Episode 40

“It’s been a while.”

There’s a lot to be said about the head of the Iron Blood Sword Clan.

But the first impression he gives off is a father acting kindly.

‘Interesting.’

It really is fascinating.

Seojin’s smile deepened.

Some memories surge upon seeing the head of the Iron Blood Sword Clan.

「You were the first, so I had high expectations… but it turns out your talent is even less than I thought.」

A memory from when Seojin was 5 years old.

「I’ve shown you several times, and yet you still can’t memorize this. And your body is so frail…」

And a memory from when Seojin was 7 years old.

「…You still can’t feel mana?」

Another memory came forward from when Seojin was 10 years old.

Expressions of disbelief and anger twisted his face come to mind.

I found out later that the head of the Iron Blood Sword Clan immediately went to get a genetic test.

To confirm whether Han Seojin was his biological son or not.

And it turned out that Han Seojin was indeed his biological son.

「Han Seojin. I’ll give you one last chance.」

「There is an organization that is in a cooperative relationship with us. If you do as they say, I will accept you as a family member.」

The Iron-Blood Sword Clan’s head smiled bitterly.

And that was how I knew the outcome, as it was my first time being reincarnated.

I don’t know what experiment they did.

However, the head of the Iron-Blood Sword Clan left Han Seojin to die.

“By the way, are you feeling okay?”

“Well, I have some sore spots here and there…”

His complexion hardened at my words.

I shouldn’t be hurt. Because I defeated my opponents with basic swordsmanship and spearmanship.

I didn’t even push myself.

I’m just saying this to the head of the Iron-Blood Sword Clan.

「It seems my body became a mess in the lab you sent me to.」

That’s roughly what I was suggesting.

The head must’ve been flustered because I brought up such a topic.

“That’s right. I saw your performance in the recent professorship competition. I thought of you as a mere child, but you showed me something beyond my imagination.”

「It seems like the abilities were newly awakened thanks to me sending you to the laboratory. I’m glad I did my part as a father.」

…Roughly interpreted, he must’ve meant this.

‘Wow, this guy.’

I couldn’t help but be amazed.

As someone who has lived three lives as a reincarnator,

I haven’t seen many with such a twisted personality.

“So, my body is sore all over. By the way, my siblings are attending here, right? Oh, right. What about that cousin of theirs? How is he doing?”

「If you don’t want my siblings to end up like my cousin, behave yourself.」

“Cheoljin did make many mistakes. Thanks to your discipline this time, he’s reflecting a lot.”

「You made him a wreck; I’ll take care of it, so let’s stop this.」

“Haha. That sounds great. Oh, I’ve heard that the Iron-Blood Sword Clan is doing quite well these days.”

「Throw in some money on top of that.」

“It seems that Han Seojin, the chief professor at the academy, is getting quite the push. However, as a gesture of goodwill for our son and daughter, I can offer more.”

「I know exactly how much you’re getting. Are you trying to squeeze blood from a flea? But if you include our daughter and son, we’ll support you generously.」

“That sounds good. Oh, and I’ve heard there are quite a few bedbugs around the docks these days, no problems on your end?”

「Help me out with those Namgoong Clan bastards.」

“Ah, those parasites. I’ve heard they’re quite the problem these days. My son and daughter are very interested in pest control, so we’re good.”

「I’ll send my son and daughter off with a few swords. I will help out as well, too.」

I smiled slightly.

‘This bastard.’

He’s seriously someone I don’t want to get close to, huh?

Well, it doesn’t matter if I take on more students anyway.

‘I should start preparing the others for their final exams soon.’

I extended my hand with a smile.

The head of the family also smiled and shook hands with me.

“…I never expected our relationship to become like this, but please take good care of me from now on, Professor Han Seojin.”

「I’ve made some mistakes, too, so I won’t call you my son. Let’s try to be friends instead.」

That’s what he meant.

I smiled slightly.

No way.

We can never be friends under any circumstances.

“Ugh, having to go to work from dawn again today is terrible.”

“I haven’t had a proper break in a year. It seems to have gotten busier since we started throwing more workers into the mix.”

The morning of the Namgoong Clan starts a bit early.

It’s partly because, as warriors, they practice at dawn, but the reason is different these days.

As the local nobility that rules over Incheon, they are currently excavating a relic.

The lower ranks don’t know the details.

However, they know that the Namgoong Clan’s head is immensely concerned about this matter since the head keeps moving to the site of the relic excavation.

Naturally, the lower ranks suffered, and civilians in the vicinity were forcibly conscripted to expedite the excavation.

They said they would protest to the government, but it wouldn’t matter, because by that time, dissenters will be buried, and the relic will be unearthed.

Such was the world.

