NOVEL NEXT Chapter 977
<977 – Sword Saint (1)>
The strong can choose many things. The freedom of choice is the proof of strength.
Sia’s quote made Jiang’s heart go thump-thump.
Assassins had no freedom.
To execute a few tiny movements to kill their target, they always had to push themselves.
Hiding in the shadows,
hanging from the ceiling while holding their breath for hours.
Warming up their bodies to prevent their arms and legs from shaking.
Training with high-intensity workouts so that sweat wouldn’t pour down.
Even if the true master of the ceiling, a spider, bit them with its fangs, they must not blink or flinch but eliminate it with minimal movement.
Even when descending from the ceiling to ambush, there was no freedom.
They had to strike precisely at vital points, and they couldn’t allow their opponents any freedom in their limbs.
They had to pierce not only the blood vessels but also their energy pathways to prevent the use of ki and mana.
A single assassination, a single reversal, and the countless non-freedoms they had to endure only proved how weak an assassin was and how they lacked the freedom of choice.
Until now, I didn’t think it was bad.
As my skills improved, the methods of assassination increased.
The more skilled I became, the more choices I could make.
Inconveniences disappeared.
I tasted a bit of freedom.
But I must not get complacent.
At least, the realm that Sia spoke of couldn’t be reached with such complacency.
“Can you help me with the duel?”
“Without mana?”
“Yes. Without mana.”
Jiang gripped the dagger.
A small, short dagger, as tiny as their own height.
It was clearly a disadvantageous weapon.
‘Is that so? Just because I’m an assassin, thinking a short weapon is common sense for ambushing has already narrowed my choices.’
Jiang returned the dagger to its sheath and drew a sword from the Tomb of the Sword scattered all around.
With this simple act, I secured the weapon’s “range” and could replace the effort of narrowing the distance while using mana extravagantly.
Hoping the opponent would let their guard down, hoping they would fall for my trick, I managed to simplify my efforts.
For a normal assassin, such a head-on confrontation would end before it even began, but I’m different. I embodied the essence of assassination and can perform [Direct Ambush]!
Cracks in the line of sight.
Cracks in breathing.
Cracks in balance.
For an assassin who kills with even the tiniest crack, there were countless cracks to exploit even in a head-on fight.
When I clashed blades with Sia, I could also find such “cracks.”
[Balance Control]
[Breath Control]
[Ki Expansion]
But those cracks vanished at an astonishing speed.
I hadn’t even used mana.
It was Sia, no, Sing, weaving through the arcs of those strikes.
Returning alive from the crossroads of life and death, the experience accumulated into Function Experience Points.
The result, the experience of the lonely killer Sing, was becoming Sia’s body and protecting her.
‘Stronger.’
As Jiang pushed to strike before the cracks recovered, they realized the recovery speed exceeded their expectations.
Sing could even control the recovery speed.
The moment they dove deep to target a weakness, the weakness disappeared, replaced by the terrible intent to kill.
Eyes honed like a cold blade.
It swayed as if it were a weakness, but it was actually balance that could be regained at any time.
The taut sword approached like a bolt.
A singular point like a massive wall,
filling my vision.
This is madness.
I’m going to be hit.
Thump.
The tip of the sword stopped inches away, and the terrifying force swooshed through a few strands of Jiang’s hair.
Jiang’s bobbed hair, which had been shaken like a storm, eventually settled.
“Was that enough help?”
“No. I want to learn more.”
A smile crept onto Jiang’s lips.
She could still grow stronger.
She felt like she might even know how.
For now, it’s Sing’s sword.
If she was confident she could surpass it,
that day would mark a significant improvement in Jiang’s realm.
“If I become a nuisance, please let me know. I can take my time to gather my insights alone.”
“No. I’m curious too. How far can Jiang follow?”
If asked in the Academy who resembled Oknodie, Sing would think of two people.
One is Masugaki.
This irritating personality was surprisingly caring, just like her.
The other one is Jiang.
Though indifferent to others, she relaxed and chatted in her presence, resembling a cautious cat.
‘There’s also the common point of being part of the dark underworld, the commonality of treating lives lightly, and the shared precious training course in front of important relationships.’
Oknodie was no different from Jiang.
Isn’t it true even now?
Sword Saint Reinhardt.
While others viewed it as “a trap for disposal,” she offered it as a pure gift, gleefully accepting it back.
Such a way of thinking is impossible unless one is already of the same kind.
And the same goes for Sing.
