yu Ha-rin! Forfeit? What on earth does that mean?”
Neung Hwa-yeong ran after Yu Ha-rin, who was heading out the door.
****
‘It has been a long time since I’ve had a duel with an outstanding swordsman.’
Jaun came out to the empty backyard of the inn and slowly drew his sword.
Jaun, who took a large breath, exhaled slowly and drew his sword from left to right.
‘To use the Heavenly Killing Demon Sword, the burden is great due to the eyes of the Demonic Cult that might be anywhere, as Miss Pan said. In that case…… all that’s left is the martial arts of the Sword Demon.’
Sword Demon.
A warrior who received the title of ‘Demon’ for his sword in the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
If it is his martial arts, it will be sufficient to face Yu Ha-rin.
While the Heavenly Killing Demon Sword contained all the sword essences of Illusion, Quickness, Weight, and Softness, the Sword Demon’s Sky Severing Thunder Sword was an extreme dominant sword.
It was a sword technique composed only of the essences of Quickness and Weight, eliminating variations.
It was a sword technique focused on pressuring and pushing the opponent.
As a dominant sword, most of the sword paths of the Sky Severing Thunder Sword proceeded with a one-sided offense in accordance with its nature.
Because of that, a dangerous situation could be created if it were performed without sufficient proficiency.
Since it was a sword art he had set aside for a long time, Jaun began to recall the Sky Severing Thunder Sword while slowly swinging his sword.
‘Thanks to giving up the match with Neung Hwa-yeong, I still have two days of time.’
If it’s that much time, it will be sufficient to recall the Sky Severing Thunder Sword and become familiar with it.
Jaun began to engrave the Sky Severing Thunder Sword into his body while slowly swinging his sword.
Faster and stronger.
Without a single step of retreat.
Only toward the front.
The dark sword held in Jaun’s hand let out a buzzing cry even though internal energy was not imbued.
Jaun’s sword, cutting through the air, left faint traces in the void.
‘One variable is that the child has mastered the Fiery Yang Art.’
Jaun raised his sword and drew Yu Ha-rin in his mind before his eyes.
The sword of Yu Ha-rin he had seen that day was far too fragmentary.
Therefore, the sword path Yu Ha-rin would create using Yang energy was not easily drawn in his mind.
Like Ice Rakshasa’s Yin energy or Yu Ha-rin’s Yang energy, martial arts that maximize one side of Yin and Yang were martial arts that could only be used if supported by the practitioner’s unique constitution.
Because of that, Jaun could not accumulate such experience even in the duel with Wi Jeong-cheon.
‘If a simple victory is the goal, I can respond somehow but……. Since I’ve gained an opportunity, it would be nice if I could open up that child’s potential a bit.’
Jaun’s sword shot fiercely toward the imaginary Yu Ha-rin.
Sword and sword collided, and he repeated the process of retreating dozens of times.
Surely, a talent like Yu Ha-rin would be a great strength in the battle against the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.
Although it was a very brief meeting, Jaun felt a depth in Yu Ha-rin’s sword that was different from other warriors.
A realm that a girl born with a unique constitution could only achieve by meeting an outstanding teacher and devoting her entire life to breaking through her limits.
If it were a girl who had reached such a realm, there was a high possibility she would gain something from a duel with him.
Also, she might be able to create a massive growth through it.
‘I must concentrate. Because in reality, I have to make her feel the boundary of death within a range where she is not injured.’
Jaun once again recalled Yu Ha-rin’s appearance in his mind.
Jaun’s sword, cutting through the air, gradually became buried in the darkness, and Jaun began to fall into the sword, forgetting all situations.