Chapter 66 – Champion (2)

Lee Lee Se-min closed his mouth. Killa returned to the same expressionless expression as before. Looking at her slender wrist as she sipped the tea, Lee Lee Se-min looked back on the conversation.

The throne was buried in the gladiatorial arena. actually.

It maintains the barrier. actually.

It conserves energy by sucking the blood of gladiators. actually.

From then on, Killa stopped nodding.

Lee Lee Se-min asked her if she had no will to fight Badurbarok, and from then on, Killa did not respond positively to Lee Lee Se-min’s questions.

“Then tell me. What do you mean by lie?”

“I can’t say. I simply followed the due process and built the magic road that the city needed. That’s all.”

“So you’re the one who wants to fight Badurbarok?”

Kila shook her head.

“Do you want to fight or don’t you want to fight? That’s not the question.”

Lee Lee Se-min sighed. I thought she was going to tell me something, but she started talking again.

“Can’t you just tell me?”

Kila shook her head.

“There is only one person who can tell you everything.”

“Who is that?”

“A sinner on the sand.”

It was the title of Germanos.

“Germanos?”

“If there is an innocent person in Sargasonia, he is the only one.”

“What does that mean?”

“Now it is clear. Everything you need to do and everything you want to know is in Germanos. I have given you plenty of ways. It is up to you to find the answer.”

“No, huh? If you just tell me clearly, I’ll know what I want to know. Aren’t good things good?”

“Good is good. Is this the proverb of the world you came from? That is so short-sighted.”

“Ah, it’s frustrating.”

Kila put down the car.

Then, like a lie, the two teacups disappeared.

Tables and chairs also collapsed.

Before she knew it, Lee Lee Se-min was standing facing her.

Lee Lee Se-min realized that this was her wedding invitation.

“The conversation ends here.”

“Let me ask you one more question.”

“I already said everything.”

“Something else than that.”

Killa tilted her eyebrows and nodded. Lee Lee Se-min looked at her seemingly innocent face and questioned her with all the resentment he felt.

“Why on earth did you put me in Sargasonia as a slave?”

Of course, now it felt like becoming a gladiator and participating in the tournament was the only way to oppose Badurbarok.

However, Lee Lee Se-min did not believe that Killa had foreseen such things and was considerate.

So I wanted to ask.

Killa looked up at Lee Lee Se-min and smiled again. The process of a smile spreading across her expressionless face was as calm and natural as ripples spreading on the surface of the water.

Lee Lee Se-min didn’t think he would get an answer if he looked into her transparent eyes, so he asked again.

“Tell me honestly. You didn’t mean to say that you saw my potential and bet on the future, right?”

“It’s funny. Even now, I don’t see any possibility of it.”

“Then what is it?”

“Just….”

Killa looked over his shoulder and the corners of his mouth curved even further.

An unexpected answer followed.

“Because the guy who was nothing came back with a wolf.”

***

“Lee Lee Se-min?”

“Yes?”

“Why are you standing there blankly?”

Lee Lee Se-min blinked as he looked at Gorgola standing in front of him.

“If you wait, Killa will come out. Then, ask him a question.”

Lee Lee Se-min looked away from Gorgola and looked at the suspicious store on the corner of the street. We had just been talking at Kila’s house, and he was back in Sargasonia again.

When I went to her house and when I came back, the scenery changed as if in a dream. I couldn’t tell if it was an illusion or something else.

“Killa must have already left.”

“Yes?”

“It won’t be there.”

It just felt that way. Killa already got the things he needed and went back. Lee Lee Se-min also met her, talked to her, and asked her what she wanted to ask.

“Killa is such a great wizard.”

“That’s right. They say he was the owner of the Magic Tower when the empire was alive.”

“Wait a minute.”

Lee Lee Se-min gathered his eyebrows.

“So, how old is Kila?”

“At least he would have been well over 100 years old.”

I guessed that he was older than he looked, but I had no idea that his age was in three digits. I ended up speaking informally to such an oblivious grandmother.

Lee Lee Se-min began to feel very profane.

“Killa was a very kind person.”

“Now you’re saying it’s you?”

“Hahaha….”

If a guy who was at least 80 years younger than him spoke informally, Lee Lee Se-min would had beaten him up a lot.

If you don’t know the funeral will, how can you be any different from a beast wandering in the fields?

All humans must be respectful above and be kind below.

“By any chance, how old is Gorgola?”

“I am twenty-three years old.”

“Man.”

“Yes?”

“I’ll speak more comfortably from now on, so call me brother.”

“Yes, yes?”

“Hyung, huh? I’m not the type to be picky about up and down, so don’t feel pressured.”

“Uh…”

“As long as you keep what you need to protect, they won’t touch you.”

Although it was a short military service in which he deserted when he was a private, that time instilled Korean-style Confucian culture in Lee Lee Se-min.

“Let’s go eat. My brother is staying today. Huh? Ma, there’s no one who doesn’t know the name Gladiator Angel Lee Lee Se-min.”

“Yes…”

“I’ll buy you a bowl of soup.”

Lee Lee Se-min headed to the restaurant, leading Gorgola, who had a nervous expression on his face.

My meeting with Killa was short, but I learned a lot. After all, there was no one in the world to trust, and the fact was that Gorgola was younger than him.

***

Lee Lee Se-min prepared to fight Germanos by practicing the mind sword he had recently awakened and reading Wuju-ryu obtained through the Transcendental Network.

The musician’s green crocodile, and the woman walking below is a combination of gentle right angles and hard semicircles, representing the Nine Palace Eight Trigrams… … .

“Hey.”

I threw the mirror onto the bed.

Lee Lee Se-min threw the mirror away and carefully picked it up again, fearing it might be broken. Fortunately, there were no cracks or anything.

Lee Lee Se-min placed the mirror on the table.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

“Lee Lee Se-min. Is he there?”

It was the butler’s voice.

“There is.”

“Vaticaros is looking for you. Please come to the reception room of the mansion.”

“I understand.”

After roughly putting on his clothes, Lee Lee Se-min left the gladiator’s dormitory and headed toward Vaticaros’ mansion.

It was not often that Vaticaros called him. Although he assigned ridiculous battles to ensure gladiators died, he never directly abused slaves. Rather, it was the side of neglect.

From Lee Lee Se-min’s point of view, Vaticaros was a rather comfortable owner.

“Hey!”

Vaticaros was sunk into a large sofa and holding a glass of wine. He was still large and dressed in colorful clothes.

“You’re here! Angel Lee Lee Se-min!”

“Yes.”

When he gestured, Lee Lee Se-min sat down.

Vaticaros poured him a drink.

“Let’s have a drink first. The world can’t understand how a slave bought at a low price made it to the semifinals of the Sargasonia Tournament. Hahahaha!”

Vatikaros laughed heartily. Even at the slave auction house where we first met, he smiled like this. But Lee Lee Se-min’s smiling face somehow didn’t look as happy as it seemed.

“Lee Lee Se-min! Let’s have a drink!”

“Yes.”

He lifted the glass and held it out to Lee Lee Se-min.

Lee Lee Se-min bumped into him and took a sip of his drink. He had a dignified appearance that was not like a slave. Vatikaros nodded as if he liked it better.

“It’s my favorite drink.”

“It smells good.”

“There used to be a lot of things like this.”

He poured himself a drink into his own glass and then handed the bottle to Lee Lee Se-min. Lee Lee Se-min also made it himself.

“This alcohol is something that was made in the far-off country of Corenia.”

“I don’t know where Corenia is.”

“It was a place very far away, and now it’s gone.”

Lee Lee Se-min once again felt that this place was no different from Earth.

Cities collapsed, and the civilization that had been built collapsed.

“I am rich. I am not noble, but I have a lot of money. Do you know why?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

“My family has been merchants for generations. We traded and made a profit by moving the world’s rarest items.”

Lee Lee Se-min nodded.

“I guess I can’t do that anymore.”

“That’s right. There is no trade anymore. You have to live in this small city. Do you know what that means?”

He showed the index fingers of both hands crossed.

“It means that there is no further development. The development of civilization was due to the development of trade and markets. We moved forward by filling each other’s needs and deficiencies. That is the flow of history.”

Lee Lee Se-min didn’t really know what he was trying to say, so he just nodded.

“People must be connected. Connect, communicate, and only then can we move forward. We can’t do anything alone. Exchange goods, change knowledge, and only then will there be a future.”

“Yes.”

“If you want to kill Badurbarok, this isn’t the only place you can go.”

His face was red.

“You win, Angel Lee Lee Se-min.”

Lee Lee Se-min looked at Vaticaros.

Vatikaros brought Lee Lee Se-min’s glass in front of him, poured a drink, and handed it back to him.

“I pushed a lot of gladiators into the arena. A lot of them died. Then I could tell who was going to die and who was going to live.”

“What about me?”

“Actually, you don’t know.”

He laughed and clinked glasses with Lee Lee Se-min.

“But I knew one thing. I knew that he had a job to do, even if it meant risking death. Don’t you?”

Lee Lee Se-min smiled.

“I’m sick of this city. I’m sick of the stupid, cowardly people that fill it. There’s no one who would rather get into debt and go on a business trip than die quietly. My father said the same thing. I thought he was dead, but I was so surprised when he came back alive.”

He grinned.

“So, beat Germanos and win the championship. Understood?”

Lee Lee Se-min chuckled.

“That’s natural.”

“Use that momentum to kill Badurbarok as well. This is my investment.”

Vatikaros handed something to Lee Lee Se-min.

It was the wand that controlled his necklace.

“You are free. Of course, you will not be a free person, but no one will persecute you for that now.”

