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I’m Here to End This Fight - Novel Updates
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I'm Here to End This Fight
The voice that suddenly emerged wasn't particularly loud, yet it resonated in the ears as if it had spoken directly into them.
People in the square looked around, trying to locate the source of the voice.
The Black Sword Guards, standing tall, suddenly froze.
Their leader, deep in contemplation, broke into a cold sweat.
"…?!"
An ordinary, aged voice.
However, the vitality embedded in it was undeniable.
The seasoned leader of the Black Sword Guards, having achieved the 7th rank, felt his body stiffen just by the vitality carried in that voice.
'Who is it?'
The leader, experienced in numerous battlefields, forcibly relaxed his tense body and reached for his sword.
Gritting his teeth against the scream of his stiffened body, he managed to move his arm when he raised his hand to the hilt of his sword.
At that moment.
"If you draw that, you'll definitely perish."
The voice echoed again.
This time, everyone could identify its source.
No, the owner of the voice had willingly revealed his position.
Shuffle – a strange sound of footsteps.
Shuffle – as the owner of the voice approached, the crowd instinctively parted.
As the people made way, the figure of the voice's owner became visible.
Around 170cm tall, a face that seemed to have surpassed seventy years.
Untidy gray hair and beard.
Odd attire resembling a vagabond.
And a single katana at his waist.
Despite the peculiar appearance, what captured everyone's attention was his legs.
Shuffle, shuffle – the peculiar footsteps from earlier.
It was the sound produced by the worn wooden prosthetic on the old man's right leg.
Shuffle, shuffle – strangely, the old man's gait didn't feel handicapped at all, as if he had no prosthetic.
"Who is it?"
"Is that an old man?"
The appearance of the old man unsettled the crowd.
Meanwhile, the expression on the face of the Black Sword Guards' leader became even more rigid.
'Could it be?'
The first thing one did upon becoming a member of the Black Sword Guards was to memorize the details of the continent's top experts.
Especially, information about the renowned figures, and among them, someone classified as extraordinary.
'Could that person be… how?!'
A challenger recognized by the owner of the Great Sword.
A figure classified among the greatest experts.
His name, spoken by the Black Sword Guards' leader, resonated.
"Johan Redner."
For those walking the path of swordsmanship, or even those unrelated to it, there was no one unfamiliar with that name.
The expressions of shock erupted throughout, validating the astonishment.
The title of "master" was as renowned as their names, but none were more widely known than Johan Redner.
Born in the cradle of swordsmanship, he had challenged the Sword Masters twice, defeated twice – a resilient outsider despite his failed attempts.
Thus, he bore titles beyond the mere moniker of a master.
"The Unbroken Sword?!"
"Johan Redner, the Unbroken Sword!"
A sword that never breaks.
As someone mentioned Johan's title, the crowd turned their curious gaze to the elderly man with an eccentric demeanor.
Simultaneously, excitement spread like wildfire.
"A true master! And an Unbroken Sword, at that!"
"Is it really Johan Redner? Can't believe it!"
"Hey, did you guys not hear what the Black Sword Guards were saying earlier? Are they possibly lying?"
"Unbelievable... encountering the Unbroken Sword after the Black Sword Guards!"
"But why would a master be here?"
"Isn't it obvious? He must be here to see our Lord!"
"Oh, the master staying as a guest of our Lord?!"
"Could it be... our esteemed Lord's disciple?"
"Well, if it's our Lord's disciple, he must have the qualifications!"
Johan's sudden appearance, especially during the Gunter's trial, fueled various speculations among the people.
Meanwhile, unperturbed by the attention focused on him, Johan casually surveyed his surroundings.
Then, as he glanced at one end of the crowd, his golden eyes met with a pair of golden eyes.
'Were you there?'
A faint smile touched Johan's lips.
In the meantime, Ashraf approached, leading those who had followed him, and bowed to Johan.
"I thought you had left."
