Plum Blossom Sword Empress (4)

A moment later.

When Su Ok-bin returned as well, we started speeding off again.

I turned my gaze.
Peng Jin-ah was standing silently behind me, arms crossed, puffing her cheeks.

‘Hmm…’

I turned my head to the other side.
The Plum Blossom Sword Empress was grinning and poking my arm playfully like a toy.

It literally felt like I was inside a sandwich.

Seeing this, Peng Jin-ah, who played the role of the fluffy bread, narrowed her eyes sharply.

“Master, why did you insist on coming beside me instead of taking the front seat?”
“Well, I want to be next to Yu Seha too~”
“…Master! Please behave properly!”
“Formal royal attitude~”
“Master!”

Peng Jin-ah grumbled.
But the Sword Empress just kept smiling cheekily regardless.

Childish banter continued behind.
It felt like a real sisterly quarrel.

I just let it be.
It actually felt refreshing.
Peng Jin-ah usually acts childish, but not to this extent.
But when it came to the Sword Empress, she acted like a younger sister whining to her older sister, which was cute in its own way.

“…Cadet Yu Seha, why are you smiling so unpleasantly?”

Ah, I couldn’t control the corner of my mouth.

“It’s nothing~”
“…Ugh!”

I brushed it off smoothly.
Then I asked Su Ok-bin about our current destination.

“Vice President-”
“Noona~”
“…Noona. But can I really enter the Sword Heaven Eastern Mansion?”

.

A place where I, the Heavenly Sword, the Plum Blossom Sword Empress, and the Vice President—women of tremendous status—were heading.

Peng Jin-ah, who had been nursing me during my hospitalization, mentioned it for the first time.

-Cadet Yu Seha, will you come along too?

Peng Jin-ah explained.
The day Su Ok-bin and others had discussed about it.
She said after the Kirin raid, we would all go together to cool off.

Su Ok-bin blinked at my question and chuckled softly before answering.

“Of course. If the hero who defeated Kirin doesn’t go, then who else would?”
“…No matter how much you gild it…”
“It’s not gilding.”

Though she smiled, her eyes were quite serious.

“Yu Seha, you are a hero. So you have more than enough qualifications.”
“Su Ok-bin. Yu Seha is a young cadet who needs protection.”
“Yes, that’s right. Still a cadet.”
“Su Ok-bin!”
“Now, now~ don’t fight. Anyway, Yu Seha? After feeling those soft, chewy cheeks earlier and measuring your stats, you definitely qualify~ So don’t worry.”

The Plum Blossom Sword Empress, mediating between them, winked at me.
At the same time, she proudly puffed out her chest and snorted lightly.

“I’m the S-rank here~ What right do you have to stop me?”

Hmm, with words like that, it seemed there was no problem with my entry.

Anyway, you must be curious by now.
What exactly is the Sword Heaven Eastern Mansion?

‘Simply put, it’s a place to level up… I guess.’

If production classes regard as their dream place.
Martial artists, especially swordsmen, considered their dream place.
Anyone who specializes in swords wants to visit at least once.

The reason is that, although not as much as I conquered, it is a precious place that enhances weapon proficiency.

Additionally, a barrier that distorts the flow of time compared to outside is always maintained.

‘I heard that five days here equal one day outside.’

It was literally an optimized place for training.
It’s a mistake to think of it as just an ordinary training ground.

‘The interior is so vast it’s practically a city.’

Many different stay there.
There are also many merchants and other figures selling various equipment to those hunters.

This is possible because the true nature of Sword Heaven Eastern Mansion is a .

An unprecedented place where laws beyond dungeons and trials converge.

In the past, the conquered the ‘Tower of Oracles’ and claimed part ownership.
The Association and some famous clans raided a place called the <Sword Master’s Tower>.
And the place remodeled from it was the Sword Heaven Eastern Mansion.

‘The reason it’s called the Eastern Mansion is because the <Sword Master’s Tower> is based on the Xianxia world setting.’

Monstrous beings abound there.
The tower’s owner and final boss, the ‘Hierarchy Lord,’ was a formidable foe titled ‘Sword Saint.’

Anyway, that was a bit lengthy.

It’s a place of great honor, so only those ranked at least B or A class or higher.
Only chosen ones meeting all conditions of identity, fame, and strength could enter.

And to use the facilities or buy goods there, one had to hold an even higher status.

In her explanation, Su Ok-bin added more.

“I could enter too, but I couldn’t use the training facilities. Then the Sword Empress made a proposal, and I conveyed additional words to the Heavenly Sword.”

Because she thought a swordsman like her would like it.

After Su Ok-bin finished explaining, Peng Jin-ah silently puffed her cheeks.

Her gaze was fixed on the Sword Empress.

“It’s a bit late now, but Master, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Huh?”
“When you told me months ago, you didn’t say you were taking that sly girl with you.”

Peng Jin-ah pouted as if displeased with Su Ok-bin.

The Sword Empress blinked in response.
She glanced at Su Ok-bin driving and asked casually.

“Oh my, you two were that close? I didn’t know~”
“Of course. How close do you think I am with the Overlord Sword?”
“W-well, don’t be ridiculous! I’m just someone who coveted another’s disciple’s lips!”
“Oh? Isn’t that the same for you? As far as I remember, you held those lips at least 10 seconds longer than I did?”

The sudden conversation made the Sword Empress’s eyes sparkle brightly.