“Why are you giving it to me?”

“Didn’t you say it was an investment?”

Vatikaros drank alone.

“Anyway, I will either die from Germanos or become a free person. It looks good giving it to me in advance, and you will probably look at me a little differently. It’s a simple dragon trick.”

Lee Lee Se-min nodded.

“Then let’s go a little bigger while investing.”

“Is there anything you want?”

“Alcohol is good, but it would be a shame to drink it only for me.”

Vatikaros tilted his head to guess what he meant, then burst out laughing.

This facial expression really seemed like he was smiling with joy.

“Okay. Call everyone in the gladiator group! I’ll let you eat and drink as much as you want today.”

The Vatikaros gladiators enjoyed a sudden banquet.

***

The final sword fight before fighting Germanos.

Semifinals.

Lee Lee Se-min stood facing Andrew on the sand.

“Lee Lee Se-min, I never thought I’d meet you in a place like this.”

“Sure.”

They talked face to face.

Andrew said with a shrug.

“Actually, I’m not confident that I’ll win, but I guess I’ll have to pretend to fight.”

“You can just abstain.”

“You have eyes to see.”

“Is that so?”

Lee Lee Se-min heard Rufus. Andrew also raised his sword.

“It would be nice to see how much it has grown.”

Andrew grinned at Lee Lee Se-min’s words.

The crowd was already booing them. The message was that we should stop talking and start swinging swords at each other. There was nothing specifically to support Andrew. Everyone seemed to had guessed that Lee Lee Se-min would win.

Lee Lee Se-min and Andrew’s gazed crossed.

The two rushed towards each other.

***

Andrew became stronger.

It was a skill so outstanding that it was unrecognizable compared to before.

Perhaps he established his own style through his life as a gladiator, but every movement had meaning. All the loopholes he showed were incentives.

Andrew led Lee Lee Se-min to make a mistake and defended himself firmly.

“I don’t even remember what hamburgers taste like, do I?”

As they clashed swords, Lee Lee Se-min suddenly spoke.

Andrew chuckled.

“You’re talking about kimchi, aren’t you?”

“It’s a prejudice. I don’t really like kimchi.”

Even as they exchanged words, the invisible fight between the two continued. Without even knowing who would go first, a power struggle began. As they pushed their blades towards each other, the two intersecting blades split each other’s faces into the shape of a cross. At first glance, Andrew’s eyes were hidden behind the sword.

The moment when you can’t see the other person’s eyes.

Aura burst out from Andrew’s body. A strong energy struck Lee Lee Se-min. Lee Lee Se-min shook off his sword and stepped back due to the sudden power. Andrew lunged forward as if he had been waiting.

Lee Lee Se-min also did not give up and lowered his stance by biting his foot. Two swords flew towards each person’s neck. A sharp bursting sound tore through the cheers of the audience.

Andrew said, catching his breath.

“Ekbel makes it sometimes.”

“What?”

“Hamburger.”

“Is the taste similar?”

“It’s different, but….”

Andrew suddenly swung his sword. Sword energy flew out and hit Lee Lee Se-min’s Rufus. The sword body shook. Andrew continued.

“But it’s not bad.”

“Really?

“They said they would give me a lot if I won today.”

“I’ll just buy you something delicious.”

“Because I don’t like being indebted to others.”

Lee Lee Se-min straightened Rufus and overlapped the blade over Andrew’s outline.

Andrew came rushing back.

“How about you come to Ekvel Street!”

But he had to stop midway.

Lee Lee Se-min’s heart and sword greatly divided him and Andrew. A wave of anticipation blew through the air, and the sand was dug up in its wake.

While he hesitated, this time Lee Lee Se-min stepped forward.

Andrew prepared for Lee Lee Se-min’s attack while maintaining his characteristic loose stance. There were loopholes scattered throughout the body. Lee Lee Se-min knew it was all a trap.

Even though I knew it, I stabbed it.

I was curious about Andrew’s reaction. Additionally, I wanted to destroy his counterattack directly. Lee Lee Se-min deliberately delved into his territory.

The gap between Lee Lee Se-min and Andrew closed again.

‘Fighting is ultimately a process of subordinating the enemy’s universe to one’s own universe. Therefore, martial arts is the path to self-perfection, and if you are perfect, your enemy will surrender on his own.’

Lee Lee Se-min once again recalled the proverb of Dokgocheonma, which he had already repeated countless times. He didn’t necessarily try to defeat Andrew. With Taegeukhye firmly wrapped around him, he slowly moved forward while maintaining his own flow.

Andrew poured out an attack towards Lee Lee Se-min. A simple, uncomplicated attack was aimed at Lee Lee Se-min’s up, down, left and right sides. But all were blocked by Lee Lee Se-min’s defense.

Lee Lee Se-min kept going.

Andrew took a step back due to the solemn momentum.

It soon became two steps, then three steps. Although Andrew was the one who attacked, he continued to take a step back due to the flow of Lee Lee Se-min.

Andrew’s back foot touched the wall.

Before he knew it, he was all the way to the outskirts of the gladiatorial arena.

Andrew said with a sigh.

“I thought I had become stronger, but you have become stronger.”

“I’m an angel now.”

Lee Lee Se-min put his head down, put his head forward, and stared at Andrew. They deliberately create loopholes to induce attacks. I knew it was an overt counter attempt, but it was a temptation too sweet to ignore.

The two looked into each other’s eyes.

Time passed like that.

The crowd’s boos grew louder and louder, weighing on their shoulders.

Andrew moved like a thunderbolt.

It was so fast that it far exceeded the human reaction speed. His sword rushed towards Lee Lee Se-min’s neck. For a brief moment, Andrew thought he had won.

However, just before the sword touched down, Andrew’s vision flipped.

Heaven and earth turned upside down. He hit the wall and collapsed onto the sand like a doll. Pain came from all over my body, as if my bones had been torn into pieces. I felt the smell of dirt at the tip of my nose.

“Keuuuuuuuu….”

Andrew raised his eyes. I could see Lee Lee Se-min’s boots stained with sand. Rufus was aiming at his neck.

“I won, right?”

“…Okay.”

“Good job.”

Lee Lee Se-min held out his hand.

Andrew fell limp, unable to stand up even though he held Lee Lee Se-min’s hand. Lee Lee Se-min almost picked him up and supported him.

The audience continued to boo, but it didn’t bother me anymore.

Andrew asked, leaning on Lee Lee Se-min.

“Are you confident that you can beat Germanos?”

“Of course.”

Lee Lee Se-min declared. It was an answer half confident and half courageous. Lee Lee Se-min was ready to answer that he would win no matter who he asked.

“What will you ask for if you win?”

“I haven’t decided on anything specific yet….”

Lee Lee Se-min, who had been making his way down the aisle on Andrew’s side, was now passing through the center of the gladiatorial arena.

“It must be a way to fight Badurbarok.”

“…….”

Lee Lee Se-min finished speaking and regretted it. In a previous conversation, Andrew feared the name of Badurbarok. He was already under the influence of the emperor’s mental ban.

“I see.”

But Andrew surprisingly nodded calmly.

Lee Lee Se-min continued speaking with relief.

“I will kill him and take back the Earth.”

“It won’t be easy.”

“We should try. First, defeat Germanos.”

“I think you can do it.”

“Of course…”

Lee Lee Se-min’s speech slowed down.

“Ji….”

Suddenly my abdomen felt hot.

He felt hot liquid flowing over his skin. Lee Lee Se-min stopped in place and looked down.

There was a dagger stuck in his stomach.

Lee Lee Se-min let go of his supporting hand. Andrew sat down on the floor laughing.

“What…”

Lee Lee Se-min held his wounds and glared at Andrew with burning eyes. He was standing up, holding a bloody dagger.

“I have no hard feelings, but it’s something I have to do.”

“Andrew…!”

“Don’t cause trouble in peaceful Sargasonia.”

“This bastard…!”

Lee Lee Se-min ignored the wound and tried to lift Rufus again, but strength continued to drain through his abdomen. He limped away from Andrew.

“There is a curse on this dagger.”

Andrew approached Lee Lee Se-min, holding a sword and a dagger in each hand.

“You won’t be able to use your strength.”

Lee Lee Se-min started taegeukhye, but a sickening energy rose up as if he had been poisoned. Every time he vomited, the wound opened and blood poured out.

In the agony of not being able to do this or that, Lee Lee Se-min suffered from lupus.

“I’m sorry.”

Andrew threw the dagger.

It spun violently and flew towards Lee Lee Se-min.

Lee Lee Se-min raised Taegeukhye. Although it was painful as blood was welling up inside and the organs were being stirred, the two eyes clearly followed the dagger’s trajectory.

Rufus struck away the dagger.

Andrew looked surprised. After a moment, he immediately swung the sword in his other hand. Lee Lee Se-min took a step back, risking his internal injuries.

“Don’t struggle.”

Lee Lee Se-min stumbled because it was painful even to stand. I tightened my grip and tried not to let go of Rufus.

Andrew was also unable to attack normally due to his injury.

As Lee Lee Se-min desperately tried to avoid the attack by crawling, Andrew’s movements became impatient. Rufus and Andrew’s swords clashed. Andrew’s face distorted as Lee Lee Se-min continued to block his attacks.

“It’s no use struggling.”

Lee Lee Se-min did not answer.

Bleeding continued in the abdomen.

It was the first time that so much blood had been shed in a gladiatorial arena. The throne buried beneath the sand will be drinking his blood to the full. A black energy rose from the edge of my vision. An ominous whisper disturbed my head.

What should I do?

