I Was the Strongest Sword God in My Past Life

part 89

– What’s going on with the quest development?

– This isn’t a gate broadcast, it’s a ridiculous drama!

– It’s so exciting!

The events unfolding at the gate were being packaged as products by G Channel, and that included the charismatic characters who had appeared within the gate.

– Are you not filming? When it’s like this, you should close up on the rich girl’s face!

– Forget it, let’s just get our Secret Lady’s share, okay?

– The 1st District gate is impossible to look away from, haha! Ps. By the way, I’m cute with Kumo Pairing…

The viewers’ hot reactions and soaring ratings. Even the gate broadcast, unlike a competition, was extremely long.

“Is this a bigger deal than I’ve ever seen? Where should we take a break? Still, Ragnar Beach?”

Brodo and Casten had forgotten the humiliating contract they had signed with Amy.

“Ragnar Beach is great!”

“It is, right? We can’t even go out because it’s cold. Now is the best time……”

Just as Brodo and Casten were enjoying their happiness, someone flung open the door.

“You guys!”

The person’s voice belonged to a stern-looking general who spread his arms wide.

“I believed you guys would do it again this time!”

“General, sir!”

“What’s going on here?”

Casten jumped up from his seat, looking shocked, while Brodo seemed to have no idea what was happening.

The general shook his head, his expression unyielding.

“No, what’s the point of talking about it? You’re going to blow it up again! You’re the heroes of G-channel! I’ll give you a hug!”

The three men hugged each other, and the general gazed at the monitor with a moved expression, looking at Jen.

“I think I’ve got an idea, but why don’t we just make that guy our exclusive model?”

The general smiled, patting Brodo on the back.

“I’ll give you a check for one sheet, so go and persuade them. And this time’s bonus is expected.”

The general’s words made Casten genuinely moved.

“General, sir!”

“Ha ha ha, if you just keep this pace, the other broadcasting stations will be begging for our scraps. So, I’ll count on you again this time!”

As the general walked away with a lively step, Brodo looked at Casten and said seriously again.

“What’s up, Casten? We can’t do anything about the gate broadcast. Let’s get some popcorn or microwave it quickly.”

“Okay~”

—

Sky Town’s personal suite.

Yume’s first words, which she had been staring at Jen for a long time, were unexpected.

“Again! Do it again!”

‘You’re going to mess things up and start over, aren’t you?’

Yume’s clothes ripped as she looked at him with a cautious tone.

“Again, okay?”

“Ah! Again! I was too careless!”

“But, you may get hurt…”

“Are you doubting my skills right now? You said I was careless, didn’t you?”

Yumi’s long hair, which had been flowing with vitality, was now disheveled and scattered. Her neat attire was also in disarray. As she aimed her rapier at Ji-en, she vowed to take revenge.

“It’s fine.”

Ji-en also adjusted her stance to match.

The 10-minute sword duel, consisting of 10 rounds, took less than a minute per round. Of course, the result was a decisive victory for Ji-en, 10-0.

“Would you like to continue?”

Perfectly suppressing her opponent’s morale.

As Ji-en asked Yumi, who had fallen to the ground, with a question, Yumi shook her head with a scowling face.

“That’s it, I won’t. I won’t…”

Yumi’s reaction made Vermouth surprised, and she whispered to Jin-woo.

“I’ve subdued that little troublemaker?”

“Indeed? I thought she’d be more trouble than that.”

“You don’t need to write it down either.”

“It seems like it’s just right for us to get along.”

Jin-woo, who was whispering to Vermouth, couldn’t help but laugh quietly.

“What’s so funny?”

Then, Yumi looked at Jin-woo with a fierce gaze, like a lioness.

“No, I think this is enough to prove my skills.”

“Yes, my skills are now proven.”

Yumi, who had been more spirited than before, was now slightly deflated.

She waved her pale hand in the air, saying “it’s okay” and “go explain the schedule for tomorrow”.

“Okay.”

With Jin-woo’s response, Ji-en and the escort team left Yumi’s room. As the door closed, Jin-woo asked Ji-en.

“Well, that’s really impressive. How did you do it?”

Vermouth was also curious.

Vermouth, who had been serious, was now smiling wryly, looking at the closed door.

“Indeed. I’ve never seen that girl submit before.”

When Red didn’t get a response, he quickly moved to the next seat.

“Is our team leader proficient in handling people as well?”

“Yes, especially his lightning-fast sword! Ha ha, I really admire him, the team leader!”

Franklin’s flattery made Shinhae’s tongue twitch, but he also acknowledged Jeon’s skills.

“4th grade? No, 5th grade? I can’t even guess his skills.”

***

After Bermt left on a mission, the team members entered the security room with Jin-yu-ra. Suddenly, a magnificent building appeared on the screen.

“Do you know what this is? This is Christie’s auction house. It’s a playground for billionaires, with astronomical sums of money coming and going every day.”

Jin-yu-ra’s explanation made Kumo raise his hand.

“Tomorrow’s client is attending, right? We’re going to protect that kind of client! That’s right, isn’t it? …… Ah, no?”

“You’re quick-witted. Our lady is spoiled, but she’s rich. Is she spoiled because she’s rich?”

Jin-yu-ra’s expression turned stern as she spoke.

“There are many people who want to take advantage of the lady, and this auction is especially notorious.”

“Notorious? Christie’s auction house is supposed to be secure, isn’t it?”

