I Pull Out Excalibur

8 – Prelude to Civil War (4)

Early in the morning, Nathin headed to Ivan’s office.

It was because Ivan had called him in the early morning breeze, but there was no one in the office. Even when he asked the organization members guarding outside, the only response he received was that Ivan had never left.

Nathin hesitated for a moment and then headed back to Ivan’s office. And then with the tip of his foot, he kicked the bookshelf in the corner of the office.

Creak…

Seojae was pushed to the side. Revealed as Seojae was pushed aside was a tunnel leading to the building’s basement. Unusual for it to be open today, the entrance to the basement that would normally be blocked was open.

“It seems like they’re asking us to come in.”

Najin scratched the back of his neck.

He knew what was beneath this. Going down the stairs would lead to a wide courtyard. It was the training ground where Iban usually sharpened his sword.

And, that place was also the training ground where Iban had taught Najin. When he was young, Najin was often brought to the basement to receive education from Iban.

“······.”

Najin silently tied his loose scarf.

The long scar etched on his shoulder throbbed. There was only one reason why Iban called him here.

“Hoo·.”

Najin released a long sigh and started walking towards the stairs. After descending the stairs for a while, a spacious area appeared. As expected, there was Iban standing there.

“You’re here.”

“What’s the matter? You called everyone to the basement.”

“What’s the matter? There’s only one reason to call.”

Iban threw something. Thump, Najin heard it fall at his feet. It was a sword. A fairly sharp steel sword.

“Come in. Let’s see your skills after a long time.”

“…With a steel sword?”

“Well, I’ll be using a steel sword too.”

Iban turned his wrist in a circle.

What was held in his hand was not the sword Iban usually used, but an ordinary steel sword like the one Najin held. But it was sharp enough to tear flesh and penetrate bones.

Unlike usual, where he always wielded a wooden sword to teach, today Iban held a steel sword in his hand. Najin suddenly swallowed dry saliva.

“When was the last time I dueled Iban?”

It was more of a lesson than a duel, and more like a stick-whacking than education, but it seemed like it had been a few years ago. After performing his duty well, Najin had never had to receive “education” again.

“Najin.”

As Najin was recalling random things like that, Iban’s voice reverberated through the basement.

“Focus.”

A cold and eerie voice.

Immediately after, Iban closed his eyes and took a deep breath. As soon as he exhaled, Najin opened his eyes wide. Grabbing the fallen sword from the floor, Najin quickly backed away.

His intuition warned him.

To create distance right away.

Taking a deep breath, as soon as Iban’s eyes became narrow, the air in the basement suddenly became heavy. It wasn’t a simple delusion. Najin felt a strange pressure, as if someone was firmly pressing on his shoulders.

Srrung.

Ivan slowly drew his sword.

The lethargic movement of the blade aimed at Najin. The moment Najin faced the chilling edge, he sensed it. If he didn’t charge in prepared to die, another scar, akin to those engraved in his toughened flesh, would be added today.

2.

Najin wasn’t thrilled about sparring with Ivan.

To be honest, he wanted to escape the underground chamber right away, making excuses about not feeling well today. Even though he knew it was impossible.

Honestly, it was terrifying.

It was a learned fear, simultaneously etched into his body as scars.

Since childhood, Najin had learned how to fight Ivan and survive in this city, often engaging in sparring sessions. Each time, Ivan struck Najin mercilessly.

He broke bones, pounded until consciousness was lost, poured water to forcibly bring him back to his senses when he fainted. Through this process, Ivan forcefully instilled the knowledge needed to survive in Najin’s body.

“It’s helpful, but…”

Having aged and grown as big-headed as his head, Najin now understood. It wasn’t purely intended as instruction.

It was a warning, a threat from Ivan.

“Don’t overestimate your talent. I am above you. Never cross the line. Don’t try to surpass the fence I’ve built. I can crush and break you anytime. A warning with that meaning.”

“Najin.”

“Don’t dream big. It’ll only lead to misery.”

When Najin, at the age of fifteen, dreamed big about the upper town, Ivan left a long scar on Najin’s body during their sparring. It was a clear warning not to dream beyond his station.

