The heat radiating from his body wasn’t like steam.
It was more like the wavering shimr rising from asphalt on a sweltering sumr day.
That was why Hiro himself wasn’t aware of it.
But to Su-ho’s eyes, it was perfectly visible.
Which ant it was ti.
Yeah... just a little more, and I can draw it out.
Hiro’s eyes were filled with heat, passion, and desire.
Was it an obsession with victory?
No.
He was a man like a great dragon in the ga of Go—he didn’t chase foolish dreams.
He focused only on the goal before him.
So people call that focus and concentration.
And most people who excel at focus and concentration often achieve near-term successes, which in turn allow them to accomplish bigger things.
Hiro was one of those n.
At that mont, his focus was deeper and greater than any underdog desperate for victory.
Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak!
A relentless onslaught.
Defense that t it head-on.
The faster the tempo and the louder the sound, the faster his heartbeat pounded.
Screech—shff—screech—
The sound of both feet sliding across the training floor intermittently filled the gaps between each beat.
Ssshhh—
And then, the sweltering shimr enveloped everything, transforming into steam so hot that even Su-ho could hear it.
In that instant—
Whump!
Hiro’s wooden sword darted straight for the bridge of Su-ho’s nose.
A pattern he had never shown before.
His speed had increased another ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ notch.
And then—
Whump!
Another straight thrust.
Naturally, Su-ho dodged this one as well.
But with the attack speed so different from before, both Su-ho and Hiro couldn’t help but smile.
Hiro’s eyes, especially, widened to their limits, brimming with exhilaration, and his grin split his face open.
'Looks like he’s realized sothing.'
Good.
It’s a promising sign.
Hold onto that sensation a little longer.
It’ll give birth to a much stronger Yasuda-ryu.
Screech—tak! Screech—tak! Screech—tak! Taaak!!
Su-ho adjusted his responses to match the quicker tempo—
Mixing dodges and parries together.
That beca the catalyst.
A fine accelerant that pushed Hiro into further evolution.
And then, finally—
Fwoooosh!!
When his blade exploded forward, Su-ho felt it.
A faint burst of heat, almost like a breath attack, emanating from the tip of Hiro’s strike.
And Hiro’s movent stopped.
“......”
Hiro froze mid-thrust.
Su-ho didn’t knock his blade aside—he simply stepped back to evade.
And then he, too, stopped.
“......”
A brief silence.
Hiro drew a deep breath.
It was so big that even at a glance Su-ho could see his chest expand and contract.
He must have reached so kind of realization.
So Su-ho said nothing and simply waited for the thrill he was feeling to pass.
When Hiro’s expression finally returned to normal, he smiled again and lowered his sword.
“Ah... this is good.”
“Did enlightennt strike?”
“Yes, thanks to you. Honestly, I thought I had no further room to grow...”
“Congratulations. I can’t say for sure, but I have a feeling your swordsmanship skill just evolved.”
“How did you know?”
How?
Because I’ve been through it myself.
But Su-ho kept his composure.
“It was just a feeling. Your expressions were... very telling.”
“Haha, they say you can’t hide a cough or love—looks like my love for swordsmanship shows the sa way.”
Lowering his blade, Hiro perford the distinctive sword-drawing gesture of kendo—nōtō—and gave a respectful bow.
“You worked hard. And once again, thank you. Just like before, I’ve learned a great deal today.”
“Haha, not at all. I’m just glad you gained sothing from . So, shall we continue sparring?”
“No. I think that’s enough for today. Once again, my sincere thanks for the great lesson.”
Hiro bowed again.
Su-ho smiled at the gesture.
Just as he’d said, there was little point in continuing now.
Whether in terms of swordsmanship or skill progression, the improvent had been achieved. What remained was personal refinent.
So the two decided not to cross blades further and spent the ti over tea instead.
Even without sparring, simply discussing related topics could give a lesser swordsman great insight from a master.
After a while, Hiro suddenly asked:
“By the way, Vice President, have you ever t Korea’s Sword Saint?”
“Pfft—what?”
At the words Korea’s Sword Saint, Su-ho nearly spat out his tea.
Actually—he did, just a little.
Because Korea’s Sword Saint ant himself—An Su-ho.
Hiro laughed at Su-ho’s startled reaction.
“Haha, what’s with the surprise? You walk the way of the sword just like I do—you must have heard it too. That the best swordsman in the world today is the Sword Saint in Korea.”
“Well... I suppose I’ve heard that in passing...”
“I’ve only seen bits and pieces through dia and online, but I think he’s truly amazing. If the chance ever ca, I’d like to et him—no, more than et him, I’d like to spar with him as swordsman to swordsman. But it’s not easy, right? He’s not just the Sword Saint, he’s also a high-ranking official.”
Hmm.
It’s not so much that I’m hard to et because I’m an official—more like I rarely et anyone unless there’s a special reason.
