Chapter 115 – Richard of Mura (1)

Siegfried von Nibelung had been called the strongest man in humanity for over 40 years.

He had achieved absolute mastery over the sword at a young age, and since then, finding a worthy rival had been nearly impossible.

Some had challenged him, but all of them surrendered after facing him just a few times. He was, without a doubt, a natural-born genius.

However, under the supreme sky, there is no such thing as an invincible being. Even for the Swordmaster, considered the strongest, there existed a rival capable of standing against him.

***

“….”

The Swordmaster and the Saint of the Spear stared at each other across an oval round table.

The air vibrated under the pressure of their energies.

The other attendees, their foreheads pressed against the floor in submission, felt cold sweat running down their backs, soaking their hair.

The Swordmaster gripped the hilt of his weapon, pointing it directly at the Saint of the Spear as he spoke in a chilling tone.

“I always knew your brain was made of noodles, Richard, but I never thought you’d completely lose your mind. How dare you barge into a country where I’m residing—worse yet, invade its presidential residence?”

“Hahahahahaha!”

Richard let out a thunderous laugh that made the round table tremble and sent shivers through the bodies of those present.

“Speaking of ‘fear’ to a man of the Mura family… What a joke! Since when did you become such a comedian, Nibelung? Was it from spending too much time playing around with those brats at the academy?”

“It’s astounding how ignorant you are, to the point of not distinguishing between a joke and reality,” the Swordmaster responded with a sneer.

Richard struck the ground with the butt of his spear, creating a loud boom.

“Nibelung, you bastard!”

The impact resounded like thunder, and the sheer force of the sound ruptured President Gaines’ eardrums, causing blood to trickle from his ears. Despite the pain, Gaines clenched his teeth, horrified.

‘How can this be a human?’

The Swordmaster had reached the pinnacle of technique. However, Richard, who rejected techniques and relied solely on brute strength, stood on equal ground with him.

‘To Richard, techniques are for the weak,’ Gaines thought, watching the man whose muscles seemed to have a life of their own, rippling with every movement.

Was there anyone among humans who could compete with Richard in terms of sheer strength? In Gaines’ experience, no one came close.

Richard slightly leaned forward, as if about to attack, but at the last moment, he dropped back into his chair. The ground trembled under his weight as he sat, resting his chin on one hand while speaking.

“I didn’t come all the way here just to exchange words. Let’s get to the point. If you tell me the truth, I’ll leave quietly.”

“……”

“The fifth commander of the Demon Army, Agor, is dead. That’s already public knowledge, so let’s not waste time.”

“!!!”

Richard’s casual declaration hit the room like a bombshell. The Swordmaster, however, remained silent, only furrowing his brow. Richard scratched his head as if feeling uncomfortable.

“…What’s wrong? No one knew? It’s a widely spread rumor within the Hero Association. I guess Switzerland, being neutral, always hears things later.”

The Hero Association, an organization dedicated to overseeing and supporting heroes worldwide, was also known for deploying agents to gather intelligence.

A group at the forefront of information power. Simply put, its role was similar to that of the CIA during the Cold War.

Most heroes were reluctant to join the association due to its shadowy nature. Who would be willing to have a group constantly prying into their affairs?

Although many heroes distrusted the Association because of this practice, Richard, who had a close relationship with them, was one of its strongest supporters.

‘The fifth commander of the Demon Army… dead?’ Gaines thought in disbelief.

The appearance of demon commanders violated the non-aggression pact between demons and humans, as their manifestation in the human world required both a sacrifice and a human vessel.

Due to these difficult conditions, the balance of power between humanity and the demons had remained stable.

But could such a demon have died in the first place? As a full-fledged member of the Seven Star Heroes, Agor had once defeated Basmon, the commander of the 6th Corps—at the cost of three Seven Stars members.

So who had managed to take down Agor, who was even worse?

Richard continued speaking, unfazed by the commotion he had caused.

“Anyway, it was bound to come out sooner or later. But that’s not the important part.”

Richard raised his gaze toward the Swordmaster, his eyes gleaming with a threatening intensity.

“What matters is that we’ve discovered that you were involved in Agor’s death. However, something doesn’t add up. We all know that even a Seven Star hero can’t take down a demon commander alone. It’s simple logic, right?”

“Where are you going with this?” the Swordmaster asked in a dry tone.

Richard locked eyes with him and firmly uttered a name.

