Pinnacle Sword Art (2)

I was still lost in thought, wondering where and how I could obtain a Pinnacle-level sword art.

It was then that Captain Seol Pung, who had just returned from a sudden summons to the Unit Commander, gathered all the squad members and spoke.

“This time, our squad has been selected for dispatch.”

Dispatch?

It was an announcement that caught us all off guard.

Everyone widened their eyes and asked in unison.

“What?”

“Dispatch, all of a sudden?”

“Where to?”

With a slightly grave expression, Captain Seol Pung explained the situation.

“Just a few days ago, there was an incident in the Twelfth Unit. The Demonic General Jeo Ung-won led his men, annihilated two squads, and then crossed beyond the front. Because of that, Master Man Jongim, the Twelfth Unit Commander and the Demon-Hating Wanderer, requested reinforcements from the Eleventh and Thirteenth Units for pursuit.”

Only then did I remember that this event had also occurred in my past life.

The Demonic General Jeo Ung-won of the Blood Cult, known to possess over ninety years of inner strength, had been a fairly famous master who had taken part in the Great Blood War. Around this time, he broke away from the Blood Demon’s control, clashed with the Eleventh Unit, and crossed north beyond the front.

It was not uncommon for Blood Cultists to rebel against the Blood Demon’s heavy domination and flee Yunnan Province.

After all, for the demonic warlords of the Blood Cult, who had never cared about the eyes of the world or rules to begin with, it was perhaps stranger that they were forced to stay confined in Yunnan Province just because of a nonaggression pact with the Martial Alliance.

Of course, some believed this to be the Blood Demon’s scheme of “killing with a borrowed knife.”

Didn’t it feel as if he were using the Martial Alliance’s hand to eliminate those Blood Cultists who refused to obey him?

Looking back from my past life at how the Blood Demon later broke free of Yunnan Province and spread his power, that opinion held considerable weight.

In any case, I recalled that the dispatched pursuers had returned with nothing, following the Alliance’s order to withdraw.

At the time, it had been Captain Han Gyoseong’s First Squad that went, so I hadn’t paid it much mind. But this time, it seemed our squad was chosen.

Hmm, if that’s the case…?

I asked our captain, “That means our squad is recognized as the strongest force in the Thirteenth Unit, isn’t it?”

Captain Seol Pung smiled broadly and replied.

“Well, isn’t that obvious? Ours is the only squad where every member has reached the First-Class Realm, and we have no fewer than four members of captain-level caliber.”

So it was.

It was customary to send only the most elite squads for dispatch. For our squad to be selected instead of the First Squad meant we were being acknowledged as the elite of the Thirteenth Unit.

Hearing this, the squad members exclaimed in amazement with bright faces.

“Ooohhh!”

“That’s awesome!”

I, too, felt quite good.

It wasn’t about individual recognition—our whole squad was being acknowledged.

That must have been why even our captain’s face looked so bright.

Then, glancing at me, he continued.

“In fact, there was even talk that the vacant captaincy of the Fourth Squad should be filled from our squad. But since many argued the Fourth Squad captain must at least be at the Pinnacle level, the idea was scrapped.”

With a meaningful look, he cast a sidelong glance at me and Lady Cheong Yeon.

Well… that was a bit awkward.

I was glad once again that I had kept my Pinnacle realm hidden.

Neither I nor Lady Na, let alone our squadmates, wanted to be transferred to another squad.

Just then, Bi Sa-yeong chuckled mischievously.

“If Jin had gone to become captain of the Fourth Squad, that would’ve been hilarious! Remember Ju Tae-gyeong? He ran off to the Fourth Squad to get away from Jin. What if he suddenly met Jin again as his new captain? Hahaha! Jin, don’t you want the post? I’d pay to watch that.”

Ugh. I wasn’t keen on meeting that guy again either.

But imagining it was funny.

If we met again, I’d definitely make him call me “Big Brother” properly.

Still, it made me realize something I hadn’t considered.

I had only thought about raising the strength of my squad members. But I hadn’t considered that these same comrades, once strong enough, might go on to become captains of other squads.

In truth, even the fact that Captain Seol Pung—acknowledged as one of the strongest in the Thirteenth Unit alongside Captain Han Gyoseong—was leading the minor Seventh Squad didn’t really make sense.

And both Lady Cheong Yeon and I already had the strength to serve as captains of any squad, even the higher ones.

Even Lady Na and Bi Sa-yeong had enough strength to lead one of the lower squads.

A thought came to me.

“Perhaps… our time together like this won’t last much longer.”

Looking around at the faces of my comrades—who now felt closer than family, dearer to me than family—I felt a sudden surge of affection.

As soon as we heard the news, everyone began preparing their belongings for the dispatch.

Only I stepped outside and walked away.

