Chapter 205 – Footprints (1)
m2Fip7aThe succession ceremony had concluded.HU9L
eE8ih8SAfter that came the press conference, interviews, and the reception—a series of tedious and boring events that, one way or another, I managed to get through. Of course, the support of Media and the Sword Master was a great help.Fc4ryS
BErXmU‘If it weren’t for them, I would have messed up several times today.’LTFZnE
feC3Despite being as exhausted as I was, both of them looked out for me at all times.36W
N92NDWhile silently thanking them, I continued walking without pause. The destination on this dark night was the dormitory building where I lived.ZfNr
PAc6W5xIn fact, there was a celebration banquet scheduled afterward, but I rejected it without hesitation.sBp
ZRKA‘Celebration’ was just a pretext. In reality, it was going to be another gathering surrounded by nobles to receive hypocritical greetings.eOO
PjlMy refusal was enough to cancel the evening event immediately.DXy8UH
GnL7With a single phrase, the most important aristocrats in the country were left wanting and left.FxF
p0Mt6That was the power of prestige.UJgOT
Drd94yIf one is exposed to that for too long, their brain starts to change.c6Hovoi
vOI1DIt’s no coincidence that so many honorable people lose their way after rising too high.8H0Y
P9p“I’ll have to be very careful not to end up the same…”JfP
rzniUpon returning to my room, I took off my clothes and collapsed onto the bed.lWxNjlE
pilMFatigue, like sticky grime under the eyes, sank in deeply.erKN2fJ
NYUA‘…Definitely, this place is the most comfortable.’Lr7G9C
PlAcRThe president of Korea had offered me a suite in a 7-star hotel near the academy as temporary housing.bO8Rm8
peJ96VHe also said they would immediately start building my official residence.Y7h
l21bMghI rejected it without thinking. And I went straight back to my modest and cozy refuge.DrXT
1fKJz4A life of luxury in a hotel or mansion would only serve to corrupt me quickly.npfBh
hqmfgAfter all, this small room of just three pyeong was very comfortable for me.msF
bcgAlthough the heating system was deficient and the facilities were old…Rm2
7hcn58At least now that a Seven Star Hero resides here, they should make some improvements.t2Owr
KmVDEb2I’m going to insist on that. I’m not asking just for myself.jOuG
OJMtdAll the students in this building will benefit.UoL6Wi
4WbWith that thought, I rubbed my face against the pillow.N21BrV
LyjThe rough and cheap fabric helped clear my mind a bit.suF
MDmWithout moving from that position, I turned my head halfway.uyf
5EQfuMy left eye was still buried in the pillow, and with the right, I stared into space.dwm
Ca5wI was tired, very tired. I’ve defeated all kinds of monsters, but I think nothing is as strong as sleep.fX4Bk
b1VVjYI hadn’t slept well for several days. Was this the third already?WfD
CSTjGN“Even so, I can’t fall asleep yet…”uoz2h
UGaPpoThere were still things to do.h9SJ
quYFirst, organize a general plan for the future. Not a detailed strategy, just a general guide.ctsj
kJ7First of all, I already publicly announced that I would continue attending Joaquin Academy.5JycS
k8KkK2MEveryone was left speechless upon hearing it.UibR
BXYLAnd it was no wonder.O3YQn1
LPeyVA Seven Star Hero, with a name as grandiose as “Heavenly Sword,” living the student life?ZgV
BJbV1It was natural for them to look so shocked. If I were in their place, I would have reacted the same.qXe
3r5qsBut even so, I decided to stay at Joaquin Academy. The reason was a simple hunch.wXA0J4
WQuU3EEven for me, that sounds ridiculous.