“Die!”

I stared at Andrew running towards me.

It was unclear whether he had been consumed by Sargasonia’s madness, had been brainwashed of some kind, or whether it was truly his own decision.

Several possibilities bounced around in my head.

That doesn’t matter.

Lee Lee Se-min’s concentration reached its limit.

All unnecessary sensations were eliminated.

He no longer felt the burning pain or the magical power of the curse that was tormenting him.

My vision was completely immersed in darkness.

Lee Lee Se-min only recognized what needed to be cut.

Then, a strange purple shape appeared in front of me. It was a dark atmosphere. Lee Lee Se-min realized that it was the image of a curse that was tormenting him. His senses, which had become infinitely sharper, were displaying the dagger’s curse at the target before his eyes.

Cut it.

In Lee Lee Se-min’s mind, an image of dividing them appeared.

It didn’t matter whether it was real or not.

Benda’s will rose, and the curse shattered.

Taegeukhye stood up again.

But that wasn’t the end. There was one more thing left for him to cut. Against the backdrop of complete darkness, the image of Andrew running towards him suddenly came to mind.

His sword was raised towards Lee Lee Se-min.

Lee Lee Se-min saw in Andrew’s eyes the firm will to kill him. Andrew curled his sword so that his tendons sprouted, leaned back as hard as he could, and swung the sword at Lee Lee Se-min.

The sword came a little closer.

Take another step closer.

Andrew’s sword split the space and headed toward Lee Lee Se-min’s death.

Just before the cool light of a sword falls on Lee Lee Se-min’s neck.

Lee Lee Se-min decided.

Cut it.

As soon as he thought about it, Rufus was swayed.

Lee Lee Se-min’s sword cut Andrew apart. Andrew’s body was torn in half. That was the end. Lee Lee Se-min cut down everything he needed to cut.

The darkness of the world began to clear.

At the edge of my vision, the crowds filling the stood began to appear.

Soon he was standing on the gladiatorial arena again.

When the last speck of vision cleared, Andrew, his upper and lower body separated, was sprawled out on the sand.

Just before he died, he was shaking his upper body and looked at Lee Lee Se-min.

Nothing but fear could be read in the dying eyes.

The gladiatorial arena was immersed in silence.

Soon, cheers and boos shook the gladiatorial arena. Angel Lee Lee Se-min, a gladiator who had never killed anyone, killed an opponent for the first time. Even dismembering the body was an extreme task. The audience was truly delighted by the cruel sight.

“Angel Lee Lee Se-min killed someone!”

“Murderer!”

“You are not an angel!”

“Lee Lee Se-min has become corrupt!”

All kinds of criticism poured in.

Lee Lee Se-min paid no mind to those words and walked towards Andrew’s body. His unfocused pupils were staring somewhere in the distance. He didn’t move anymore.

If there was such a thing as a human soul, can it cross dimensions?

Did he return to his hometown, or would he be unable to find his way and wander this other world forever?

Lee Lee Se-min closed his eyes.

“You are not an angel, you are a devil!”

Someone shouted as if mocking Lee Lee Se-min.

Lee Lee Se-min chuckled.

His ring name was just a means to get attention. He was by no means an angel. As the saying went, it would be closer to the devil.

He came here for war, not peace, and would gladly kill anyone who could kill Badurbarok.

***

Lee Lee Se-min wrapped the bandage and focused on treatment. Although I was able to shake off the curse, my wounds were deep and I needed to heal as much as possible until the finals.

Lee Lee Se-min was sitting in a hammock between two trees on the outskirts of the training ground. While listening to the shouts of his fellow gladiators, he leisurely enjoyed the bounce of the net.

“Lee Lee Se-min. You were here.”

Kutinos approached and held out something to Lee Lee Se-min.

It was an old notebook.

“It’s the thing I was talking about back then.”

“Thank you so much, Kutinos.”

“Nothing to say.”

When Lee Lee Se-min opened the notebook, it was filled with letters and clumsy drawings.

It was a detailed account of the match played by Germanos.

Not only recent ones, but also sword fights that had taken place over a long period of time were meticulously recorded.

“I took it because they almost stole it just to borrow it for a moment.”

“Tell that friend thank you.”

“I think it’s better not to do that. He’s a fan of Germanos.”

“Isn’t there false information here?”

“Maybe so. Hahaha!”

Kutinos had a friend who was very fond of gladiatorial games and was a fan of Germanos. He even watched Germanos’ game and organized the contents himself. Kutinos borrowed the notebook for Lee Lee Se-min.

“It also says that I played against Galdini not long ago.”

Germanos defeated his opponent Galdini in the semifinals.

He overpowered Galdini and knelt down on the sand. And the game ended in the traditional way.

He hit his neck in one go.

The residents of Sargasonia were enthusiastic, and once again realized that Germanos was the true champion of Sargasonia.

“Thank you, Kutinos.”

“You should at least get good at image training. I have work to do, so I’ll go.”

Lee Lee Se-min waved at Kutinos and checked his notes.

The records were meticulous.

Germanos’ fighting methods were diverse. Sometimes, he toyed with the enemy with only his sword, and when necessary, he directly engaged in close combat, spilling blood. There were also cases where people threw away their swords and struck them down with fists.

He was a strong gladiator who could defeat his enemies in any way.

Lee Lee Se-min, who had been reading his notes for a while, got up from the hammock.

“Ugh….”

My stomach ached.

Lee Lee Se-min stood holding Rufus. Just holding the great sword put pressure on my abdomen, causing pain.

I’m not feeling well.

Without trying to swing, I closed my eyes in that position and dealt with Germanos in my mind.

It didn’t go well because of the injury.

“It must be difficult.”

Lee Lee Se-min muttered.

There was only one week left. Rather than training, the priority was to heal the wound as much as possible and create a normal condition.

According to the doctor sent by Gloria Street, Lee Lee Se-min’s recovery was extremely fast, but it was impossible for the stab wound to completely heal before the game.

Lee Lee Se-min raised Taegeukhye and let it flow throughout his body. The Aurors themselves flocked to the wound and helped his body recover.

“What will happen?”

Looking at the gladiators practicing on the training ground, Lee Lee Se-min sat down on the floor.

Suddenly, a servant working at Vatikaros’ mansion came to him and spoke to him.

“A customer came who wanted to see Lee Lee Se-min.”

“Who is that?”

“That…”

His face was frowning as if he was troubled.

“This is Malshahr.”

“Malshahr?”

Lee Lee Se-min seemed to had heard that name somewhere, but couldn’t remember it.

Then the servant added:

“He is a prince.”

“Aha.”

Lee Lee Se-min nodded.

Malshahr, he was the prince of the old empire that Yuria had mentioned.

He was the last lineage of the emperor, and was scheduled to become the new emperor after Se Min regained the throne. He and Lee Lee Se-min will fight together against Badur Barok in the future.

“Let’s go.”

As Lee Lee Se-min headed towards Vatikaros’ mansion, he suddenly thought of Germanos. As a member of the old empire’s royal guard, he was directly assisting Malshahr.

However, he did not hand over the throne to Malshar, but rather protected it from the outside. I was curious about the reason and asked Yuria.

Yuria passed on the explanation, saying it was just because of Germanos’ old way of thinking.

When you see it in person, you might find out why.

“Are you Angel Lee Lee Se-min?”

When we arrived at the reception room, a decent-looking young man was sitting on a chair with his legs crossed. When he saw Lee Lee Se-min, he smiled and invited him to sit down.

“I am Malshahr, the one who will be your master.”

He said so.

Lee Lee Se-min sat across from Malshar and said.

“I have no master.”

“Hmm?”

He leaned back in his chair and tilted his head.

“Aren’t you fighting in the gladiatorial arena for me?”

“I pray for myself too.”

“I see.”

He laughed lowly.

“If you want to say that, I understand. A person with pride is not bad. But there will be no need for me to be so stiff when I become the next emperor.”

Malshahr said to the servant.

“I’d like to give my gladiator a drink. Do you have any good alcohol? Yes, Auvennon would be nice.”

A servant who was pacing away looked at him. It was a troubled face.

“There is, but….”

“Bring it out.”

“Vaticaros is going out.”

“But?”

“I cannot handle alcohol without permission.”

“Permission.”

Malsha laughed and stood up. Although he had a slim build, he still had strong muscles, probably from training with a sword.

“Does the merchant family’s servant, Nabulaengi, also despise me now?”

“It’s not like that…”

“I told him to bring me a drink.”

As he approached, the servant stood there and rolled his eyes, not knowing what to do.

Lee Lee Se-min also stood up.

“Mr. Malsha. I am recuperating, so I cannot drink….”

At that moment, Malshar slapped the servant.

“Try again.”

“Forgive me…”

Before Malshahr could hit the servant any further, Lee Lee Se-min intervened.

“Please calm down.”

When Lee Lee Se-min blocked his hand, Malshar looked at Lee Lee Se-min with great excitement. An unknown anger was shining in his eyes. He looked at the servant and Lee Lee Se-min alternately and then laughed.

“If you say so.”

Lee Lee Se-min whispered to the servant.

“I’m done with the alcohol, but please give me some tea. Boil it slowly. Please send someone else.”

“Yes.”

The servant nodded and immediately left the reception room.

Malshahr sat down again and crossed his legs. He leaned against the backrest and spoke to Lee Lee Se-min in a drowsy voice.

“Are you confident that you can defeat Germanos?”

But I felt emotions inside that I couldn’t hide.

Malshahr seemed angry at Lee Lee Se-min, who physically restrained him. However, Lee Lee Se-min was a gladiator in a tournament, and it was impossible to use physical force as if he were a servant.