“Kang Geom-Ma.”

“……!”

“That kid… I think they call him ‘The Saint of Sashimi.’ The Association believes that Agor’s death and that young bastard are closely connected. What do you think?”

Upon hearing that name, the Swordmaster’s grip on his weapon’s hilt tightened.

A faint sound of strain.

Sea-green energy enveloped his sword. His aura.

The power unleashed by the Swordmaster instantly dispersed Richard’s pressure.

‘Nibelung… Is this really the man who lost an arm?’

Richard couldn’t help but feel a twinge of shock.

Moments ago, he had assumed he had an advantage over the one-armed Swordmaster. But now, the man standing before him seemed stronger than ever.

It was absurd. Richard let out a fierce laugh, baring his gums in a wild grin.

‘Ah, Nibelung. You’ve reached another level.’

The Swordmaster had never been particularly fond of Richard. He felt that every time he got involved with him, his lifespan shortened.

Richard, with his nearly barbaric temperament, constantly challenged him to duels.

On the other hand, Richard had always held the Swordmaster in high regard. It wasn’t simple admiration, but genuine respect for his unwavering integrity and strength. He was the man who had defeated him and earned the title of the strongest in humanity.

A deep sigh.

Despite being indoors, an artificial wind whipped through the room. The men at the table collapsed under the pressure.

“M-Master of the Sword!”

Gaines’ voice trembled. The Swordmaster directed his aura toward Richard, displaying unmistakable hostility.

A battle between two of the Seven Stars. The meaning was clear.

It would be a war between Switzerland and France.

This moment was nothing more than the prologue.

Meanwhile, Richard smiled broadly. He lifted his spear and struck it forcefully against the floor.

The ground cracked. The earth shook, and the wind swirled around him. Richard burst into laughter.

“Hahahaha! Now we’re finally on equal footing, Nibelung!”

“You’ve brought trouble to my homeland, so I’ll cut out your tongue.”

The Swordmaster took an attacking stance. He knew this was an overreaction.

There was a high possibility this could turn into an international conflict. But once that name had been mentioned, there was no turning back.

To the Swordmaster, Kang Geom-Ma was the hope of humanity. If he became a target of the Association, he would eliminate Richard right then and there.

He had no intention of killing him—nor could he. Even when he had both arms, Richard had been a formidable rival.

And now, with one arm lost, the best he could do was restrain him. If he couldn’t cut off his head, he would at least aim for his ankles with his aura.

Just as the Swordmaster was about to move, Richard suddenly let go of his spear.

—Clang!

The loud sound of metal hitting the ground interrupted the tense atmosphere.

“…..”

The impact shattered the moment’s intensity. Richard raised both hands and spoke with a mocking smile.

“As I’ve aged, I’ve learned to calm down. It’s fine that you’re angry, but this isn’t like you.”

Richard chuckled and continued.

“Seeing you this sensitive only confirms that you really care about that kid. Well, since you came all the way here, I won’t interrogate you any further.”

After saying that, Richard picked up his spear and strode toward the door.

Just before leaving, he stopped beside the Swordmaster and, in a low voice, said:

“The truth is… I’m curious about this Kang Geom-Ma. There must be a reason why you’re protecting him so much… Or why my niece Rachel is so obsessed with him.”

“……”

“I wonder what kind of face you’ll make, Nibelung, if Kang Geom-Ma ends up becoming my nephew-in-law.”

“What the hell are you saying now!?”

“Hahaha, anyway. See you, Nibelung! Send my regards to Media and her twin sister.”

Richard waved his hand without even looking back.

The Swordmaster watched him leave in silence for a long time.

Gaines cautiously called out to him.

“…Swordmaster, are you alright?”

“What a spectacle I put on. I apologize.”

“Oh, no… If it weren’t for you, our ministers and legislators would have lost all their hair a long time ago.”

Gaines joked, easing some of the tense atmosphere. The Swordmaster allowed himself a faint smile.

“Gaines, it seems you have a sense of loyalty as well.”

“Haha, I suppose I’ve become a bit more phlegmatic after going through so many difficulties.”

Gaines scratched his neck awkwardly. The Swordmaster observed him carefully.

Gaines was a politician who always pursued practical interests. He had not remained silent before Richard out of mere loyalty.

The real reason he hadn’t spoken wasn’t to protect the Swordmaster but to avoid putting Kang Geom-Ma in danger.

