After AZURE SKY SWORD GATE decided to lend the Namcheon Sword for the great cause, Kim Muhyuk came to the dining hall with Na Ilcheon and Bu Yeonha for lunch.
“Hmph. Tsk!”
Na Ilcheon narrowed his eyes, displeased by the Namcheon Sword placed beside Kim Muhyuk.
The faint white radiance flowing over the entire scabbard looked so natural it seemed as though the sword had found its proper place.
By contrast, Na Ilcheon felt along the now-empty space beside him and spoke sulkily.
“Are you that happy to abandon an old friend of decades and go off with a young brat?”
Woooooong—!
The Namcheon Sword vibrated lightly, as if asking why he was sulking over something he had handed over himself.
But Na Ilcheon’s expression remained pouty.
Following the founding ancestor’s will and lending the Namcheon Sword to Kim Muhyuk was one thing. Being separated for ten whole days from the cherished sword that had stayed by his side for decades was another.
Naturally, it was the first time since he had become the Namcheon Sword’s master.
“Fine, fine. I’m the only petty old man here. You go outside and have fun all by yourself. Understand?”
Woooooong!
In his younger days, Na Ilcheon had also roamed the world stage.
Na Ilcheon, the Azure Sky Sword Heroic Swordsman.
Back when he had been called that, he had traveled the martial world, cutting down evil anomalies and saving people in danger from horrific criminals.
A long time had passed since then, until he became the Azure Sky Sword Elder. Now he was being separated from the sword that had always been at his side for decades. The emptiness was beyond words.
“How fleeting the years are. Fleeting indeed. If I were only twenty years younger, I would have gone to help the Transcendent Extremity Gate sect leader myself. But now that I’m old and sick, I never thought I’d be cast aside by my beloved sword like an old wife......”
“Grandfather. If you keep doing that, Muhyuk is going to get indigestion.”
“I’m fine. I thought this might happen, so I haven’t touched the food since earlier.”
Whether his granddaughter was embarrassed by him or Kim Muhyuk pulled out digestive medicine and drank it, Na Ilcheon did not stop lamenting.
But in truth, there was a reason for all of it.
Shhk.
Perhaps it had finally become too hard to keep listening quietly. The bluish Namcheon Sword’s spirit appeared in front of Na Ilcheon.
......Ilcheon. Don’t be ugly about this.
The Namcheon Sword’s spirit, the spitting image of the founding ancestor, crossed his arms and frowned.
“What? Don’t be ugly? Goodness, how hurtful. How very hurtful—!”
When Na Ilcheon furrowed his brow and made a blatant show of feeling wounded, the Namcheon Sword scratched his cheek as if troubled.
The Namcheon Sword was a sacred weapon that had gained spirituality after passing through the hands of AZURE SKY SWORD GATE’s sect leaders for hundreds of years. It could speak, think, and feel emotion almost no differently from a person.
Naturally, it was also true that he felt sorry for leaving Na Ilcheon’s side for so long.
......It’s only a brief outing. You know AZURE SKY SWORD GATE is where I’ll return.
“Hah! Of course you must return. Were you planning to settle down at Muhyuk’s side? It seems that thought has not never crossed your mind.”
Bu Yeonha stepped in, apparently embarrassed by the sight of her grandfather constantly throwing childish tantrums in front of a guest.
“Grandfather. Please stop now. Muhyuk is here too, and you keep making him uncomfortable......”
Just then, Kim Muhyuk quietly took Bu Yeonha’s arm and sent a voice transmission.
[I think he has some kind of reason for acting like this.]
Na Ilcheon’s eyes widened for an instant at the physical contact between the two of them, but he forced down the corners of his mouth and maintained the most wounded expression he could.
Until the Namcheon Sword stepped forward first to soothe his sulking master.
Fine. What would make you feel less hurt?
Only then did the corners of the cunning old martial artist’s mouth rise ever so slightly.
“Ahem. If you insist on asking...... show me the Azure Sky Demon-Subduing Sword just once. You will be gone from my side for ten whole days, so I would like to at least keep that sight in my eyes.”
