Chapter 102: Rock Paper Scissors (1)
Record it in the mind, not on paper.
–Antisthenes
“Is there anything special?”
In response to the old man’s words, a black-haired man answered on behalf of the soldier.
“You never know how things will turn out in the world.”
“Once you said, ‘I do not make hypotheses’ or ‘I can calculate the movements of heavenly bodies and natural forces’. Have you changed your mind after losing some money?”
The old man just tried hard to suppress his laughter at the junior’s sharp sarcasm.
Having lived longer than others, he had recently found life extremely boring.
He couldn’t reveal his inner wish for any event to break the monotony, considering his dignity and position, but it seemed he had been caught by his much younger junior.
“…Even if something happens, the Secret Intelligence Service will handle it in time.” It was then.
An exceptional situation occurred where entry to the tea room was allowed.
-Bang!
“This is a report from a Secret Intelligence Service agent!”
A royal attendant, panting, flung open the door and shouted urgently.
“A transcendent martial artist wearing a Human Skin Mask has infiltrated the Forbidden Castle!”
“Hmm?”
“The intruder is presumed to be Baron Francis Drake-”
“It’s a matter that the Secret Intelligence Service can handle on their own.”
As soon as he heard who the intruder was, the old man openly showed his disappointment.
“…I apologize. I will be more careful next time, sir.”
“It’s fine. How could that be your fault?”
The attendant bowed, trying hard to hide his embarrassment, and then closed the door again.
“It seemed like you were expecting something.”
“Me? That’s nonsense.”
Despite the junior’s remark, the old man pretended to be calm and acted as if he was focusing on reading his alchemy book again.
The girl, who was glancing sideways, noticed that the old man’s book was upside down but didn’t bother to mention it.
But a few minutes later.
-O Lord of the heavens whose name is holy
-Your lowly and humble servant
-Believes in the living Christ
-And that this is hell
At the Signature Sound that broke the silence, everyone sitting in the tea room reacted.
“…Speak of the devil.”
The old man had to try hard to suppress his urge to cheer.
A martial artist from the Zion Clan.
Among them, there aren’t many who are bold enough to do such a thing in the Forbidden Palace.
-Bang!
Within seconds, the royal attendant opened the tea room door again and rushed inside.
“Reporting again! An Inquisitor from the Zion Clan has appeared on the first floor of the Old West Wing! They are confronting a Super Junior with a Seven Step Invitation!”
Super Junior.
Before the royal attendant could finish his report, the old man recalled a man’s face.
An arrogant young man who tried to use even the elders of The Royal Combat Society to deceive the criminal.
“Recite it.”
“Yes?”
“The moniker of that Super Junior.”
“It’s ‘Little Heavenly Demon’.”
-Bang!
The old man couldn’t hold back any longer and slammed the table as he stood up.
“…And Diablo doth appear.”
The man with the moniker Little Heavenly Demon, witnessed at the Debutante Ball, had the mask and beloved weapon inherited from his master.
His master was a man who should have sat in the thirteenth seat of the Turntable.
And the last wall that the Sword Queen could not overcome.
The Little Heavenly Demon is the successor of that Kung-Fu lineage.
“The name.”
“It was Sherlock Holmes.”
A welcome name signaling the end of boredom.
“I shall remember that name.”
The man who stood up was the Prism Sword, Isaac Newton.
A broad smile began to spread across the old master’s face.
“I shall go.”
As Newton stood up alone, the gathered martial artists quietly exchanged glances.
I shall go.
That meant he intended to return after handling the situation.
The black-haired gentleman who called him senior.
The elderly soldier known as Oblique Sleeve.
And even the pink-haired girl who watched silently with a look of annoyance.
Everyone understood.
The fact that this situation could potentially escalate into a diplomatic issue.
“…Are you really okay with this, Senior?”
So, when James Clerk Maxwell, who was one of Thunder and Lightning, asked this, it wasn’t because he doubted Isaac Newton’s skills.
Rather, it was the opposite.
Isaac Newton is strong.
Excessively so.
In his long life of 270 years, having devoted most of his time to Kung-Fu and research, his level was difficult to gauge even for a fellow knight of the Turntable.
Despite avoiding duels under the pretext of loyalty, even at the Sword Queen’s request, those who knew Newton well were confident that his Kung-Fu prowess was comparable to the greatest swordsman of England.
The problem was that his mere appearance in public could cause a stir.
Publicly, Isaac Newton was known to have died over 150 years ago, and not many among the elders of The Royal Combat Society and the League of Gentlemen knew the truth.
“Don’t worry. I’m going to quell the commotion, not to escalate things.”
“Even with that expression, your words aren’t convincing at all.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Newton didn’t even try to hide his smile.
He just shamelessly pointed at the empty seat of the Turnable.
“Unless the Blood Flower Ghost Pen has come, isn’t there no one here who can move more quietly than I?”
