I Was the Strongest Sword God in My Past Life

part 88

“And always move in pairs during missions.”

Zhen assigned Yume as the client.

Red was paired with Kumo, a 2nd-grade hunter.

And Franklin was paired with Shin Ha-seong.

“Yes! Got it!”

Kumo replied confidently, possibly due to the praise he had received earlier.

“Isn’t our team leader a student? Too experienced for a student, or maybe he’s not a student at all?”

Red asked Zhen, and Franklin looked at her with a mixture of admiration and longing, as if regretting that he was paired with Shin Ha-seong.

“I don’t mind being paired with someone like that, but… Got it.”

Zhen’s expression made Shin Ha-seong spit out his tongue.

“What’s this guy looking at while talking?”

“What? Did you see what I see? Oh, this kid is really something!”

Shin-ha-sung and Franklin, who couldn’t even catch their breath, stared at each other in dismay. Jeon used his abilities to pull out a magical tool.

“You’ve seen my characteristic, which is this sword. It has the power to cut through magic.”

Jeon explained his abilities by converting his character into a magical tool and explaining his abilities. Shin-ha-sung, who thought Jeon’s swordplay was characteristic of his abilities, was shocked.

“Well, then, that swordplay wasn’t characteristic after all?”

Shin-ha-sung’s face was expressionless as he spoke.

“Ah, really…I don’t believe the license of the Association anymore. A person with such skills is a 2nd-grade member?”

Jeon, who had finally gained recognition, used his team leader position to establish the rules.

“Hey, take a look at the team leader from the other side. He’s quite skilled, isn’t he?”

Jeon, who had been chosen by Jin-woo, watched the scene with a satisfied expression. He then handed the black suit and badge, which was the uniform of the bodyguards, to the team members.

“Now you’re all bodyguards of the Sky Group. Since we’re on equal terms, treat each other kindly.”

The following advice from Vermouth was quite formal.

“Yes, but I hope there are no mistakes. You’re guarding the princess of the Sky Group, after all.”

The princess’s name contained a hint of mockery, and Jin-woo gazed at the members with a sly expression.

“Well, it’s time for the bodyguard team to introduce their charge. Our Sky Group’s princess, you say~”

The Sky Group, a large corporation in the 1st district.

There was only one woman who was called the princess, and that was it.

* * *

A corner of the Gate Management Office.

Stella, the 3rd-year student with the highest ranking in Arcana, and Kamui, the student council president, were outside for their community service points. As graduates, their mission was to serve as safety officers.

“What’s the point of being safety officers if something happens here? This is ridiculous.”

Stella’s words were like that, and up until now, the two had only watched the Gate invasion. Unless a dangerous situation arose, they were no different from spectators.

“When an accident occurs, the meaning of being deployed is lost. Safety officers should prevent accidents from happening in the first place…”

Kamui suddenly broke the atmosphere with a serious tone, and Stella was looking at him with a displeased expression.

“Are you serious? You’re really boring.”

“Serious?”

“Yeah. You’re not going to get anything from me, and who’s going to play with you? You really should be grateful.”

“Ugh, look at that instead? Jien, are you in first grade? The quest progress is not a joke.”

“Yes, it’s unbelievable talent. You’re really good.”

Kamiyu nodded her head, and Stella’s face became smug.

“The dialogue and progress are natural, and the battle power is amazing. Anyway, I’m really good at reading people.”

“Stella. I had the idea to put Jien in the student council.”

“That’s right, but I’m the one who allowed it.”

“Allowed?”

“Yes, if you had thought about it, I wouldn’t have allowed it.”

“You’re not the president, I am.”

Kamiyu narrowed her eyes, and Stella let out a mocking laugh.

“Oh, didn’t you know?”

She fluttered her white hair with a tired expression.

“You’re the shopkeeper, right?”

“What?”

Stella’s shocking declaration.

Kamiyu, who had been pushed back in both battle and words, suddenly turned her head away.

“Let’s just watch the gate broadcast instead.”

* * *

The 6th floor of Sky Town.

Jien looked around at the room filled with lavish decorations.

“This is supposed to be a temporary living quarters? It seems like the 1st sector is still the same.”

1st Sector.

This place, often referred to as “the Zone”, was a world where the country’s borders were ambiguous due to the appearance of monsters. Monsters that poured out of dungeons, and the people and culture of the world had quickly become one to counter them. Amidst the chaos, corporations had grown the fastest.

“So the 1st sector is where corporate power is particularly strong.”

Jien was well aware of this history, and as a Sabeer, it was common knowledge. Moreover, the Sky Group was one of the top three conglomerates in the 1st sector.

“The phrase ‘country’ is not an exaggeration.”

The reason for Yuira’s mocking tone was because of this. Yuira was the only daughter of the Sky Group’s chairman, Ume. She was a 17-year-old student, but her power was not to be underestimated.

“Are these people my bodyguards?”

A woman sitting on a chair adorned with gemstones, her legs crossed. Despite being just a student at 17, Ume’s power was not a joke.

It was clear that even a 4th-grade Hunter like Jin-woo was courteous towards Ume.

“Ah, my lady. Yes, that’s right.”

“Team leader is a student. And that blonde-haired girl looks unpleasant, so I’ll ask, is that woman a Hunter too?”

Yume’s tone was quite sharp as she slapped Red. She had never heard any unpleasant words since she was born, and had always been treated with reverence by those around her.

“What’s the big deal? It’s not like a circus.”