I had two matters to resolve before leaving.

The first was the issue of the Iron Ogre, who might appear while we were away.

The second was the problem of a Pinnacle Sword Art.

The last time I went to see Lady Tang, I couldn’t bring myself to mention Bone-Melting Powder.

After she cried for so long and barely calmed down, thanking me for coming… how could I tell her that my real purpose was Bone-Melting Powder?

But now I had to. Even if she looked weary, I needed to speak of it.

Our comrades—or perhaps even Lady Tang herself—could fall victim to the Iron Ogre.

Yet as I headed toward her, my steps felt strange.

“No… it isn’t my steps, it’s my heart that feels strange.”

My body felt tense, but my steps were oddly light.

Unknowingly, I swallowed hard.

“What’s wrong with me?”

Arriving at the Third Squad’s quarters, I saw that despite the dimming sky, all the members were still outside, immersed in training.

Whatever their motivation, their fervor rivaled our squad’s.

Among them, I spotted Lady Tang moving briskly, instructing them.

For a moment, I hesitated to speak, afraid I might disrupt their training.

But I had no choice.

Time was running out.

“Lady Tang, may I have a moment of your time?!”

I raised my voice, drawing her eyes toward me.

Her expression was cold and aloof as usual.

She walked toward me and asked,

“As you can see, we’re in the middle of training. Is it urgent?”

Her tone was frigid.

Strangely, it relieved me—it felt like she had returned to her old self. Yet I couldn’t help feeling a little hurt.

Smiling wryly, I replied,

“Yes, it’s urgent. It won’t take long.”

“Then let’s talk over there.”

She led me a little apart from the others, to a place out of their sight.

And as soon as we arrived, she shed her cold façade, her face filled with guilt as she said,

“I’m sorry. I didn’t think it right to show too much joy in front of the squad. Did I… hurt your feelings?”

The way she looked at me anxiously, worried she had upset me…

She was just too cute.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“No, it’s fine. You looked cool.”

“O-oh. Thank you.”

She ducked her head.

Even in the dim light, her face seemed faintly flushed.

As I hesitated, wondering how to bring up Bone-Melting Powder, she spoke first.

“I heard… you’re being dispatched.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Still looking down, she whispered softly, “I wanted to tell you… please take care of yourself.”

The fact that she couldn’t even say it directly, only that she wanted to say it, showed just how much we had misunderstood her all this time.

I smiled warmly.

“Thank you. I’ll be fine.”

For a while, we stood silently together.

It was a strange feeling, as if time might flow endlessly on like this.

I didn’t want it to end, but I knew I had to speak of the matter.

“Lady Tang, you may recall that Captain Seol Pung and I went into the jungle some time ago. There, we met Elder Seok Gyeongdal….”

I intended to frame my knowledge of the Iron Ogre as something I learned from him.

That Bone-Melting Powder could weaken the creature.

She widened her eyes and listened intently.

Then she told me that though she didn’t have much Bone-Melting Powder, she would share it among the squad captains.

After all my long fretting, the solution turned out so simple.

After bidding her a cautious farewell, I set out to deliver the warning to the other captains myself.

When it came to the Iron Ogre, I felt it best to tell them personally.

Starting with Captain Pung Yang, who had temporarily taken command of the Fourth Squad, I relayed everything. The captains generally thanked me.

“Captain Dok Sugwang’s attitude is a little concerning, but… nothing more can be done.”

After speaking to five captains, only one remained.

I took a deep breath, organizing the words I would say.

Because with this last captain, I hoped to resolve my second issue as well—

The matter of a Pinnacle Sword Art.

No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t solve it with the sword arts I already knew.

Though I had memorized many sword arts, none—not even the basic form of the Four-One Sword Art—came close to rivaling the Seonu Thirteen Swords.

So the only option left was to learn something new.

A sword art that surpassed or at least equaled the supreme ultimate techniques of the Nine Great Sects.

I chuckled wryly.

Easier said than done. Where could I possibly find such a sword art?

“Unless… I search for the legendary Sword God’s inheritance?”

As I wrestled with this dilemma, I suddenly realized there were already three sword arts of that caliber around me.

Captain Han Gyoseong’s Blue Wind Sword Technique of the Qingcheng Sect.

Lady Cheong Yeon’s Holy Radiance Sword of the Sword Sage.

And the Advanced Four-One Sword Art of the Diancang Sect.

Three ultimate-level sword arts from the Nine Great Sects, all right around me.

And among them, the one I had the best chance of learning was…

I strode boldly into a training ground, where a man sat in meditation.

“Captain Sa Gun-il.”

It was none other than Diancang’s Sword Dragon, Captain Sa Gun-il.

He opened his eyes slightly and looked at me, his gaze tinged with surprise.