Rules and order had collapsed once, preventing the country from fulfilling its role.

“What a fine dawn.”

“Good dawn, My lord!”

The head of the Namgoong Clan looked around and walked briskly, thinking.

‘The pressure has intensified lately.’

Government.

The government of Korea was pressuring them. Although they had recently forcibly conscripted workers in Incheon, they gave them money and food. However, the government said that the Namgoong Clan was being too reckless and harming the workers’ livelihoods.

‘Even though we gave these insignificant people the opportunity to contribute to the Namgoong Clan.’

But the Namgoong Clan couldn’t be too reckless.

Because the government’s scrutiny hasn’t been lenient lately.

Still, everything was going according to the plan.

The relic they are currently excavating—soon, they will be able to excavate it.

‘Just a little longer. Then, it can be smoothed over as much as needed.’

It’s a world where power is everything.

Driven out of China, the head of the Namgoong Clan watched its decline in this distant foreign land.

Therefore, he desired power more than anyone else.

And soon, it was time to bear fruit.

The head of the Namgoong Clan briskly walked towards the relic.

Today, perhaps because it was unusually early, hardly any people were around.

“How are things around here lately?”

“Around here? Oh, the kids don’t listen well. They talk about forced conscription and such…”

He clicked his tongue lightly.

“Not that. The government and the surrounding families.”

“Ah, lately, the attention has significantly decreased. From both the families and the government.”

“The attention has decreased?”

He narrowed his eyes.

Why has the attention suddenly decreased?

‘That’s not good.’

The steward knew well what position the Namgoong Clan is in right now. As such, this matter required a bit of caution. The government intervened directly and said not to make a big deal out of this incident, and the other families hinted at the same.

He thought it would be fine.

But then, for those to warn them to suddenly turn a blind eye—instead of increasing their focus? Such cases are rare.

Perhaps they withdrew due to an incident. But thinking this way is too optimistic.

The highest probability is.

‘They’ve deployed experts.’

The fact that they have high-quality personnel that the clan failed to notice.

‘Should I move faster?’

It’s a task that requires secrecy.

That’s why he was hesitant to even deploy the workers.

It was at that moment he felt a strange sense of unease.

His warrior instincts quietly sensed something wrong—the danger was imminent.

“Look here. We have guests~!”

A voice from outside.

But it was peculiar. It seemed like a small voice, yet it was surprisingly clear.

To everyone here.

‘Could it be that they’ve already made their move?’

Evidence of remarkably superior manipulation of qi.

A master had arrived.

And immediately after,

Boom!

The door exploded as a man strode in without hesitation.

His appearance was unique—white hair with a shimmer of blue in his eyes. His steps, as he walked steadily, were filled with confidence.

And his attire?

He wore a Hawaiian shirt, with a short-sleeved tee underneath. Dressed as if going on a trip, he wore shorts and sandals.

Even more ridiculous was that he was carrying a wooden sword on his shoulder.

“Who are you?!”

“These guys haven’t changed since last time.”

The man, Han Seojin, smirked with a chuckle.

When was it?

They reacted the same way when he had a scuffle with the Namgoong folks back then.

And the result was destruction.

Han Seojin had erased the Namgoong clan from the martial world.

“In lieu of a greeting.”

He assumed a stance.

‘Huh?’

The head staggered for a moment.

Instantly, it seemed like a giant stood beneath the vast sky.

Wooong!

The wooden sword shines intensely. The sword’s qi circulates as if pouring out.

Sword qi.

It is a power that only those who have reached the pinnacle of martial arts can use.

‘No. It’s not sword qi, but perhaps something similar. Is it his trait?’

Woooong!!

The head of the clan saw a blue light that swallowed everything. The continuously extending energy waves constrict them like a spider web.

Hoo.

Seojin exhaled.

Frozen to the spectacle, the head felt goosebumps rise all over his body as if he were about to die. Like ordinary people facing a tiger, no one could move.

“Emperor Sword Form Eclipse.”

He spoke with a languid voice, but within it, a deep murderous intent was hidden.

The head realized with his extraordinary intellect.

This man. He intends to kill us all.

“…Stop!!”

“Oh, there’s someone who can speak in this situation? You’ve got quite the nerve, huh?”

“What exactly is your purpose! Do you not know that attacking here will make you an enemy of the Namgoong Clan! If you don’t put away that sword now, your life will be miserable.”

The Namgoong Clan cannot exert their full strength right now.

But with one more month, he is confident that he can make it impossible for the man to roam around Korea freely.

“So put away the sword! If you want to live quietly in Korea!!”

“Is that your last will?”

Han Seojin smirked and laughed.

“Then die.”

And immediately after, the figure of the emperor below the sky swung down his sword.