Chapter 222 – Conception (1)

As soon as I left the Nephilim Temple, a status window appeared before my eyes.

[You have obtained the fifth fragment of 【???】, ‘The Profaned Name of the Great Being’. Total fragments obtained (5/7).]

―Flash!

== ==

『To hide the radiance of the Great Being, the false existences overlay false names.

However, they will never be able to completely erase that light.

Thus, the false stars will pay with a blood atonement, and will meet their end in the apocalypse.』

== ==

[Surprise Mission: Complete the ‘Confirmation of the Truth’ at the Temple of the Nephilim completed!]

[…]

[…]

[Good work.]

***

Director Sung was pacing in place, alternately looking at his wristwatch and the ground.

“I think Heavenly Sword should have returned by now…”

He finally raised his head. The sun was falling between the gaps of the palms, and the hunched silhouette of the moon was beginning to take clear shape.

Director Sung’s eyes turned red. The worry over the anomalies arising at the Gate of Gehenna and the pain of Joaquin’s tragedy seemed to fade at that moment, blending like the setting sun.

“This isn’t the time to be standing around!”

He shook his head vigorously. Maybe because of sleepless nights, his brain had gone numb. And the culprit of this damned insomnia was, obviously.

“…The imminent invasion of Fermush.”

That alone was enough to drive anyone to despair. But unfortunately, the pit of despair was even deeper.

Everyone who knew this fact, including Director Sung, knew the truth. This was only the beginning. The invasion of the Fourth Corps Commander, Fermush, was nothing but the prelude. What would come after was…

‘The Second Great Human-Demon War.’

Just pronouncing it sounded horrible. There was precedent.

They knew how many lives would be taken. The entire land bathed in blood. That’s why the heroes couldn’t even rest after death, unable to return to the earth.

『A hell on earth, full of empty screams and futile deaths.』

Thus had the brutality of the war seven hundred years ago been described. Director Sung, with a somber expression, looked around. This splendor of Hawaii he was contemplating would be the first to turn into hell.

Instinctively, he covered his nose. He could already smell the stench of blood. The palm leaves seemed to him like the claws of a beast.

In such a place, in such dangerous times, and with Heavenly Sword still not returned since morning, the anxiety swelling inside him was about to explode.

“Damn it, wasn’t Edward supposed to contact us if something happened?! Why is there no news yet?!”

Anxiety quickly turned into irritation. He had to ask the Sword Master to organize a search before night fell completely.

‘He’s strong, yes, but he’s still human, made of flesh and blood.’

Kang Geom-Ma was humanity’s hope. But he was also a teenager, a student at the academy. It was easy to forget because of his maturity, but deep down he was still a minor, someone who needed protection.

“If something were to happen to him…”

The hair on his body stood on end.
A war could only exist if there was balance between both sides. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be war, but a one-sided massacre.

And the one who maintained that balance was Kang Geom-Ma. His power was equivalent, at a minimum, to two or three full divisions of heroes.

Being conservative, he probably surpassed the strength of an entire country.

Calculating his Hero Points made sense. But could you put a score to the sky? It was an act of arrogance.

Director Sung dragged his heavy mechanical legs toward the temporary base. His high-tech prosthetics felt like lead.

“Damn it.”

His artificial limbs did not transmit the urgent emotions running through his body.

As he grumbled between sighs, a cloud of dust brushed past him.

Fwoooosh.

A gigantic shadow was projected in front of him. Feeling an enormous presence, he turned around. His eyes opened wide.

A dragon flapped its wings, crossing the boundary between sun and moon, as if slicing the sky in two.

The heavy shadow weighing on his heart lifted. His mind, dulled by insomnia, suddenly felt clear.

Before the dragon could land, Kang Geom-Ma had already jumped off its back. Just like yesterday, the ground sank under his feet, and dust rose.

Through the cloud of dust, Kang Geom-Ma emerged.

He walked steadily toward Chief Sung.

“We need to talk urgently.”

Director Sung, dazed, only nodded.

He felt the worry and fear that had been crushing him dissipate all at once.

***

I entered the Sword Master’s pavilion alongside Director Sung.

My body and mind felt extremely heavy, but I couldn’t allow myself to delay the report. The situation was too serious for that.

So, even skipping dinner, I began recounting everything that had happened at the temple. How Edward died, who the priest was, what Kuarne had predicted.

When there were uncertain aspects, I explained them as hypotheses, for example, why Kuarne appeared in that place.

“T-this is impossible…”

Finally, Director Sung covered his face with his hands, unable to contain his fear. His bluish lips trembled.

Even the Sword Master struggled to maintain composure. Although he tried to stay rational, his face was also deathly pale.

I kept silent. They both needed time to digest the impact. Only after the atmosphere inside the pavilion calmed down a bit, I spoke again.

“Although from what Kuarne said, it doesn’t seem like they will attack immediately. Calculating, I’d say it will take at least a year and a half.”

They both listened carefully.

“Fermush’s invasion also won’t happen this year. In short, we still have time. If we establish a defense system before then, we can still resist.”