The topic was changed to feign calm.

Lee Lee Se-min seemed to know what kind of person Malshahr was.

“Yes.”

“I’m glad the answer is refreshing.”

Lee Lee Se-min’s answer seemed to make him feel better again.

“Yes. Defeat Germanos and give me the throne. You will become a knight of the empire and your name will be remembered in history.”

He started telling stories about the old empire. He talked about the empire’s luxurious capital and extravagant lifestyles that he himself would never had experienced. Lee Lee Se-min pretended to listen attentively.

A new servant said as he brought out tea.

“Master Malsha.”

“What’s going on?”

“Germanos has come to visit.”

“That guy?”

Malsha sighed.

“I’m sick of it.”

He mumbled that and told Lee Lee Se-min.

“I guess I’ll just have to go. I just came out for a moment to see you.”

“Yes.”

“I heard that you don’t kill your opponent. But then I heard that in the last game, you had no choice but to kill your opponent. You were originally a friend, right?”

Lee Lee Se-min stared at him quietly, not knowing what he was trying to say.

“That’s a good thing. Germanos is a stronger opponent than him, so you will have to let go of that stubbornness to win. Fight with the determination to cut down everything.”

He said that and patted Lee Lee Se-min on the shoulder.

“I will wait for the throne you will bring.”

And then I left the reception room.

Lee Lee Se-min was lost in thought as he watched Malshar’s back as he walked away.

Killa’s stern voice came to mind.

‘That’s a lie.’

When Yuria explained what she said, she shook her head. Lee Lee Se-min was at ease after hearing Kila’s words, but after meeting Malsha, he became suspicious of Yuria.

She did not explain that Malshahr was such a substandard human being.

I don’t know exactly what position the emperor holds in this world, but Malshar was never a person capable of leading others properly in a dominant position.

“I don’t know.”

Lee Lee Se-min stood up.

It seemed like he could understand why Germanos was protecting the throne without taking sides. The sinner on the sand may still be fighting to protect the empire.

Shaking off his long thoughts, Lee Lee Se-min left the mansion to return to the training ground.

In the distance, I could see Malshahr and Germanos leaving for the exit of Vaticaros Street.

Suddenly, my eyes met Germanos.

He glanced at Lee Lee Se-min. Lee Lee Se-min also did not avoid his eyes.

Lee Lee Se-min raised his index finger and waved it.

Germanos’ face twitched, and he quickly turned his head. Lee Lee Se-min laughed to himself. His body, following Malshahr, seemed somehow small.

“Grandpa is having a hard time.”

For now, I decided to give up all thoughts and prepare for the finals of the tournament.

***

Lee Lee Se-min met Yuria again just before the finals.

She spared no effort in supporting Lee Lee Se-min so that he could compete in the finals in his best condition. In addition to the medicinal herbs that the Gloria family valued, they even dispatched a magician to cast a healing spell on him.

Thanks to this, Lee Lee Se-min was able to recover more than he expected.

“Can you win?”

“I win.”

Lee Lee Se-min did not say that he would know only if he fought.

It’s a fight for your life. Defeat means death, and it also means that the hope of fighting Badurbarok was gone.

If there was no other way than to win, then just win.

“The whole city is in chaos.”

“I guess so.”

“There are people who support Lee Lee Se-min.”

“Really?”

“There are only a small number. That’s how much Lee Lee Se-min changed Sargasonia.”

Just as the Angels were born under the influence of Lee Lee Se-min, there were also citizens who changed their minds about sword fighting.

“Germanos is strong. Even if you lose, don’t die.”

“You should tell that to Germanos, not me.”

“Yes, but.”

Yuria grinned.

“Lee Lee Se-min, no matter what happens, I don’t feel like I’m going to die.”

Lee Lee Se-min laughed and shook his head.

You shouldn’t trust your feelings. It was subjective and baseless.

“People who are going to die just die.”

Closely, it was like Andrew from before, and far away, it was like what he experienced on Earth. Death came unexpectedly. Most of the people he loved were dead. There was no need to ponder their faces and wallow in sadness; there was nothing left for Lee Lee Se-min.

Life barely functions under complex conditions.

If you remove just one thing, you fall straight towards death.

“Don’t say things like that, just say you win.”

“Of course. I will win.”

Kutinos approached and said:

“Brother, it’s time to go.”

Lee Lee Se-min nodded.

They got up from their seats. Soon it was time to start the game. The Gloria family’s carriage was prepared outside the Vaticaros mansion.

“Let’s ride together.”

“I’ll just walk. Just like I always do.”

“Okay, see you at the stadium. I’ll cheer you on.”

Lee Lee Se-min suddenly asked Yuria just before she turned around.

“You didn’t lie to me, right?”

“Yes?”

Yuria looked at Lee Lee Se-min with a puzzled face.

The two stared into each other’s eyes for a while.

After silence, Lee Lee Se-min said with a grin.

“Aren’t you rooting for Germanos, not me?”

Only then did Yuria smile.

“What do you mean?”

“You bet a lot of money…”

“Gambling wasn’t even open because everyone thought Lee Lee Se-min would lose. Of course, it wasn’t me.”

Yuria shook her head with a smiling face.

“I see you’re joking so I’m not worried. I’m really going.”

Lee Lee Se-min smoothed the end of Rufus’ handle as he watched Yuria’s back moving away.

***

Lee Lee Se-min stood on the gladiatorial arena.

Standing across from him was Germanos.

Flower petals began to flutter from the top of the gladiatorial arena. Fireworks exploded here and there, and placards commemorating Sargasonia’s greatest event decorated the stood. It was a festive atmosphere.

the host shouted.

[Tournament finals! The curtain has finally risen!]

As Lee Lee Se-min glared at Germanos and had a snowball fight, the host approached without notice and asked.

[Angel Lee Lee Se-min! You broke the rule of no killing in the last match and killed Andrew! What do you think about this!]

Lee Lee Se-min answered harshly.

“He who is going to die must die.”

[Eh, is it okay for Angel to say that?]

“Everyone seems to misunderstand. What do you think angels are?”

Lee Lee Se-min took the host’s magic microphone, passed him by and stood in the center of the gladiatorial arena.

The eyes of all the spectators everywhere were focused on Lee Lee Se-min. As Lee Lee Se-min looked back at them, he noticed each and every one of their eyes filled with hatred and fear. His heightened senses recognized the faces of tens of thousands of spectators at once.

I wondered if they would show the same expression towards Badurbarok.

I will regain the throne and return the hatred of otherworldly people to its proper place.

Lee Lee Se-min shouted.

[God’s Apostle, Angel Lee Lee Se-min speaks.]

His voice rang out clearly through the boos.

[I am now in the dark… … ! Ah, no.]

Lee Lee Se-min didn’t think this was right, so he changed his mind. Instead, I decided to go with a dignified concept.

[From now on, I preach the word of God, so listen carefully, you corrupt people of Sargasonia.]

As a child, Lee Lee Se-min used to go to church to get snacks with his friends. At that time, I happened to look at the Bible, and the writing style was very majestic. Among them, he quoted a passage from the Gospel that had not yet been forgotten.

[Just because I haven’t killed anyone yet, don’t think that I came to bring peace to the world.]

Lee Lee Se-min looked around the crowd and spoke clearly.

[I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.]

As soon as he finished speaking, the citizens became agitated. Although the meaning did not make sense intuitively, there was a solemn aspect to the sentence.

Lee Lee Se-min got into the mood and realized six wings as an auror. Then, a strange sacredness hovered over him.

Lee Lee Se-min said nothing more and handed the microphone over to the host.

The host took a moment to choose his words.

[So, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t kill people. If you win today, will you kill Germanos?]

“If he is a true knight, he will live; if he is a corrupt squire, he will die.”

[I see. That’s great confidence. Germanos is the best gladiator who has never been defeated. Aren’t you afraid?]

Lee Lee Se-min answered loudly as if he had been waiting.

“There is no reason to be afraid. Although a person plans his path in his heart, it is Wuju-ryu that guides his steps.”

Lee Lee Se-min, who had been shouting like a local businessman, poured out solemn words when he reached the finals, and even the host looked embarrassed. When I borrowed passages from the Gospel and spoke them, the weight was different.

The host could not ask Lee Lee Se-min any more questions and took a step back.

[I feel like I heard a real message from God today. Now I will ask Germanos.]

The host turned the target. Germanos glared at the host with dark wrinkles forming on his face.

[Germanos! How do you evaluate Angel Lee Lee Se-min?]

The host ran over and put the microphone to Germanos’ mouth.

Germanos answered briefly.

[Pests.]

The vocabulary was short and strong.

The audience, who had been pressured by Lee Lee Se-min’s serious spirit, gained strength from Germanos’ ridicule and began booing Lee Lee Se-min again.

Germanos was an undefeated gladiator. Since he was said to be a pest, Lee Lee Se-min will die like a bug, and it was up to the audience to enjoy and enjoy that sight.

“Pests! Be gone, Sargasonia’s pests!”

“Tread on it and kill it!”

“Pests are subject to extermination!”

“Die for Sargasonia!”

The sound got louder. The sound of the microphone was almost drowned out. The host quieted down the commotion.

[Everyone, please calm down.]

The audience, who had stood up and chanted for pests, quieted down their voices.

The moderator asked Germanos again.

[Why do you think they are pests?]

[Because they act only for themselves.]

[Please explain in more detail.]

[That guy is harmful to Sargasonia.]

Germanos pushed Mike away with his sword. The host stepped aside. Although the microphone did not ring loudly, the lonely voice was heard by all the spectators in the gladiatorial arena.

