Chapter 93 - The Power of Mint Choco
“Unit Leader Ji-han, where did you get this map from?”
“I ca across it. It's made in Abyss.”
“I can tell it’s an item from Abyss just by looking at it. But there’s one interesting part about this map.”
“That it’s not brand new?”
“You knew?”
“I just had a feeling it would be like that. Take a look and tell the details.”
“I can’t do that!”
Rosie’s response was firm.
“But I even brought the ice cream you like?”
“Even if you tempt like that, what can’t be done, can’t be done.”
In fact, I had sowhat expected Rosie to react this way.
She was neither my friend nor my colleague, and she was reluctant to divulge matters of Abyss.
“Is it like an unwritten rule in the dragon world?”
“I don’t know. Don’t ask.”
“But Rosie, it’s a broken principle anyway. You already gave information about the Bastian map.”
“Still, my words had no influence back then. Unit Leader Ji-han would have gone on the Abyss journey even if I hadn’t given you any information, and you would have obtained the quest reward just the sa. Isn’t that right?”
“No?”
“What?”
“I said no. If you hadn’t given any information, Rosie, I wouldn’t have left for Abyss. Thanks to your words, I was able to leave with peace of mind. You could say that the reason I obtained the reward from this Abyss trip is ultimately thanks to you, Rosie.”
“No! Unit Leader Ji-han is lying right now!”
Of course, it was a lie.
But I heard that in the dragon world, the spoken word was more important than the true intention.
Even if it was a fib.
“It’s not a lie, Rosie.”
“Please say it’s a lie. Honestly, it is a lie, isn’t it.”
“If you feel wronged, then prove that my words are false, Rosie.”
“I’m about to get angry!”
If I were an ordinary human, Rosie would probably have twisted my neck to hear the words she wanted, but now she was just making a frustrated face.
“Cheap!”
“Actually, I can be cheaper. I understand the nature of dragons to so extent.”
“What on earth is your identity, Unit Leader Ji-han?”
“If you’re curious, cooperate a little.”
Saying that, I took out an ice cream and handed it to Rosie.
“This isn’t mint choco flavor!”
“Of course, I have mint choco flavor too.”
I reached into my inventory once more.
“Here you go.”
Only then did Rosie wear a satisfied expression.
“As expected, mint choco has a different aroma from the start.”
“So you’ll tell now, right?”
“Just know that it’s definitely not because of the mint choco. It’s because I want to uncover Unit Leader Ji-han’s identity soday.”
As expected. Breaking a principle is difficult the first ti, but it becos much easier from the second ti onward.
“Yes, I know.”
“What are you curious about? Ask just one thing.”
“This map, I know it’s 40 years old, but is it still valid?”
This map was a bit different from the previous ones.
It only had the feel of a map, a blank sheet with no information.
What the map’s na was, when the portal would open, and what lay beyond that portal. With just this, I couldn’t know anything.
It even made think that after 40 long years, it might just be a worthless piece of paper.
“Unit Leader Ji-han.”
“Why.”
“Are you really only asking this one thing?”
I smiled and nodded.
Rosie licked the ice cream in her hand and continued.
“That, it’s still a valid map.”
“Then why isn’t the portal’s opening ti displayed on the map?”
“Because the owner of the map had no will to do so.”
True, this map was an item that hadn’t been conquered for 40 years.
It was impossible for there to have been any will to do so.
“I see.”
“Don’t ask any more now.”
“I was about to.”
“The sa goes for the future. Where in the world is there a human who negotiates with a dragon!”
“Rosie.”
“Yes. Unit Leader Ji-han.”
“It’s not a negotiation.”
Strictly speaking, it was blackmail using mint choco.
I pinched Rosie’s cheek one more ti.
“Ouch!”
“You’re pretending it hurts when it doesn’t.”
“It’s really strange. When I stand in front of Unit Leader Ji-han, I feel like I’ve really beco a little kid.”
“Didn’t you like that too, Rosie?”
“If you point it out so directly, it makes feel embarrassed.”
“Since you’re here, let ask for a favor.”
I picked up the Holy Sword Bastian.
“What! Don’t tell you want to fight?”
“Not that, a performance test.”
The Holy Sword I had t again. I wanted to feel that old sensation once more.
“Performance test? Co to think of it, that’s a new sword, isn’t it?”