"I considered it. Until I witnessed something interesting."
"Interesting?"
Ashraf inquired, but Johan remained silent.
Instead, he rummaged through his belongings.
"Let's see, I think I left it around here. Hm... Ah, there it is!"
What Johan held in his hand was a black dragon scale.
A dragon scale weathered by time, making it uncertain whether it was originally black or turned that way.
Ashraf's eyes sparkled at the sight.
'Is that...?'
The dragon scales issued by the cradle were graded based on the material.
The dragon scale wielded by those with exceptional talent was the platinum-grade Baekryong Scale.
Even that was a rare sight among riders, but there were rumors of scales higher in grade than the Baekryong Scale.
A dragon scale whispered among the cradle's riders like a legend.
‘…Black Dragon Scale!’
Ashraf, who had personally witnessed its existence, didn't expect his gaze to detach from the Black Dragon Scale.
Johan casually tossed the precious Black Dragon Scale to a Black Sword Guard, declaring defiantly, "I, Johan Redner, the second rider of the Cradle, request the qualification test."
Johan's words stirred confusion among the onlookers.
"What... is he talking about?"
"The Unbroken Sword requests a qualification test?"
"Our Lord's test has concluded, hasn't it?"
"You fool! It means the Unbroken Sword is recommending someone else to the Cradle, not our Lord!"
"But who?"
"...Exactly, who?"
Despite thinking, people found it bewildering that there could be someone worthy of the Unbroken Sword's recommendation other than Lord Gunter.
Mocking the confusion of these people, Johan extended his finger.
"The one who will take the test is... him."
Where Johan's finger pointed, people on the straight line instinctively took a step back, surprised.
One person, two people, three people.
About twenty people stepped aside, revealing a boy at the end.
A black-haired boy with golden eyes.
Yuri didn't avoid Johan's indication but instead, somewhat bemused, pointed at his own face with his index finger.
"...Me?"
"Yes, you."
Johan chuckled, and Yuri shot him an indifferent glance.
A sudden turn of events sparked murmurs.
"Isn't that kid Yuri?"
"Who's that?"
"You know, the orphan living outside the Outer Sector."
"So... Johan Redner is recommending him to the Cradle?"
"What's going on here...?"
Contrary to the reactions around him, Yuri remained motionless.
Instead, he observed Johan with a guarded expression, pondering, 'Is this old man really a master?'
The fact that the Unbroken Sword was an esteemed Black Sword was a bit surprising.
But that was it.
'...What kind of game is this old man playing?'
Yuri knew there was such a thing as unconditional kindness.
However, based on experience, there were far more cases of evil disguised as kindness.
Yuri kept his guard up, silently watching Johan.
'Is this old man really a master?'
That alone was a bit surprising for the Unbroken Sword, known for his powerful presence.
But that was it.
'...What kind of game is this old man playing?'
Yuri knew there was such a thing as unconditional kindness.
However, based on experience, there were far more cases of evil disguised as kindness.
Yuri kept his guard up, silently watching Johan.
Then, Johan uttered slyly, "Because I recommended you."
"So, why did you recommend me?"
"It's my whim."
"Are you kidding me?"
"What kidding?"
"Even geniuses who claim to know everything fail this test. How am I supposed to pass it?"
"Pfft. Do you really think so?"
Johan laughed, looking at Yuri as if to say, "Don't play games with me."
A gaze that seemed to know Yuri well.
Yuri's face turned cold, giving away his suspicion.
He casually spoke, "Why me?"
"Because I recommended you."
"Why did you recommend me?"
"It's my mood."
"Stop playing games."
"What games?"
"Even geniuses who claim to know everything fail this test. How am I supposed to pass it?"
"Hahaha. Do you really think so?"
Johan laughed, enjoying himself, while Yuri's face grew chilly.
Then, Yuri changed his tone.
"Inspiration, do you know why I'm pretending to be close to you?"
A tone lacking any politeness.
