Chapter 86: Festival – Contract (4)

“Haa, now I can finally breathe a little.”

The heat had begun to wane as the sun dipped behind the mountains. Even so, the dense crowd kept the air stifling, so I looked for a quieter spot.

The place I chose was the bench where I first met Abel. I hadn’t returned there since that day, but being far from the noise and with a perfect view of the spectacle, it seemed like the ideal spot.

I felt a little guilty for leaving the other club members to enjoy the festival while I sat comfortably… but judging by what I had seen, they were having plenty of fun without me.

I didn’t want to interrupt the mood, and, in any case, I’ve always preferred being alone. If anyone asked where I’d been, I could just say I went to the bathroom. Besides, Chloe, who had initially seemed a bit annoyed, was now smiling cheerfully, which put my mind at ease.

I sank onto the bench, feeling the tension and exhaustion of the past three days slowly melt away.

As I massaged my stiff neck, I opened the status window for a quick check.

Flash—

== ==

[Blessing of the God of the Sword]

If you cut it, it will cut you.

◎ Body Level: (12 ▶ 14) ▷ Enables the use of larger swords.

◎ Spirit Level: (8 ▶ 10) ▷ Imposes intimidation in speech and actions.

◎ Weapon Level: (5 ▶ 6) ▷ When manifesting the blessing, pain is reduced by 2.5 levels.

☆ Synchronization Rate: (21.3 ▶ 24.7)%.

▷ Two lines of 【???】 can be read.

▷ You can faintly perceive the voice of 【???】.

→ [Upon reaching a synchronization rate of 25%, the following unlocking conditions will be met.]

★ 【???】

[※ The blessing is only activated if the sword has a length of less than 39 cm and a width of less than 10 (+1) cm.]

== ==

“Why does this seem to get longer every time?”

At first, the description had been brief and straightforward: “If you cut it, it will cut you.” But as the stats increased, the explanations became more detailed. It reminded me of how game interfaces add complexity to keep players engaged.

It was an effective way to motivate someone. Even I couldn’t help but feel a small sense of satisfaction as I saw my stats improving.

“The synchronization rate has increased a lot.”

It was steadily climbing without slowing down. My confrontation with Mao Lang must have had a significant impact. Every small event seemed to accelerate its growth.

I still wasn’t sure if this synchronization was a lifeline or a poisoned chalice, but I knew it was tightly bound to the Blessing of the God of the Sword.

It also increased after that dream.

I stared at the status window a while longer. My body and spirit levels had risen, and the weapon level had improved thanks to the Eternal Seori I received from Mansur. The difference between a luxury sword and a cheap one was undeniable…

“Will it be enough to just keep going like this?”

The stats seemed to suggest that everything I was doing was right. But there was something unsettling about it, as though someone—or something—was guiding this growth, constantly pushing me forward.

“…”

I closed the status window and looked around.

The orange hue of the horizon had vanished completely, and the commotion from the parade was beginning to die down. Yet the excitement lingered in people’s eyes.

“It’s almost time for the fireworks.”

Unlike the bustling parade, the fireworks were something I genuinely looked forward to. If they hadn’t interested me at all, I would’ve just gone back to the dormitory to sleep. But there’s something about fireworks that excites even adults.

‘Lately, I’ve been feeling confused about my real age.’

I tilted my head back and looked up at the sky. The stars, hidden by the sun, were beginning to twinkle faintly, and the moon was growing sharper in shape.

In a world full of monsters, superpowers, and magic, at least the sky resembled the one on Earth. Not that I particularly missed my past life. It had been a decent life, but I couldn’t say it was fulfilling—it had been full of ups and downs.

Despite being known as the best with a blade in the country, I was little more than a butcher with knife skills. At worst, I didn’t even reach that.

I remembered the customers who used to insult me when they were in bad moods and my family, who always seemed to need money. It’s no wonder I adapted so quickly to this world. My old life wasn’t something I wanted to cling to. Besides, the only meaningful relationship I had was with my first teacher.

“Now that I think about it, it’s been over twenty years since I last saw my master.”

