Trash of the Count's Family Book 2: Chapter 375: One Sword (6)
Previously on Trash of the Count's Family...
<One Sword (6)>
While the Heavenly Demon and Hwa In gazed at one another upon the platform…
Cale ceased observing them from the spectator area and scanned the surroundings.
‘Everyone’s present.’
The Queen, Cha Run, along with the Lan Kingdom’s leading officials and those whose reputations had surged during this tournament, were essentially all in attendance.
‘Except for one.’
That particular woman was absent.
So Hee.
The individual Cale suspected to be a wanderer wasn’t present.
‘Hm?’
‘What’s happening?’
Cale experienced a peculiar sensation of familiarity.
It wouldn’t matter if So Hee wasn’t there, yet…
‘Shivers are running down my back.’
Such instincts rarely misled him.
Right then.
“So Hee isn’t here.”
“Correct. She’s missing.”
The instant Cale voiced his observation, he noticed that Alberu and Choi Han, positioned on his flanks, had the same realization.
“This feels off.”
Choi Han and Alberu conveyed their assent via quiet nods.
Nevertheless, the surrounding vibe buzzed with anticipation.
“One Sword has a blade in his grip!”
“Amazing. Looks like Kim Hae-Yi is finally getting intense for the quarterfinals.”
One Sword.
Until this point, the fighter bearing that moniker hadn’t wielded an actual sword.
Yet, he had overcome every rival with just one gesture.
Now, such a warrior clutched a sword.
“Isn’t that an ordinary blade?”
“Yes. Probably grabbed from a local forge.”
“Weapon quality doesn’t matter to true masters!”
“Actually, masters crave top-tier arms! Those skilled in them appreciate their worth most!”
Naturally, the sword the Heavenly Demon held was merely one he’d selected casually from a smithy earlier that day.
“…….”
The Heavenly Demon appeared to have discarded the sheath elsewhere, standing simply with the naked blade.
Smile.
Hwa In grinned broadly upon seeing him.
She kept her lips sealed.
– Do you recognize me?
Still, she transmitted a message to the Heavenly Demon.
And the Heavenly Demon-
“Why should I?”
He replied indifferently.
“Mm.”
The referee paused briefly upon witnessing the exchange of transmissions between the Heavenly Demon and Hwa In, but quickly lifted and dropped the flag.
Boom!
The drum echoed in sync, signaling the bout’s commencement.
Yet, both the Heavenly Demon and Hwa In merely appraised each other.
“…You question whether you should know-”
Hwa In initiated the conversation.
“Ha.”
She failed to conceal her incredulity.
“You dare-”
She seemed somewhat irritated too.
‘A insignificant entity that scarcely exists presumes to dismiss me?
Indeed, this is utterly-’
“Such arrogance.”
Clang.
She drew her sword from its sheath.
Then she tossed the sheath rearward.
Shaaaaa-
A gust infused with internal ki enveloped the sheath delicately and set it down softly.
“!”
“Mm!”
The observing masters twitched in response.
This display revealed the profound depth of Hwa In’s internal ki.
However, the Heavenly Demon remained unperturbed.
He merely tilted his head skyward and shut his eyes.
“…….”
Hwa In couldn’t suppress her mocking grin as she observed him.
‘Hey So Hee. You ought to assist the Transparent Bloods somewhat. Would you?’
It also evoked memories of her companion, who had essentially coerced her under the guise of counsel.
‘Those Transparent Blood fools keep urging us to capture the AI. So Hee, is it tough to handle something so minor?’
Hwa In, or rather So Hee, detected the irritation beneath her companion’s mild demeanor and fired back.
‘Why should I bother with something so insignificant?! I’m a single-lifer! Why must I heed the demands of those Transparent Blood pests?!’
Recalling that exchange sent chills through her.
‘Hey So Hee. Don’t irritate me this way. Please?’
Her companion, staring at her…
No, the gaze from the Five Colors Bloods wanderer was utterly vacant.
His eyes held no substance.
‘Ruthless lot.’
As the newest member, So Hee found all these wanderers exasperating.
They merely banded together for personal aims.
‘No.’
Unlike certain initial-generation wanderers who had long-standing bonds…
She lacked such ties, likely due to her recent inclusion.
‘In any case, I simply must eliminate this AI and seize the Lan Kingdom.’
A fresh realm.
Her status and influence mattered greatly here.
Step.
Hwa In advanced a step toward the Heavenly Demon.
“This really resembles a dance.”
Cha Run murmured.
The strides of a master evoked a performance.
He sensed the trail of her martial journey etched in each footfall.
She parted her lips.
“I suppose… Your identity doesn’t concern me much either.”
