Chapter 242: The Savior (2)

“……It was you?”

The Sword Empress stared at me.

Her expression was strange. She looked shocked, yet it seemed she had somewhat expected it.

“No… Considering the timing, it’s not that surprising. The title ‘Savior’ is quite extraordinary, so I assumed it must belong to someone who had reached the highest level or was close to being a transcendent.”

“……As expected of Seo-ha. Amazing.”

The Sword Empress and Kim Ara were looking at me, but I paid them no attention.

[Revealing your title has strengthened the effects of your title. The power of Pama (Magic Breaker) awakens within the Savior.]

[A new power has settled within you. However, this power belongs to the White. It cannot be used alongside the Black energy.]

I could feel the new power settling within my body.

‘This is…’

White.

The power to shatter evil. Yet, despite its name, it was not a destructive force. Rather, it felt comforting.

‘The power has been imbued into my title.’

One of the reasons why the title of Savior is advantageous.

This is just the beginning, but this power will help me deal more damage when facing the Apostles.

“Then shall we get going? If we’re too late, we won’t be able to stop the Sword Saint.”

“…I should prepare in advance.”

The Sword Empress’s expression turned complicated.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“No, it’s just that I wish someone like you had been with the Association instead… It’s a pity that you’re with a guild. I should have tried harder to recruit you.”

“I wouldn’t have joined anyway.”

The Association has too many rotten parts.

In some scenarios, I might have joined the Association and helped cut away the rot, but this way is better.

‘If necessary, I can find the source of the stench and sweep it clean all at once.’

The Association was like a government office.

It had a lot of power, but it was also tangled up with too many things. A more flexible guild suited me better.

‘If something bothers me, I can just destroy it.’

I looked at The Sword Empress.

“Let’s move out, then.”

The title ‘Savior’ was extraordinary at first glance.

Moreover, those who assigned titles did not operate within the worldly sphere of influence, making it even more significant. It was said that the “will of the world” observed humanity and granted these titles.

Upon hearing this title, the demons were reminded of a certain nightmare.

The heroes thought of a specific hero.

A returner.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Someone who might be similar to, or even surpass, that person.

When the title first appeared, everyone scrambled to find its owner.

The demons sought to kill the one who bore it.

The villains sought profit or to eliminate the bearer if they found them inconvenient.

The heroes sought to protect or ally with that person.

Despite their differing intentions, the conclusion was the same: find the owner of the title ‘Savior.’

However, the bearer of the title never appeared.

Only a few dared to guess who it might be.

[Who is the bearer of the title ‘Savior’?]

[It must be someone who has at least reached the highest level, given the change in their title.]

Many names were mentioned.

From Cynthia, a promising talent from America who once sparred with and lost to Lee Seo-ha, to the students of the Korean Hero Academy.

Even Lee Seo-ha and Kim Seo-hyun were considered candidates.

But the answer regarding them was always the same.

[Aren’t they just students?]

Yes, they were just students.

No matter how promising or full of potential they were, they were only twenty years old.

Thus, such claims quickly faded away.

That is, until an event in an online community changed everything.

[What is this?]

-I was about to ask The Sword Empress for an autograph when I saw the title ‘Savior’ displayed in the Hall of Fame. Is this real?

[Savior, Lee Seo-ha.]

Not a masked man, not Veritas, not a transcendent, but just an ordinary student received this title?

-Wow, someone worked hard to photoshop this, LOL.

-Posting stuff like this won’t fool anyone, LOL.

At first, it was treated as a joke.

But witnesses began to pile up.

“Yes, yes. It appears that student Lee Seo-ha revealed his title…”

“Then whose nickname is Black Flame Dragon?”

The information spread everywhere.

In a world with advanced internet, no one could stop it. You’d be hard-pressed to find even three people in the entire world who could do so. By the time a certain witch caught wind of it and realized it was too late, she actually helped spread the news.

[But come to think of it, Lee Seo-ha was always kind of different.]

-Even when you say they’re just a student, it’s normal for expectations to be lower. After all, a student is inexperienced, and those who reach the highest level are usually called geniuses.

-Yeah, but that kid was at a level where he could beat up top-tier fighters.

-Looking at how he performed in the battle at the Cliff Front, he was basically handling things on his own.

-Lee Seo-ha was indeed… too strong to be considered just a regular student.

-Yep. They gave him the nickname Black Flame Dragon, but he never actually revealed his title.

Some began to acknowledge the truth.

[It must be some grand conspiracy.]

-How can just a student receive such a grand title? Maybe if it were Japan’s famous Sword Saint.

-Are you a Sword Saint hater or what…?

-the Sword Saint? Haha, don’t make me laugh. That guy already fell to the demons ages ago. What are you even saying?

[This comment has been deleted.]

-? What happened? Why was the comment deleted?

-Did I see something wrong just now?

[Thinking back]

-All signs were pointing to Lee Seo-ha.

He had just reached the highest level. But even before that, he was beating up top-tier fighters.

How was he beating up top-tier fighters even before he reached that level? There’s even a video.

[A video of Lee Seo-ha beating up a top-tier opponent.]