The Azure Sky Demon-Subduing Sword was a sword art created by AZURE SKY SWORD GATE’s founding ancestor to repel evil anomalies.
Later, however, as the number of anomalies gradually decreased, it was slowly altered to face people rather than anomalies, becoming the current AZURE SKY SWORD GATE swordsmanship.
For that reason, the only being currently capable of fully displaying the original form of the Azure Sky Demon-Subduing Sword was the Namcheon Sword.
......I’m not supposed to, normally. Just this once.
The Namcheon Sword’s spirit sighed and walked into a wide-open space. Before anyone noticed, a sword had grown in his hand.
[Watch carefully. It will help you when you face anomalies from now on.]
Na Ilcheon gave the two bewildered young people a voice transmission and winked with a triumphant smile.
He had not pretended to sulk for his own sake, but for Kim Muhyuk and Bu Yeonha.
This is a gain I never expected.
Kim Muhyuk watched the Namcheon Sword’s spirit with his heart thumping.
Because the martial art he had desperately wanted to experience again was none other than the Azure Sky Demon-Subduing Sword.
SHRAAAK!
The Namcheon Sword’s spirit began unfolding the techniques of the Azure Sky Demon-Subduing Sword.
A vast sword strike that seemed to cut whole clouds apart split the air.
Thud!
He stomped hard and thrust as if throwing his whole body forward, then immediately rotated his waist and sliced upward at an angle.
Flick! Whoooom—!
Each and every move carried desperation and a resolve to die if necessary.
It was as if the back of a peerless master who had fought gigantic anomalies to protect humanity hundreds of years ago overlapped with him like an illusion.
“Haha! Excellent!”
“Ah......”
“......It’s beautiful.”
The three of them stared, entranced, at the Azure Sky Demon-Subduing Sword the Namcheon Sword displayed.
It was only a reproduction of techniques without internal energy behind it, but no one present lacked the eye to gauge the depth of that martial art.
Whooo...... Good enough, yes? I need to rest a little.
The Namcheon Sword’s spirit slowly sheathed his sword, looked tired, and scattered away.
“How was it, both of you?”
Asked for her impression, Bu Yeonha, seeing the Azure Sky Demon-Subduing Sword for the first time, closed her eyes as though replaying it and said nothing.
Kim Muhyuk, on the other hand, answered with an expression rich with lingering emotion.
“It feels different from when I saw it before. Better than back then...... much better.”
“Heh-heh. That means your level has risen that much.”
Na Ilcheon smiled with satisfaction, then called Kim Muhyuk in a low voice.
“Muhyuk. May this old man say a few words out of needless concern?”
“Please speak freely.”
Kim Muhyuk straightened his posture, indicating he would listen.
“As you know yourself, you have a talent for skillfully drawing out the power of sacred weapons. But that can become a double-edged sword at any time.”
Na Ilcheon continued while recalling the Namcheon Sword in Kim Muhyuk’s hand, brilliantly releasing demon-subduing power.
When it cut down the Black Heaven Society’s society leader, whose very existence was no different from an anomaly, the Namcheon Sword had unleashed an intensity Na Ilcheon had never seen before.
The problem was that it had not been only the Namcheon Sword. At the time, Kim Muhyuk had been holding another sacred weapon in his other hand.
“Never again use the same method you used against the Black Heaven Society’s society leader.”
Borrowing the power of two sacred weapons, Kim Muhyuk had stood shoulder to shoulder with supreme masters. Enough to cut down the Black Heaven Society’s society leader, who had displayed terrifying might.
“It is an extremely dangerous method. Even if you can endure it for the moment, it will eventually ruin your body.”
It was advice from a martial artist who had kept and handled a sacred weapon at his side as if it were part of his own body for decades.
Kim Muhyuk took it deep into his heart and nodded.
“I’ll keep that in mind. I don’t want to depend on power I can’t properly control either.”
That said, he could not completely rule out the possibility.
No one could guarantee what would happen during the Giant Tree Ghost hunt.
Only when absolutely necessary, until I can handle both properly.
Na Ilcheon studied Kim Muhyuk’s expression for a moment, then gave a strange, quiet laugh.
“Heh-heh. I’m sure you’ll handle it well enough. I’ve said my piece, so let us eat.”