Hwa In didn’t entertain the possibility that Kim Hae-Yi wasn’t the AI.
‘To begin with, he’s no player.’
She was convinced he wasn’t a gamer.
Kim Hae-Yi hadn’t disconnected for days on end.
Moreover, she couldn’t issue him any quests.
This indicated he functioned like an NPC.
‘Yet he’s not bound by the system either.
He acts freely.’
In that regard-
‘He’s the AI.’
Truth be told, such deductions were pointless.
“You insolent fool.”
She whispered softly.
Gazing at the Heavenly Demon’s expression…
Irritation.
Could any NPC be programmed to regard the Cooperative Alliance’s leader with such disdain?
It seemed improbable.
‘The Transparent Bloods uncovered nothing as well.’
She had requested intel on Kim Hae-Yi from them.
But those overseers possessed no information on Kim Hae-Yi.
Only one conclusion fit.
AI.
And…
‘They lacked details on his companions too.’
These followers were undoubtedly fabricated by the AI Kim Hae-Yi.
“…….”
“…….”
The crowd hushed.
Step, step.
Hwa In approached the Heavenly Demon resolutely.
And while advancing…
She lifted her sword.
Much like walking comes naturally to people…
Her arm ascended…
Her wrist shifted…
The extension of her blade appeared utterly instinctive.
That blade ultimately headed toward Kim Hae-Yi.
It didn’t seem aggressive.
It resembled an everyday action.
However, she wielded a sword.
“!”
Choi Han’s shoulder jerked noticeably.
“Wanderer, indeed, she seems like a wanderer.”
As Cale caught his words…
The Heavenly Demon spotted the blade’s edge nearing.
Just like his recent severing of Seo Rak’s weapon from the Sky Sword…
Descending from above.
The point plunged as though to split the Heavenly Demon apart.
Hwa In loomed behind that trajectory.
“It’s like she aims to cleave Mount Tai.”
Cha Run couldn’t mask his amazement.
He hadn’t realized Hwa In reached such heights.
Not merely techniques but routine existence.
The sword integrated into her everyday life.
The ‘existence’ humans endure…
It appeared as ‘ordinary’ as living itself.
– Cale.
Cale heard the Super Rock’s voice.
– That blade.
– Something’s amiss.
The dormant ancient powers began stirring as Hwa In swung her sword downward.
– Strength, immense strength fuels that strike.
No visible energy emanated from Hwa In’s sword.
“What’s her move?”
“Unclear. Testing the waters perhaps?”
Thus, ordinary spectators missed it.
But the elites perceived otherwise.
“!”
The Sword Ghost sensed a chill throughout his frame.
Pao Seo Tae’s eyes widened.
“… One Sword!”
Pao Seo Tae understood Hwa In intended to shatter One Sword Kim Hae-Yi with a single stroke.
Humanity couldn’t conquer nature.
Yet, that blade could bisect Mount Tai.
No peak would resist its cut.
How could a person withstand such force?
Even as a mountain, he’d shatter.
“Choi Han.”
Cale inquired with a composed expression.
“Will he be defeated?”
The reply arrived promptly.
“No, Cale-nim.”
The instant Choi Han answered…
Cale witnessed the Heavenly Demon’s sword shift.
New World.
This novel world…
The Heavenly Demon wielded a sword for the initial time since arriving here.
“!”
Hwa In’s eyes briefly bulged.
“How, how do you wield that force-”
Shock overwhelmed her…
But halting was impossible now.
“What, that?!”
Queen Tamahi leaped from her chair.
She instinctively gripped the barrier of her private viewing spot.
“What is that?”
Her tone trembled.
Kim Hae-Yi.
The Heavenly Demon.
The crimson-black energy encircling his blade…
That wasn’t internal ki.
Not aura.
Nor magic.
It was an unfamiliar energy form.
Even so-
“W, how terrifying-”
It exuded terror.
Smile.
Cale’s mouth curved upward.
“It’s grown more potent.”
As Choi Han offered a faint smile toward the Heavenly Demon…
The Heavenly Demon spoke.
“I-”
A blade capable of shattering Mount Tai-
A foe bearing such a weapon-
The Heavenly Demon.
His identity?
Human yet beyond human.
I am the Demon’s-
“I, I am the sky.”
The sky of the Demon.
The sky, the deity for the Demon Cult’s faithful masses.
That defines me.
The Heavenly Demon.
I am the Heaven of the Demon Cult.
Even against a Mount Tai-cleaving sword-
It can’t pierce the firmament.
As long as that devotion persists…
The Heavenly Demon’s energy would remain unyielding.