Making such an important decision based on a hunch? If I told someone, I’d get nothing but incredulous laughs.I0CMdig
njETryBut thanks to that hunch, I got this far.C4c
Dv96HMoreover, mine has a peculiarity—it’s deeply linked to my “status window.”swFW
aW4CHnr‘And right now, that hunch strongly tells me I must stay.’Spr0V
TWtIt may not be a very solid foundation, but I’m determined to follow my own instinct.EMbHUb
7wqAlso, if I left the academy, I would undoubtedly be dragged into all kinds of events.DzsaU
QPVOdUbAnd honestly, I want to avoid those annoying ceremonies and celebrations at all costs.18D0fW
LNdEGToday I experienced it firsthand and understood it well—I’m not the kind of person who fits into those things.Piyf
kD0RmThat said, there are certain events I must attend obligatorily.vyvbfq2
ov3In a month, there will be the World Summit, and the following month, a tour of various countries, including the headquarters of the Hero Association.LIFo69x
a6jvgKJ“The headquarters… does that mean I’ll see the president of the Association?”Ic4HKQU
KQkVXvVIf you asked me who the most mysterious figure in this world is, I’d say it’s the president of the Hero Association.tjRv
audEjNEven in the game, not a single direct mention. Apart from being a man, nothing was known—not his name, age, abilities, or place of residence. Nothing.S44
bvn4Rumors said he was a monster of another level…abFV3m
BUtFJDBut so far, I haven’t met many normal people.YeM
jEsHOf all those I’ve met, the only one who behaves with a minimum of common sense is the Sword Master.vZx
OsiEDMedia, Changseong, Kojima, Altair… Well, Kojima is an exception.awrji
VcA1eeThey all have something loose in their heads, even if they’re good people.8K1uu
Ns1GBut if that president is even stranger than them…sQ5y1
LF0vbDV‘…How am I supposed to deal with someone like that?’cIwIqsv
BxxZ79Anxiety began to rise. I only know one way to deal with crazies—with my sashimi.JP2MD9
GuzMOVBeyond that, I have no idea.apWWp8
8GxVYvI shook my head slightly.qv1d6z0
eumaXCSurely it was the fatigue filling me with useless thoughts.icg
5qBI’ll think about it when the time comes.5yS
u2CSMy head already hurt enough from exhaustion.WVW
DIoNkPzI decided to leave that topic on pause for now.e3DaLE
YeeSvI reached for the cell phone next to the bed to check the news as a final ritual before sleeping.WzU
SDuAfter all, being the day it was, surely hundreds of articles about me had come out.SKNR
Nkk2MEA while ago, I saw how the journalists’ eyes shone like hungry beasts.MUKRk
HiMVAnd the one who had to endure all that was me, Kang Geom-Ma.PFDy2a
A6fUTSleeping is fine, but checking what’s published is mandatory.QWuZLjR
OsENow I can do something on my own if they cross the line.IWU
XOKm1dTap tap.zilf6
5fDsI touched the screen.igyr
4iPYKA dim light illuminated the dark room.Kv8
tw9IWith half-closed eyes, I began to read the headlines.GPaM
D47h1[EXCLUSIVE] The new title of the Sashimi Saint is ‘Heavenly Sword’.PaN
LhHHXo[PHOTOS] Heavenly Sword Kang Geom-Ma… The moment that will mark history.NOMz
jhR[EDITORIAL] A new Seven Star too young. It’s time to prove his worth.wz87eet
sBKI[INTERVIEW] After arriving in Korea, the U.S. president declares, “Is this the country of the Heavenly Sword? I really wanted to come. He is humanity’s hope.”tcd
et1X“……”tB3QQm
xOdCs8XI turned off the cell phone and closed my eyes.nd6l5b
kfrEverything went completely dark.Xev1p
l0dnkxThen, the sleep I had been holding back finally flooded me.k4xlsaF