Shinhae sharpened his knife and narrowed his eyes, and Jin-yu-ra yawned and replied.

“Well, I only know that the item up for auction is an artifact, and it’s a very valuable one. And don’t overthink it. You only have one job to do.”

Jin-yu-ra’s words made Jeon think of his quest.

“If I just protect the client, I can reach the next quest.”

Jeon was rapidly approaching the goal of this gate and the end of the story.

***

Tap. Tap-tap-tap.

The name “Rain City” was fitting, as the sky was raining. The rainwater soaked the asphalt and washed away the city. In the center of Rain City, a massive building stood tall.

[Christie’s Auction House]

A modern building with intricate gold designs, resembling a work of art. As the beautiful auction house came into view, a man opened his mouth.

“Tomorrow, then.”

He was a nameless hunter.

A man who had lived with only the nickname “Red Blood” instead of a name. He was the leader of the Rebellion, a 5th-grade hunter. Beside him were two other men.

“First debut, I suppose.”

“Too narrow, I’ll die from embarrassment. And is Jeon doing well? I have no idea what’s going on.”

“He’s a mysterious one, isn’t he.”

“Has the mysterious one frozen to death?”

Iruka and Bruno, with their imposing physiques, were 5th-grade Hunters like Crimson. The three of them were members of the Rebellion. They had a common point besides their Hunter licenses.

It was their attire.

They were dressed in black formal wear, with black neckties, reminiscent of a funeral.

“Cristina’s contact has arrived. Her daughter will be heading here tomorrow.”

Crimson’s words caused Bruno to snap his fingers open.

“Ah, it seems the opportunity for revenge has finally come.”

“There’s also a rumor that the Blood Vial has arrived,” said Crimson.

Iruka still maintained her poker face as she smiled at Bruno, while Crimson gazed up at the auction house with an expressionless face. The dark blue sky was raining, and Crimson stood there, muttering to himself without an umbrella.

“It’s the optimal timing.”

Eventually, they headed towards the auction house of Cristia, along with Jen and Rebellion. But it wasn’t the end for them.

* * *

Even at night, Rain City was dazzling with its night view, and the city’s tall buildings. Jen gazed at the buildings in front of her and said to Jin-yu-ra.

“The buildings are larger than I expected.”

“Ah, Cristia’s auction house, I suppose? Well, it’s just that the auction house is ridiculously large. But aren’t you from this city?”

“Why do you think that?”

“Just a feeling. Besides, you’re not well-known, and the citizens of this dull city always carry an umbrella as a basic necessity.”

Jin-yu-ra pulled out a pack of cigarettes, put one in his mouth, and patted his pocket.

“……Uh, what’s that?”

Jen placed his finger on the cigarette butt, and his magic was activated.

Hmph.

The fire sparked, and Jin-yu-ra took a long drag before speaking to Jen.

“You have good instincts? Did you use magic?”

“Yes.”

“You’re also skilled. If this matter is settled well, I’ll report it to the upper levels. ……But when will this woman arrive?”

As Jin-yu-ra’s disgruntled tone faded away, Red’s figure appeared in the distance.

“Sorry, I’m a bit late.”

Black raincoat, women’s formal wear, and red high heels. Jin-yu-ra’s expression was displeased with Red’s relaxed footsteps.

“……Hmph, I’ve already told the administrator, so just go in. I’ll return to Sky Town as soon as my business is done, so you can go back to the lady as soon as your investigation is complete.”

“Yes, I understand.”

As they left the first floor of the auction house called Jin-woo, Ji-eun and Red got on the elevator together. The Christie auction house had different auctions on each floor, and the VIP auction that Yu-ma would participate in was on the 7th floor.

“Why did you join the security team of the Sky Group?” Red asked Ji-eun with a smile as the elevator moved.

“What’s the reason?”

Ji-eun’s original goal was the quest. To be more specific, it was clearing the Gate. However, Red was a resident of the Gate, and the truth couldn’t be spoken.

“It’s a big company, isn’t it?”

“If you have the skills, you can go anywhere, can’t you?”

Red’s expression suddenly froze, and it was clear that she was recalling some memory. However, it was just a momentary lapse.

“The treatment of hunters here is not as good as you might think.”

Although they got off the elevator, the conversation continued.

“So, why did you really join this place?”

Ji-eun’s question was met with Red’s response, which was instead a hand gesture grasping the wall of the building.

“Didn’t I say my characteristics wouldn’t be told?”

Suddenly, an unknown symbol was etched onto the wall.

“This is one of my characteristics, the [Surveillance Rune]. As its name suggests, I can monitor the place where the symbol is etched, including how many people are there, what they’re saying, and even small details.”

Red continued speaking with a meaningful expression.

“Your question will be answered. It’s not a good memory.”

“…Surveillance Rune?”

Ji-eun touched the rune etched onto the wall.

“This is…”

From the rune, Ji-eun could sense a high-purity mana, and she roughly guessed Red’s skills. The conversation stopped, and an eerie tension filled the air. Fortunately, just then, a white-bearded man with a mustache greeted Ji-eun and Red.

“Ah! Are you the ones sent by the Sky Group? I’ve been waiting for you!”

The administrator of the Christie auction house was also a well-known figure, but he gladly bent his knees at the mention of the Sky Group.

“Ha ha, since Yu-ma is coming, you must be worried about safety! Don’t worry, I’ll show you our proud security system, and you can relax!”