Chapter 220 : Chapter 220
Chapter 220 - Tower of Causalitas (8)
The hosting location for this Sahwang Banquet was a sword hall called Jeoksong Academy.
Since we had an invitation, entering the banquet was not very difficult.
I had heard it was a fairly large place, but upon arriving, the size of this sword hall far exceeded my expectations.
Seeing that a mere academy possessed such a site, I could guess that the scale of this place called Murim was considerable.
However, what drew my attention more than the scale of the sword hall was the people gathered here themselves.
Around the training ground, which was the main stage of the banquet, many Evil Faction members were already bustling, and there were so many who felt like experts that I could practically trip over them.
'The levels are quite impressive.'
I felt mana of a much higher level compared to Earth, let alone Kalia.
Both qualitatively and quantitatively, it was surprising. As expected, this world of Murim was a quite interesting place. Gal Un-hyeon, who guided me here, was glancing around.
"Are you looking for someone?"
"A-ah, no!"
In fact, this fiend was in a position of being forcibly held by me. And since this was the den of the Evil Faction, he would be looking for an opportunity to screw me over by any means.
Of course, it was not right now. Because he had not yet extracted enough information about me.
Originally, the people of the information merchant breed are those who would go to hell if there were information that made money. From Gal Un-hyeon's perspective, a mysterious person like me is an attractive target.
"Sit down, Great Hero. We are so late that it seems no decent front seats are left."
"Rather than being late, it must be that you are receiving meager treatment at the Black Moon Unit. If you were a well-off information dealer, wouldn't you have gotten a front seat? Is that not so?"
As I struck with the facts, Gal Un-hyeon's face quickly became gloomy. On the stage, a swordsmanship duel was in full swing. In fact, the aspect of the swordsmanship being performed was a type of guided sparring rather than Bimu.
Two men with a significant age difference were crossing swords, and the difference in their levels was substantial. Of course, the older side was in the form of unilaterally accepting the moves.
"Who is that person?"
"It is Instructor Maeng Geum-do of Jeoksong Academy. The younger side is Jin Tae-ju from the Baegun Sect."
Gal Un-hyeon, true to his background as an information dealer, answered my question immediately.
"The swordsmanship is quite usable."
He was at the full level of a Sword Expert. By Earth standards, he was a rare and peerless expert.
"Pardon? Surely you are saying that while looking at Instructor Maeng Geum-do?"
"Yes."
Gal Un-hyeon reacted with a stunned expression. Seeing him make such an expression, he had clearly become much more comfortable since coming here. He would be thinking that there were many people to protect him here if things went wrong.
"Instructor Maeng Geum-do, it is only because he is retired from the front lines and teaching children now; if he returned to active duty right now, his skills would be among the top few."
"Yes. So I am saying he is usable."
At that moment, a dull thumping sound rang out from the stage.
WHACK!
At Maeng Geum-do's kick, the fiend named Jin Tae-ju collapsed. Sighs poured out from the venue.
"Fail. Drag him away."
At Maeng Geum-do's gesture, Jin Tae-ju looked as if he were being dragged away.
"Now! Who else will challenge me! Only those who receive my sword and gain qualification are eligible to participate in the Bimu of the Sahwang Banquet!"
"This time, I wish to receive instruction from you, senior."
From the look of it, the instructor named Maeng Geum-do was acting as a combat power meter. Only those who pass his reference point could participate in the real Bimu competition. The fiend who requested the challenge climbed onto the stage.
"What is your name?"
"I am Gong Il-do, a disciple of the Jahamun."
"I think I have heard of you. Was your nickname the Purple Sunset Sword Demon?"
"It is only an honor that you recognize me. People call me that, but in fact, I think it is an excessive nickname."
"Whether it is excessive or not is for me to judge. Come in. I will also yield five exchanges to you."
The fiend who just came up looked to have more level than the fiend who was dragged away earlier, but the aspect of the proceedings was not much different. Maeng Geum-do simply put in a bit more strength accordingly. The five exchanges he promised to yield ended helplessly, and a retribution that felt a bit excessive followed.
'He seems to have no intention of letting them pass.'
THUD!!
A moment later, Gong Il-do was rolling on the floor.
"It truly is an excessive nickname. The reason I went a bit harder was also for that reason; do you perhaps have a complaint?"
"...I do not."
"If you do not go down on your own two feet, you will also be dragged out."
After Gong Il-do's exit, people began to whisper. A reaction that the standard was too strict. From the look of it, there did not seem to be many who passed.
"Is there truly no one else to challenge! Why are there only husks in this batch!"
Despite Maeng Geum-do's shout, no one seemed to step forward readily. At this, Gal Un-hyeon muttered to himself.
"Who would challenge him when he is being this strict. They will just wait until another instructor steps out."
As he said that, he clicked his tongue.
"Then I should step forward."
As I tried to stand up from my seat, Gal Un-hyeon was startled and grabbed my hand.
"You mean you, Great Hero?"
"Why, is there some problem?"
"Participation in the Sahwang Banquet is limited to those affiliated with the Evil Faction!"
"You can just use the name of the Black Moon House you are in."
"Why are you doing this. I will be kicked out if you do that."
"That will not happen, so just sit and watch."
I looked at him and slightly raised the corners of my mouth.
***
Gal Un-hyeon thought to himself.
'Fine. Since things have turned out this way, I should take this opportunity to spill everything.'
He decided to scrap the plan of obtaining information about this man. Instead, he thought of spilling the identity of this man and getting a thick reward.