“That’s…”
There was no rebuttal.
There are thirteen seats at the Turntable.
Excluding the Sword Queen herself and the Heavenly Demon, who was invited as a member of the Turntable but never came, eleven martial artists should be gathered.
But only four are sitting here now.
“What do you think, Maxwell? Is what I said not correct?”
“…Indeed, it is.”
Maxwell, who considers himself the only sane person among the knights of the Turntable, had to endure the dizziness while looking at the grinning senior.
It was truly childish to emphasize that there was no one to step up instead of him, even mentioning the Blood Flower Ghost Pen, who was exiled abroad.
The Sword Queen may have rejuvenated, but what are you supposed to do when an old monster who has survived 270 years thus far acts like a child!
Such words rose to his throat, but he couldn’t bring himself to utter them because the Gravitation Technique was dirty, no, terrifying.
However, he could understand why Newton was so interested.
‘Since meeting that young man at the Debutante Ball, he’s been deep in thought.’
Not long ago, Maxwell went with his confidant Michael Faraday and Newton to watch the ball held for the debutantes held at Willis Room.
In fact, it was quite natural for members of The Royal Combat Society to attend the Debutante Ball.
Every year, the elders of the Combat Society selected promising debutantes at such gatherings to receive invitations to the Buckingham Palace Ball.
But the reason the three, who were publicly announced as deceased, attended instead of their much younger juniors was due to concerns about the Sword Queen’s deviation.
‘If anyone dares to question my decision, I shall cut them down.’
Queen Victoria, having rejuvenated, suddenly declared she would attend the Debutante Ball.
For the sole reason of wanting to reminisce about her memories with Prince Albert, who was no longer by her side, wearing the dress she loved when she first met him as a seventeen-year-old princess.
The Sword Queen was already a master who achieved the Social Facade.
She knew how to show mercy to the young debutantes.
But Maxwell persuaded Newton and Faraday to attend the Debutante Ball to prepare for any unexpected situations.
It was uncertain what the rejuvenated and spirited Sword Queen might do.
As a result, they encountered an unexpected figure at the Debutante Ball.
Phileas Fogg, the Heavenly Demon, who defeated Newton in a duel with secret manuals at stake instead of money.
A young martial artist who inherited his Kung-Fu lineage.
Sherlock Holmes, the Little Heavenly Demon.
“If you’re going, I won’t stop you, but…”
So, he could fully understand Newton’s intention to handle the situation alone.
Because the essence of the martial artist Newton was infinite and tireless curiosity.
In fact, Maxwell himself was dying to know what sort of person the Heavenly Demon’s successor was, but on such a day, it was only right to yield the turn to the senior.
“It’s all good, but at least take a mask with you.”
As long as things don’t escalate by someone known to have died 150 years ago appearing at the ball, anything goes.
“I don’t need such things.”
“…Please don’t take it out on me after getting chastised by the Sword Queen later.”
“Alright.”
Newton, with a face full of wrinkles, beamed and took out his beloved weapon.
“Did you say not to make the Zion Clan an enemy?”
As the Essence continued to flow along the set path, the dark, black traces of Essence, like ink, formed dense and complex patterns like branches on the bright yellow paper.
The Indulgence Talisman is not a piece of paper that forgives sins when bought for a high price, as known to devout Catholic believers, especially the secular disciples of the Zion Clan.
In the past, it might have been different, but the Indulgence Talismans currently in circulation are all made using the secret techniques passed down in the Zion Clan’s main temple.
“But, from what I see, it seems like you treated me as an enemy first.”
The Lily Swordmasters use the hidden abilities of this Indulgence Talisman to locate practitioners of Demonic arts, clear the turbid Qi accumulated in the meridians, and even remove the toxic residual Demonic Qi emitted by the corpses of demons and witches, making it truly miraculous.
So, for the public good of the European Murim—
“Have you never been advised not to make enemies recklessly?”
Good information must be shared by all.
That is the duty of the martial world that a chivalrous gentleman must uphold.
“It’s a negotiation, punk. It’s not too late, so even now-”
“Now it’s time for the retribution for your reckless words to bear down on your head. You won’t be able to avoid it, so enjoy it and return.”
The thread of internal energy, having penetrated the maze of formations hidden in the paper fibers of the Talisman, touched the core of the Talisman.
“If it’s a Church On The Rock1, it can surely withstand this Tribulation.”
-Whoosh!
As the finger that formed the final sword seal cut the Talisman in half like scissors, white flames filled the air.
“But I wonder if a Church On The Paper can withstand it.”
-Whoosh!
The spreading scent of lilies.
The secret kept by the Zion Clan,
The power hidden by the Talisman,
Was revealed before everyone’s eyes.
- TL/N: "Church on the Rock" is a common name for various Christian churches, often drawing inspiration from the biblical phrase "on this rock I will build my church". ️