[So you will die to me today.]

There was no need to talk more.

Germanos declared that he would kill his opponent. He never broke his word. All the gladiators who fought against him died, spilling their blood on the sand.

Lee Lee Se-min, who was standing in the middle of the stadium, raised his hand as if to come in. Germanos began to approach with his sword.

The sword fight had already begun.

The quick-witted host immediately ran towards the outside of the stadium. The distance between the two gladiators gradually became closer.

It was the moment when the host’s body crossed the barrier.

A huge explosion sounded in the stadium.

***

The two gladiators’ Auras bit each other and clashed violently. There was no such thing as an exploration war. They attacked the enemy’s key pointed from the start.

The two swords collided without stopping.

The audience couldn’t even understand the flow of the fight.

Their appearances appeared and disappeared throughout the gladiatorial arena. After the clash, whenever the two’s new forms became blurred, a bursting sound rang out.

“Get rid of the pests!”

“Kill!”

The audience screamed with excitement.

At one point, Germanos struck Lee Lee Se-min with the hilt of his sword in the air. Lee Lee Se-min fell to the floor. Germanos poured sword energy over it. Even after sand dust rose and the sky below became invisible, he did not stop attacking.

It will be torn apart and disappear without form.

You can’t survive there.

Everyone thought so.

When Germanos stopped his hand, the crowd thought the game was over.

But at that moment, a beam of light broke through the sand dust and shot down Germanos.

Germanos landed on the floor. The sand completely obscured my view. When he swung his sword, a sword wind blew, sending sand and floating objects flying away in a whirlwind.

When the dust cleared, Lee Lee Se-min was standing unharmed in the center of the stadium.

Germanos’ eyes narrowed.

“Were you just amazed on the inside?”

Lee Lee Se-min spoke, but Germanos did not answer. Lee Lee Se-min waved Rufus and headed toward Germanos.

“The young guy’s accomplishments are amazing… You weren’t thinking such old fashioned things, were you?”

“You talk a lot.”

“If you want to shut it up, try it.”

Lee Lee Se-min stared at Germanos and took a defensive stance.

The wrinkles on Germanos’ face became deeper. He walked towards Lee Lee Se-min with long strides. A sense of intimidation emanated from his sturdy physique.

“Die.”

The hoarse voice became even lower.

His killing intent transformed into an invisible sword. Lee Lee Se-min could not dodge the sudden sword attack and gave up his arm. Blood flowed down my forearm. Lee Lee Se-min lowered his posture and focused on Germanos.

Both had entered the realm of mind and sword.

Every breath, every glance had meaning. They were already engaged in an intense battle just by looking at each other.

Suddenly, Lee Lee Se-min flinched.

Without missing the gap, Germanos struck with his heart once again. Lee Lee Se-min raised Rufus to block the attack, but the twist took over the initiative.

Germanos approached Lee Lee Se-min and continued to launch counterattacks. Lee Lee Se-min’s mental strength was consumed just by blocking, so he had no time to plan a counterattack.

Germanos was already in front of Lee Lee Se-min.

If we keep going like this, we can’t win.

Lee Lee Se-min began psychological warfare.

“I saw a guy who said he was Malsha.”

Germanos did not react, but Lee Lee Se-min felt his attack softening.

“It was so shit.”

Lee Lee Se-min lightly swung his sword at Germanos. Germanos threw it away. Lee Lee Se-min said while circling around him.

“They told me to kill you and give you the throne.”

“…….”

“I feel bad. The guy who says he’s the last blood of the empire is a fool who doesn’t know anything, so he’s trying to protect the throne, but the throne is a monster that sucks people’s blood and even controls their minds.”

The tip of Germanos’ sword shook once. Lee Lee Se-min immediately went on the offensive as if he had been waiting.

Sharp attacks came and went.

Lee Lee Se-min threw his heart sword towards Germanos’ neck and used the time lag to strike the sword directly. Two attacks overlapped on Germanos’ body.

Germanos blocked the heart attack with his sword and kicked Rufus’ side, deflecting the stab.

It was amazing technology.

Lee Lee Se-min was not embarrassed and continued to speak and attack.

“Why don’t you rest now, Grandfather Germanos?”

“Insolent bastard.”

“Isn’t it better to be cocky?”

The knife fight that had continued calmly became more intense. Lee Lee Se-min was filled with emotion and gave Rufus a big slap. Each other’s arms shook from the great shock.

“Rather than being polite to Badurbarok like you guys.”

As Lee Lee Se-min chuckled, Germanos’ sword stabbed towards his face. Lee Lee Se-min twisted his neck to avoid it. Then a kick flew towards his chin. The unstoppable succession continued to pursue Lee Lee Se-min.

“You talk like a thunderbolt without knowing anything.”

Lee Lee Se-min also did not give up and swung his sword. The two swords clashed and sparks flew. Auras spewed out from each body and began to flutter sand again.

Lee Lee Se-min said.

“All of this is a system created by nobles to maintain their status?”

“…….”

“They said he was a criminal on the sand, but now he has become the nobles’ dog and is deceiving the citizens.”

Germanos did not answer.

“Are you just loyal to power, not the emperor?”

When Lee Lee Se-min provoked, Germanos’ face distorted. It was the first time he showed such emotion. Germanos’s spirit flared even more viciously. Lee Lee Se-min stepped back and twisted his mouth.

The psychological warfare worked, but I think it worked too much.

Lee Lee Se-min began to feel like he was ruined.

Germanos said as if chewing.

“The only person I follow is His Majesty the Emperor.”

“Okay, so don’t be angry….”

“Don’t talk about something when you don’t know anything, you pest.”

Sword energy spurted out from Germanos’ sword. He put his mighty power into his sword and aimed it at Lee Lee Se-min.

It seemed as if Lee Lee Se-min had already been pierced by his deadly force.

“As you said, there seems to have been a misunderstanding, so let’s just say it….”

Taegeukhye moved.

Lee Lee Se-min could not react. If the Taijihye that filled his body had not raised itself and protected his body, Lee Lee Se-min would had just died. However, the shock was transmitted through the body as was.

“Wow!”

Lee Lee Se-min rolled around on the sand. As my concentration broke, I started hearing the crowd cheering again. The noise was deafening.

Lee Lee Se-min held his throbbing chest and lifted his head, relying on Lupus.

“Can you hear me?”

Germanos said.

It was a quiet voice, but something flickered in his eyes.

“What?”

“Can you feel the madness of wanting your death?”

Lee Lee Se-min fully stood up and nodded.

“I can’t hear you. They’re telling me to die.”

“That is my master.”

“What?”

“You will die here today.”

“What is that….”

Germanos’ auror growled more furiously than ever before. His sword was split into dozens of blades in the realm of imagery, surrounding Lee Lee Se-min.

Lee Lee Se-min swallowed.

It was a desperate crisis.

Germanos’ murderous slash grazed his back.

“Die.”

Dozens or hundreds of aurors turned into mind swords and flew towards Lee Lee Se-min. If it stays there, it will be cut to pieces and turned into a handful of blood on the sand. But as a citizen, there was no way to fight back. He just lifted Rufus with a dazed head.

He came to this world to kill Badurbarok.

I can never die like this.

Rufus rolled up and squeezed.

Then at that moment.

A passage from Ujuryu that he could not understand no matter how much he read passed through his mind.

‘Blue sideburns and mustaches (that don’t get in the way of strong drinks)!’

An image of bluish sideburns passed between the eyebrows. It soon became the image of a blue mustache.

Beneath that mustache was a tightly closed mouth, and perhaps even a full, coarse beard.

Of course, it’s okay if you don’t had it.

What was important was that the length of the beard was just right so that it did not bother you even if you drink strong alcohol.

‘Blue sideburns and mustaches (that don’t get in the way of strong drinks)!’

In the world of images, it became a clear entity and hovered inside Lee Lee Se-min’s skull.

It was some kind of code.

It was like a coordinate pointing to a point on a celestial body.

The moment I realized that, a gap in the universe opened.

Lee Lee Se-min’s pupils reflected the waves of sword energy rushing towards him, but his mind recognized the distant scenery of an alien world.

Time and distance were useless to the mind.

He glimpsed the principles of the world flowing through the vast emptiness.

The universe doesn’t stop.

It was a flow that continues forever.

In front of that grand cycle, the rise and fall of the phenomenal world was nothing more than a raindrop falling into the ocean.

Germanos’ sword energy poured down on him, but Lee Lee Se-min did not consider them dangerous at all. This was because his will was connected to the universe, and the threats in front of him were just a breeze in the phenomenal world.

A transcendental feeling that even one cannot understand.

At this moment, Lee Lee Se-min felt like he could do anything.

Lee Lee Se-min swept the air with Rufus.

The blackness had been erased. The murderous actions aimed at him were erased. His sword washed away everything, even Germanos. All hostility towards him was instantly eradicated.

All that remained was Germanos, who had fallen to the floor.

Even Lee Lee Se-min, who created this scene, held his breath in bewilderment.

The gladiatorial arena became quiet.

“…….”

People realized that Angel Lee Lee Se-min was stronger than they expected.

After a moment of shock, the crowd began to boo him to put pressure on him. The shouts of support for Germanos grew louder. The word pest was pronounced thousands of times every second.

Lee Lee Se-min held Rufus tightly as he watched Germanos wake up.

What he used just now was clearly the Wuju style.

Brother Dokgocheonma did not lie.

Amidst the seemingly insane sentences, the path to true martial arts was hidden.

But I wasn’t sure I could use it again. He performed a miraculous move unconsciously, but he did not completely reach Wuju style.