Yume shook her long hair, which was as long as a whip, and her eyes sparkled with amusement.

‘That’s not even a drop of blood on my head…’

A vein bulged on Yume’s forehead, but she managed to suppress her anger.

“That’s right. I’m really good at handling swords.”

Yume, still seething with anger, smiled as sweetly as possible at Red. Red didn’t seem to care about the word “sword” at all.

“What’s the point of a sword? Are you saying you’re good at handling swords?”

Yume burst out laughing and stood up from her chair, looking at Red with a self-assured expression.

“Where can I see your skills? I’ve never lost to anyone, you know.”

Yume pulled out a rapier from her pocket and revealed a beautiful, rainbow-colored sword that shone with an otherworldly glow. It was clearly an artifact.

“By the way, if I lose, you’ll all be fired, got it? I won’t be protected by someone weaker than me.”

Yume drew her sword and assumed a combat stance, looking completely at ease. She had received elite education since childhood and had honed her skills as a Hunter. Moreover, the sword was her greatest pride.

However, the problem was that her opponent was Jien, known for his exceptional swordsmanship.

“Alright.”

Jien responded with a nod, pulling out a black cat-shaped magical tool. The sudden display of swordsmanship left Yume’s face pale and blank.

“What’s going on with this?”

Even if she was confident in her own abilities, Yume couldn’t understand why she was fighting a Hunter like Jien, and why Jien was accepting her challenge. From Yume’s perspective, both of them were abnormal.

“Uh, how should I handle this, sir?”

Bermeaux whispered, his face pale and sweaty.

“Shit, even if you’re aware, you won’t back down?”

Yume moved to the side, using her body to block Jien’s gaze. She then conveyed her thoughts to Jien using only her facial expressions.

‘Die. Die. See. Give.’

If Jien’s skills were as Yume had seen, she could possibly win by toying with him and then defeating him.

“Then, shall we begin?”

Yume’s eyes fluttered as she looked at Jien and Yume, and she wished they could safely navigate this crisis.

“…Really, shall we begin?”

Jinyura trembled with fear, worried that Yume might get hurt. Kumon whispered to Shinha-seong, “Is the client that strong?”

“Not at all,” he replied.

From Shinha-seong’s perspective as a 3rd-grade Hunter, Yume seemed similar to or weaker than himself. In contrast, Jien’s swordsmanship shown during the test was on a level that was impossible to compare to regular Hunters.

“Then won’t she get hurt?” Kumon asked.

“Ah, I’ll take care of it. You don’t seem to have any sense,” Shinha-seong said.

Red was laughing at this entire situation.

“Who’s going to win is unknown,” he said.

Red was the only one among the members who had not seen Jien’s swordsmanship before. In response to Red’s question, Franklin chuckled and answered kindly.

“Well, that makes sense. Although the client has a 2nd-grade license, the team leader’s real skill is around 4th to 5th grade.”

“Really?” Kumon asked.

“Hehe, yes. So, it’s only natural that we adjust according to the client’s level,” Shinha-seong said.

Yume, who was waiting impatiently, finally couldn’t help but glance at Jinyura. She started counting.

“3……”

The voice grew louder.

Even Bermuth, who was tense, swallowed his saliva.

“2, 1……. Start!”

As Jinyura’s cry echoed, Jien grabbed the black fan and rushed towards Yume.

With everyone’s attention focused on them, Jien and Yume’s duel began.

“Hey, show me that skill of yours,” Yume said, smiling confidently and revealing her white teeth.

As she drew her rapier, her dark purple hair fluttered like a zinnia behind her.

Chang!

But Jien thought it was too slow.

“It’s too slow, clumsy.”

Yume’s skill was one level below Lake and Devin. Jien quickly grabbed Yume’s arm and spun her body around.

“Ah?”

Yume’s eyes widened as she lost her center of balance. But this was just the beginning.

Pff!

Jien simultaneously kicked Yume’s leg, and she fell backward. Jien placed his sword beside her fallen face.

Zzeee!

A tiny gold glint appeared on the floor of the building.

Jeon looked at Ume with a cold gaze. A brief, awkward contact was made in the stillness. Ume was startled by the cold metallic sensation and let out a nervous laugh.

“……Ah!”

A crushing skill gap had led to a perfect suppression.

Regardless of the content of the match, Jin-you and Vermouth had a look on their faces as if they were about to cry.

“Manghwa.” (Manghwa is a Korean term for a tragic or pitiful situation.)

“Manghwa, yeah.”

Jin-you thought about writing a resignation letter and spoke in a weak voice.

“Should I write that I was thrown to the ground, or that I was hung upside down?”

“It’s probably better to say I was thrown to the ground. It looks less painful that way.”

As Jin-you and Vermouth were acknowledging reality, Ume was seething with shame, her face reddening as she gritted her teeth and glared at Jeon.

* * *

The gate was in disarray, but the broadcasting station was like a festival. Cassie was happily watching the rising ratings.

“PD-nim, the viewers really love it, don’t they?”

“Cassie, we can’t do anything but monitor, so let’s get some popcorn.”

Brodo didn’t know anything about quests. His area of expertise was broadcasting, after all. However, Jin-you’s refreshing host skills had made Brodo want to applaud.

“This is the best gate broadcast of my life. It’s like a drama.”

“Hey, look! Check out the reactions.”

The two checked the viewers’ reactions on several monitors.

– Jeon, I believed in you!

– You’re a snobbish rich girl? Just throw yourself to the ground!