He judged that if this person was from the Demonic Cult as he guessed, the reward he would receive from Evil Path Alliance would not be small.
'The best time is when he is defeated and falls to Maeng Geum-do.'
As he thought that, Gal Un-hyeon clenched his fists. The man was already on the stage. He truly used the name of the Black Moon House and introduced himself as a new warrior.
'That damn bastard.'
He was clearly at a considerable skill level, but he would be far from being a match for Maeng Geum-do.
He thought that against a peerless expert, his bottom would clearly be revealed. Also, with an eye like Maeng Geum-do's, he expected that he would notice something strange in this person's swordsmanship.
'It truly was a type of swordsmanship I saw for the first time.'
The quality itself was very different from the swords of the Righteous Faction or the Evil Faction.
He reached the conclusion that he was highly likely from the Demonic Cult. The two men on the stage stood while widening the distance between them.
Maeng Geum-do's gaze was full of intimidation. The man's expression facing him could not be read at all. An appearance close to a state of no-mind. Anyway, the fact that he was not intimidated even in front of a peerless expert like Maeng Geum-do was surprising.
"Did you say you belong to the Black Moon Unit?"
"Yes."
"Your posture is quite something."
He even received a compliment.
"I was just standing here."
"The fact that you are not intimidated at all in this spot is something worth praising."
Maeng Geum-do also thought highly of that point.
"Come in. I will also yield five exchanges to you."
But the words that came from the unknown swordsman's mouth were surprising.
"I do not need five exchanges."
"What does that mean?"
"You will find out soon."
As he said that, he still had an indifferent expression. Even while sharing a short conversation, there was not a bit of disturbance in that gaze.
'He does not need five exchanges?'
Gal Un-hyeon could not understand what those words meant.
Surely it could not mean he would decide the victory within five exchanges.
Maeng Geum-do stood like a great mountain in the center of the stage and drew his sword.
The man also drew his sword and held it straight. He thought it was a sword that felt like it had an unknown dignity, despite being old.
"Then, I am coming in."
A black light flashed once from the man's sword, drawing a single straight line in space. An extremely simple technique. Gal Un-hyeon shook his head, thinking he committed the folly of throwing away the first exchange like that. But a split second later.
'What is this!'
Gal Un-hyeon could not help but doubt his eyes. Because the sight that unfolded on the stage was a picture no one had expected. Maeng Geum-do's sword fell to the ground. One of his knees touched the ground, and soon blood poured out from his mouth.
"Gah!"
Instantly, a cry of shock rang out in the banquet hall.
"How did this happen!"
"Was Instructor Maeng Geum-do defeated?"
"What happened just a moment ago!"
Amidst all sorts of clamor filling the banquet hall, Maeng Geum-do raised his hand toward the venue, signaling that he was fine. Also, it carried the meaning of requesting silence.
Maeng Geum-do bit his lip hard, and instantly, silence came to the banquet hall. The man approached Maeng Geum-do by a step and said.
"It will not be life-threatening. Because I adjusted my strength moderately."
But Maeng Geum-do gave no answer while looking at the man. Just a questioning gaze that could not believe it. At that moment, a person flew onto the stage. Instructor Jin Cheon of Jeoksong Academy. He pointed his sword and asked the man.
"What kind of trick did you play on Instructor Maeng!"
An aura as if he would cut the man's neck right this second. A tension that could explode at any moment hung over the stage.
"A trick... you say?"
"If you had not played a trick, how could Instructor Maeng have ended up like this!"
But the man only gave a grin at those words.
"It is funny. Even after seeing it clearly with your own eyes, you call it a trick."
"You bastard!"
"Are you just going to shout like that? I thought you would come in immediately."
A clear provocation. Jin Cheon was not one to stay still after hearing those words.
BANG!
Jin Cheon's sword shot out like a gale, aiming for the man's neck. But the first exchange was easily blocked. At this sight, Gal Un-hyeon's mouth fell open.
He knew he was at a considerable level, but he never imagined it would be this much. There was no way he blocked Jin Cheon's sword by playing a trick either.
BOOM!
After one more roar occurred, Jin Cheon also had one knee touching the floor. Even the part about spitting out blood was the same.
The man turned his gaze and opened his mouth.
"Come out. Now."
The target he was calling was none other than.
"Union Leader of Evil Path Alliance."
The pinnacle of the Evil Faction, the Leader of Evil Path Alliance.
***
I could already roughly grasp the total power of the Leader of Evil Path Alliance through my qi-sensing.
A clear Sword Master.
I thought he was at a level similar to the old man Heo Gyeong-woo, or perhaps he might be marginally superior. If so, it meant the Murim Alliance Leader was also a Sword Master.
Even more, the Leader of the Demonic Cult, the Heavenly Demon, is said to be clearly superior to them, so this place called Murim was clearly superior to Kalia regarding swordsmanship.
"You say you are a warrior belonging to the Black Moon Unit?"
The Union Leader's question directed at me. Of course, there is no way he believed those words as they were.
"You already know, do you not."
"Well, that is not what is important."
"First, I will make a clear apology. For ruining the Sahwang Banquet."
With my appearance, the Bimu between the juniors had already gone out the window.
There must be those who have waited for two years, so I honestly felt a bit sorry for this part.
"It is fine. Because it is enough if you leave your neck here instead."
Certainly, a weight of a different dimension compared to others.
It was an appearance befitting the number three of Murim.