I Was the Strongest Sword God in My Past Life

part 25

“Oh my, Young Noble! The Young Noble has lost his speech!”

Watching Gian stand still, the physician continued to make a fuss.

“Water, yes! Bring water first.”

As the physician urged the servants, a young servant quickly brought water.

‘My muscles have melted. It’s a body that has been unconscious for a long time. The reactions of those around me confirm it.’

Gian’s judgment was swift.

‘They called me a Young Noble.’

In Sector 3, the title of Young Noble signifies the son of a noble house. Having experienced Sector 3 several times, Gian naturally began to act.

“Where is this place?”

At Gian’s first words, the physician approached with a fuss.

“Young Noble, this is your annex. Have you perhaps lost your memory?”

The aged physician showed signs of anxiety.

“It makes sense. It’s been about a month since you regained consciousness…”

The physician approached the door and then flung it open.

“All money passes through the Golden Gate. To acquire weapons with gold, to uphold alliances with gold, this is the place, the Golden Gate.”

At a glance, the main gate of the family home was visible, and above it, the three characters for Golden Gate (黃金門) were inscribed in gold.

The physician, seemingly proud, chuckled and pointed at the gate.

“And you, Young Noble, are the second son of the Golden Gate.”

The physician’s expression turned sad. The role of the [Young Noble] had been unconscious for a month. It wouldn’t be strange if he had indeed lost his memory. With that thought, the physician began to explain kindly, one thing at a time.

“A month ago, Young Noble, you were on your way to meet the lady of the Nangong family when you were attacked by bandits, and you have been unconscious since then due to a poisoned arrow.”

“A poisoned arrow from bandits? Then who saved me on the day I lost consciousness?”

“Heheh, does not the Young Noble have the peerless sword by his side?”

“The peerless sword?”

“Yes! The peerless sword! The flower of the battlefield! The gentleman’s escort warrior, that is.”

The physician chuckled, stroking his beard.

“Indeed, since you are the only witness to the scene, I have instructed the attendant to summon you.”

“Attendant! The gentleman bids you enter.”

Ha. Jian let out a hollow laugh.

Most people in Zone 3 have black hair. But the woman who just entered had an appearance too alien for Zone 3. Flowing platinum hair and eyes like river stones. And to top it off, a long sword. Liza’s appearance was strikingly out of place.

“Ah~ My lord~ Have you awakened?”

It took less than ten minutes to hear Liza’s mocking tone, which I thought I wouldn’t hear for a while.

* * *

Intending to have an important conversation, Jian dismissed both the physician and the attendant. The physician wanted to stay, worried until the end.

[It’s to find the bandits.]

At Jian’s word, they quickly withdrew.

Now, only Liza and Jian remained in the grand and vast annex.

“I told you, didn’t I. Evan~ What do you think?”

“…What was your quest objective?”

“It was brief? ‘Protect the young prince.'”

“The crux of the quest is my role, then.”

The key to clearing the gate surely lies in the role of [young prince] that Jian has taken on. To conceal the quest’s purpose and even impose a physical penalty, the gate demands too much for a third-grade difficulty.

‘It’s a fantasy, so it makes sense. The causality is a mess.’

“Evan, your quest is… ruined.”

Liza bit into a tanghulu snatched from the attendant. Crunch. Snap. The sound of shattering sugar was striking.

“This is surprisingly tasty.”

Jian, who somehow managed to understand that as well.

“It hasn’t been revealed yet. That process is part of the difficulty, too.”

Indeed. Liza nodded her head and tapped it lightly.

“Do you still have the memories of your role in your head?”

“Not at all. Whether it’s the aftermath of fainting, it’s all been cleanly erased. You?”

“Me? I’m fine. Unlike someone, I don’t have any penalties~”

With a flourish, Liza swung her sword. A long sword of similar length to hers sliced through the air with a whoosh.

“When the young lord was attacked, I, the appointed knight, arrived too late.”

Thus, Liza had no memory other than the young lord being struck by an arrow. At that moment, Zien harbored doubts.

“Why? Shouldn’t a knight always accompany their master?”

“You heard what the doctor said earlier. Ugh, a flight of love…”

As Liza smirked mischievously, Zien made a disgusted face.

“That’s a setting I really don’t want to know.”

“Still, thanks to the excellent knight, his life was saved.”

“Do you remember the bandit’s appearance?”

“Yes, but I don’t think the culprit was a bandit.”

Zien felt a sense of pride at Liza’s confident voice. Yes, Liza was quite sharp.

“Why do you think so?”

When Zien asked, Liza shrugged her shoulders cutely.

“Well…”

Liza pondered for a moment before continuing.

“The bandits were too few in number. And most importantly, the decisive factor was the poison on the arrow.”

Liza’s eyes narrowed. The glutton from before was gone, and a seriousness befitting a saber shone through her.

“Poison. They said so at the academy. The bandits of the third district don’t use poison often. The reason is simple. They need to ransom the hostages.”

Zien nodded in satisfaction. It was a really good deduction. Bandits usually have money as their motive.

‘Buy poison with expensive money, to kill a hostage who could bring in money?’

A paradox.

Liza’s deduction was not over yet.

“Those guys, this role… I mean, …huh? A knight escort?”

“Knight.”

“Right. They ran away as soon as they saw the knight. Six bandits running away at the sight of a woman.”

