Chapter 16 - Now They Come Even From Foreign Countries
There are superhumans called the Three Great Sword Saints in East Asia.
Although it’s a term only used in East Asia, it refers to the three most outstanding superhumans who handle swords, and while they’re only selected from among swordsmen, every one of them is an S-rank superhuman. Even though it’s not an officially recognized position, their status is truly remarkable.
It started from the idea of which country’s swordsman would be the strongest, but now it has become a term meaning the pinnacle of East Asian swordsmen.
The members of the Three Great Sword Saints exist one each in Korea, China, and Japan, and the members are as follows:
The Sword Immortal (劍仙), who is also called the strongest in China.
The Sword Drawing Emperor (拔刀帝) of Korea, one of only five S-rank superhumans in Korea, who stubbornly sticks to only sword drawing techniques while shouting “Efficiency be damned, it’s all about the style!”
The Flower Sword (花劍) of Japan, who is said to handle the sword faster, more gracefully, and more beautifully than anyone else.
However, unlike the Sword Immortal and Sword Drawing Emperor who are still actively working, the Flower Sword has been completely out of contact for some reason for the past few years, raising questions.
And now, that Flower Sword, who had been in seclusion without any activity until now, has arrived in Korea for some reason.
…In a very strange appearance, that is.
“Hmm, where would Cheongson’s headquarters be?”
The ice-cold magical power that still remains.
Of course, ordinary people and even high-ranking superhumans wouldn’t be able to notice it, but it was different for S-rank superhumans. Especially for the current Flower Sword.
“Ah, is it there?”
Since there had been an incident of unusual scale not long ago, it wasn’t too difficult to locate, and the Flower Sword quickly moved to where the magical power was felt.
A clean high-rise building. And the powerful magical power felt from the top floor.
Since she hadn’t come with an appointment and didn’t want to attract attention, she just went up to the building’s rooftop.
Then she slightly opened the window and entered, naturally making a cup of instant coffee and sitting in a chair as if she was visiting a friend’s house of ten years.
“…Do you know whose territory this is when you do this?”
“Come on, you think I came without knowing? Isn’t this the Winter General’s headquarters?”
She laughed mischievously and sipped her coffee.
“Mmm~. As expected, Korean instant coffee tastes good, doesn’t it?”
“Sigh… I don’t know who you are, but it doesn’t seem like you came to play jokes… What’s your business?”
“Huh? You don’t know me? I should be quite famous in Korea, you know!”
“I know you’re S-rank. Although in a miserable state.”
Cheong So-ha, who was sitting with her legs crossed, replied coldly.
“Ah, right. I have become quite pathetic.”
The Flower Sword, who chuckled at those words, took off her sunglasses.
And Cheong So-ha, seeing her face, spoke as if slightly surprised.
“…Sarame Akame?”
“That’s what I said, right? I’m famous! Ta-da! The Flower Sword Sarame Akame has arrived?! Kukuku…”
Akame spoke cheerfully as if familiar, but for Cheong So-ha, who was seeing Akame for the first time since she went into seclusion, it was impossible not to be surprised.
The famous Flower Sword Akame of the Three Great Sword Saints was in such a miserable state that the word ‘wretched’ was fitting.
One arm was cut off and missing, and the remaining arm was also full of wounds and not functioning properly, trembling.
The two eyes that had been covered by sunglasses seemed to have lost their function due to a large wound on her face.
The magical power she possessed was also unstable and weakened.
…Still, it was surprising that she was still S-rank even in this state.
“So there was a reason for your seclusion. What happened?”
“Well? But that’s why I came to find you.”
Akame, who had put her sunglasses back on, continued speaking.
“The heavy snowfall incident that happened recently. It was your doing, right?”
“It is, but…”
There was no reason to deny it, so she said so, but what connection could there be between that incident and the broken Flower Sword coming to find her?
“I’ve become more sensitive in one sense as I’ve become like this. So I felt it on the day it snowed, and I was sure when I saw you today. You, you’ve surpassed your limit, haven’t you?”
“…Was it such a strange thing for a superhuman to surpass their limit that you came to find me?”
“I’ve already noticed that the ‘limit’ you’ve surpassed isn’t the general ‘limit’ we talk about. In the past, you and I were just ordinary people, but not anymore.”
Akame, who had been smiling on her face, smiled even more deeply.
“It’s a bit difficult to explain, but… you’ve surpassed something even more amazing. As a result, you’ve gained a talent close to that of a genius. Something like this couldn’t happen just by surpassing a limit once, right? Don’t you think?”
“Hooh… You’re quite accurate.”
Cheong So-ha nodded silently.
“But so what?”