“What? What? What on earth is this? Our stone-faced Jin-ah said ‘long’? Our Jin-ah who has that plump, firm, well-shaped swordsmanship pouch but has never held a man’s hand?”
“M-M-M-M-master! Please don’t talk nonsense!”

A scene of bickering.
Three strong-willed women gathered, so the tension was high.

Of course, I couldn’t pay attention to that.
I was dumbfounded by the sudden mention.

“…Lips?”
“…Ah!”
“Hehe. Caught you. It’s nice to see you self-destructing.”
“Y-you witch!”
“Master…?”

Peng Jin-ah’s face turned bright red.
She waved her hands frantically.

“Ah, no! Don’t misunderstand! It was an unavoidable treatment process! I swear there were no personal feelings!”
“For that, the kissing time was too long—”
“-Be quiet!”

I chuckled awkwardly and scratched my forehead.
I didn’t press for details.
There must have been a reason.

‘It seems like this happened when I was unconscious…’

I had no clue what had happened.

Two hours later.
We took the along the way and finally arrived at our destination.

As soon as I got out of the car, a cool yet antique fragrance filled the air.
This was possible because a unique magical power was densely distributed in the atmosphere.

“Hmm~ The air is great as expected. Seha, you like it too, right?”
“Yes. Even the scent is definitely different.”

Ahead, a large building about 60 floors tall was visible.
A modern building.
Uniquely, a huge sword was stuck right in the center.
Of course, it wasn’t actually stabbed by a real sword.
It was probably a symbolic item.

“Come on, everyone, follow me~”

The Plum Blossom Sword Empress led us inside.
Dozens of hunters stood near the entrance.

I briefly met their eyes.

‘…At least B-rank.’

They were hunters with some degree of fame.
Their gazes were indifferent at first but soon turned to shock when they recognized the Sword Empress and Peng Jin-ah.

Here and there, whispers like “It’s the Plum Blossom Sword Empress!”, “Isn’t that the Overlord Sword too…? Wasn’t she into retirement?” floated around.

Soon, the Sword Empress gestured for us to enter the VIP-only entrance.
Since we were entering as acquaintances of the Sword Empress, we didn’t have to wait at all.
We followed behind, receiving envious and admiring gazes from the surrounding hunters.

Soon, the updated before my eyes.

“…Wow.”

An involuntary exclamation escaped.
The scenery inside.
Various shops and facilities were lined up everywhere.
They sold or traded equipment hard to find outside.
Hunters clashed weapons here and there, showcasing their skills.

All of this was amazing.
But the most impressive was the spiral tower before my eyes.

The first floor was intact.
From the fifth floor, the space was divided and extended high into the sky, far away.
A huge structure appearing to have at least 150 floors.

It was the <Sword Master’s Tower> I mentioned earlier.
It was more magnificent and flowed with stronger law power than the seen at the temple.

No wonder martial artists go crazy for this.

‘Anyway…’

I glanced around.
I had felt it since entering, but the number of eyes watching me was increasing.

With this unique sense.
I instinctively knew.

Everyone here right now.
Were people of much higher status than the hunters waiting outside.
Some of them I had seen on TV or the internet.

I did not avoid the piercing gazes.
Some had fiercely burning eyes showing competitiveness.
Some had cold eyes measuring my worth.
Some recognized me and showed surprise.
Some showed curiosity and interest.

A tingling feeling grew in my chest.

It felt like stepping out of the fence into a world where real hunters exist.

Seeing me like that, the Sword Empress, having finished registration, approached with a sly smile.

“As expected of a young new face! You’re even more popular than me.”
“…New face?”
“Yes, yes. These people here are, simply put, veterans.”

Watching the birth of countless rookies.
They are the ones who watch them rise.

“They all hold their positions… so they show more interest in new faces than me. Especially Seha, who even defeated ‘Kirin,’ a hero, right?”
“…Ah.”
“Since it’s come to this, Seha, want to try that?”
“…Huh?”

The Sword Empress smiled gently.
She pointed at the <Sword Master’s Tower>.
More precisely, the swirling gate.

I had heard the explanation and knew what it was.
The lodgings here.
To use other facilities, you must pass a minimum test.
And that test can be taken by entering there.

At that moment, Peng Jin-ah appeared like a ghost.
She shook her head at the Sword Empress.

“Master. It’s too soon for Cadet Yu Seha. What are you doing to a child who just became a B-rank hunter…!”
“Hmm. Our Jin-ah, I know you care for your disciple… but I wish you’d look at it objectively.”

The Sword Empress looked at Peng Jin-ah as if incredulous.
Then she turned her gaze to me.
Her narrow eyes shone like jewels.

“Dangerous? Who? That child?”

I thought the boss inside looked more pitiful.

“…”

Peng Jin-ah opened her mouth but couldn’t refute the Sword Empress.
I looked at her and placed my hand on her shoulder.

“Master. I want to try.”
“…Cadet Yu Seha.”

Peng Jin-ah sighed after a moment.
She understood it as silent approval.
She immediately turned around.

With everyone’s eyes focused on me now.
I confidently entered the tower’s entrance.

Upon entering, the surrounding space transformed.
It seemed to be a sparring arena.
Probably a place to duel the boss one-on-one.
Simple and intuitive, which was good.

After waiting about a minute.
A growling tiger sound reached my ears.

Heavy footsteps.
A bipedal beast with crimson fur and black stripes appeared.

I stared wide-eyed at the creature.
Huh, this guy?

‘Why is this kid coming out here?’

“Grrr!!!”