This was filmed during a combined lesson of second and first-year students at the Korean Hero Academy, and it’s been circulating.

-Wait, is he really punching them out? Is this for real?

-What was I doing at twenty?

-Probably wasting time posting nonsense on the internet like now, LOL.

-You little…!

-Honestly, everything pointed to Lee Seo-ha, but it’s funny how everyone collectively acted like they were under some kind of hypnosis…

-Wow, now that you mention it, wasn’t this the Year of the Pig?

-We were all acting like pigs, stubbornly denying it.

-So, hypnosis apps are actually real?

The once smoldering flames were now spreading like wildfire, ready to engulf the world.

Warping through the gate, we transcended space.

In an instant, we arrived in Japan.

There were many other heroes besides us.

‘Wow.’

I let out a soft exclamation internally.

Most of the heroes I sensed there were at the highest level.

The fall of the Sword Saint.

It was proof that politicians worldwide were taking this issue very seriously.

“It’s been a while.”

A voice rang out, neutral and ambiguous, making it impossible to determine the gender. Despite having a bushy beard, the skin was smooth like a child’s, and the figure possessed delicate lines akin to a woman’s—a wizard.

The White Sorcerer, who carried the garden of the World Tree within his psyche.

‘Merlin.’

He smiled as he extended a handshake toward me.

“We’ve met before, haven’t we?”

“I was wearing a mask back then. You recognized me well.”

“That mask may be good, but it’s not enough to fool the bloodline of the Nightmare. And the Lion King is aware too. Ah, I see eyes focused from all directions. It seems everyone is keen on getting to know someone as promising as you.”

“Not all of those gazes are friendly.”

“That’s what makes humans interesting. They get heated over trivial things, and even when they know they can’t reach something, they still feel jealousy. Even if they don’t have confidence in bringing someone down to lift themselves up…”

Merlin smiled gently as he trailed off.

“We’ve talked quite a lot, haven’t we? Officially or unofficially, we’ve never met, so let’s end our conversation here.”

With a wry smile, he turned around and walked away.

As Merlin said, intense gazes were fixed on us from all directions.

“Some pretty big shots have stepped up.”

And there was a familiar face standing nearby.

Approaching me smoothly, clad in full plate mail, was a presence.

Covered head to toe in armor, this figure sent a friendly gaze my way.

The Lion King.

A knight of light wielding the Ex-grade weapon, Excalibur.

-There are too many eyes on us now, so I can’t greet you as I’d like. Forgive me for only bowing my head to protect your identity.

The words seemed to engrave themselves in my mind.

Even now, it was impossible to discern their gender from their voice.

I felt another presence approaching me.

Unlike the pressure I sensed from all around, it was the casual movement of someone claiming to be an ordinary person.

“An-nyeonghaseyo.”

A clumsy Korean greeting reached my ears.

…Someone who looked Japanese.

The face was familiar.

“Hello.”

“Oh, you speak Japanese fluently.”

The Japanese Prime Minister smiled brightly, impressed by my proficiency in Japanese, acquired through my ability.

-The situation in Japan doesn’t seem very good.

The Sword Empress’s voice discreetly slipped into my ear.

-That man is Japan’s Prime Minister, Kimura Takuya. He’s famous for his capabilities, but his position is precarious. Still, once he makes a move, he’s known to be very adept at gaining allies. It seems like he’s trying to recruit you.

I maintained a poker face as I regarded him, recalling the Sword Empress’s advice, which carried a mix of caution and concern.

“Welcome to Japan. As you know, the Sword Saint has succumbed to the Ma.”

He spoke directly.

“Though it’s a disgrace that our nation’s hero has fallen to the Ma, what’s more important are the lives of our citizens. They are unaware of the danger, so please, help us protect Japan….”

I was taken aback.

This was still an official setting, so I wasn’t sure if it was appropriate for him to speak like that.

‘They wouldn’t have known I was the Savior yet.’

Since I had come straight here after registering my title.

Still, his honesty was something I appreciated.

“Then, let’s set out immediately.”

“…Right away?”

He hesitated slightly.

Due to his unique talents, the Sword Saint had a frail body.

Now, having become a demon, his true power was a mystery. Some might even think that a transcendent of unmatched strength has been born.

I stretched my body.

The Sword of the Four Seasons hummed, vibrating in subspace.

“Still young, aren’t you? So full of vigor.”

“It’s been a while since I’ve heard such provocation.”

Hostile eyes were clearly directed at me.

His skin was dark, suggesting he was likely a hero from the Middle East.

“Do you not understand the weight of a name like the fallen Sword Saint….”

Before the battle with the Sword Saint.

There were too many who seemed to think like this, so perhaps I should assert my dominance a little.

I moved my legs lightly, crossing the threshold that separated the Middle Eastern hero’s line of sight.

“Come at me….”

With a flick.

I casually lifted my arm and encircled his neck.

The Middle Eastern hero had a stunned expression.

“Don’t be so sharp in your reactions. It just makes you look weaker.”

I offered a light warning.

If I were the Sword Saint, I would have killed someone like this first. Upon hearing my advice, his complexion turned pale, and he nodded quietly.

It was good to see he listened well.

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