“It’s nothing special. There’s no way you could have become like that by your power alone, right? There must have been a helper. A very special one at that. What I want is that helper.”
“……”
“I just want to be able to talk with that helper. Ah, of course, I’m not asking you to introduce me for free. How could I meet such an amazing person who can even break the wall of talent for free?”
Clunk!
Akame unfastened the sword at her waist and placed it on the table.
“Here. This is the introduction fee. You know it well, right? This is my beloved sword that’s been with me for almost my entire life. You can use it if you want, or sell it. It’s an item that could fetch at least tens of billions even at the lowest estimate, right?”
“…You’re serious.”
To the extent that this ‘Flower Sword’ would hand over even her beloved sword, to the extent that she would lower her high pride, she desperately wants this.
Just what could that incident be…
“You don’t have to worry too much. Do I look like a fool who would cut off my only lifeline?”
Cheong So-ha stared at Akame with deeply sunken eyes, and Akame took off her sunglasses and spoke in a serious mood, wiping the smile off her face.
“Please.”
“Hmm…”
At that attitude, Cheong So-ha pondered.
Would introducing the Flower Sword to Dam Han-ul be beneficial to him?
‘She doesn’t seem to be lying. And the Flower Sword is a person who is clear about gratitude and resentment…’
If Dam Han-ul were to bestow grace upon her, it would surely be beneficial.
However, in exchange, a formidable competitor might increase…
‘I’ve received more than enough as an introduction fee, and since he’s an external director of our Cheongson, his benefit could lead to Cheongson’s benefit.’
Judging that there would be no loss to herself or Dam Han-ul, Cheong So-ha picked up Akame’s sword placed on the table.
“Alright. I’ll introduce you. However, you must be careful.”
“Of course! Thank you, Soha!”
Akame, who had put her sunglasses back on, smiled brightly.
And immediately after, Akame, who had heard the story from Cheong So-ha and made a reservation with her help, visited Dam Han-ul’s house a day later.
“Is this where that fortune teller teacher lives!”
Akame was very excited, hoping that she might finally be able to resolve that incident which had made her, once famous as one of the Three Great Sword Saints, into this state and forced her into seclusion until now.
She quickly arrived at the front of the house and knocked on the door.
And when the door opened, Akame greeted confidently,
“Hello, Teacher Dam Han-ul!! I’m Sarame Akame who made a reservation for today!! I’ve heard a lot about your high ability…”
“Uh, uh?! A, a foreigner…!?”
Dam Han-ul, a user of only one language, froze,
“Eh.”
“Ah.”
Akame, who hadn’t imagined that communication would be blocked due to language differences, also froze with a smiling face.
Japanese and Korean.
The strange silence that continued due to the difference between the two languages was resolved thanks to Ricone, who came to our house at just the right timing.
“Huh? Executive. It seems a guest has come, why are you standing like that?”
“Ah, Ricone! That is…”
It was such a dramatic appearance of a savior that there had never been a moment in my life when I was more glad to see Ricone.
Well, even though we’ve only known each other for less than a month, but anyway.
Ricone solved this tricky problem simply.
“Aha! Did this strange situation arise because your languages are different? Well, Executive, you weren’t a superhuman, were you?”
It was a fact I didn’t know, but high-ranking superhumans could communicate with each other even if their languages were different thanks to magical power. At least when speaking, if not writing.
Ah, it’s a useless fact, but Ricone also knows how to speak Korean. She says that’s one of the reasons why she was dispatched as my direct subordinate.
Anyway, when Ricone stepped forward to act as an interpreter, this problem was easily solved.
“That’s a relief! To think that someone with such great abilities like you, Teacher, wasn’t a superhuman! I was a bit surprised! But that makes it even more amazing! To have such great abilities despite not being a superhuman! That’s what she’s saying, Executive!”
“…Uh, just interpret as if we’re talking without adding ‘Executive’.”
“Understood!”
Anyway, through Ricone, we were able to introduce ourselves and have a smooth conversation.
“…But do you know me? As if you know my abilities…”
“Ah, not that, I heard from Soha! I was introduced through Soha-chan!”
‘Is she very close with Guild Master Cheong So-ha?’
I was slightly curious, but for now, I put that aside and asked the most important question.
“Since you came to get your fortune told… What kind of fortune did you come for?”
“Ah, before I talk about that…”
Akame, who said that, quietly smiled and took off her sunglasses.
“My appearance is a bit unusual, isn’t it?”
“Uh, that’s…”
“It’s okay! I think it’s unusual too!”
Akame, who smiled brightly revealing her lost eyes, cut-off arm, and injured remaining arm, spoke cheerfully as if there were no wounds.
“Would you like to hear my old story? The reason I became broken like this…”
However, I felt like I could sense bitterness in that smile.