kvCB3itAnd it was a sweet dream.umYvc2
WFPv***7Y6Dpc6
gu8Vag[NEW! Sudden mission activated.]6IyFY
XS1RJq[Proceeding with causality adjustment due to previous use of the ‘Demonic Eye Ring’ (1 time).]c0N1
BkJMgTl[…]Vptaeo
2f1[…]yoop
yo6cD[Tip: In this sudden mission, you can deduce a clue about one of the three remaining fragments.]JZmLl
pXjJs***Inz
EQmaq7I slowly opened my eyes. My vision was blurry, as if a membrane were covering them.LQZ
BonFI blinked sluggishly. Several times. At the same time, I began to awaken my numb senses.00lAQ
6uk4Gradually, my five senses started to take in the surroundings.NzQ1KdY
obov8fyA chilling breeze brushed my cheek. The air smelled strange—spicy and humid.V2LY4nL
Q3sHbA scent completely different from the one my body associated with my bedroom.3uv
3DVCI didn’t need to regain full sight to know I wasn’t in my room.dxQTQf2
XlIOFThe landscape unfolding before me was unfamiliar.4CeI
rAz“……!?”CJ9Sf28
cHQhZ0The first thing I saw was the horizon.ELO9
apoI strained my eyes and suddenly opened them wide.E0u1
80sIn front of me stretched a barren wasteland, as if heaven and earth had been completely severed.PLwkq
bYcCUA field of colorless, marble-like grass swayed softly.vSNItyF
Vy8eUpon it, heaps of reddish remains—flesh and bone—were scattered across the surface.Cbb8f
sv6mFrI shifted my gaze and looked around more.8I37vG
IJpA greenish dusk stretched like crimson silk across the devastation.P3L0
AeQPdgKThat scene filled me with awe and revulsion.MQzy
x5TqH‘What is this place?’cXHDnRX
z1tpj6Another wave of confusion surged through me.2NgmgVR
Oh11JMy voice only manifested as thought. I couldn’t vocalize anything.wl8Xoyi
8fyERAtNo matter how hard I tried to move, my body wouldn’t respond at all. It wasn’t weakness—it was a total, enveloping void.wnHXFw
FHesA‘Damn it… what kind of situation is this?’g6uTC
qZAWUDevoid of will, I was alone in a desolate wasteland.Rb1
1kGhLCColorless remains rose around me like hills. No matter how I tried to make sense of what I was seeing, everything was incoherent.2TiBqmu
yozeqThe pale landscape continued to disturb my clouded mind. And yet, one thing was certain… My heart was excited.kV9
fODdEven in the midst of this massacre, I felt a strange sense of idyllic calm.oVY8A5C
uEjSAnd then—t6vCK
7FfAWRustle.iZRDcgc
idUWRGA faint, nearly imperceptible sound of footsteps.TVvl
cClVMy nerves, honed to an edge, picked up the vibration instantly.BhXRj
JIwvMy body moved on its own again—still without my will. But I had regained enough composure to go with the scene.rVO
V6l6My eyes turned toward the source of the sound.6ObX5C
ztPp9Step.duFp
ftuasYThe figure appeared. A man. He wore radiant silver armor and a golden cape that fit him perfectly.4r5D
Eiea7QIn his right hand, he held a sword that shone with a blinding white light.e6R9
qv9UH‘……!’0jkhC7
pe2DY9kI let out a silent cry of astonishment.gOaUO1D
fiPqgDNever before—or ever again—would I be so shocked. Because…Kr1qa
gMCrhcBlack hair. Black eyes.lyRkEVD
mep7H2…Even those features alone would’ve taken my breath away.QQC
pMWSqLBBut that didn’t matter anymore once I saw his face clearly.0BxOCE
2T91aStep.cFbRR7
t9UpaThe man walked forward, gaze cold as steel.SKX
J61The light surrounding him poured over that hellish scene like heavenly rain.Imcac
XPvHe stopped just in front of me and spoke in a low voice.M2D0J
48l“In the end, no matter how it begins… it always ends like this.”7vkerzp
pfkto9zThe man scanned the area as if offering a moment of silence.77K
