Chapter 286

2.

The capsule opened, and Seonghyun let out a deep breath as if being spat out.

“Puhaa.”

He was usually quite tired, but today he looked exceptionally exhausted.

Then again, it couldn't be helped.

After a battle like that, he wouldn't be human if he wasn't tired.

On top of that.

When he expelled the Sword Saint's soul, he felt a sense of exhaustion similar to when he had absorbed the memories and experiences of ghosts to their limit.

It was to the point where he thought that if he had absorbed even a little of the soul's memories or experiences today, he might not have been able to push it out.

But then, remembering the story he had heard along with the letter of recommendation before logging out, Seonghyun shook his head as if fed up.

‘To think he really put out a wanted order.’

Since Septem Arcana bordered the Rieskan Kingdom, it didn't take long for the news to reach Serul Spire.

At the news that the Sword Saint had actually put out a wanted order, Seonghyun couldn't help but shake his head as if fed up.

He knew it was inevitable that he would have to be divided, but.

To think he would really go that far.

The words of the Featherwing Knights, calling him petty, were spot on.

How could he be so petty?

As Seonghyun shook his head and came out.

A woman was there, looking at Seonghyun with a touched and pleased expression.

Needless to say.

It was, of course, his older sister, Yoo Mina.

“Our. Seong. Hyun. Is. Home?”

“……W-why are you being so creepy?”

As Seonghyun looked at his sister Yoo Mina calling him like that, looking quite disgusted.

His sister Yoo Mina looked at Seonghyun and said.

“That was truly amazing, Seonghyun!!! Our Seonghyun, really!!!”

Saying so, Seonghyun, despite his tired appearance, quickly dodged his charging sister.

What in the world is she doing?

And then.

Something came to mind.

“Because I won?”

“Yes! No, how did you win that? That Gamu guy was seriously amazing, wasn't he???”

Giving up on chasing the constantly dodging Seonghyun, Yoo Mina said.

Seonghyun also showed a troubled expression but smiled as if he was secretly proud.

Winning against even a part of the Sword Saint was indeed a great achievement.

It was something worth bragging about.

As he felt a little proud.

His sister looked at him with a proud expression, nodded, and said.

“It was a truly high-level battle. Even single rankers would find it hard to show that much potential. It looked a bit difficult even for me.”

“Oh, was it that good?”

“Of course! So what's the deal with that Gamu guy? He was no joke. I've never heard of him as a named NPC.”

At his sister Yoo Mina's reaction, Seonghyun nodded as if it made sense.

Then again, it couldn't be helped.

“Hmmmm.”

He wondered if he should tell her the truth, but there was no reason to hide it.

Seonghyun told her just as it was.

“Actually, that was the Sword Saint's will possessing him.”

“……What??? Th-the Sword Saint?!”

At those words, Seonghyun nodded.

He also told her about the magic energy and the demons.

And then.

“Gasp!??! There was a backstory like that??? I didn't know either!??”

“Ah, really?”

“I knew the Rieskan Kingdom was a bit shady, but I didn't know it was connected like that…… Sseup. I should tell the guild to keep its distance from the Rieskan Kingdom.”

“Is our guild also connected to the Rieskan Kingdom?”

“Not in a big way, but there are some minor connections. There are also guild members doing quests related to that place.”

At that story, Seonghyun looked at Yoo Mina, looking a bit surprised.

Since she knew most things.

He thought she would know this time too.

But she had no idea at all.

Then again, if she had known, the Rieskan Kingdom's image would have been bad.

But that wasn't the case.

Seonghyun just let it go, thinking, I see.

In any case, after hearing the information, Yoo Mina's expression turned serious.

She thanked him for sharing the information and went into her room to start a phone call with Ahn Yujin.

Judging by how long they were talking, it seemed to be a rather important conversation.

Figuring she would tell him later when things were sorted out, Seonghyun came out and had a simple dinner.

It seemed another long quest would be waiting for him tomorrow.

He should rest enough today.

And so, after dinner, Seonghyun did some light research on Heptarion to aid digestion and then went to sleep.

It had been a tiring day in many ways.

3.

In front of the gates of Heptarion, there was a bustling crowd, unlike usual.

It wasn't that more people were visiting Heptarion than usual.

It wasn't a particularly popular city to begin with.

It was just that.

“Why has the inspection, which was fine until yesterday, become so strict?”

“No idea? I guess there was some kind of problem?”

“I heard it's not just Heptarion, but all areas of the Rieskan Kingdom???”

“I think I heard something about some knights who ran away.”

For reasons unknown, the inspection had become quite strict.

Since the inspection took a long time, the line had inevitably become quite long.

Both users and NPCs had complaints.

But there was no one bold enough to voice their complaints to a knight belonging to the Rieskan Kingdom.

In the midst of that, a few users saw a user wearing a pure white robe and struck up a conversation.

“Are you a mage too?”

“……”

He didn't answer, but tilted his head as if to ask why.

And then.

“From what I hear, they're inspecting mages even more severely.”

“Hmm. I see.”

“Ah?”

Seeing the user who had spoken to him from behind, the user in the white robe showed a sword at his waist.

Seeing it, the user nodded.

“So you’re a swordsman. But I hear swordsmen also take a while.”

“……?”