I nodded.
“Any kind of magic is fine, so try using it on once.”
“Here? What am I supposed to do if sothing happens to you, Unit Leader Ji-han?”
“Nothing will happen.”
I knew Rosie’s full power well.
As long as she didn’t attack with the resolve of a life-or-death battle, the Holy Sword’s magic resistance would be able to cover it.
“If Unit Leader Ji-han says so, then it must be so, right?”
“Of course.”
Simultaneously with my answer, Rosie gave a wicked yet interested smile.
I felt a sudden burst of heat.
Since she was polymorphed into a human, the chanism for casting magic had changed, but its essence remained the sa.
Friend! It’s a breath!
Coincidentally, the very magic that had turned to ashes began to unfold by Rosie’s hand.
It wasn't huge, but a dense fla swept over the surroundings.
That Rosie. To use such an attack inside a room, she really was one to not hold back.
I imdiately extended the Holy Sword Bastian.
The greatest advantage of the Holy Sword was its extrely high resistance to magic.
This was sothing that could even cover for my ager mana.
Swaaaaaaaak!
The encroaching inferno was split in half by Bastian.
And just like that, the energy of the flas vanished.
Rosie’s mouth hung open and didn’t close.
“Unit Leader Ji-han, what is this!”
Only I had changed; Bastian was still the sa.
I had confird it, so this was enough.
***
A few more days passed, but the map remained the sa.
Still a blank sheet.
But Rosie’s words that the map was valid were likely true, so there would be so kind of change soon.
Because I, the new owner, had the will to conquer the map.
“Sir. It’s , Ho-joong.”
“Co in.”
And one of the reactions I had been expecting finally ca today.
“Sir, do you perhaps have divine powers?”
“Why?”
“Just as you said, a call ca from the Jungwon Sword Family.”
I knew it.
“What did they say.”
“The Jungwon Sword Family would like to invite you, sir. But why would the Jungwon Sword Family suddenly invite you……”
“You don’t need to know that, just go and relay my words exactly as I say them.”
“Yes. I will relay them as soon as you tell .”
“Tell them if they want to et , they should co here themselves. I’ll be the one to extend the invitation.”
“Understood, sir.”
“And add that there’s one condition.”
“A condition?”
“Yes. That if they want to receive my invitation, the Jungwon Sword Family Head must co in person. Well, I can let them decide on the ti.”
“Sir?”
“Why? Is there a problem with my proposal?”
Judging by his troubled expression, he seed to think there was a problem.
“Even though the Jungwon Sword Family is not one of the 10 great sword families, it is a family that competes in the next tier. They aren’t complete pushovers. Besides, I believe their Family Head is about the sa age as your father, sir.”
“I know that. So?”
“……Sir? Oh, no, sir. I will relay your words as you’ve said.”
“Why? Do you think it’s strange for a re unit leader to summon the Head of another sword family?”
“N-no, that’s not it. But didn’t you predict that the Jungwon Sword Family would contact you, sir? I thought that ant you were also willing to et with soone from the Jungwon Sword Family.”
“You’re worried that they’ll refuse if I act like this.”
“Honestly, considering the personality of the Jungwon Sword Family Head, I believe there is a possibility of that happening.”
“No matter how shitty his personality is, he’ll definitely co, so you don’t have to worry about that. Just relay my words correctly.”
“Understood, sir.”
For the Jungwon Sword Family, with two of their direct lineage missing, they were not in a position to be picky.
Heo Jeong-ah and I were keeping silent about what happened there after the last Abyss trip.
The only thing revealed to the world was the fact that I was the one who had obtained the reward, so the Jungwon Sword Family had no choice but to seek out.
“But sir.”
“What.”
Choi Ho-joong called and then made a shy expression.
“If you called , then speak.”
“Would it be possible for to try holding your Reapersword just one more ti?”
“I wondered what it was, so you wanted to talk about that?”
“Because you said you would give it to .”
This guy was now openly coveting the Reapersword.
Of course, I liked this kind of greed.
If the Reapersword would just acknowledge Ho-joong, I wanted to hand it over as soon as possible.
“Here, take it.”
“Yes, sir.”
Choi Ho-joong showed a motivated look, but the mont the Reapersword left my hand and reached his, the four red stars embedded in the hilt lost their brilliant light.
Choi Ho-joong’s complexion did the sa.
