Episode 30. The Man Known as the Demon Sword

“Kieeeek!”

The A-rank Gate ‘Snake Pit’ was notorious for being one of the most challenging among A-rank Gates.

To be precise, it could easily be classified as AAA-rank. Moreover, luck played a crucial role in its conquest because, without it, the Gate’s boss, the ‘Big Anaconda,’ could appear in threes.

Nobody knew until they entered the Gate.

Of all days, why today?

“Damn it! Why today of all days?!”

“No wonder I had a bad dream last night…”

The Hunters who entered the Gate were in disarray.

“What should we do, Wang Daein?”

Guild members urgently asked the elderly man who had come from China and was active in Korea.

However, Wang Daein showed no sign of fear as he stroked his beard.

“Fortunate.”

“Sorry? Fortunate, you say?”

“I had a strange feeling today, so I brought a friend just in case.”

At that moment, a man standing behind Wang Daein slowly stepped forward.

He slowly removed the large cloak covering his head.

Revealing a young man with jet-black hair and sharp eyes.

A massive greatsword was strapped to his back.

The man spoke.

“Then this clears my debt, right?”

“Indeed.”

As Wang Daein nodded, the man slowly walked toward the Gate’s bosses.

Kieeeek! Kiek! Kiiik!

The Big Anacondas revealed their massive bodies and roared ferociously.

Just watching them was enough to send chills down one’s spine.

Srrrng.

The black-haired man drew the greatsword from his back.

The entire blade, hilt, and body emitted a dark crimson glow, exuding an overwhelming presence. The large red gem embedded just above the hilt gave off an eerie vibe.

Tadak, tadadadak.

The man’s pace with the greatsword gradually increased until he charged at the Big Anacondas with incredible speed. Three snake mouths lunged at him simultaneously.

The man spun to the side, swinging his sword.

One Big Anaconda’s mouth was torn apart.

‘One down.’

Kiek! Keeek!

As the remaining two Big Anacondas cried toward the sky, countless snake-shaped monsters began to swarm around.

“Annoying.”

The man raised the greatsword high.

Then, an enormous energy began to concentrate on his sword.

Wooooooong.

“Wow, what on earth is that?”

The energy layered over the man’s greatsword soon grew to the size of a utility pole.

“Let’s finish this. Ah, shut up. Just do as you’re told. Stop with the unnecessary chatter.”

He continued to mutter to himself as if conversing with someone.

Kiek? Kieek!

Sensing danger, the Big Anacondas glared fiercely at the man wielding the greatsword.

And then, they charged with all their might.

Revealing their terrifying fangs.

Not just the two Big Anacondas, but every monster in the Snake Pit bared their fangs and rushed at the man with the greatsword simultaneously.

At that moment,

The man swung his sword forward.

The energy, which had grown to the size of a utility pole, shot toward the enemies like an arrow.

And then,

Kieeeek! Boom! Boom!

Kueeeek! Boom!

Kwakwaaaang!

With a tremendous explosion, all the monsters before him vanished.

Kuuuuung.

“Impressive.”

“That’s the Demon Sword…”

“Indeed, not just anyone becomes S-rank. Haha.”

People couldn’t help but be amazed by the genius rookie shaking up Korea recently.

But the expression of Cha Sungwoo, the man known as the Demon Sword, remained unchanged.

He was the epitome of a poker face.

“Well, I’ll be going now.”

As if it was nothing, the Demon Sword lightly nodded toward Wang Daein and slowly disappeared out of the Gate.

“Ah, yes. Yes. Next time, I’ll practice stabbing more sharply. Got it. I understand.”

Even then, he continued to mutter as if having a conversation with someone.

“Hmm. Good morning. Good morning!”

Park Daehan couldn’t stop humming a tune from his nose.

As he headed to his office early in the morning, he greeted everyone he met from the entrance guard to the desk and lobby.

Naturally, they all knew.

Their boss was in a very good mood today.

Upon reaching his office, Park Daehan received a report on the day’s schedule from his secretary, Woo Doyoung.

The morning passed quickly, and before he knew it, it was afternoon.

Today, there were no special external appointments, and it was a relatively leisurely day.

Hmm.

While working, Park Daehan put down his pen and stood up.

The breeze coming through the slightly open window felt refreshing.