Najin understood the warning, and since then, he had lived well without crossing the line Ivan had drawn. After that, Ivan didn’t interfere with Najin, and there were no more talks about sparring.

Perhaps the whip was enough.

“But…”

But why now, all of a sudden?

What did I do wrong? Najin reflected on his recent actions. He had faithfully fulfilled his role as Ivan’s hunting dog and never crossed the line. His recent deviation was merely gazing at Excalibur stuck in the square, a momentary escape.

“But Ivan allowed that.”

Then what’s the reason?

He couldn’t know the reason, but now he knew what he had to do.

Thud.

Najin’s foot struck the ground.

Sharpening his senses, Najin could react directly to any incoming threat. Staring at Najin, Ivan flicked the tip of his sword.

“Aren’t you coming?”

Instead of answering, Najin inclined the sword at an angle.

Ivan took a step forward instead of asking more questions. It wasn’t a weighted step. But when the distance between him and Nargin decreased to about three steps.

Swish.

Ivan put weight into his step. He buried his foot deep into the ground as he swung his sword. The weight in his step added to the momentum of the sword, accelerating the blade for a moment.

Kaaah!

As the two swords clashed, Nargin grunted. His feet, firmly planted on the ground, gave him the strength to parry Ivan’s sword that swung horizontally. His fingers holding the sword trembled.

A heavy pressure, as if being hit by something enormous. When he was younger, Nargin would have dropped the sword and fallen to the ground with that blow. But not now. Nargin gritted his teeth and twisted his sword.

Ka, gaga-gak!

Basic swordsmanship that sends weight along with the tilted blade. However, the moment Nargin tilted the sword, he realized his mistake.

Ivan is a knight and a sword expert.

He has learned proper swordsmanship and honed his own skills through real battles. Ivan was the one who originally taught Nargin this technique. Naturally, techniques like dropping the sword would not work on him.

Swirl.

Ivan twisted his wrist. As the tilted blade slid, Ivan’s sword drew an eerie trajectory. With a thud, the hilts of the two swords connected, and Ivan’s sword wrapped around Nargin’s sword.

Even though Nargin saw it with his own eyes, he didn’t understand it in that moment.

He only instinctively realized that he had to avoid it and lowered his head. The steel sword passed by above Nargin’s head, and as he tried to regain his posture immediately…

Zoom.

“Ugh!”

Ivan kicked Nargin’s stomach with his foot.

A body reinforced with mana. Reinforced agility. Nargin was sent tumbling to the ground by the impact that felt like being hit with a club. But there was no time to lie down and rest.

Nargin immediately stood up as if to strike his body. Every time he parried Ivan’s sword, Nargin’s shoulders and hands holding the sword cried out in pain.

‘No chance to catch my breath, or rest…’

His breathing became erratic from the kick to the stomach.

Nargin grimaced as he parried Ivan’s sword. Because he had to pay attention not only to Ivan’s sword but also to his feet, Nargin’s pupils moved faster than usual.

His eyes leisurely followed Ivan’s movements but…

Nargin’s body couldn’t keep up with Ivan’s speed.

He had to take the visible attacks and despite seeing ways to avoid them, his body wouldn’t respond properly, and he had to parry and retreat repeatedly. In those moments, Nargin felt irritated.

“Mana, mana, mana.”

Damn mana.

Whenever Nargin saw people who knew how to handle mana, he felt envy and bitterness at the same time. Ivan never taught Nargin how to handle mana.

All Nargin could do was mimic Ivan. With wide open eyes, Nargin imitated Ivan’s breathing and moved his body.

In that moment, his body moved slightly faster than usual. A feeling as if something was pushing his back. For the first time, his body moved the way he had envisioned. When their swords clashed, Ivan’s sword was pushed back for the first time.

“······.”

In that moment, Ivan’s eyes narrowed.

Ivan’s arm, which had taken a step back, tightened like a bowstring. Then, with a sharp sound, his sword swung down like an arrow, striking Nagine’s sword.

“Ugh···!”

The moment Nagine blocked the sword, his body floated in the air. Pushed back, Nagine quickly raised his head. However, contrary to Nagine’s expectations, Ivan did not immediately attack him.

He simply held the sword up in place.

