Chapter 78 - Renid (9)

It was only a few days ago that I was able to use sword qi again.

My available mana was still minuscule, so the use of sword qi was not very meaningful, but it was significant that I had created sword qi for the first time since being reborn as Seo Ji-han.

My mana, though still minuscule, had now become a bit more presentable.

Shuuuuu—

Once again, five daggers floated above my palm.

To the people of Lenad, it would be a sight close to divine.

“H-he said he was an Earthling……”

“Is he really a Sword Master?”

The daggers were specially made at a forge, so they were light and had excellent mana sensitivity, making them easy to handle, but there was no reason to reveal all that here.

And it was a fact that I was a Sword Master.

The private soldiers of the Oslot and Reche guilds once again looked up at the daggers floating above their heads with a dazed expression.

In front of a Sword Master, the number of troops was meaningless. They had already lost their will to fight.

“I will give you two choices.”

I murmured that to them and glanced at Leira.

She nodded her head.

A silent promise to delegate all decision-making authority to me. Thus, I immediately continued speaking.

“The first choice you can make is to wage a full-on battle. You should think carefully about what the consequences of that will be.”

A moment of silence fell.

Only the desolate sound of the wind created by the five daggers floating in the air, spinning in circles, could be heard.

“The other choice is to sacrifice only the escort captains of the two guilds. I will let the remaining soldiers go alive. Of course, they will have to live in hiding for the rest of their lives.”

I immediately pointed my finger at the two corresponding people.

The two men who were singled out couldn’t answer and their faces just turned deathly pale.

“You are very small-minded people. Then shall I give the choice to the remaining lackeys?”

I gave a sly smile.

In a situation like this, the decision that ordinary humans make is obvious. And of course, these people were all just ordinary humans.

“Except for the escort captains of the two guilds, anyone else is free to leave this place. I will give you 30 seconds to choose.”

The pupils of the lackeys shook simultaneously.

I didn't know how strong a bond they had with their respective escort captains, but it was questionable whether they had the loyalty to trade life for death.

What I demanded was the sacrifice of only two people. In a situation where the choice had been passed to the majority, it wasn't that difficult to predict the outcome.

It seemed everyone was just hoping for someone to pull the first trigger. As the 30 seconds drew to a close, the impulse to be the first would rise fiercely.

The two escort captains of Oslot and Reche closed their eyes tightly.

This very moment was the only time they could choose an honorable sacrifice. They knew very well that if they delayed a little longer, only a dog’s death without any such nobility would remain.

In that case, what the wise choice was, was self-evident.

“Promise me!”

The one who broke the silence first was the escort captain of Oslot.

“Are you planning to sacrifice yourself?”

“Yes.”

“Your name?”

“Raniel.”

“Good. Raniel. I will keep my promise.”

I declared without delay.

“The private soldiers of the Oslot Guild are to leave this place immediately. However, I recommend that you live without being seen by anyone ever again. Because there will be no place that welcomes you.”

Following that, the escort captain of Reche also conveyed his decision.

It was something I had expected, so it wasn't surprising at all.

“Tardel. Bind those two immediately, and dismiss the rest.”

“Yes!”

Tardel bowed his head slightly and immediately began to carry out my words.

It was the first time I had seen a pleasing side of him.

***

The atmosphere inside the wagon was much softer than before.

Just the fact that Tardel wasn't scowling at me made it feel much fresher.

His tone of voice had also become considerably polite.

“Johan, what should we do with the two prisoners we’ve captured?”

“Why are you asking me that?”

“Pardon?”

“You must have forgotten, I’m a mercenary. Whether you boil the captured prisoners or stir-fry them is for the Merwell Guild to decide. I can’t spoon-feed you everything, can I?”

Tardel scratched his head as if embarrassed.

It was clearly his mistake to naturally ask for my opinion first, even though Leira was right there with us.

“I’m sorry. I was thoughtless.”

But she didn't take any issue with it.

“It seems Captain Tardel wants to rely on Johan. To be honest, I felt the same way a while ago. I felt at ease when I delegated all authority to you.”

“I’m grateful that you say so. By the way, it seems the Merwell Guild has accumulated some virtue over the years.”

“Pardon?”

“When they first threatened us, the condition for negotiation was the life of you alone, Leira.

Do you know that no one was shaken at that time?”

“Was that so?”

I nodded my head.

“It must also be because Tardel has managed the private soldiers well all this time. You should praise this man a lot. Leira.”

As I said that, I patted his back.

At that moment, the corners of Tardel’s mouth subtly twitched.

“You praise me too much!”

“It goes without saying how capable Tardel is. By the way, it’s a shame, Johan. That we can’t keep you by our side.”

At that moment, the scenery of a village began to enter the view from the window.

The wagon was already approaching its destination, Dertion.

“Leira. Did you ask me to let you know in advance when the time for parting comes?”

“……Don’t tell me?”

“Let’s say our goodbyes in advance.”

“You have to go already?”

“It’s not something I can decide.”