Park Daehan slowly walked toward the full-length mirror next to the sofa.

Glancing at his reflection, he looked around for some reason.

Then he slowly opened his mouth.

“Hello. Yes. We’ll be covering all the costs now.”

“Ah, of course. You don’t have to worry about anything. Haha.”

Park Daehan struck various awkward poses.

Smiling broadly or shrugging his shoulders.

He was clearly in high spirits.

“Oh, me? Haha. Well, since you’re so curious, I’ll tell you. I’m the president of the Korea Hunter Association, Park. Dae…”

“What are you doing?”

“Ahhh!”

Park Daehan was so startled he almost fainted.

“Huff, huff, huff…”

Turning his head, he saw Tae Ihyun looking at him with a tilted head.

Stay calm. You have to stay calm in times like this.

“Hahaha. Did you see?”

“See what?”

“Uh? No, it’s nothing. If you didn’t see, that’s good…”

“You seemed to really enjoy the role you played yesterday, huh?”

“…”

He saw it. He definitely saw it.

Turning his head, he saw Tae Ihyun smiling.

That’s why I dislike these perceptive kids.

“Hahahaha. No, it’s not like that…”

Park Daehan had to awkwardly explain the situation from a moment ago.

Of course, the other party wouldn’t believe him.

“By the way, how did you get in? I didn’t see you come in.”

“Oh, I flew in through the window.”

“Hmm? F-flew?”

Tae Ihyun nodded.

“Why?”

“Well… this place should have had the nation’s best anti-air defense system and a strong barrier with four elemental magic circles.”

“Oh, I did feel something on the way, but it was annoying, so I just ignored it.”

Annoying, he says. A defense system that cost nearly 50 billion…

Well, what can you do? It’s not like common sense applies to him.

Come to think of it, maybe it’s my fault for expecting common sense from one of the 12 Apostles.

“So, what’s the association’s request this time?”

“I’ve prepared it.”

Park Daehan handed over a file, which Tae Ihyun began to read slowly.

[ You’re still lacking. Lacking! ]

“Yeah, yeah.”

[ You need to move more skillfully according to the situation. Only then can you become a warrior worthy of me. ]

“Yay, yay.”

[ Didn’t I tell you before? If you fully unleash my power, there will be almost no one who can defeat you. ]

“Almost? So there is someone at that level who might beat me?”

[ No, I’m just saying it’s possible. There’s no such existence. Surely not! ]

Cha Sungwoo chuckled at his ever-confident partner’s words.

To be precise, it was his greatsword,

Dark Moon -

The greatsword used by Cha Sungwoo, known as the Demon Sword, is one of the mythical weapons that have appeared only seven times since the Great Gate era began.

A weapon so powerful that calling it the ultimate weapon is an understatement.

Cha Sungwoo was a unique case who awakened after forming a contract with Dark Moon by chance.

Even though he had only harnessed 50% of Dark Moon’s power, Cha Sungwoo quickly reached S-rank.

On the day he fully unleashes Dark Moon’s power, Cha Sungwoo couldn’t even imagine how strong he would become.

When that day comes, Cha Sungwoo will be able to exact the revenge he so desires.

Anyway,

[ This is the Hunter Association, right? What brings you here today? ]

“They said once you become S-rank, you have to register for various things, so I had to drop by.”

[ Ah! I see… To think the rookie you have already become S-rank, hahaha. It’s quite moving. ]

“But there’s still a long way to go. A very long way.”

Even with Dark Moon’s praise, Cha Sungwoo remained calm and composed.

[ That’s true. ]

Dark Moon also knew well who Cha Sungwoo considered his enemies.

Dark Moon believed that Cha Sungwoo would need many allies to fight and defeat them.

Even if he were to unleash all of Dark Moon’s power, fighting them alone would not be an easy task.

No, to begin with, there couldn’t possibly be such an existence… Huh?

[ Wh-what is that… Is that even possible? ]

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

[ 45 degrees to the right, the guy with the sleepy eyes… Do you see him? ]

Cha Sungwoo’s eyes caught sight of a man walking through the association building lobby with a middle-aged man.

[ Listen carefully, Cha Sungwoo. ]

Dark Moon’s voice, directed at the seemingly ordinary man, was extremely serious and grave.

[ That is a monster. A monster you must never fight. ]