Suicide Before Defeating the Final Boss – 120
EP.120 Play
Proving his worth to an inanimate object by resorting to violence felt like an oddly novel experience. Jeong-hyeon gripped his sword firmly and swung it down on the Holy Sword with full force.
– Clang!
The sound wasn’t a crash, but the sharp ring of metal deflecting metal.
The Holy Sword, as if possessing a mind of its own, had parried the blow.
Jeong-hyeon stared at the Holy Sword with fascination, tilting his head slightly as a smirk formed on his lips.
‘Oh? So, this is how you want to play?’
He loosened his shoulders and prepared himself. If the Holy Sword wanted to parry, then he’d meet parry with parry.
Once again, he swung his sword.
– Clang!
The metallic ring echoed again, and Jeong-hyeon immediately responded by pressing forward, forcing the sword to rebound. The counterattack struck back at the Holy Sword.
– Woom!
The Holy Sword emitted a blinding light, creating a shimmering white barrier that absorbed the reflected strike.
Watching the shield form, Jeong-hyeon couldn’t help but let out a low whistle.
‘It blocked that?’
The reflected blow should’ve been nearly impossible to stop due to its speed. Yet, the Holy Sword had created a divine barrier to neutralize it.
Realizing the sword’s capabilities exceeded his expectations, Jeong-hyeon chuckled.
‘If its reflexes are this sharp, it might even block attacks I don’t notice in time.’
He thought that with the Holy Sword by his side, at least he wouldn’t have to worry about being assassinated anytime soon.
Satisfied, he nodded approvingly.
‘You’re pretty impressive, huh?’
Of course, the Holy Sword didn’t respond verbally, but the faint vibrations it emitted felt almost like it was smugly saying, “Obviously.”
Finding the interaction amusing, Jeong-hyeon raised his sword to strike again.
But before he could act, his weapon shattered into hundreds of pieces, clattering to the ground.
‘…What?’
It took him a moment to process what had just happened.
The sword he had been using wasn’t some legendary artifact, but it was one of the finest blades money could buy—crafted with the highest-grade materials and reinforced with divine power.
And yet, the Holy Sword had obliterated it.
‘It broke this?’
Even though the blade had been strengthened with divine power, it was reduced to fragments.
Jeong-hyeon glanced at the Holy Sword, which was now vibrating triumphantly, as if mocking him:
‘Is that the best you’ve got?’
Of course, it was just his imagination, but the sword’s behavior felt irritatingly condescending.
With a sigh, Jeong-hyeon tossed the shattered hilt aside.
‘Fine. If that’s how it’s going to be…’
If the sword didn’t respect steel, perhaps it would respect his fists.
Cracking his knuckles, Jeong-hyeon rolled his shoulders and grinned. It had been a while since he’d relied on his bare hands.
Then, with a fluid motion, he swung his fist toward the Holy Sword.
– BOOM!
It seemed the Holy Sword wasn’t expecting to be punched. Instead of parrying, it conjured another shimmering barrier to absorb Jeong-hyeon’s blows.
Watching the barrier shimmer under the force of his strikes, Jeong-hyeon grinned.
‘Alright. Let’s see how long you can keep this up.’
With renewed vigor, he began hammering his fists against the Holy Sword.
BOOM! CRASH! KA-BOOM!
Each strike echoed like a thunderclap, shaking the ground beneath him. For a sword, it had an impressive “impact,” and Jeong-hyeon couldn’t help but find the experience oddly enjoyable.
“It’s been a while since I could let loose like this,” he thought, his grin widening as his fists continued their relentless assault.
Time passed. Nearly an hour later, the barrier that had steadfastly endured began to crack. Finally, it shattered with a resounding crash, revealing the blade beneath.
The sight of the Holy Sword’s exposed blade sent a surge of triumph through Jeong-hyeon. Wasting no time, he threw a decisive punch.
– Crack!