“Bu Yeonha seems to have fallen asleep. Should I wake her?”
“......I was listening to everything.”
Bu Yeonha opened her eyes slightly and shot Kim Muhyuk a glance.
Kim Muhyuk continued enjoying a delicious lunch with the two of them, exchanging various bits of small talk.
“Could a long-term loan possibly be arranged?”
“Not a chance, you rascal!”
“You shameless bastard......”
Unfortunately, his inquiry about {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} a long-term loan of the Namcheon Sword was rejected, but it had been a visit where he gained far more than enough.
*****
After leaving AZURE SKY SWORD GATE, Kim Muhyuk got in his car and headed toward the next place needed for his preparations.
[That guy the crew leader told me to look into. I found his contact info and address and sent them. I tried messaging him too, but he ignored me.]
Kim Muhyuk checked the message Hwang Suksu had sent, entered the address into the navigation system, and muttered.
“No way that guy would reply to a normal message.”
After driving for about thirty minutes, he arrived at his destination.
Kim Muhyuk parked nearby and headed to the semi-basement of a shabby-looking villa building.
Knock, knock, knock—
After he knocked and waited, a voice as tiny as an ant came from inside a moment later.
“......Who is it?”
The voice was thick with wariness.
Kim Muhyuk asked in the gentlest voice he could manage.
“You’re Jung Minhyun, right? I already know you’re inside. Open the door for a moment.”
“Hup......!”
The sound of someone drawing in a frightened breath came from inside.
Kim Muhyuk deliberately did not answer and waited. After a long while, the door slowly opened.
Creeeak.......
Through the barely opened gap, he saw the face of a young boy.
The moment the boy’s eyes met Kim Muhyuk’s, who was at least a head taller than him, his expression changed as if he were about to faint.
“H-huh!”
As the boy hurriedly tried to close the door, Kim Muhyuk stuck his finger in and stopped it.
Jung Minhyun strained and struggled, but of course, the door did not budge.
Kim Muhyuk gave a faint laugh and looked straight at him.
“It’s you. Jung Minhyun.”
“Hiiik......!”
He was much younger, but Kim Muhyuk could see the face from his memories.
—Brother. Do you know what happens to a person when they see their family get eaten alive by an anomaly? Heh-heh. Even if you don’t sleep, you dream nightmares every moment your eyes are open......
—Yeah? That’s similar to me.
A third-rate anomaly hunter who had been his drinking buddy for years.
That chatterbox, who would endlessly ramble about anomalies whenever he got drunk, was trembling with a frightened face.
“H-how, how, how do you know my name?”
Kim Muhyuk, pleased to see him, realized he had made a mistake and let out a dry laugh.
“Right. You wouldn’t know me.”
“......!”
For some reason, Jung Minhyun’s face was growing paler and paler. Kim Muhyuk checked the information he had found through Hwang Suksu.
“You’re active in the anomaly-mania community under the username ‘MyriapodLoverHeart,’ right?”
“N-no, I’m not?”
Jung Minhyun’s face flushed red with shame.
It was probably the first time anyone had ever called him by his community username in real life.
“Not my ass. It sure looks like you. Let’s go inside and talk for a bit.”
When Kim Muhyuk lightly pulled the door as if to go in, Jung Minhyun desperately grabbed the doorknob and held on.
“W-who are you! I’m calling the police!”
If Kim Muhyuk felt like it, he could have torn the door open by force and gone inside.
But he did not. Instead, he took something from his pocket and showed it to Jung Minhyun.
“Do you know what this is? If you don’t, I’ll just leave.”
It was a branch from the Giant Tree Ghost’s heart fragment, taken from the forbidden underground of the Transcendent Extremity Gate.
It was an object he had kept with Sunwoo Jeha’s permission.
“Someone help me! There’s some crazy guy...... Huh? Th-that, no way......?”
It took less than a minute for the emotion in Jung Minhyun’s eyes to change from wariness to shock, surprise, and curiosity.
“Is that an anomaly fragment?”
Satisfied with the answer, Kim Muhyuk smiled and nodded.
“Can I come in now?”
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