“Seonu Jin, is it? What brings you here?”

I had long wondered how to broach this.

But with Sa Gun-il, I knew there was no point beating around the bush.

So I said it outright.

“I want to learn the Four-One Sword Art.”

If I thought about it, the Four-One Sword Art was the most suitable pinnacle technique for me.

I already knew all its forms by heart from my past life—only the heart method and applications were missing.

If I could just learn it properly, I could master it faster than anything else.

And compared to the Blue Wind Sword Technique or the Holy Radiance Sword, the Four-One Sword Art of the fallen Diancang Sect had far better odds of being taught.

But Sa Gun-il gave me a look of disbelief and asked,

“You want to learn the Four-One Sword Art? You?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

My unwavering confidence seemed to catch him off guard. He stared at me silently for a moment, then said,

“Do you know what Ju Tae-gyeong has been ranting to me about lately?”

Huh? Ju Tae-gyeong? Why bring him up?

He went on.

“He says you dragged Diancang’s honor through the mud.”

I let out a dry laugh.

I understood immediately.

He must mean that by exposing Ma Yugyeom’s crimes, I had disgraced Diancang’s name.

Not entirely wrong—but to blame me, the one who exposed him, rather than Ma Yugyeom, the one who sinned… that was exactly the kind of twisted logic Ju Tae-gyeong would use.

“I don’t suppose you agree with that nonsense, do you?”

Sa Gun-il gave a faint smile.

“Of course not. If anything, you did us a favor. Who knows what worse crimes he might have committed in Diancang’s name if not for you? Still… there are certainly those who see it that way. And so, regardless of why or how, doesn’t it look strange for you to be the one learning Diancang’s Four-One Sword Art?”

It was a roundabout refusal.

Yet I was satisfied.

The fact that he wasn’t angry, demanding “Why should I teach you that?” was already a good sign.

I shook my head and replied,

“If anything, that’s all the more reason I should learn the Four-One Sword Art.”

He frowned.

“What do you mean?”

“If I were an outsider, it would indeed look like Diancang’s shame was exposed to outsiders. But if I am connected to Diancang, then it becomes Diancang punishing its own traitor. And besides—”

Even as he listened, his frown didn’t ease.

Not persuasive enough yet.

But what I truly wanted to say came next.

Meeting his eyes squarely, I declared,

“I will elevate Diancang’s honor with the Four-One Sword Art.”

His expression changed to one of surprise.

“…What did you say?”

“I believe we must strike the Blood Cult within five years. After that, there will be no chance.”

In five years, the demonic experts who could endure sword-qi would appear. Pinnacle masters with bodies toughened like monsters.

When that time came, holding the front would be impossible. Survival itself would be difficult.

So we had to strike first.

His eyes wavered violently.

No surprise—it was surely Diancang’s lifelong wish to strike the Blood Cult.

I spoke again, pouring my conviction into my words.

“When that time comes, I will sweep away the Blood Cult’s demon lords with the Four-One Sword Art. I will make sure it is remembered not as the sword art of a traitor who defected to the Blood Cult, but as the sword art that destroyed the Blood Cult.”

This was what I had truly come to say.

And there was not a shred of falsehood in it.

His frown was gone now.

Instead, his eyes shone with a fierce light I had never seen before, brimming with primal vigor.

He muttered,

“Such… madness. But now I see why Yugyeom once liked you when he was sane. So—you would invade the Blood Cult, is that it?”

His gaze blazed with wild intensity, unlike anything I had ever seen from him.

Then he asked,

“One more thing. Why are you so fixated on the Four-One Sword Art? The Seonu Thirteen Swords you wield are already excellent.”

I shook my head.

“I thought so too. But after fighting Ma Yugyeom, I changed my mind. The Seonu Thirteen Swords can’t match the Four-One Sword Art.”

For a moment, his eyes gleamed sharply.

“You fought Ma Yugyeom? You didn’t mention that before.”

When reporting to the Unit Commander and the captains, I had only said that I fled using footwork until Lady Tang woke and subdued him.

Had I admitted to fighting, I would have had to reveal that I reached Pinnacle.

“I didn’t want to make it known.”

But it was clear he had guessed what I meant.

“Does Seol Pung know?”

“Yes. But I asked him to keep it secret. I’m not ready to leave the Seventh Squad yet.”

He chuckled dryly.

“Seol Pung is lucky indeed. To think you went from Second-Class to Pinnacle in just a few months.”

Then, with blazing eyes, he said,

“Very well. I will trust you. I believe you can raise Diancang’s honor. But one condition—when you march against the Blood Cult, you must not leave me behind.”

I grinned.

“I won’t disappoint you.”

That day, at last, I was able to complete the Four-One Sword Art of Diancang, which I had memorized since my past life.