‘For people like us, it’s hard to find comrades. Oknodie knows this, so they made more friends. Though it’s different from the director’s intention of making friends just to abandon them, I cannot afford to waste this training area and opportunity to train.’
Friends are useless.
They are merely beings that hold you back and drag you down.
Since they aren’t at the same level, one day, inferiority will explode and bring discomfort.
Failing to maintain boundaries.
Mistaking rudeness for bonding.
The groups that enforce the shallow etiquette of distance and gang.
Oknodie refused to acknowledge the director’s harsh interpretation.
That’s why they hoped their friends wouldn’t fall behind, wishing for them to follow suit.
That was the basis for the events aimed at growth and the steep rise they could attain.
And now,
Oknodie posed another question.
Can you guys get over this too?
Is it okay for me to push harder and grow stronger?
Sing knows.
Even if they fail to surpass Sword Saint Reinhardt here, Oknodie will keep them close.
But the level of dependence would greatly decrease.
And if that lagging continues a few more times,
inevitably, an unavoidable future awaits.
-Sing, from here on, it’s off-limits! If you follow, a frail person like you will end up dead out of the blue!
They step into a much larger danger all alone, leaving Sing behind.
Knowing that such a moment was bound to come, as Sing had stayed by Oknodie’s side.
Oknodie lost their papas.
But they wouldn’t scoff at their papas’ dreams either.
As long as they claimed to be their children, Oknodie wouldn’t turn a blind eye to their wishes.
The defeat of the Evil Dragon Omoshiroi.
Protecting the Middle Realm from the hundred dimensions.
‘So Jiang, you must follow. If even I’m unable to keep up, that child’s side will become increasingly lonely.’
Was Sing’s seriousness conveyed?
Without a hint of weakness, Jiang silently received the teachings.
“That swordsmanship.”
“We want to learn it too.”
“One technique, please teach us.”
How dedicated were they to their teachings?
Before long, the ghost swordsmen that arose from the Tomb of the Sword gathered around the two.
They had prepared for an ambush, but what came was the enthusiasm of “like-minded” individuals wanting to walk the path of the unlearned.
“Alright. But in exchange, you all must share your sword techniques as well.”
The sword exchange between the living and the dead was beneficial for both Jiang and Sing.
“Our swordsmanship back in our time valued agility.”
“The swordsmen of my era practiced the technique of breaking through the constraints of motion through the development of immovable control, combined with strong body technique. Strength was equivalent to superiority.”
“When the cursed magic sword technique utilizing the features of the strong body technique was in vogue, it became rampant with techniques that could accumulate damage through valid hits.”
The type of swordsmanship that dominated changed with the flow of time.
This change was affected each time by the dominant mana techniques, the countries that ascended to a strong position, and the organizations that produced powerful individuals.
The sword techniques of the swordsmen were merely a breeze that followed the currents of the times.
“However, during Reinhardt’s era, no extraordinary sword technique could ever gain an absolute position. The Sword Saint’s blade merely shone like a star; there were no limitations on that sword.”
The ghosts revealed it.
Reinhardt’s uniqueness.
He didn’t grant freedom of choice to his opponents.
He only offered them the chance to unleash their strongest strike and proved his strength by shattering it.
Reinhardt’s sword had neither the characteristics of the times nor the limitations of swordsmanship.
“He was a real bad guy… Being ruined by the sword technique that Original Oknodie taught…”
“Huh?”
Amidst the ghosts lamenting Reinhardt’s power like defeated soldiers, a strangely familiar-looking child swordsman was mixed in.
An unmistakable duplicate of Oknodie, evident in appearance but obvious with attire.
“Did Oknodie challenge the Sword Saint too?”
“They both challenged him, but I was the only one left… It’s really unfair…”
As Jiang looked down at the weeping Oknodie doppelgänger, she comforted the doppelgänger like she did Titosso.
“So, what function did you inherit?”
“Cooking Oknodie. I tried cooking the Sword Saint like a cake, but I failed…”
“Oknodie could cook well?”
“I just worked hard on eating…”
“…Then you must be.”
Cooking Oknodie hung onto Jiang’s arm with tearful eyes.
“I was used as a discard! Please, take me out of here with you! I want revenge on the glutton Oknodie who left me behind…!”
Jiang and Sing were shocked twice.
At the power of Oknodie’s “eating” function and discard paired with its capability to defeat Sword Saint Reinhardt.
While having amassed a great Cooking Handbook, her actual cooking skills being so dreadful it undermined her combat power.