tz0XIIMChunks of bloody, discolored flesh were strewn everywhere.KZqO
OKFHThe stench of blood and viscera filled my nostrils.PwxF
7ziJndZHis eyes, fixed on the inferno, grew dark and heavy.VCMgtQ4
EthezlXFor a moment, he seemed to let out a faint moan of pain.n8sC
IPB3JA brief silence settled.8PI
bJg5Then the man broke it and spoke my name.oiZCI
aoA9e“…Lycan. What a tragic and twisted bond we share.”563LG
Ym1q11His expression contorted in agony. Yes, that face… it was him.739
kZrXHe looked younger now, but his eyes couldn’t hide his identity.1Mq
AQPhEyes I knew all too well.ycnUEo
AhvMy chest tightened. A piercing sense of longing stirred my soul.mAKA0lJ
fbQrAnd yet, the voice that emerged from my mouth was rough and devoid of feeling.MkiQTb
A5dfzk“I’ve waited a long time for you, mortal. It’s time to end this senseless, endless war.”CKtt1
V4ImbI spoke to him, though with a bitter smile I hadn’t wanted to show.Uoxz
IQD“It’s a shame. I’ve crossed swords with you countless times. And perhaps because of that… I’ve come to feel closer to you than a brother. Don’t you feel the same?”2xv
gFT9L22The man gripped his sword tightly.NZiW9M
7O6lkmThe blade radiated a dazzling light that spread around him.gfwDE
jLg4FThen he answered me, with the same deep voice that once scolded me.nYmxBg
7xHvh“A sword reflects both its wielder and its enemy. That’s why I know, Lycan. Your goal isn’t to annihilate humanity. What you want to destroy are those beyond—the ‘celestial beings’ who grant blessings to mankind.”BG5v
Hk4I offered a faint smile. I opened my hand fully… and then clenched it tightly.YtdTvwg
fKLCrackle…!B6J
Y6GvFrom the compressed space, a bolt of lightning erupted and took the shape of a sword.9CacPhV
Qyx7Slash—K1Xe
SrCI swung the electrified blade with indifference.vkBp93E
3vZoijxThe mountain range to the west vanished. Literally—in the blink of an eye.NNU1T
fEMBeyond the devastated land, the sunset began to fade.0pBx
4EqJoquI spoke with complete composure.4nB
5uSZ1LA“To have deduced so much… What a waste that you remain merely a mortal. And yet, how beautiful. That gives me certainty that we can wipe out those arrogant beings who treat this war between demons and humans as a mere game.”zmyv
Crbdlfu“…….”v36AVou
hVa“So kill me, and take the first step. Bet on tomorrow. For the one who will judge the heavens shall come.”qkedoD
hUPiq“Is there really no other way?”2bAGb
eFz33fe“Don’t focus on the present. Bet on the future. For the one who will judge the heavens will arrive… from a distant past.”tme
7Pd“Then… Lycan, I will end you here and now.”DhI
vK1frlEAt his declaration, I smiled.J1pT
4uE7r“As a demon, I shall eradicate the mortal. And yet, I recognize the mere human you are now as my only equal. My only friend.”qvvKE2
MXETJvAnd for the last time, I spoke the name of that man.XpyJ
huOvwi8“Come, Balor Joaquin. You, the greatest of all.”l5VbEJP
hZXD55PThe man’s black eyes began to shine.bhv
dqGUl9The twilight of Gehenna broke over the horizon.X27XTRN
jbRThe dusk of the demon realm bathed the world in deep blue.heZXW16
vMxZzPThe man took a step forward.Op8pt
N9WHe came to destroy the great evil that had once been his disciple.xWW3iO
o8ewHe came.twVzSS
YZBq1xOMy master.jff
1CczThe founding hero.MM32
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Haimiya_cutie.
MahayanaFounding hero huh black hair and black eyes so that’s why that old man in undead dungeon he say he seen something similar so he was saying about founding hero.