He had kicked me out as soon as I’d gained a minimum level of skill with the sword. He’d said he couldn’t teach me anymore, that the best lesson was real-world experience—the battlefield. He didn’t give me a letter of recommendation or even a single coin.

Back then, I didn’t understand why he did it, but after traveling across the country, I finally got it.

Adaptability was far more important than technique. And there was no better teacher than a life-or-death situation. That experience taught me self-sufficiency and composure, skills that helped me fit into this world.

‘In the end, both the academy and that gluttonous old man share the same practical approach.’

…Though he could’ve at least given me some money for the road. He was a miserly and thrifty man; it wouldn’t have been a big deal for him. Maybe because of his stinginess, his hair was getting thinner.

While I continued grumbling to myself on the bench…

“…”

A chilling presence suddenly emerged. Even though it was still festival season, and there were many outsiders, this felt different.

It was a strange, unnatural sensation—human and yet not.

‘It’s similar to when I encountered the demonic siren.”

However, the distinct stiffness in my neck that usually accompanied the detection of mana was barely noticeable, as if that force had been weakened. If I hadn’t been in such a sparsely populated area, I probably wouldn’t have noticed it at all.

I activated the Blessing of Transfer, spreading my perception through the dusty ground. The heightened sensitivity granted by the Blessing of the God of the Sword was recognized as valid for transfer.

I remembered using something similar during my days as a player, so I tried adapting it.

It was as though my ears emitted ultrasonic waves, recording a clear image of a 30-meter radius in my mind. To describe it, it felt like a three-dimensional map was being drawn in real-time inside my head.

‘This is insane.’

The effect was far more impressive than I had anticipated—a sensation that transcended the five senses. If the sixth sense could be developed, it would probably feel like this.

But I barely had time to marvel at myself.

I sensed a figure approaching me.

Immediately, I gripped the handles of my swords.

In my right hand, Murasame. In my left, Eternal Seori.

With just a twist of my wrists, I could draw them in an instant, ready to strike.

‘It’s getting closer.’

On Avalon Island, the terrain made it easy to erase any evidence, but here at Joaquin Academy, I couldn’t act rashly. Spilling blood without clear proof could backfire later. At best, it would mean expulsion; at worst, being brought before the hero tribunal. It was best to proceed cautiously.

‘…That’s what one would normally think.’

Caution is an option when there’s uncertainty. But with both blessings active, I could discern specific characteristics about the target.

‘Violet eyes.’

I slowly closed my eyes, focusing entirely. Then, I opened them gradually. A shadow appeared at the edge of my vision.

I took a light step forward.

Fwoosh—!

The sound of something cutting through the air echoed, leaving only my shadow in the place where I had been.

Screech—!

The piercing sound of metal tearing through the air was heard. In an instant, the distance closed to a critical point, and I saw a pair of eyes widen in shock. Dull violet eyes and an astonished face belonging to a woman.

“W-wait—!”

The woman opened her mouth a second too late, raising her hands to show she had no hostile intentions. She was completely defenseless.

Thud!

However, my sword had already pierced her flesh from the momentum of my strike.

The woman alternated her gaze between my sword and her abdomen, her pupils beginning to dilate.

“Ugh!”

A brief, dry cry escaped her lips. She clutched her stomach and rolled on the ground.

“Ay, ah, I’m going to die!”

“……”

I was stunned. I had anticipated a counterattack, but her sudden halt had caused me to impale her with my sword.

I thought she might be an ordinary person, but seeing the purple blood oozing from her wound made it clear she was a villain.

Villains are considered hybrids by both humans and demons, and their blood has a distinct color. Furthermore, the wound I had inflicted on her began to heal slowly. I let out a sigh of relief.

‘She’s definitely not human.’

However, her regeneration was much slower than I had expected. After rolling around on the ground for a while, the woman started muttering in complaint.

“Seriously! Who attacks directly with a sword without asking first?”

What…? A villain was complaining about being attacked?

“I wanted to see if I could talk to you. Are those the hands that defeated Lord Agor…?”