The true Wuju-ryu had not yet been granted to Lee Lee Se-min.

But there was a harvest.

When Lee Lee Se-min started Taegeukhye, the feeling was different from before.

Just as a drop of ink in a water bottle colors the whole, his Taegeukhye, which had experienced Wuju Stream, had entered a new stage.

The stories of Taegeukdo theory that he did not understand and the principles of Taegeukhye seeped into his inner self.

“Just now….”

Germanos stood up. His eyes wavered. If what shook him so far had been anger, now it was closer to pure shock.

“Space flow.”

Lee Lee Se-min answered.

Germanos silently glared at Lee Lee Se-min while holding his sword. The tip of his sword wavered. I felt conflicted about whether to move forward or not.

“It’s not ripe.”

Soon Germanos shared his thoughts.

“I succeeded by chance, but like my heart, I can’t rewrite it. I was lucky.”

He was sharp.

Lee Lee Se-min, who had been maintaining the mood as if everything was over, stuttered in embarrassment.

“What, what, what nonsense?”

Germanos smiled and stared at him. When Germanos, who was always creating a furrow between his eyebrows, laughed, Lee Lee Se-min felt a sense of déjà vu. It was similar to the unfamiliarity I felt when Killa smiled.

“They said they would kill Badurbarok….”

Germanos, who seemed to be mulling over his thoughts while muttering like that, lightly threw his sword at Lee Lee Se-min.

When Lee Lee Se-min caught it, Germanos struck Lee Lee Se-min with his heart sword one after another. While Lee Lee Se-min was frantically blocking, Germanos continued speaking.

“Is that your own will?”

As if in a sparring match, Germanos used sophisticated techniques to attack the civilians, but did not use his lethal force.

“Of course.”

“Do you have that much will?”

“Will?”

Lee Lee Se-min chuckled.

He had already lost his world. There was no other option. It was not will, but more than that, a sense of duty was leading him.

“Of course.”

“Will you move forward even if your will goes against everyone?”

“What do you mean?”

“You are mistaken about Sargasonia.”

“You think I’m wrong?”

“Okay.”

Power went into Lee Lee Se-min’s hands. He thrust his sword towards Germanos’ neck. Germanos parried it.

That brief collision shook the entire gladiatorial arena.

They were the strongest gladiators in Sargasonia. Even light offense and defense were at the level of disaster. If it weren’t for the barrier, the entire area would had turned into ruins.

“Say it properly.”

“Gloria cleverly mixed truth and lies to control you. Sword fighting in Sargasonia was not created by nobles. Quite the contrary.”

Germanos’ hoarse tone resembled the sound of metal clashing. Every time the two’s swords met, Germanos’ voice and the sound of metal mingled. Lee Lee Se-min had to listen to understand what he was saying.

“What are you talking about?”

“After the war with Badurbarok, we lost our emperor. The empire disappeared. Eventually, the final city of Sargasonia was built, and we needed a new master to lead the city.”

“So the nobles must have stepped forward.”

“Wrong. We only follow the emperor, not the nobles. But since no one was recognized by the throne, a system was needed to end the strife. Sargasonia at the time was on the verge of self-destruction due to repeated disagreements and internal divisions.”

“Then Sargasonia….”

Lee Lee Se-min took a breath and lowered his sword.

Suddenly, the madness of the crowd was palpable. Beyond Germanos, I could see the distorted faces of those shouting to kill Lee Lee Se-min.

Germanos said.

“Sargasonia is a republic.”

The moment Lee Lee Se-min heard those words, he felt a strange feeling.

Because he came from another dimension, he was looking at Sargasonia from Earth’s standards. I thought that the nobles ruled the people with magic, and the citizens wanted the blood of gladiators like puppets without knowing anything.

“Killa’s magic gathers the will of all of Sargasonia and makes a majority vote. The results are reflected in the minds of the citizens to maintain a unified system. That is the large-scale magic magic system that Killa has installed in the city.”

Lee Lee Se-min looked around blankly.

I saw the angry faces of the crowd and heard murderous shouts.

He thought his role was to free the city from evil magic.

Actually, that wasn’t it.

On the contrary, that evil magic was the very order of the city.

“Is that possible…?”

“It’s possible if you have a great mage like Killa and a treasure called the throne.”

Lee Lee Se-min looked at Germanos with blank eyes. His words continued.

“Sargasonia’s system was established by overwhelming consent. That has not changed even now. The barrier made of the throne, the sacrifices of gladiators, the maxim of Badur Barok, all of these were decisions made by Sargasonia’s collective intelligence.”

Germanos aimed his sword at Lee Lee Se-min. The old knight had a self-mocking smile on his face.

“Are you going to go against everything for your own personal satisfaction?”

***

When Sargasonia was first created, the six families were divided in half and opposed each other.

Gloria, Chroimar, and the Damian family wanted to fight until the end. They wanted an honorable death rather than a servile survival.

Ecvel, Balciadus, and Oskar chose life. They could not find meaning in a war in which defeat was expected.

Clashes also broke out among citizens.

In the city, even the smallest rules were ignored. The issues discussed yesterday became controversial the next day, and those who agreed and those who opposed divided into factions and argued. The only being who could end the chaos was the Emperor.

However, no one passed the throne’s test.

I couldn’t wait for the emperor forever. Badurbarok’s forces and the demonic beasts that follow him had been threatening Sargasonia at every moment. There were no more dragon hearts left to protect them.

Someone suggested creating a barrier with the power of the throne.

The corruption of the throne, the depletion of power, the maintenance of the barrier, morality and ethics, everything was discussed.

The discussion was sluggish, and eventually the citizens agreed to set up a large-scale magic ceremony encompassing the entire city through the great mage Killa.

The Emperor gathered the minds of the citizens and created a body of will. All information was shared and all possibilities were discussed at once. A virtual majority vote was held on unanswerable issues, and citizens’ consciousness was adjusted according to the decision.

Sacrifice of the few for the many.

The continuation of the barrier through sword fighting.

The end was coming, but until then, there will be sweet peace.

It was all a voluntary decision of citizens.

“Kill the pests!”

“Germanos! Execute that insolent bastard!”

“Quickly stab him in the neck!”

“Cut it in pieces!”

Therefore, the madness of the audience now calling for Lee Lee Se-min’s death was by no means distorted.

The crowd wanted to execute traitors who went against their order and quench the throne with their blood.

“If you demand the throne test in return for winning the tournament, Killa’s magic spell will be broken. Are you going to arbitrarily destroy the order that everyone has agreed on?”

Germanos asked.

Lee Lee Se-min could not answer. Whenever he was at a crossroads, neither Taegeukhye, who responded like an advisor, nor Rufus, who guided him on the path he should take, did not respond.

He stood alone on the sand.

Lee Lee Se-min, who was silent, asked Germanos.

“Germanos are you satisfied with this situation?”

The knight who lost his emperor answered, deepening the wrinkles on his face.

“That doesn’t matter. There is no emperor, so all I can do is protect the throne.”

“That’s cowardly.”

“There are no losers who are not cowards. If there are any, they are probably already dead.”

The Empire was defeated by otherworldly invaders, and Sargasonia was the word.

Earth was no different. Maybe it’s worse. Lee Lee Se-min nodded and then lifted Rufus.

“We’ll talk about that later.”

Although they were confused by the unexpected truth, what they had to do was clear once they met in the gladiatorial arena. It’s a fight for your life. Germanos declared that he would kill him, and Lee Lee Se-min had a reason to win the tournament.

“We should decide the winner first.”

“I see.”

Lee Lee Se-min raised Taegeukhye. I made a heart sword and repeated the phrases of Wuju-ryu in my head.

Germanos also raised his sword.

Now the chat was over.

The momentum of the two collided again. The two kept their mouths shut and spewed out their murderous spirit. A fierce anticipation swirled around the stadium.

The audience became quiet.

The one who moved first was Lee Lee Se-min.

When he stamped his foot, the ground shook and sand jumped into the air. Vision in all directions became blurred. Lee Lee Se-min used the law of Muyeonggyeol to hide his appearance. Germanos looked around for him.

Lee Lee Se-min hid behind Germanos’ back and swung his heart sword.

But it was blocked. Germanos reacted quickly as if he had been waiting, then poured sword energy towards Lee Lee Se-min’s blurry new form. Lee Lee Se-min defended himself with aurors, but cracks filled up. Unable to withstand the pressure, the Auror’s shield collapsed.

Lee Lee Se-min jumped into the air.

I could see the gladiatorial arena. Lee Lee Se-min felt an invisible gaze beyond the sand.

The throne was staring at him.

Lee Lee Se-min kicked the air and plummeted to the ground. Taijihui accelerated his charge. Lee Lee Se-min became a beam of light and struck Rufus towards Germanos.

The two swords clashed.

The sound of metal being torn apart rang out. In it, Lee Lee Se-min seemed to hear a voice he longed for.

‘It is the name of a great emperor that history honors.’

***

The battle was fierce.

Their territory was the entire gladiatorial arena. They were too strong to be confined within a narrow barrier. Every time the two gladiators crossed each other, the entire barrier shook. The cheering crowd gradually became afraid and lowered their voices.

Kwaaaaaaaa!

Lee Lee Se-min’s body was trapped in the barrier. Hundreds and thousands of swords were piled on top of each other. When Lee Lee Se-min’s new form disappeared, the Auror, who lost his target, clashed with the barrier.

An opaque stain appeared on the wall, shaking loudly.

“Is this okay?”

“Because the wizards must have made it secure…”

Even as the audience said that, they continued to flinch.