The moment we passed through the entrance of the village of Dertion, I would disappear from before them like the wind.

“This is too sudden. Johan. May I give you a hug?”

“I can’t become a slave, but I will gladly offer this much.”

As I opened my arms, Leira came and hugged me tightly.

“I am greatly indebted to you. Thank you.”

“If you feel indebted to me, you can repay it by visiting the Red Fox Guild often in the future.”

“I will do that. Johan.”

Leira lightly kissed my forehead, finishing her farewell.

Next was Tardel.

His eyes were red.

“Johan. May I also give you a brief hug?”

“……That’s a bit much.”

Tardel seemed to feel awkward for having said it himself and gave an awkward smile.

“It was an honor just to have witnessed your level as a warrior. I will not forget. Johan.”

I substituted a smile for a farewell.

And the wagon immediately passed through the entrance of the village of Dertion.

[You have cleared the quest.]

There were some twists and turns from the start, but it was a good time.

It was also the place where I had acted with the identity of an Earthling for the first time in another world connected to the Abyss.

Now, it was time to receive the reward.

***

Back at the Haewon Sword Family.

This place had now become a comfortable, if not familiar, place.

The moment I opened the door of the detached house where I was staying, I couldn't help but think that my home was the best.

Although I had relieved my travel fatigue at the Spring of Elixir, the end of the day was, of course, operating the Mana Breathing Technique alone in my room.

The fullness of the mana rising from my dantian made me feel refreshed.

I had obtained something quite good as a reward for the Lenad quest.

Among the various reward options, there were rare items, but I pushed all of them aside and chose the Mana Rune.

‘A whole five of them.’

In the long run, one might think that an item is a better choice, but once I approach the level of my past, items will become meaningless to me anyway.

In that case, it was better to recover my strength even a little bit faster first.

After taking five at once, the change in the amount of mana was definitely noticeable.

Knock, knock!

At that moment, someone knocked from outside.

It must be Choi Ho-joong, who had come after hearing that I had returned.

“Come in.”

In Choi Ho-joong’s hand was a bundle of documents.

It was a summary of what had happened while I was away, in the form of a report.

“You look even better than before, sir.”

“Can you feel it?”

If he had sensed the change in the mana in my dantian, that was a hundred points.

“You seem to have a lot of vitality in your face. Did you perhaps meet a woman from another world in the Abyss?”

“You’re talking nonsense. Minus a hundred points.”

“But the documents organized here will be a hundred points.”

I began to read the documents Choi Ho-joong handed me.

The training log during my absence was meticulously written.

It seemed they had also raided a dungeon once under Choi Ho-joong’s lead. The dungeon report was also very well-organized and easy to look at.

“Shin Ah-yeon wrote this.”

“How did you know right away?”

“The writing style and the meticulousness of the data are too far from yours. Were you just planning to put your spoon on the table while reporting?”

“I didn’t know I would be found out so quickly.”

As if that was an excuse.

“How’s Rosie?”

The only one I was concerned about while I was in the Abyss was Rosie.

At first, I thought about taking her with me, but she refused, so I had no choice but to leave her at the sword family. But seeing as there were no special remarks in the report, it seemed she hadn't caused any trouble.

“Rosie? She’s a complete lunatic.”

“I know that. Anything else besides that?”

“Even when I try to teach her swordsmanship, she doesn’t take it seriously at all. I’d rather teach the delinquent Im Seong-jun.”

“But she’s probably not completely unable to follow the teachings, is she?”

“How did you know?”

A dragon’s specialized field was magic, but that didn't mean other areas were lacking.

No matter how young a hatchling she was, even if her abilities had dropped after polymorphing into a human form, a dragon was a dragon.

If she put her mind to learning swordsmanship, it was only a matter of time before Choi Ho-joong was surpassed.

“Anyway, try to teach her well. It’s certain that her natural talent is that of a genius.”

“More than you, sir?”

“You’re comparing my talent to hers?”

If it was magic, maybe, but I had no intention of yielding when it came to swordsmanship.

“That’s a bad question. Ho-joong.”

“Ah, I’m sorry. Sir.”

“And from now on, if Rosie’s delinquent behavior crosses the line, hand her over to me.”

“Yes!”

Anyway, I was the only one who could control a hatchling.

I would have to meet Rosie once tomorrow when the day breaks.

“That’s enough for the report. Any other issues outside the Haewon Sword Family?”

“There isn’t any particularly noteworthy news. But if I had to pick one, there’s an item coming out at the Samhan Auction House in three days, and it seems quite a few people are interested in it.”

“An auction house? What kind of item is it?”

“It’s a map of the Abyss.”

“A map?”

In that case, I was also a little interested.

Because what had guided me to the Hatchling’s Nest was also a map of the Abyss.

“What’s the name of the map?”

“I think it was called Bastian something.”

My mind snapped to attention in an instant.

The Holy Sword Bastian. This was the name of the beloved sword I used during my days as Johan Raven.

There was a possibility that only the name was the same, but it was clearly an issue I couldn't just ignore.