Yet, Johan responded with a cheerful laugh.
"Ah, I know! I know very well!"
"...?"
"Idiot, you idiot! You're going to die soon, idiot."
"...?"
Yuri's pupils trembled.
A thumping heart beating forcefully.
'What does that old man... know, and why is he talking like that?'
Does he know about his physical condition?
Or is he just insulting himself?
Many thoughts flashed through Yuri's mind, but he managed to ask nonchalantly, "So, you're recommending me to the Cradle? Inspiration?"
"That's right."
"While I appreciate the gesture, I'm the one who gets to decide whether to take the test or not, right?"
A choice to reject an opportunity that many others would want but couldn't have.
However, Johan seemed to appreciate Yuri's caution even more.
Constantly doubting and reevaluating his situation.
That, indeed, was an essential virtue for survival.
Johan burst into a willing laugh.
"Appreciation? Am I showing kindness to you?"
"Well, aren't you?"
"I'm only trying to make a deal with you."
"A deal?"
"I want to confirm something through you."
"...What's that?"
"I'll tell you if you pass this test."
Yuri's gaze settled, and an immediate question sprang out.
"What... do I gain from this deal?"
As if he had been waiting for those words, Johan continued, "You're broken somewhere, aren't you?"
"…?!"
For a moment, Yuri's eyes widened.
'This old man... knows about it!'
What Johan Redner said about being cursed wasn't just to insult him.
It was a statement based on an insight into his physical condition.
'How on earth? I've never told anyone!'
Seeing Yuri's wavering eyes, Johan smiled knowingly.
"Dreadful headaches, vomiting blood, and... occasionally seeing yourself going mad like a monster in your dreams? You've experienced that, haven't you?"
As Johan's story unfolded, Yuri's complexion darkened.
Speaking in a voice that seemed squeezed out, Yuri asked, "Do you... know about this curse?"
"Curse... a curse, indeed. Click, click, it's not a wrong term. Leave it as it is, and 'that thing' might devour you. You're already suspecting it, aren't you? Your strings... are like a candle in the wind?"
"…."
"What will you gain from this deal?"
Johan, wearing a deep smile, presented an irresistible proposition.
"Grant me life, and reveal the nature of that curse. If you accept the deal..."
Drawing the sword strapped to his waist, Johan extended it forward.
"Come and take this sword. Show me if I need to save you from that curse!"
Yuri silently eyed the offered sword.
"Save me? From that curse?"
The curse that turned him into a living bomb within his very core.
Yuri had traversed the continents in search of a way to eradicate it, fueled by the desire to live rather than die.
His faith in eventually finding a solution through countless encounters with people.
Yet, all Yuri gained from this journey was the harsh reality and facing false mockery from those who sought to exploit him.
Returning after inquiries, he faced cold responses that ignored him, given his young age and lack of possessions.
Or he encountered deceitful ridicule from those trying to take advantage of him.
Hence, the identity of the curse remained elusive, and Yuri couldn't grasp even a clue.
"Today, an old man I just met claims to know about my curse without saying a word..."
Not only that, he promises to free Yuri from the curse.
"Can I trust this? Is it not a disadvantageous offer?"
What does this ominous old man desire from him?
Does he truly know about the curse?
Numerous questions flooded Yuri's mind, but his heart had already made the decision.
With a determined step forward, Yuri let out a sigh.
Thud...
"Fifteen years old."
Although young, Yuri had lived more intensely than anyone else, making his desires more desperate.
"I want to live."
Not wanting to die like this.
Wanting to live a little longer.
Driven by such a desire, he gathered strength in his legs.
Thud... Thud...
The hesitant first step gradually transformed into a firm stride.
Thud... Thud...
Passing by those observing him, Yuri reached Johan.
"...I'll warn you."
Pointing at Johan, Yuri extended his arm.
Finally, Johan's sword completely transferred to Yuri with a solid click.
It was the moment the deal was sealed.
Fantasy,
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