They looked at the two gladiators in the arena with tense eyes.

Germanos stood in the center and attacked Lee Lee Se-min, who ran through the barrier and dazzled his gaze.

The chase continued for a while, and then Germanos suddenly released an aura as if he felt uncomfortable.

The entire gladiatorial arena became Dosangeomrim ().

There was nowhere to escape. All space was occupied by Germanos’ aurors. They sharpened their blades and raised thorns, tearing everything inside the barrier.

Lee Lee Se-min surrounded himself with auras and secured a space to protect himself.

Lee Lee Se-min’s Taegeukhye, trying to block, collided with Germanos’ sword energy, trying to break through. Just like a sword and a shield grinding against each other, the heat spread out as the aurors rubbed together.

“Is it there?”

Thus, Germanos pinpointed Lee Lee Se-min’s location.

His auras that filled the entire stadium converged towards Lee Lee Se-min. Sword energy overlapped on top of sword energy, and aura overlapped on top of that. Every time a gap appeared, an intangible blade stabbed in, filling the gap.

Lee Lee Se-min was covered by the aura as if surrounded by a cocoon, turning into a white mass.

Germanos gazed at that point and raised his sword.

Aim.

I cut it.

Lee Lee Se-min and the attacking sword energy surrounding him were all cut into pieces.

The huge heart sword split the entire gladiatorial arena in half.

A clear crack appeared in the barrier separating the stood and the stadium. The cheers for Germanos turned into screams. The dents spread, and the crack began to expand like a slide.

“Oh my God.”

“Shouldn’t we stop it?”

“Stop it!”

“Here we come again!”

However, Germanos was so focused on Lee Lee Se-min that he did not know that fact. Lee Lee Se-min was already tattered and bleeding all over his body.

Germanos knew well that this moment was an opportunity for conversion.

Thoughts and actions occurred simultaneously.

Auras were fired towards Lee Lee Se-min. At first, it was just a fist-sized sphere, but as it got closer to Lee Lee Se-min, the auror gradually increased in size. It soon split into several branches and formed saw blades.

His aurors soon swept over Lee Lee Se-min like a tidal wave.

“Oh my.”

Only after Germanos’ sword energy left his hand did he realize that the barrier had collapsed.

This was the first time he had fought so fiercely or met an opponent who fought on equal footing, so he had no idea how much the barrier could endure.

It was just before tragedy struck.

But I wasn’t heartbroken.

He was a butcher who executed opponents in gladiatorial arenas, and before that, he was a knight who wielded a sword by the emperor’s side. Deciding between life and death was an everyday task for him.

“Inefficient fuel will be poured out. The throne will become corrupted.”

That was all he thought about.

Germanos looked away from the astonished faces of the audience and looked at Lee Lee Se-min again. Although his face was covered in blood, his expression was calm. I could feel the presence of an Auror on his body. Germanos compared Lee Lee Se-min’s speed with his own sword prowess.

Probably avoidable.

He was a difficult guy to kill.

If only we had met when the empire was alive, and if there had been an emperor.

He may had gathered a small number of people.

He would had raised him as a knight of the empire, keeping him under his command and dedicating himself to the emperor.

But the good times were over. The world was taken over by Badurbarok, and the empire collapsed. Things that were meaningful in the past had now become luxuries. There was compassion, and there were things like justice, courage, and conscience. Germanos put those things away long ago.

“Left. Top.”

Germanos muttered softly as he watched his sword energy attack Lee Lee Se-min.

This was the direction with the highest possibility of escape.

If Lee Lee Se-min ducks there, he will immediately pierce his body and kill him.

He was just about to leap towards the expected point.

A stem of auror spread out from an unexpected place.

Germanos’ gaze returned.

“Hmm?”

Lee Lee Se-min did not avoid.

Instead, he stretched out his energy and created a huge net. Germanos’ sword energy was brought there. The auror discharged, creating sparks that filled his vision. It was like a firecracker exploding.

“Foolish.”

Germanos lost his target and stumbled.

Instead of avoiding, Lee Lee Se-min chose to face Geomki head-to-head. No, it was more correct to say that we accepted it rather than confronting it. He was not only protecting his own body, but also protecting the citizens beyond the barrier.

It was an incomprehensible response.

While Germanos was calculating Lee Lee Se-min’s intentions, he suddenly felt a sense of separation from the world.

And I laughed without realizing it.

He shook his head as he watched the sword energy he had created completely disappear and start to smoke. Neither the sight before my eyes nor myself smiling seemed real. I felt like I was floating in a dream.

I had lived as a sinner for too long.

The scenery on the sand changed him.

“That’s interesting.”

Lee Lee Se-min was staring at him, covered in blood. Germanos raised his sword again without stopping laughing. Anyway, his life ended a long time ago. Life after the throne was buried was nothing more than wandering through a nightmare.

To the inhabitants of dreams, nothing was insignificant.

Germanos fired his sword energy once again.

I was just curious how Lee Lee Se-min would react this time.

Once again, the huge sword energy extended towards the front.

***

Gorgola was watching the game from the beginning. From the beginning, the host questioned Lee Lee Se-min about the murder in the previous game. The audience booed. There were even voices accusing him of being a murderer.

“Everyone is too much.”

Gorgola’s group defended Lee Lee Se-min.

“Didn’t the opponent cowardly stab me in the last game?”

“Killing people is okay, but self-defense is a problem.”

They were all people brought into Sargasonia by Killa. Stonemasons, historians, chefs, etc. were all helping to change Sargasonia, knowingly or unknowingly.

“Lower your voice.”

Gorgola put her finger to her lips.

Citizens inside the gladiatorial arena were aggressive. If you expressed even a contrary opinion, you were likely to be criticized.

They observed their surroundings and quieted their voices.

“Hmm, what if Lee Lee Se-min loses?”

“There’s nothing we can do. Let’s just support.”

“Please win.”

The host was now pointing the microphone at Germanos.

When Germanos called Lee Lee Se-min a pest, the entire audience went crazy. Lee Lee Se-min was criticized everywhere. The audience sitting in front of Gorgola must had shouted the word pest dozens of times. My eardrums were sore.

“It begins.”

The sword fight began with the sound of an explosion.

The two clashed at the same time as the host left. The two swords collided and created sparks.

Soon the two disappeared from the stadium.

As I was swinging my sword at the right side of my field of vision, it appeared from the left and shook the sword away. After exchanging attacks and defenses in the sky, sand dust rose again on the ground. Their new model flashed randomly throughout the stadium, causing an explosion.

It was a fight of a higher level.

I was so dizzy I couldn’t follow it with my eyes.

“It seems similar, right?”

“I think Germanos has the advantage…”

The fight was slowly going towards Germanos.

However, Lee Lee Se-min was not pushed back. The two continued their fierce battle, exchanging words with each other. There were also occasional scenes of Germanos struggling.

When Lee Lee Se-min performed better than expected, the audience was excited.

“Is that kid pretty good too?”

“Was there anyone who fought so similarly to Germanos?”

“What does it matter? He’s a pest!”

“Germanos! Kill him!”

Perhaps because of Lee Lee Se-min’s provocation, Germanos’ face was seen turning into anger.

His mood became even more ferocious.

Germanos swung his sword at Lee Lee Se-min. White aurors surrounded Lee Lee Se-min. Lee Lee Se-min was frozen in place. It looked like he couldn’t move.

As the number of Aurors who set me up gradually increased, the cheers of the audience reached their peak.

Lee Lee Se-min’s death that everyone was looking forward to.

Under Germanos’ sword, his head was about to fall off.

But for some reason, all the sword energy that Germanos had generated disappeared in an instant. Instead, he collapsed on the floor.

The entire gladiatorial arena became quiet.

Lee Lee Se-min simply swung his sword lightly.

“What just happened?”

“I just swung the knife…”

“Is this true that Angel Lee Lee Se-min did it?”

Even Gorgola’s group doubted its authenticity.

After the silence passed, the crowd started booing again, but the sound was different from before. It seemed like he was more desperate to raise his voice in order to erase his anxiety.

Gorgola really thought that Lee Lee Se-min might win.

Lee Lee Se-min and Germanos stood facing each other and continued their conversation. I couldn’t understand the content, but the expression on his face was serious. This time Germanos laughed, and Lee Lee Se-min’s expression hardened. Germanos aimed his sword.

“Kill the pests!”

“Germanos! Execute that insolent bastard!”

“Quickly stab him in the neck!”

“Cut it in pieces!”

When the game was delayed, the crowd started cursing again.

The battle continued again. It seemed like they were fighting evenly, but Lee Lee Se-min was thrown into the barrier. It was in front of where Gorgola was sitting. Gorgola held her breath at the sight of sword energy flying over Lee Lee Se-min’s body.

Fortunately, Lee Lee Se-min escaped the scene.

The sword struck the barrier instead of the target.

The invisible wall trembled loudly, recalling opaque colors.

“Oh my God.”

Germanos’ one-sided offensive continued. His sword energy surrounded Lee Lee Se-min again. As he became entangled with Lee Lee Se-min’s white auror, Germanos swung his sword sharply.

It was a terrifying blow.

The entire stadium was divided in half.

A clear crack appeared in the barrier.

“Uh, that…”

“Is it true?”

The audience was confused.

Since the gladiatorial games began, the barrier had never been destroyed. It was falling apart.

That wasn’t the end.

Germanos was swinging his sword once again to finish off Lee Lee Se-min.

It approached like a tidal wave, engulfing the entire stadium. The audience rose from their seats one by one. They tried to ran away, but they were blocked by the crowd and had to sit down again. The screams mingled.

