Chapter 28
『 Translator – Divinity 』
The commentary continued to heighten his discernment each time he reread it. Then, at a certain point, a desire arose to confirm what he saw in the commentary.
And there could be no one more suitable for that than the Cult Leader.
“What do you think? If you say no, to force someone who says no… No. Well… what does my pride or my feelings matter? As long as it helps the Divine Cult. Therefore, even if you say you don't want to, you must become my disciple.”
“How about I take some time to think about it, Cult Leader? If you were to accept me as your disciple, I would be grateful and learn diligently, but isn't it possible that this feeling I have now might not be the same tomorrow?”
“Do I look like someone who changes his mind from morning to evening in your eyes? I am asking if you think I offered to take you as a disciple without any thought.”
“I know that is not the case. But I say this because I think it would be good to consider it carefully.”
At that, Seo Hyo-eun, who had been holding back, cut in.
“Father, if he says so, then just do so. Why are you being so stubborn? That's a very bad habit. Head Instructor Cheon might be unable to say what he wants and have no choice but to listen now because he finds you difficult, but would that be him following you out of genuine respect? Didn't you say that you shouldn't crush people with force?”
“Hyo-eun-ah, can't you go and train somewhere else? I'm asking because I'm very uncomfortable.”
“No. You're like this even when I'm here; if I'm not, won't you corner him like a rat?”
The Cult Leader now glanced at Cheon Ha-seong. Since he had saved him once before when his daughter was nagging like that, he wondered if he wouldn't do so again this time.
However, Cheon Ha-seong seemed to be preoccupied with other thoughts.
“Is there something you want to say?”
“Yes, Cult Leader. Actually, there are a few things I would like to confirm. I don't know if now is the right time, but I don't know when I will be able to face you like this again.”
“Why do you say that? Are you saying it because you think something will happen to me?”
“It's not that, but I was wondering when the time would come that I could immediately request a learning experience.”
So it seemed he was asking him not to waste this time with talk of becoming a disciple.
The Cult Leader also became interested. Seeing Cheon Ha-seong say this, he thought that perhaps he had gained the beginning of some enlightenment.
“Speak.”
“Could you have a brief duel with me, Cult Leader?”
The Cult Leader did not refuse. There was no one who could dare make such a request of him, but Cheon Ha-seong was receiving many special favors for having stolen Seo Hyo-eun's heart. But even if it wasn't just for that, he also wanted to gladly grant the request of Cheon Ha-seong, the legend of the Martial Arts Academy.
Moreover, the result of their last duel had been painful, so he also had the desire for revenge.
The Cult Leader looked around, then saw a spear leaning against the wall.
“Would a spear be alright?”
“Yes, Cult Leader. Please do as you're comfortable.”
“I'm telling you to do so.”
Then he picked up the spear and threw it to Cheon Ha-seong.
Seo Hyo-eun glanced at the scene. She wondered if he was doing it because he lacked the confidence to duel sword against sword, but she found it hard to believe her father would be like that, so she thought that wasn't it.
Cheon Ha-seong caught the spear the Cult Leader threw and looked down at it for a moment. The Cult Leader flinched, wondering why he was doing that, but after spinning the spear a little in his hand, Cheon Ha-seong looked at the Cult Leader as if he were ready.
“I will yield the first move. Begin your attack.”
“Thank you. I ask for your teachings.”
After speaking, Cheon Ha-seong shot forward fiercely. Although it was a duel, it looked as if he were trying to bet his life on it.
The Cult Leader, wondering if he really meant to be this serious, pulled himself together. It felt that if he didn't focus intently from now on, he could be injured to a degree incomparable to before.
The Cult Leader dodged here and there and blocked with his sword, but Cheon Ha-seong found the Cult Leader's openings and tenaciously swung the spear.
At first, as if he weren't proficient with the length of the spear, he didn't seem to grasp the proper distance, but as time went on, that gradually changed.
The Cult Leader trembled with amazement as he watched Cheon Ha-seong rapidly master the weapon through a few trials and errors. Since he had also given teachings to candidates at the Martial Arts Academy, a spear wouldn't be completely unfamiliar to him. However, the difference between what was taught at the Academy and fighting in real combat was immense. It was to the point where they could be considered completely separate.
But he was simply dumbfounded, wondering what on earth was with this man's reflexes and adaptability.
Seeing Cheon Ha-seong taking it so seriously, the Cult Leader decided to get serious as well. And he thought that once he properly set his mind to it, it wouldn't be difficult at all to bring Cheon Ha-seong to his knees. But what was happening?
As time passed, the one who was becoming more and more disadvantaged was the Cult Leader himself.
The Cult Leader focused on finding Cheon Ha-seong's openings, but none were visible. That didn't make sense. There was bound to be an opening. But whenever he tried to aim for it, it had already vanished. Cheon Ha-seong had blocked that weak point in some way.
At first, he thought it had happened by chance. So he thought it was fascinating and strange. But it didn't take long for him to admit that it was all meticulously calculated by Cheon Ha-seong.