Zien nodded. It was one of two things. They had assessed the knight’s mana, or they already knew the knight. Either way, it meant they were not ordinary bandits.

“There must be someone behind this.”

Zien, trying to rise from his seat, staggered. He kept forgetting that his body belonged to a rich young master from the third district.

Even forgetting that his body had been struck by a poisoned arrow and had been out for a month.

“The doctor told me I’m the second young master of the Golden Gate. Does that mean I have other siblings?”

Zien’s earnest question. Liza touched her necklace with a tanghulu. Then, the leftover tanghulu wrapped in light disappeared.

‘That pocket wasn’t made for this purpose.’

A Saber without a combat-type magic device storing leftover tanghulu in a pocket meant for weapons or artifacts.

“The direct line of the Golden Gate has one above you and one below.”

“Names?”

“The eldest son is Hwang Yoo-sung. The younger brother is Hwang Cheol-san. You and both Hwang Yoo-sung and Hwang Cheol-san have different mothers.”

Jien could see the scenario clearly. A wealthy house. Half-siblings above and below. And an assassination attempt to boot.

Ding.

– You have found a clue about the quest’s objective.

– The three brothers of the [Golden Gate] are competing to become the rightful heir of their father, Hwang Chung.

– Determine the heir to the Golden Gate.

A hologram notification window popped up, fitting for a gate.

“Riza.”

Jien smiled, a rare occurrence. Of course, Riza was puzzled by this.

“Huh?”

“The quest’s objective has just been revealed.”

“Oh! A hidden case? A hidden quest? What does it say?”

“It says it ends in two days?”

* * *

The central spire of the Golden Gate.

From the six-story tower, a beautiful view unfolded at a glance.

Of course, the view included the annex where Jien was.

“So, he’s entered the annex now?”

At Hwang Yoo-sung’s words, the masked man replied with due respect.

“Yes. He is with the escort warrior.”

“Tsk! It was the last chance. You’ve failed and made things troublesome.”

As Hwang Yoo-sung denounced him, the masked man bowed his head deeply.

“I apologize. The wench beside him is quite the monster…”

“This is the Golden Gate, the best in the world. I am to be the next master of such a Golden Gate!”

Hwang Yoo-sung stepped firmly on the man’s foot.

“What excuses do those who follow in my footsteps have? A wench…? Pah!”

Enraged, Hwang Yoo-sung spat in the face of a man a head taller than himself.

The phlegm slid down the mask and dropped to the ground.

“I am without excuse.”

“Shut up! I don’t want to hear it. Because of your blunder, I must now go and grovel to that concubine’s son. How splendid, just splendid. If I must crawl, then crawl I shall.”

Though he spoke thus, Hwang Yoo-sung could bear this level of humiliation.

Golden Gate. The sect known as the lifeblood of all funds in the martial world would soon be in his grasp.

Of course, the fact that it was determined by another’s hand was revolting, but he could endure it.

“Fortunately, the worst has been avoided. To think that brat finally understood his place at the last moment.”

Hwang Yoo-sung never considered the possibility of defeat to Hwang San-cheol. But for the greater cause, for just in case, Hwang Yoo-sung planned to head to the annex today.

“Keep a close watch to see if San-cheol heads to the annex. Report immediately if anything happens. Understood?”

“Yes.”

* * *

Who else but the Emperor of the Imperial Palace could hold such a banquet? The greatest banquet hosted by the top merchant guild. Mountains of food and rivers of silk garments fluttering, with dancers moving to the rhythm.

Dong- Dangdada Dang- Da-

The musicians plucked and sang, praising the Golden Gate. The banquet hall seemed to manifest wealth itself. A sect that wielded gold instead of swords. Thanks to that, Hwang Chung was known by the title of Golden Sword.

“Second brother, this banquet celebrates your awakening, but it also holds another meaning.”

Hwang Chung possessed an immense presence.

It wasn’t a physical dominance born of power or mana. It was a pressure, an aura emanating from the very being of Hwang Chung.

“Yes, I believe it’s the foundation for determining the successor.”

But to Jien, who had met the Heavenly Demon and Sword God within the gates of the third district, Hwang Chung was no heavyweight.

“Indeed. To celebrate your return, we’ve spared no expense on this banquet. This is no ordinary gathering. Everyone here will come to know that even though you were nearly a cripple, you are worthy to be my successor.”

The gazes of Hwang Yoo-sung and Hwang Cheol-san turned towards Jien.

The clan leaders standing behind them did the same.

Checks and surprises. Amidst the various gazes, Jien slowly spoke.

“A sect leader is the head of the sect and becomes like a father.”

“That’s right. Your words are true.”

Hwang Chung laughed heartily.

“Therefore, the successor must be one who is recognized by all.”

In essence, he was suggesting a vote. Jien, worn from clearing various gates in the third district, had impeccable manners.

“However, those blinded by profit see not the gentleman but the gold behind him. Of course, gold does not lie, but gold is deception, gold is a demon, gold is a ghost. Gold is a sweet falsehood that even turns away the truth.”

Hwang Chung finished speaking calmly, as if reciting a poem, and poured liquor into his cup.

“People are like this cup of liquor; the narrow-minded can only hold a single sip.”

Hwang Chung lifted the cup. His sleeves fluttered in the wind.

“A person of great capacity encompasses the world.”

Hwang Chung drank from the cup, no, he drank the sun.