The woman muttered with a groan full of pain. I looked down and observed her.

Her body trembled slightly. Her eyes remained fixed on my sword. She was clearly frightened.

“Um… could you lower that… please? Mr. Kang Geom-Ma.”

She addressed me with familiarity, causing a wave of irritation to run through me. I frowned in anger.

“You come here on your own and dare to talk so much?”

I pointed the tip of my sword at her, and the woman flinched slightly. Then, as if accepting her fate, she knelt down with her hands raised.

“I came to make a deal.”

“A deal?”

She nodded. I motioned with my chin for her to continue, and after hesitating for a moment, she spoke.

“If you let me live, I’ll give you information about the people hunting you.”

***

Kang Geom-Ma sat on a bench with his arms crossed. Directly in front of him, the villain Choi Seol-Ah knelt. With her head bowed, she could barely glance at the tips of Kang Geom-Ma’s shoes as she thought to herself.

‘He’s even crazier than I imagined.’

Choi Seol-Ah had lived clinging to power. That was why she had become a villain.

If she were going to be devoured by the strong as a weakling, she preferred to give up her humanity to become strong herself.

If it meant wielding magic, humanity was a small price to pay. Because of that, the elders of high rank bowed to her power and offered her money.

A sliver of power. That was all Choi Seol-Ah had ever desired. She had no evil ideology or deep hatred for humanity.

But recently, the power that had sustained her vanished along with the lord she served. Villains born as humans depend on commanders to receive mana through a contract. So when the source of power dies, their subordinates inevitably lose their abilities.

She had built her position thanks to that mana, but everything crumbled in a single day. And it was all because of the cadet sitting in front of her.

‘I had no idea things would turn out this way!’

Approaching him had been a desperate gamble. She had lost her position among the villains and had nowhere else to go.

‘That professor wouldn’t just let me die.’

If that was the case, it was better to beg Kang Geom-Ma for her life. That had been her thought! But as soon as she approached, she was almost skewered through the stomach.

Choi Seol-Ah sneaked a glance to gauge the situation. Kang Geom-Ma was lost in thought, silent.

‘I’ve told him everything I know, except about that professor.’

Kang Geom-Ma pressed his temples with his fingers and finally spoke.

“You say there are villains hiding throughout the academy.”

“Yes, that’s true!”

“And with that information, you think you can beg for your life? I’ve almost died several times because of you.”

Kang Geom-Ma glared at her with a fierce expression. Choi Seol-Ah clenched her trembling lips and rubbed her hands together in desperation.

“I didn’t want to do those things. I think I was deceived by that demon… who’s now dead. No, may he rot in hell! I committed an unforgivable sin.”

She bowed as low as she could, adopting a completely submissive posture. After all, coming this far had already been a gamble.

Kang Geom-Ma narrowed his eyes, observing her coldly. He gripped the hilt of his sashimi knife and moved the blade slightly.

The knife swayed back and forth in front of her eyes, reminding her of the recent pain in her abdomen.

‘Still, this is within the academy grounds. He won’t just kill me outright.’

Finally, Kang Geom-Ma spoke again.

“Besides your last sentence, it doesn’t seem like you’re lying. I could kill you right here, but given everything you’ve done, that would be too lenient.”

“…”

“Do you want to live?”

“Huh? Oh, yes, yes.”

Choi Seol-Ah nodded frantically. She had to appeal to his emotions.

At that moment, Kang Geom-Ma pointed the tip of his sword at her left ear. A small pink crystal earring dangled delicately from it.

“That, give it to me.”

Choi Seol-Ah’s heart sank. She tried to hide her nervousness and put on a clueless expression.

“Huh? This earring? But this is something only women wear—”

“Give it to me.”

Kang Geom-Ma cut her off immediately.

“I’ll let you live. But leave it here.”

“…”

Choi Seol-Ah’s eyes widened in terror. Her entire body began to tremble as Kang Geom-Ma kept the tip of his sword firmly aimed at her ear.

“The Stallion’s Emblem.”