A faint but audible sound of splintering echoed as a small crack formed on the sword’s gleaming surface.
‘I did it.’
The realization of his victory settled in, and Jeong-hyeon couldn’t help but feel a wave of satisfaction. The first trial was complete.
Or so he thought.
Suddenly, the Holy Sword let out a wailing cry that echoed through the chamber.
“Muaaaaaaaaang!”
Jeong-hyeon froze, caught completely off guard. It was the first sound the Holy Sword had ever made, and it wasn’t just a sound—it was a full-on sob.
‘What the… Why is it crying?’
He stared at the trembling blade, utterly baffled.
‘All I did was hit it because it told me to prove my strength. What’s its problem?’
Before he could dwell on it further, Shin Si-ah reappeared, her gaze flickering between Jeong-hyeon and the visibly distressed sword.
“…Wow,” she muttered, her voice filled with disbelief.
After a pause, she rubbed her temples and sighed, addressing Jeong-hyeon with an almost exasperated tone.
“I never thought… that there’d be a hero who’d punch the Holy Sword into submission.”
Jeong-hyeon, feeling a bit wronged, protested, “It asked me to prove my strength, so I did!”
Si-ah raised an eyebrow. “Most people prove their strength by defeating monsters or completing tasks. Nobody—and I mean nobody—thinks to beat the sword itself.”
“…Oh.”
Jeong-hyeon scratched his head awkwardly as Si-ah shook hers, clearly resisting the urge to say more. Instead, she let out a resigned chuckle and folded her arms.
“Well, I suppose there’s no point trying to explain it now.”
Jeong-hyeon decided to change the subject, lifting the cracked Holy Sword and examining it.
“Anyway, the sword looks a bit damaged. What should I do about this?”
Si-ah glanced at it and shrugged. “Just leave it alone. It’ll repair itself eventually. The bigger problem is that you upset it.”
Jeong-hyeon blinked. “Upset it? It’s a sword.”
Si-ah nodded solemnly. “When it gets upset, it sulks. That’s why it’s leaking divine power like that.”
He turned to the sword, watching divine power drip from it like a sulking child’s tears.
‘This thing’s acting like I kicked its puppy.’
He tried speaking to it, “Hey, uh, sorry about that. You okay?”
Unsurprisingly, the sword didn’t respond.
Jeong-hyeon looked back at Si-ah, confused. “It’s not saying anything.”
She shrugged again. “That’s what happens when it sulks. It stops talking.”
The absurdity of the situation finally hit him. A sword with no mouth, no face, and no real emotions was somehow sulking.
Jeong-hyeon groaned, running a hand down his face.
‘What a headache…’
***
Once the situation had calmed down, Jeong-hyeon finally managed to get some information about the Holy Sword from Shin Si-ah.
“Well, the Holy Sword is a weapon made to serve its wielder, so just carrying it around should grant you numerous benefits,” Si-ah explained.
“Is that so?”
“Yes, but…” Si-ah’s tone shifted as she shot him a pointed glance. “To access its full potential, you’ll need to bond with it. And, well, given that you beat it up… I’d say bonding is out of the question for now, let alone holding a conversation.”
Jeong-hyeon avoided her gaze, suddenly fascinated by the distant wall.
It was true—he had enjoyed himself a little too much during the trial. Reflecting on it now, he wondered if he should’ve gone easier on the sword. A sheepish smile tugged at his lips as guilt began to creep in.
Si-ah sighed and continued, “Still, the Holy Sword is inherently kind. No matter how upset it might be now, it’ll forgive you eventually.”
“That’s good to hear,” Jeong-hyeon replied, feeling slightly relieved.
“Yes. The fact that it acknowledged you passed the trial, even while sulking, proves it’s not holding a grudge in any serious way,” she added.
As if to confirm her words, a glowing message showed up before Jeong-hyeon’s eyes.
*
[Congratulations! You have completed the first trial!]
– The Holy Sword’s basic abilities are now unlocked.
