I Obtained Sword God Level Talent

60 – 060. Discipline (3)

“Me… Who am I?”

Why was it?

The one I pointed at shuddered. Though her face was hidden by the bamboo hat, I could tell she was deeply enraged.

“Yeah. Who are you?”

My annoyed gaze turned towards her.

The Sword Demon’s apology? Well, it wasn’t a problem. Whether the encounter with the Blood Lion was the fault of the Heavenly Demon Sect or not, the fact was that I’d faced a brush with death.

But.

‘That doesn’t mean I want to stay quiet.’

The aftereffects of the battle with the Blood Lion had been severe.

I was on the brink of death, and Ariel was nearly killed as well. And yet, they say there’s no need to apologize?

“…How dare you!”

Was it my tone that displeased the woman in the bamboo hat?

Her growling voice soon echoed through the forest. The Sword Demon, standing next to her, wore a troubled expression but couldn’t utter a single word.

“Wait a minute.”

My mind, which had been silently observing the scene, began to spin rapidly.

A woman speaking to the Great Protector of the Demonic Cult, the Sword Demon, as if he were a subordinate?

“…That can only be, one person.”

The Demonic Cult’s rules were like a blade. Regardless of age or rank, the Demonic God… that is, the cult leader and his bloodline, controlled everything within the cult. Unlike the West Continent where lineage was paramount, this was a place where the law of the strong reigned.

If that was the case.

“Could it be, the Young Cult Leader?”

“Ho! How did you…!”

The Sword Demon’s admiring gaze fell upon me. I just shrugged, nonchalantly, and answered.

“Isn’t the answer obvious? It wasn’t hard to figure out who a young woman who speaks to an elder like that would be.”

“Heh heh, impressive. Truly remarkable!”

Perhaps my voice sounded refreshing, the Sword Demon even clapped his hands as he exclaimed.

“Furthermore, you. Have you grown stronger again? It’s gotten to the point where even ‘amazing’ doesn’t cut it anymore. You’re a monster, that’s the only word that comes to mind to describe you.”

“It’s embarrassing, but that seems to be the case.”

“Humility, as always.”

A warm smile spread across the Sword Demon’s lips.

“You are correct. The person here right now is the Young Cult Leader of the Demonic Cult, Lady Geum Ha-rin.”

“…!”

So, that was it.

I couldn’t help but be genuinely surprised.

Following Cheon Hwa-yeong, the daughter of the Martial Alliance leader.

This time, it was Geum Ha-rin, the daughter of the Demonic God. It was beyond what could simply be described as “surprised.”

“…What’s with the level of people gathering as we go?”

First, there were the definite irregulars, me and Ariel.

Then, Friedrich, the influential next Emperor of ＜Silver Ring＞.

And the players starting in the East Continent were obsessed with raising affinity with ‘Cheon Hwa-yeong’ and ‘Geum Ha-rin’.

They were all people with unbelievably great names. Not to mention Lancelot, the future Sword Master, and Maria, one of the top five strongest in the West Continent.

“Sword Demon. Why are you sharing such trivialities with that person.”

A dry, emotionless voice of a woman addressed the Sword Demon.

The Young Cult Leader didn’t seem to be in a good mood. It seemed like she didn’t even want to be having this conversation with us.

*Ssssh.*

With those words, the young vice-leader turned. She slightly lifted her bamboo hat, speaking with an edge of annoyance.

“Could it be… this man is the one Father spoke of?”

“……?”

Father?

For a moment, a utterly baffling word echoed. It was only natural to feel bewildered.

‘The only person that woman would call father, is only one person in the world.’

＜The Heavenly Demon＞, the leader of the Heavenly Demon Cult, Geum Hyeok-wol. The undisputed strongest being in the Silvering world, even the ＜Sword Saint＞ of the Western Continent, a fellow 9th Circle cultivator, acknowledges his superior skill.

He, told stories about me?

“Elder, what exactly did you just mean?”

Naturally, my perplexed gaze went to the Sword Demon.

I never would’ve imagined that the Heavenly Demon from the distant Eastern Continent would know of me, a man only slowly making a name for himself in the Western Continent!

“Heh heh. This will be quite a long tale.”

“……It’s alright.”

“As expected of you!”

The Sword Demon let out a brief exclamation, then immediately began to explain.

“Recently, people of the Eastern Continent have been taking a great interest in stories from the West. Of course, the most heated topic is the tales about the ‘Holy Grail Knight’.”

It was quite a succinct and simple explanation.

My reputation had somehow crossed the seas to reach the Heavenly Demon Cult. And because of that, the Heavenly Demon… forcefully sent the young vice-leader here for her studies in the Western Continent.

“How is it? Do you understand?”

“……For now, yes.”

The Sword Demon had a smile that strongly suggested he was hiding something. But I didn’t bother trying to pry out his secrets.

Right now, the Sword Demon is the greatest benefactor I have. Even if that young vice-leader was completely unpleasant, I didn’t want to act impudently.

“How strange.”

“……?”

Just as I was nodding at the Sword Demon’s explanation, the young vice-leader, who had been silently watching the situation, spoke in a dry tone.

“The Holy Grail Knight. If the rumors are to be believed, he should certainly be a 5th Circle swordsman. But you don’t seem to emanate even the slightest bit of inner energy.”

“Young vice-leader. Those remarks could easily become quite rude.”