The Swordmaster understood this immediately.

‘…It seems the era of the old has ended.’

The Swordmaster let out a bitter smile. But what could he do?

He couldn’t blame politicians for thinking about the future and acting according to their calculations. Even if he understood, he had no choice but to turn a blind eye.

“Swordmaster, will you have time next week? I would really like to have that dinner we talked about.”

The Swordmaster looked at Gaines in silence. It wasn’t hard to guess what he really wanted—to meet Kang Geom-Ma.

The conversation had barely ended, and it was already so obvious.

The Swordmaster responded coldly.

“I don’t think I’ll have time that day.”

“…But I haven’t even said which day.”

“I’ll be busy all week.”

“Hey, wait a moment!”

Gaines reached out to stop him, but the Swordmaster didn’t turn around.

As he aged, his patience grew thinner.

***

The next day.

There were twenty minutes left until his meeting with Abel.

He was checking his clothes, trying to decide what to wear, but in the end, he settled for the Academy’s sportswear.

Since he had packed only the essentials, he didn’t have many options. In any case, there was no need to dress formally.

‘…By the way, where does she want to take me all of a sudden?’

Yesterday, he had agreed without asking much, but now the question was gnawing at him.

Their relationship was still awkward. Dinner was just an excuse; there had to be another purpose behind it.

He still felt a certain discomfort for having interfered in Abel and Leon’s relationship on Avalon Island.

He sighed internally and then shook his head.

“Well, we’ll be living together for weeks. Better to get along.”

More than anything, he wanted to take the opportunity to strengthen his relationship with her.

There was no reason for unnecessary antagonism, and besides, he had another goal in mind.

The Undead Dungeon.

Located in the Alps, it was a Class D dungeon—the lowest level. Even easier than the Buffalo Dungeon.

Because of that, its entry requirements were also more flexible.

Generally, dungeons required a minimum team of four, but Class D dungeons allowed entry with just three people.

Despite its low difficulty, almost no heroes visited it. No, in reality, no one sought it out.

The main problem was that the enemies were reanimated corpses, Liches, and the reward for eliminating them was miserable.

It was such a useless dungeon that most considered it a waste of time. However, within it slept a hidden danger.

An S-Class Demon—a being considered a catastrophe.

The Lich King, Draugr.

The sovereign of the Liches and leader of an army of immortals.

During his days as a player, Kang Geom-Ma remembered how infamous Draugr’s magic was.

‘Was it called the Reaper’s Staff?’

The item was known among players as “Saji,” an abbreviation of its original name.

That damned thing had a name worthy of belonging to a military unit… but anyway, that was his objective.

For reference, S-Class demons possessed overwhelming magical abilities.

These monsters appeared so late in the game’s story that there was barely any information about them.

The only thing he knew for sure was that any player who encountered one was screwed.

…At this point, he deeply regretted not sticking with Miracle Blessing M until the end.

If he had endured a little longer, his life in this world would be much easier.

Or better yet, if he had never started that damned game in the first place.

Thinking about it, Miracle Blessing M was his first master in this world. It was what pushed him to play in the first place… and then abandoned him just as quickly.

‘Shit.’

In any case, to enter the Undead Dungeon, he needed to form a team.

Of course, he planned to face the Lich King alone, but until he reached him, he would need help to get through the initial sections.

And if he had to choose a partner, Abel was the best option.

According to the original story, she was supposed to be a senior at the Academy.

As a former player, he trusted her skills and talent.

While thinking about this, the clock struck 4:00 PM.

He got up from the bed and looked for a pair of shoes.

He considered wearing regular sneakers but decided it wasn’t the best choice. Instead, he opted for a pair of sports shoes with three stripes.

Tracksuit and sports shoes. A perfect outfit for walking.

As he left his room and headed toward the main entrance, he saw that Abel was already there.

Although there were still five minutes left before the scheduled time, Abel had arrived first.

Step, step.

As he got closer, he could see her profile more clearly. Without meaning to, he was impressed.

“…Wow.”

She was wearing a tennis skirt and light makeup.

When combined with the magnificent Swiss scenery, it was like a painting.

Even without dressing up much, Abel already stood out. But dressed like this, she looked like a goddess.

As he watched her, Abel turned toward him.

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“…Are you seriously going out dressed like that?”

He had no words to respond, so he simply nodded.

“It’s the only clothing I have.”

“Oh… well, I guess that’s…”