If Choi Han’s sword embodies resolve…
The Heavenly Demon’s sword carries a faith bordering on madness.
Hwa In’s sword descended vertically.
From heavens to earth.
As it cleaved to divide the Heavenly Demon…
The Heavenly Demon’s sword didn’t parry.
It advanced straight.
Why fear a blade targeting just Mount Tai?
His sole intent.
The adversary ahead.
He concentrated solely on Hwa In.
The one who branded the Heavenly Demon as arrogant.
This insulted not only him.
Belittling the Demon Cult’s sky demeaned all devotees.
The Heaven couldn’t tolerate its followers’ degradation.
Oooooo– oooooo–
The crimson-black energy gradually departed the Heavenly Demon’s form, surging beyond his sword.
“…….”
“…….”
The spectators fell mute.
As the crimson-black energy manifested visibly…
Oppression gripped them.
Chills arose from this inexplicable dread.
Yet, an allure held their gaze captive.
A fearsome, suffocating might that enthralled despite terror.
“It’s perilous-”
As a voice uttered that…
Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang—
A thunderous blast erupted.
One Sword.
And One Sword.
The collision’s shockwave rattled the arena.
Thick dust billowed.
Onlookers anticipated its dispersal.
But no wait was needed.
Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-
A wind swept through.
The wind bore a crimson-black hue.
The crimson-black energy ascended, scattering the dust.
“!”
As the implication dawned and eyes widened…
Chhhhhh–!
A figure retreated.
It was Hwa In.
The downward slash and the forward thrust…
Two blades perfectly targeted at each other.
Craaaaaaack-
One blade snapped and hit the floor.
It belonged to the retreating one, Hwa In.
A renowned Lan Kingdom sword shattered against a mundane one.
It resembled impalement by a spike.
Fragments scattered.
“Huh?!”
“What in the world?!”
Yet, none focused on the blade.
Drip.
Blood trickled from Hwa In’s lips.
Internal wounds afflicted her.
This crimson-black energy…
She had countered it with her internal ki.
The Cooperative Alliance’s leader.
The refined circulation technique that elevated her…
The internal ki amassed via that method was pristine and untainted. She believed its clarity could neutralize the sinister crimson-black energy.
She assumed an AI couldn’t possess such might.
This force belonged to the elect alone.
A supreme power thought vanished forever.
“…Truly-”
Yet, she failed to repel it.
Drip.
The spilling blood confirmed it.
Her recoil distance proved it.
She left the blood untouched.
Hwa In persisted in bleeding as she questioned.
“Do you actually hold a unique power?”
As the dust cleared and visibility returned…
The Heavenly Demon stood amid the surging crimson-black energy, resembling countless twisting serpents around him.
His form remained distinct within the foreboding crimson-black haze.
As Choi Han noted, the Heavenly Demon had advanced.
Clashes with Dragons and Aipotu had yielded fresh insights.
“How, the abilities sealed by the Divine race, a base creature like you-”
Hwa In appeared speechless.
The Heavenly Demon’s lips curled mockingly.
“How amusing.”
With those words…
The stands erupted in chaos.
“That’s not Hwa In!”
“Why did Hwa In, Hwa In-!”
The Heavenly Demon’s blade…
No, that crimson-black energy field compelled Hwa In to deploy another force.
The exclusive ability of the wanderer So Hee.
The might the Divine race once sealed, now termed ancient powers.
Those forces of boundless promise…
The energy the Heavenly Demon employed bore traits to evolve into such a unique power, already transforming.
“You-”
So Hee.
The emerging powerhouse gaining renown parallel to Kim Hae-Yi…
Though she drew less spotlight.
She shed Hwa In’s disguise and confronted the Heavenly Demon in her real form.
“You, who are you?”
A strange madness flickered in her gaze.
Her previously indifferent eyes now blazed with enmity.
“Now that’s a look I relish.”
The Heavenly Demon chuckled.
Oooooo– oooooo–
As though eclipsing the platform’s sky…
The crimson-black energy gradually expanded.
It declared that this energy, no, he himself embodied the sky.
Cale observed everything and casually remarked.
“Our young master-nim seems quite furious.”
He placed a hand on Choi Han’s nearby shoulder.
“Relax. Your moment hasn’t arrived.”
So Hee.
Choi Han’s features had tensed upon glimpsing So Hee’s visage.
Cale and Alberu began scrutinizing So Hee.
Cale documented, Alberu analyzed, Choi Han watched alertly.
They regarded the wanderer each with their own considerations. They also eyed the Heavenly Demon.
—
Translator's Comments
Choi Han: Hold me back, Cale-nim! Hold me back now!
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