“I don’t care. I’m just saying he’s not the type of man who would suit me. The level of the Western Continent is exactly this.”

She cleanly ignored the Sword Demon’s advice.

Geumha-rin’s voice, if not that of a frail woman, possessed a coarse tone that would make anyone mistake her for a man.

“A fifth-rank swordsman? A man suited for me?”

*Hah*, I exhaled a snort laced with absurdity, casting her an irritated glare.

Her constant nitpicking since earlier was getting on my nerves. But then, her next words grated on my patience even more.

“Elder, surely… our meeting isn’t just a simple coincidence, is it?”

“Heh, heh heh. Heh heh!”

*Swish*, avoiding her gaze, the Sword Demon simply broke into a flustered laugh.

Only then did I grasp the situation to some extent.

Chun Hwa-young, who appeared in the Imperial City claiming to be a ‘fan,’ and Geum Ha-rin, the young mistress of the Demonic Cult, were similar but had different goals. It was clear at a glance that Geum Ha-rin’s arrival in the Western Continent wasn’t of her own volition.

“Ugh, ugh! Brother. That woman is always like that. Just ignore her and let’s be on our way!”

Chun Hwa-young, glaring at Geum Ha-rin with a disgruntled expression, whispered in my ear.

Indeed, perhaps because they were the daughters of the Martial Alliance Leader and the Heavenly Demon, the two of them seemed to have some kind of shared history.

“You’re still ashamed about wetting your pants? First spars are always riddled with mistakes.”

“…What?!”

*Thuck*.

Geum Ha-rin, lifting her bamboo hat, fixed her gaze on Chun Hwa-young.

Why was it?

Chun Hwa-young could only let out a short scream, unable to retort any further. Her demeanor was drastically different from how she’d previously appeared, like a master of comebacks.

“Pee?”

Friedrich’s cold gaze turned towards Chun Hwa-young.

Chun Hwa-young couldn’t muster a word. She was simply overcome with shame, her shoulders trembling as she lowered her flushed face.

“…Brother.”

Friedrich, who usually acted like a rival, also had his face turn cold. He too had realized. That the previous remark was only to crush Chun Hwa-young’s pride.

“Are you joking?”

Seeing that pathetic sight, I felt a surge of irritation well up inside me.

I knew well that she was someone the Sword Demon, my benefactor, served. But, since she had crossed the line, I couldn’t remain silent either.

“Was that directed at me?”

Geum Ha-rin, now having completely removed her bamboo hat, turned her chilling gaze to me.

“……”

She is disgustingly beautiful, that’s for sure. Her beauty, comparable to Ariel and Maria, was definitely the basis for her moniker, ＜The Demonic Blossom＞.

But.

That wasn’t enough to be a bulwark against the violence aimed at her.

“Yeah. Chun Hwa-young’s like a sister to me.”

“……Huh?”

The Sword Demon’s hand, which had been raised slightly, slowly lowered.

Perhaps, even Sword Father thinks this could be a good opportunity.

‘Seriously, that arrogant personality is just like the setting.’

Her father was the absolute leader of the Demonic Cult, and she herself possessed dazzling talent. That was Geum Ha-rin.

While Chun Hwa-young, the daughter of the Martial Alliance Leader and a righteous martial artist, possessed traits akin to a scholar…

Geum Ha-rin. That girl was a being with every trait related to combat. Though she’s overshadowed by ＜Demonic Lord＞ right now and not famous, it would be hard to find her equal among her peers.

Srrr-!

“Then, force your justice upon me. The conversation between those who wield swords and inner energy is usually settled this way.”

“Ha.”

I pressed down hard on my temples, irritation surging.

Something about her, she was making a huge misconception.

“Elder. Are you really not going to intervene?”

The atmosphere had turned hostile in an instant, and I asked the Sword Demon quietly about his intentions. He simply met us with a good-natured smile.

The die was cast.

Having confirmed the Sword Demon’s tacit agreement to overlook what was about to happen here, I immediately loosened my arms and approached her.

“Such a ridiculously ill-mannered brat. You’ve got a talent for making enemies.”

“That’s what *I* should be saying. How is it that you, despite being a first-class martial artist, are so cocky towards me?”

“……First-class martial artist?”

I frowned and glared at Geum Ha-rin.

Something about her, she was clearly making a huge misconception. Probably, she thought my level was lower than hers.

“Haa. Elder. Is this what you were aiming for, by any chance?”

“I know nothing of the sort.”

A pleased smile, inappropriate for the situation. That smile spread across the Sword Demon’s lips.

“……What does that mean?”

“I wasn’t talking to you, so just be quiet.”

“I will no longer tolerate this. I will hold you accountable for your tongue.”

*Swish!*

Mana erupted from her entire being, and with an utterly cold expression, Geum Ha-rin chanted. Her sword pulsed with surging mana. It was a scene brimming with confidence, as if she could cut me down at any moment.

But.

*Shhhk!*

The wall of reality was higher than she imagined. And I intended to personally show her that.

*Swooosh──!!!*

The mana I released for the first time since reaching the 7th circle consumed the space. Staining the earth. The ‘world’ I unfurled began to ensnare Geum Ha-rin with an iciness that knew no bounds.

“What…is this?!”

Only then did she seem to realize that something was amiss.

Geum Ha-rin’s startled voice echoed through the forest.

“You need to be hit.”

It’s an old saying that the best medicine for a dog that doesn’t know its place is a good beating.