Still... Hiro was as consistent as ever.
Or maybe it was only natural.
Admiring the best in your field is the most natural and common thing in the world.
Su-ho replied with a smile.
“He’s a busy man, so I’ve only ever seen him through dia too. But like you said, if the opportunity arose, I’d like to et him as well. After all... we’re talking about the Sword Saint.”
“Right? I figured you’d think the sa way I do. By the way, why did you spit your tea earlier?”
“Oh, that... It’s just that my na is the sa as his, so people around tease about it all the ti. I guess I reacted without thinking.”
“Haha! That could happen. One of my subordinates is nad Kimura Takuya—sa na as that very handso actor. He’s suffered quite a bit for it, especially since he doesn’t actually look anything like the real Kimura Takuya.”
Oof.
That guy must have it rough.
Su-ho nodded in sympathy and understanding.
Still, this had unexpectedly confird sothing—Hiro’s fondness for An Su-ho the Sword Saint, not just Kim Su-ho the Union vice president.
Maybe that’s why a question ca to mind.
“Forgive if this is too forward, but may I ask you sothing personal?”
“Of course. What is it?”
“What’s your goal for the future? As the head of Sumiyoshi, as the player Yasuda Hiro—from every perspective.”
At the word goal, Hiro set down his teacup and folded his arms.
Then he fell deep into thought—taking the question quite seriously.
“As both the head of Sumiyoshi and as Yasuda Hiro the player, I do have one common goal.”
“What is it?”
“I want to be soone who can protect my people with my own hands.”
“Protect your people, huh...”
Su-ho couldn’t help but smirk inwardly at those words.
'So things never change with this man.'
In his past life, Hiro had been a huge fan of Su-ho.
And back then, he had led Japan’s strongest guild without question.
As the head of Sumiyoshi, he’d made his guild the nation’s best, protecting his people from the many dangers of the world. As a top-tier player, he’d also shielded them from gates.
Unlike other guild masters, Hiro was the only one who fought on the front lines himself.
That’s why Su-ho wondered if this was sothing unique to his past life or if this life’s Hiro was the sa.
Fortunately, Hiro was Hiro—then and now.
It put Su-ho’s mind at ease.
This was a crucial matter for him.
'Maybe not every country, but I’ll need powerful allies in each one. No matter how well I train my own people, I can’t respond to overseas gates as quickly as I’d like.'
Su-ho truly wanted to see the end of the gate phenonon.
He also pursued maximum efficiency.
But in doing so, he believed there must be no needless sacrifices—specifically, no deaths ignored or dismissed for the sake of the goal.
Even if the gates ended, the dead wouldn’t co back.
In that sense, Hiro was one of the easiest strong allies to work with in Japan.
'In my past life, he really was Japan’s protector.'
Even so, Suzuki Endo had been Japan’s representative in the suicide squad because of his utility as a mage.
'And, well, our roles as swordsn overlapped.'
This ti, there was no way Hiro would be chosen for that role.
In fact, Su-ho wasn’t planning to take anyone else into the Five Great Calamities with him.
Once was enough for mistakes.
Su-ho smiled.
“That’s admirable.”
“Oh? You understood right away?”
“Yes. And that’s why I like you, Chairman. You don’t cling to high status—you’re always willing to fight on the front lines. That’s why I’d like Union to stand with you in that resolve.”
“Stand with ?”
“If Sumiyoshi ever faces an enemy too much to handle, I want to help you with everything I’ve got—materially and otherwise.”
“Haha, just hearing that is enough to make grateful. But I’m sorry—I can’t promise the sa to you. You’re a good man and soone I like, but my shoulders are too burdened to make serious commitnts in the heat of the mont.”
Su-ho chuckled.
That was a very Hiro-like answer.
“That’s fine. When you give a gift, the intent should be pure—you shouldn’t expect sothing in return. This is purely a gift from to you. And of course, it’s also our representative’s wish.”
“Hmph. You really are a good person. Thank you for saying that. In return, I can promise this—at tonight’s eting with the Ability Bureau, I’ll treat it like my own matter and do everything I can to ensure smooth negotiations.”
“Haha, thank you. I’ll trust you on that.”
The friendly conversation continued until it was ti.
Then the two rode in Hiro’s car to the eting place—
A high-class traditional Japanese restaurant (ryōtei) in Akasaka.
The Japanese equivalent of a high-class traditional restaurant, the kind where you enjoyed fine dining in a setting straight out of a drama: a garden pond, bamboo ornants, and koi fish.
Climbing the neatly kept stone steps, they were greeted by the okami, the proprietress and manager, who welcod Hiro.
“Your party has arrived and is waiting inside.”
“Ah, we’re a bit late. Please have the dishes brought out right away.”
“Yes, of course.”
When the sliding door opened, two officials from the Ability Bureau rose to greet them.
“Hey, Chairman Yasuda. Finally here?”
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