It was not a stance for attack, but a stance to prepare something. With his empty eye raised, Ivan covered it with the sword’s blade. His appearance was reminiscent of the sword ceremony performed by knights in heroic tales.

And, Nagine saw it.

Swish···.

Nagine saw the calm, emerald aura rising from Ivan’s raised sword, the sword energy that proved he had reached the level of a sword expert. From the moment the sword energy enveloped him, what resided in Ivan’s hand was not a crude iron sword commonly found anywhere.

It was a special sword that only one-eyed Ivan could wield.

Nagine briefly distracted his gaze due to the beauty of the sword energy, but he quickly realized that it was not a situation to leisurely appreciate the sword energy and hastily opened his mouth.

“No, Ivan. Wait a moment.”

Nagine stepped back in dismay.

“It’s strange to draw out sword energy. Isn’t this going too far, no matter what?”

It was strange. He had fought many times, but Ivan had never drawn out the sword energy. It was only natural. Nagine couldn’t possibly withstand the sword energy.

Sword energy could only be countered with sword energy.

The moment he tried to block the sword energy with a normal iron sword, the sword and the person holding it would be cut through. Startled, Nagine stumbled backwards, but Ivan wordlessly stepped towards him. One step, two steps···.

Then, with a sharp sound.

Ivan stomped on the ground and charged towards Nagine. His iron sword, adorned with the emerald sword energy, covered Nagine with the tail of light.

“···Ugh!”

Nagine hastily raised his sword.

However, he couldn’t possibly block the sword energy with a normal iron sword. When Ivan’s sword, surrounded by sword energy, clashed with Nagine’s sword, Nagine saw it clearly.

Clang.

The sight of his own sword being cut through.

The blade of his sword deformed under the force of the sword energy. The sword in his hand trembled roughly. As Ivan’s sword severed his iron sword, it pushed forward. All of this scenery appeared to Nagine’s eyes in slow motion.

Clang-gagak···.

The sword blade being cut off and pushing forward. The emerald sword energy flashing brightly. Nagine’s pupils dilated.

“I’m going to die.”

Najin sensed death.

The moment Najin sensed death, every nerve in his body tensed. In a bizarre sensation, as if a second had been sliced into fine fragments, Najin’s body moved. A mysterious force, of unknown origin, pushed Najin’s body forward.

And now, that force wasn’t merely pushing his body.

Flash.

Najin’s sword, severed halfway, gleamed.

In an instant, though faint in comparison to Ivan’s formidable sword aura, it was a distinct sword aura, raw and unpolished but undoubtedly the sign of a burgeoning swordsmanship.

A light the boy should not possess.

A radiance that should not be buried in such an underground city.

The moment Ivan’s eyes met the radiance on Najin’s sword, his eyes widened, and his lips trembled.

Immediately, the clash of sword auras followed.

Krrraaang!

With a harsh sound, Najin’s sword pushed aside Ivan’s sword. However, just before completely deflecting the sword, with a clang and a sound, Najin’s sword broke. And it wasn’t just Najin’s sword that shattered. Ivan’s sword also fell apart.

Both swords were broken.

They were never originally designed to withstand sword auras. From the moment the swords were drawn, and from the moment they clashed, the two blades, meant to endure the sword aura, had finally reached the end of their lifespan.

Crash.

The broken blades fell to the ground. Following the release of tension in his legs, Najin sank to the ground.

“Huuk, huk, heok…”

Najin breathed out the breath he had been holding.

His heart pounded wildly. A sensation as if something was squeezing his heart made Najin’s breathing rough.

Thud-thud.

Blood trickled from his nose to the ground. Amidst the throbbing headache and dizziness, Najin lifted his head. There, Ivan was looking down at him.

“…”

Ivan said nothing. He then looked at Najin and, subsequently, at the sword he held in his hand. A broken sword, the result of the collision of sword auras. Eventually, he burst into a bitter laugh.

“At least you’re something.”

Ivan saw the light. Faced with the radiance the boy possessed, Ivan wiped his face. For he had realized. He had realized upon encountering that radiance.

‘It’s maddening.’

That, it was a light that should never be buried alongside someone of his kind.