*
Jeong-hyeon nodded in satisfaction at the notification.
Si-ah, however, wasn’t done. “In any case, try to patch things up with the Holy Sword. It probably won’t respond to you for now, but talk to it occasionally. Show it that you care.”
“Sure, I can do that,” Jeong-hyeon agreed, although he felt like the grown-up in this dynamic wasn’t him.
He turned to the Holy Sword, trying his best to look apologetic as he gently patted its blade. “So, about your abilities. What can you do?”
Si-ah interrupted, her voice laced with amusement. “That depends on the wielder. For me, the Holy Sword amplified my magic and bolstered my defenses.”
“Interesting,” Jeong-hyeon mused. “And how exactly did you figure that out?”
Si-ah’s lips twitched, struggling to hold back a smirk. “Oh, I asked the sword.”
“…Right.”
A dead end.
Jeong-hyeon exhaled, resigned.
‘So, this all boils down to improving my bond with it.’
He decided to take things slow—there was no rush. For now, he’d just treat the Holy Sword as a particularly sturdy blade until it decided to forgive him.
One thing was certain: repairing their relationship would take time.
***
Time flew by, and the day of the play was finally here.
Jeong-hyeon felt a thrill run through him as he prepared to see the Pope’s twisted expression. Calling Shin Si-ah over, he announced, “I’m heading out now.”
“Yes, please signal me immediately if anything happens,” she replied, her voice calm but tinged with concern.
He doubted it would come to that, but he nodded all the same. “Got it.”
‘Now then, let’s begin the show.’
Jeong-hyeon thought as he donned his armor and led a small group of low-ranking demons clad in similarly imposing gear. Together, they made their way to the designated meeting point.
***
When Jeong-hyeon arrived, the sight that greeted him was horrifying.
“What the hell is this…?”
Every building was ablaze, the streets littered with dismembered limbs and bodies—what was left of the townsfolk hung grotesquely from the walls. The scene was so brutal it could have been ripped straight from an article titled “The Horrors of War.”
As he grimaced at the carnage, something caught his attention in the distance: a group of Holy Knights rounding up survivors. They were lining the citizens up and—without hesitation—executing them.
Jeong-hyeon narrowed his eyes.
‘Wait a second… the demons are right here, so why are they blaming them?’
Watching closely, he saw the knights hastily finish the executions. They then scattered the bodies across the village in grotesque displays before retreating.
His lips curled into a bitter smile as a loud voice rang out, declaring, “The demons have committed a massacre!”
‘Ah, so that’s their game.’
This shameless display was proof of the Church’s unwavering belief in their mantra: “The few must be sacrificed for the many.”
It was a philosophy that the Church never failed to demonstrate.
‘This is why I like them.’
The Church’s transparent depravity made it easy to predict their next move.
He drew the Holy Sword, still sulking but cooperative after spending three days in his company. The blade emerged effortlessly, shimmering with divine energy as it granted him a host of buffs.
Jeong-hyeon let out a dry laugh. “What a tsundere,” he muttered, shaking his head. The Holy Sword might be upset, but it was still fulfilling its duty without complaint.
‘I like this about it.’
He was appreciating its amusingly complex personality as he prepared to unleash a divine strike. But just before he could proclaim a Sanctuary and obliterate the knights, a different idea struck him.
‘Originally, I was going to kill everyone here and use Lea to manipulate the Pope.’
It wasn’t a bad plan, but if he proceeded that way, the massacre would genuinely be attributed to the demons, potentially rallying the Church’s followers even further. That could prove counterproductive.
‘No, I need to twist this narrative instead.’
Deciding on a new approach, Jeong-hyeon reached into his subspace pouch and pulled out Bishop Lea.
The woman, bound and gagged, looked up at him with a mix of confusion and dread.
“Time to put your talent to good use,” he said softly, crouching down to her level. “You’re going to play the victim now.”
Lea stared at him, her expression screaming disbelief.