Didn't he say the inspection for mages was severe?

Wondering what he meant by swordsmen also taking a while, he turned around.

The user who had spoken to him explained.

“It seems they're also catching runaway knights, so swordsmen have to show their swordsmanship skills to pass. It would be good to ask for a pass so you don't have to go through the hassle every time you return from hunting. I forgot my pass.”

“Ah, thank you.”

“Don't mention it. Have fun.”

At the kind user's explanation, the user in the white robe nodded and waited for the inspection.

And when it was finally his turn.

As the user had explained, the knights approached, exuding a stern aura, and spoke to him.

“Are you an outsider?”

“Where are you coming from?”

“I am coming from Lumensia.”

At those words, they looked at him with a slightly suspicious gaze.

One might have flinched at the stern atmosphere.

But the user in the white robe waited quietly.

At his calm demeanor, the knights stared at him a little longer.

Then they asked the next question.

“Hmm, your profession?”

“I am a swordsman.”

“A swordsman?”

At the words of another knight who expressed doubt.

The user in the white robe presented the sword at his waist.

As if that wasn't enough, the knights.

Tilted their heads slightly.

And stepped back to secure a space.

Then they spoke to the user in the white robe.

“We are cracking down because a knight has run away. Show us your swordsmanship.”

“It would be best not to refuse.”

One might have been angered by the coercive attitude of the knights.

But the user in the white robe, as if not caring much, drew his sword from its sheath.

Sreureung.

The clear tremble of metal was heard.

And the knights, for some reason, swallowed hard.

They felt a strange premonition.

But they didn't go out of their way to stop him.

As the user in the white robe swung his sword.

The sword moved as if to occupy the surrounding space, drawing a graceful curve.

Soft and free.

The sword dance, spreading wide as if to fill everything around, also looked like an explosion.

Intense yet soft, and also fast yet subtle.

And then.

The explosion that was gradually gathering on the sword concentrated and became a mysterious light.

The lights increased one by one, appearing like stars in the sky and flowing around.

At the sight of the river of stars that seemed to be pouring down.

The stars soon entered the scabbard.

And when the knights came to their senses.

The sword, not the stars, had entered the scabbard, and the illusion-like image of the universe had disappeared.

“Wow……”

“Th-that's a swordsmanship skill???”

“Wh-what is that user!?”

“Th-that swordsmanship skill is that beautiful?”

The users in line were making a fuss.

But the knights, far from stopping them, could only stare at the user in the white robe, swallowing hard as if they too were bewitched.

Had they ever seen such a beautiful and intense swordsmanship?

With that thought, the knights were unknowingly and blankly recalling the swordsmanship from a moment ago.

A sight like the pure aspiration of a knight, wondering if he could capture even a little of it himself.

But as if to break that dream, a voice was heard.

“Is that enough?”

It was the voice of the user in the white robe.

While regretting the sword dance that had passed by faintly.

The knights hurriedly came to their senses and nodded.

“You may pass.”

“Ah, then, could I perhaps get a pass……”

“Here it is. But even with a pass, they might inspect you again just in case. Keum, keum.”

It was a somewhat awkward voice.

But the user in the white robe showed no particular reaction and nodded, saying he understood.

“Ah……! I understand.”

The other users looked at the knight.

“Guess he wants to see it again?”

“Kehehe, I want to see it again too, so how much more would a knight?”

“It was really cool, though.”

“That’s what I’m saying. The rank must be high, right?”

The users chided him for being so blatant.

But they muttered as if they understood.

In any case, the embarrassed knights cleared their throats and shouted.

“You may enter, alright, next!”

And so, after the inspection was over, the user in the white robe, who had entered Heptarion, looked around and took off his robe.

He had taken it off to confirm his face during the inspection as well.

But he had a slightly different appearance than before.

The identity of the user in the white robe, who had completely changed his appearance with Fiora's perception-impairing and polymorph skills, was none other than Seonghyun.

‘Phew, I didn't get caught thanks to Galactic Sword Dance.’

He had used Galactic Sword Dance because Helena's super strong swordsmanship might have gotten him caught.

Thanks to that, it seems he was able to pass smoothly.

He scratched his head, thinking they were really searching for him with strict security.

‘After this is over, I should probably avoid the Rieskan Kingdom for a while.’

As Seonghyun was thinking that.

Helena spoke from the underworld as if it was alright.

-It should be fine. That Sword Saint guy looked like a coward.

-A coward?

-Yes, it's obvious he couldn't come in person because of the world's will, but it seems he also brought a minimal amount of power. I think that's also because he was scared of the world's will. A Transcendent of that level would have had the capacity to bring more.

-Hmmm.

Could that really be true?

As he was thinking that.

Helena added.

-Besides, his soul probably took a hit, right? Because you squeezed it, Seonghyun.

-Ah?

-You squeezed it to absorb the memories and experiences. Normally, if he were friendly towards you in his soul state, he wouldn't have taken a hit, but since he tried to block it, the damage was probably pretty severe.

-Ah, is that so?

-Yes, so the Sword Saint won't be coming again like last time. You don't have to worry.

Feeling a bit relieved at Helena's words.

Seonghyun thanked her.

-Thanks.

Alright then, shall we go get a job?

To the Caliber Magic Tower.