“No, why on earth!”
“Why are you getting angry at an innocent sword. You should bla your own shortcomings.”
“The sword is discriminating against people, sir!”
“It discriminates because there’s a reason to discriminate. That’s how ego swords are. And the prouder the sword, the better it is.”
“Being this proud, I don’t know if it will ever co over to .”
“It will, so just wait.”
Still, he was my right-hand man; I couldn't just let him be unable to win over a single ego sword.
It was a problem that could be solved by teaching and taming him a bit more.
***
The Muwon Sword Family.
It had been a long ti since my last visit.
After returning from Abyss, old man Han Byeong-cheol had been pestering to et, and I also decided to take so ti out this evening for a change of pace.
In fact, maintaining a good relationship with the old man was beneficial to in many ways.
I could have the massive Muwon Sword Family as an absolute ally, and above all, discussing swordsmanship with the old man was a great help in understanding Earth’s style of swordsmanship.
Although the old man’s level was far below mine, there was always sothing to learn even from a three-year-old child. Today’s conversation with the old man was also beneficial.
“If it were possible, I’d want to dissect your brain.”
“You say scary things.”
“Honestly, the one who truly feels scared is . It feels like you’re reading all my thoughts.”
“That’s because you explain swordsmanship in such an easy-to-understand way, Supre Family Head.”
“That’s not it. It’s unbelievable, but it feels as if you’re looking down on ? Sotis I even feel like I’m stripped naked.”
That expression was a bit much.
Just imagining it was horrifying.
“You’re mistaken.”
“……I suppose so, right?”
“Of course.”
I nodded.
Still, the old man seed sowhat unconvinced.
In tis like these, I had no choice but to change the subject.
“Now, please tell the reason you called for .”
“Reason? Did I not say that just talking with you is my pleasure.”
Usually, that was the case, but today, the atmosphere was sohow different.
He clearly had sothing special to say.
“If you have nothing to say, may I be excused?”
As I tried to get up from my seat, the old man imdiately stopped .
“As expected, I can’t fool you.”
“I knew it. Please tell what it is.”
Even after I said this, Han Byeong-cheol hesitated for a long ti.
I couldn’t even guess what he was trying to talk about.
“What do you think about the Haewon Sword Family and the Muwon Sword Family becoming in-laws?”
What was this, out of the blue?
A chuckle escaped my lips for a mont.
In fact, this was a very familiar situation for .
Even during my ti as Johan Raven, I had lived my whole life alone and had received countless such proposals.
“It’s about a marriage proposal. But don’t tell the subject is ?”
“As expected, you’re incredibly sharp. Actually, I have already been discussing this with your father, Family Head Seo Joon-wook.”
“I refuse.”
There was no need to even think about it.
“Why. Do you not like our Ye-ji?”
“I have no thoughts of marriage yet.”
“What I discussed with Family Head Seo Joon-wook was only an engagent, not a marriage, so you don’t need to feel burdened.”
“Whether it’s marriage or an engagent, the essence of being bound to each other is not different. Therefore, I refuse.”
“Since you’re being so firm, it’s making a bit embarrassed.”
“Discussing the sword with you, Elder, has always been a pleasure. However, if such an uncomfortable topic cos up, my visits to the Muwon Sword Family will have to stop. If you don’t mind that, you can proceed with this marriage proposal. Though the outco is already decided.”
I looked at the old man with a firm gaze.
Co to think of it, this was an issue that needed to be clearly cut off at so point.
I had noticed the old man’s inner thoughts about this for a while now.
“Hoho.”
“I will get a definite answer today before I leave. So please choose right here. Whether you will continue your connection with , or whether you will proceed with your granddaughter’s marriage proposal.”
In a situation like this, it was necessary to be sharp.
Not leaving even a sliver of room was, in fact, a considerate thing to do for the other person.
“It’s disappointing, but it can’t be helped. I can’t lose you while trying to force things for my granddaughter.”
“A wise decision.”
In the Muwon Sword Family, the old man’s influence was still absolute, so this marriage proposal issue was as good as over.
It was a good thing I ca today.
I was able to cut it off before the discussion progressed further.
“Thanks to you, I think my steps toward the Muwon Sword Family next ti will also be light.”
The old man’s smile seed a bit bitter, but I decided to pretend not to notice today.
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