Cheon Ha-seong's storm-like attacks continued endlessly. He wasn't even given a moment to catch his breath. When it seemed he was aiming for the shoulder and he moved to block it, the spear would have already completely changed its course and be stabbing at his waist. So when he belatedly tried to block his waist, it would again dig into another opening.
The change in direction was so fast that it made him wonder if it had been a feint from the start. But no matter how he thought about it, it was not a feint. The transition was just that fast.
While dueling with Cheon Ha-seong, the Cult Leader took in his attacks with his eyes. And he wondered if he could do it like Cheon Ha-seong. What the Cult Leader had thought when he agreed to the duel was nothing like this. He had thought that this time, he would be able to give Cheon Ha-seong a lesson. But as time passed, he was preoccupied with just blocking the attacks.
At the same time, he thought he had become a ridiculous sight. He even had the thought that Cheon Ha-seong might be disappointed.
However, looking at Cheon Ha-seong, that wasn't his expression. He didn't know what he had realized, but his expression was gradually brightening as if he had newly learned something.
Even after that, Cheon Ha-seong's attacks continued.
The Cult Leader used his footwork to avoid Cheon Ha-seong's attacks. Footwork techniques he didn't normally use often were fully mobilized. He had never shown such things in a duel. There was no way he could have. This was for the purpose of trickery; if he showed it in a duel, wouldn't he be unable to deceive an opponent in a real battle?
‘This bastard is really taking me to the cleaners today.’
But what could he do when he might not survive without mobilizing everything he had?
‘Hmph! This will be the first time you've seen footwork like this!’
It was only natural. A footwork technique that the Cult Leader had personally created and kept hidden without ever using until now was unleashed.
Cheon Ha-seong watched the Cult Leader's footwork with fascination. Admiration was one thing, but he still had many things he needed to confirm.
The mnemonic verses and commentary of the Heaven-Shattering Will Art passed clearly through his mind. Recalling what among them could be used in the current situation, Cheon Ha-seong aimed for the Cult Leader's head.
It was an attack so intense and resolute that it made his difficult-to-execute footwork seem pointless. Wondering if this didn't make him look too foolish, the Cult Leader decided to give him a proper lesson from now on.
It was only because he hadn't been trying; if he truly set his mind to it, would Cheon Ha-seong be a problem?
Thinking he had to make up for the previous outcome, he unleashed the ultimate techniques he knew and the ones he had created and saved, one after another. At that brilliant combination attack, a situation unfolded where Cheon Ha-seong retreated hesitantly, busy just trying to block.
The Cult Leader, thinking this was how it should have been from the start, wore a triumphant expression.
“Cult Leader, may I also try with a sword?”
Until Cheon Ha-seong asked, the Cult Leader had forgotten that Cheon Ha-seong had been fighting with a spear, which was not his main weapon. Of course, he had known at first, but as time passed, Cheon Ha-seong used it so naturally that he had completely forgotten.
Hearing Cheon Ha-seong's words, he came to his senses. He was so embarrassed that his face flushed red, as if he had tied a kid's hands and gotten happy just for barely gaining the upper hand.
“Go ahead.”
As permission was granted, Cheon Ha-seong picked up his sword. Then he kicked off the ground with all his might.
Almost no passage of time was felt between him drawing his sword and kicking off the ground to launch his body. What unfolded from then on were all the techniques of the Heaven-Shattering Will Art.
The Cult Leader's face was colored with astonishment, but he didn't even have time to be properly surprised. Cheon Ha-seong's sword rushed in like a storm. Dazzling movements continued one after another, to the point where it was hard to believe it was the sword art of a single person.
‘Isn't he really trying to kill me?’
Cheon Ha-seong's sword strikes were so sharp each and every moment that the Cult Leader even had that thought for a brief time. To block them, the Cult Leader had no choice but to reveal all of his power.
It was no longer a level where he could face him while hiding some of his own power.
An indescribable bewilderment washed over the Cult Leader. This could not be explained with any words. Even though Cheon Ha-seong was a figure called a legend of the Martial Arts Academy and a legend of the Divine Cult, weren't there certain things one imagined from those words?
But what on earth was this sight before him now? Moreover, the Cult Leader had already dueled with Cheon Ha-seong a few days ago. At that time, he hadn't thought that Cheon Ha-seong was hiding his strength. But compared to his appearance then, Cheon Ha-seong had changed to the point where he couldn't be seen as the same person.
And yet, he had to consistently block the attacks that raged towards him. If he failed to block even a single one of these attacks, it felt like he would have to lie down and do nothing but recuperate for at least a month.
‘Hah! How did it come to this!’
The Cult Leader felt it was unfair, but he didn't even know what he was resenting. Internal energy continuously raged from his dantian. The thought suddenly occurred to him, 'How long has it been since I've swung my sword with this much of my strength?'
He hadn't even gone this far when the assassins came. There had been no need to.
When fifteen minutes, then thirty minutes had passed, both of them were drenched in sweat.