Naturally, Kuarne hadn’t given an exact timeline. Although he was friendly, he was still an enemy.

Who in their right mind would reveal the exact date of an attack? Even if Kuarne were crazy, he wasn’t that stupid.

My reasoning was based on my knowledge of the game Miracle Blessing M. The Second Human-Demon War was the main event of the scenario.

Originally, it was supposed to occur two years later. It wasn’t something that could happen overnight.

Of course, I didn’t rely only on that. After analyzing it rationally, I came to that conclusion.

In the end, the Demon King’s army would be left with only two Corps Commanders. And with one about to invade, the only one who could lead the war was Kuarne.

Even if he trusted himself, he couldn’t control the entire army alone.

‘The old elf said there were many demons who didn’t obey Kuarne.’

He would need time to consolidate his power and reorganize his forces.

In short, the demons also needed to follow their own steps. But that didn’t mean we could relax. The demon army would complete its preparations faster than humanity.

‘If Kuarne takes command, any local resistance will be swept away instantly.’

That’s why I reduced my time estimate from two years to a year and a half. It was a conclusion based on both knowledge and reasoning.

‘And most important of all.’

We could still do it. I wanted to convey that to the Sword Master and Director Sung.

“Yes, it’s a desperate situation. But we can’t just sit back.”

“……”

“The probability of victory is low, yes. But it’s still possible. Think about it — didn’t our ancestors succeed 700 years ago?”

“…That was possible thanks to the founding hero…”

Director Sung left the sentence hanging.

“We can do it too.”

I furrowed my brow strongly.

“If within a year and a half I manage to reach the level of Balor Joaquin, we can make it.”

“……!”

The eyes of the Sword Master and Director Sung widened.
But it wasn’t because of my words, but because of the determination conveyed by my gaze.

Yes, the bar was extremely high. I myself had witnessed my master’s power.

‘The summit that my master reached.’

My blessings — Blessing of Insensitivity to Pain, Blessing of Transfer, Blessing of Strength, and the Blessing of the Sword God — would have to be pushed to their absolute limits to even aspire to that level.

It was a distant goal for such a short time. Even so, I affirmed it with absolute certainty.

“No. I’ll become even stronger than that founding hero.”

There’s a saying that the student must surpass the master. And in my past life, I had been a swordsman who surpassed my master.

There was no reason I couldn’t do it in this life too.

“And besides, the current generation of Joaquin Academy is the brightest in its history. If they grow too, we’ll be able to face the demons.”

Though it wasn’t exactly for that, just at that moment a special class was created.

Saki Ryozo, Abel von Nibelung, Rachel of Mura, Chloe Auditore, Speedweapon, Horn Tail, Leon van Reinhardt. If we trained them intensively, it would be possible. No, I would make it possible.

The Sword Master, who was standing silently to the side, looked at me without a word. After a long, deep gaze, he bowed his head to me.

“Command this old man, Heavenly Sword. What do you want me to do?”

A seventy-year-old veteran was bowing to me in respect.

It surprised me for a moment, but I quickly composed myself and responded.

“War isn’t a fight between individuals, but between forces. We must not only focus on the academy, but also gather senior-level and warrior-level heroes to form an army.”

“Are you asking me to train the new generations?”

I nodded. The Sword Master let out a hearty laugh.

“How could I refuse? I’ll pass on the sword techniques of Nibelung to the promising heroes. Besides, I already had experience as an instructor at the academy, didn’t I? Maybe all this was inevitable, as if it was meant for this moment.”

I smiled slightly and then turned my gaze to Director Sung.

“The association must take charge of summoning the heroes. For now, don’t reveal the true reason for the summons. It could cause confusion. So… invent a suitable reason. Can you do that?”

“It’s possible. No…”

Director Sung corrected his pronunciation fleetingly and, as if swearing loyalty to me, answered firmly.

“I will make it happen.”

***

Inside the tent Kang Geom-Ma had left, the atmosphere, which had previously been covered in darkness, now felt much clearer.

“First, I’ll report everything to Mr. Changseong and establish a new institution. We’ll ensure the Sword Master has no difficulties training the heroes.”

“If the budget falls short, let me know. I’ll open the Nibelung fund.”

At those words, Director Sung was startled.

“Open the fund?! That’s unthinkable!”

“Come on, man. Don’t you see the gravity of the situation? What good is hoarding money now? It’s better to use it for humanity’s future.”

“I don’t know how I could thank you…”

“There’s no need to thank me. Ah, but since we’re at it, could you do me a small favor?”

“Of course.”

Director Sung nodded quickly.

“I’d like you to arrange a meeting as soon as possible between Victor Poison and Heavenly Sword.”

“The president of the Association and Kang Geom-Ma…?”

The Sword Master smiled lightly.

“I feel it’s a necessary meeting, before it’s too late.”

Just as he was about to leave, he added one more thing.

“Ah, and now that I remember, I’d also like you to investigate the whereabouts of Meain Poison, the Miracle of Strength. I think you know well why, so I won’t say more.”