Lee Lee Se-min’s body, standing in front of the enemy, looked so small.

If this continues, everyone will die.

Gorgola had a premonition of death and closed his eyes.

But nothing happened.

Gorgola slowly opened his eyes.

He opened his mouth.

Shining white wings filled my vision. Looking closely, I saw that Lee Lee Se-min’s net-shaped aura was discharging like wings.

It caught Germanos’ sword energy and sparks flew. It was a beautiful and tragic sight.

“Lee Lee Se-min…!”

Lee Lee Se-min protected people with his Auror.

Gorgola stood up.

Lee Lee Se-min was a mess trying to block the attack. His shoulders were shaking up and down in a way that could be seen from afar. Blood flowed through the air and fell onto the sand.

“Stop the game!”

“What are wizards doing?”

“Stop it!”

The crowd roared.

Gorgola stared at the arena.

He saw clearly.

Germanos smiled and swung his sword again.

A wave of sword energy surged again.

In front of him, Lee Lee Se-min’s body looked so dangerous. Even though the sword energy continued to approach, he did not react. It was the moment when Gorgola sighed.

The tsunami stopped right in front of Lee Lee Se-min.

An opaque protective shield emerged, blocking the advance.

Even the mighty aura could not even make a scratch on that membrane.

Soon, Germanos’ sword energy completely disappeared.

“No way…”

Gorgola turned his head.

There was only one person in Sargasonia who can do this.

Kila was standing in the noble seat.

[Because the barrier has collapsed, the gladiatorial match is temporarily suspended. Please everyone calm down. Gladiators on both sides, please return to their seats.]

The host’s voice rang out.

Germanos smiled bitterly and lowered his sword, and Lee Lee Se-min landed on the floor and collapsed.

“Did you just attack me knowingly?”

“Germanos, that bastard…!”

Citizens exploded with anger.

Germanos attacked twice in succession even though the barrier was broken. If Lee Lee Se-min had not stopped it and if Kila had not intervened, a disaster would had occurred. The audience behind Lee Lee Se-min felt as if they had overcome two near-death moments.

“Get that bastard out now!”

“Are you crazy!”

“What are you doing on the topic of gladiators!”

Those who were directly exposed to the crisis were the first to raise their voices.

But Germanos did not react. The audience didn’t mean much to him. His calm and weak appearance actually made me angry.

Now boos were pouring in towards Germanos.

“Did Angel Lee Lee Se-min protect us?”

“I think so?”

I heard those words, but I was so angry that I didn’t pursue them.

The barrier was restored again.

What was installed this time was more sturdy than before. It was originally so transparent that you didn’t even know it existed, but now you could feel its presence as light was reflected depending on the angle.

“It’s hard to see from here!”

“It’s dazzling!”

Some spectators complained, but there was nothing they could do for safety reasons.

The host looked at the nobles’ seats, seemed to be exchanging some signals, and then picked up the microphone again. His tense breathing rang out.

[The game will resume soon.]

***

The heads of each family were sitting in the noble seats.

There was no need to separate positions between nobles who had different opinions. They mingled as they pleased and sat down in their prepared seats to watch the sword fight.

Even when the barrier was broken by Germanos’ attack and the crowd was on the verge of death, they remained calm.

As Lee Lee Se-min raised his Aurors to take the attack, Ishmael, the owner of the Balciadus family, spoke.

“What is that doing?”

Spina, the owner of the Gloria family, answered.

“It’s about protecting people.”

“What a strange guy.”

“That’s courageous.”

“It’s reckless.”

They argued and looked at Germanos.

He was an executioner who killed gladiators directly on the sand so that no one could approach the throne. Since the emperor’s death, the throne had been his master. The nobles who wanted the throne for their own reasons were unable to surpass him and gave up their plans.

“I thought something would be different this time.”

These were the words of Theo, the owner of the Croymar family.

“I think Germanos will be difficult to beat this time too.”

“Rather than that, shouldn’t we stop it?”

Germanos was generating sword energy again, and citizens were shouting from beyond the broken barrier.

If things continue like this, everyone will be exterminated.

“That’s not like Germanos.”

“What is that old man thing?”

“At least I’m not someone who is curious about what the other person is doing.”

The nobles agreed.

They could see the smile on Germanos’ face.

There was no need to launch the same attack like that. He was now wondering how the gladiator named Angel Lee Lee Se-min would respond. However, it seemed that Lee Lee Se-min no longer had any strength left to resist Germanos.

“What are you going to do?”

Spina stood up and looked behind her.

Killa was sitting upright at the base of the tree.

She had a deadpan expression, but her reaction was delayed by a beat, perhaps because she was concentrating on the game. Killa said, looking at Spina.

“You should follow the rules.”

“Rules?”

“What are you supposed to do when the barrier stops functioning?”

When Killa asked, the manager of the gladiatorial arena who was waiting at the exit of the noble section immediately answered.

“The rule is to stop the game, improve the barrier, and then continue the sword fight.”

“But why are you still?”

“Can we stop Mr. Germanos?”

He grinned.

It was true that Germanos could not be stopped, but that was not the whole story. The managers of the gladiatorial arena also wanted the gladiator named Lee Lee Se-min to die.

Killa nodded.

“I understand.”

Germanos’ sword energy was now on the verge of colliding with Lee Lee Se-min.

Killa raised his staff.

A huge presence spread out from her. They crossed the noble stone, crossed the barrier, and squeezed in to block the space between Lee Lee Se-min and Germanos. It soon became a translucent wall, dividing their world in half.

The sword energy created by Germanos was completely erased.

The nobles let out an exclamation.

It was magical power close to power.

The nobles once again felt Killa’s power.

She was the owner of the Magic Tower when the empire was strong, and as time had passed, she had been a great mage who had cultivated magic alone.

“It’s fun.”

Kami, the quiet owner of the Oscar family, muttered.

“What’s fun?”

“Two people who symbolize the old empire are paying attention to one person. Although in different ways.”

He looked at Lee Lee Se-min and smiled.

“Let’s see what that gladiator has.”

Germanos and Lee Lee Se-min each went to opposite sides to wait for the game to resume. A moderator appeared and calmed the citizens.

“Well, isn’t it surprising that Killa is protecting someone?”

Spina whispered quietly. Of course, Killa heard everything. Killa stood up and she flinched.

“Where are you going?”

“Just a moment.”

With those words, Killa’s appearance suddenly disappeared.

In the place where she left, there was nothing but the stump of a tree that looked as if its roots had spread out and become embedded in the building.

***

Lee Lee Se-min was taking a breath with his back folded.

When I realized that the barrier had been broken, my body moved on its own. The condition was not good due to excessive use of aurors. If an invisible wall hadn’t appeared in the middle to protect him, he might had already died.

I couldn’t think of a way to beat Germanos.

“What are you doing?”

Suddenly someone said.

Lee Lee Se-min turned his head. It was an unforgettable voice. Killa was standing behind him in the passage leading to the waiting room.

“Why are you here….”

As Lee Lee Se-min continued speaking, Gorgola’s words that Killa was over 100 years old came to mind.

“Are you there…?”

Killa repeated his words.

“Why are you here?”

It was a mocking tone.

Lee Lee Se-min shook his head.

“It was a mistake.”

Although Killa was extremely old, Lee Lee Se-min, who had a grudge against her, pretends not to notice and omits the honorific expression.

“What brings you here?”

“I came here because I feel sorry for your little girl.”

“I look like I’m going to die right now, so you’re pathetic?”

“Is it because a young guy can’t beat an old guy?”

“Look at those muscles. Is that an old man?”

Lee Lee Se-min pointed a finger at Germanos. He was watching Lee Lee Se-min and Kila talking. Kila said.

“Use that power from the beginning.”

Lee Lee Se-min shook his head.

She was talking about Wuju-ryu. Lee Lee Se-min didn’t think he could reach that level again. It was an almost coincidental encounter.

The principles of the universe and its eternal flow that he had seen were again immersed in the darkness in his skull.

“It was a coincidence.”

When Lee Lee Se-min said that, Kila sneered.

“Do you know what coincidence means?”

“Of course.”

As Killa gestured, Lee Lee Se-min spoke.

“Something that happens unexpectedly without any causal relationship.”

“Does such a thing exist?”

“Huh?”

“There are no coincidences in the world. Everything is inevitable.”

When none other than Grand Mage Killa said that, Lee Lee Se-min somehow understood.

Lee Lee Se-min looked into her eyes. As he faced those transparent eyes, Lee Lee Se-min felt his heart calm down.

“It was passed on to you for a reason. Remember that.”

After saying that, Killa swung his cane and hit Lee Lee Se-min on the head.

I thought it wouldn’t hurt, but it did.

“Why are you hitting me?”

“The reason. I felt uncomfortable because you were so stupid. As a result, I hit you. As a result, I feel a little relieved.”

Killa laughed and waved his wand. Then her appearance gradually faded. Killa disappeared as suddenly as she had appeared.

Lee Lee Se-min pondered her words.

He said that there was a reason why it was followed to him.

Wuju-ryu came from Dokgocheonma. After becoming his disciple, I learned about the existence of Wuju-ryu while asking questions about Taijihye.

Dokgocheonma told him to learn Taegeukhye after completing it, but Lee Lee Se-min, who was impatient, started Ujuryu blindly.

Was that the cause?

Lee Lee Se-min went back even further. As he connected to the transcendental network and met transcendental people, Lee Lee Se-min began to change. It all started then.

Then why did the Transcendent Network come to him?

That was truly an incredible coincidence.

But Kila said that there were no coincidences in this world.

 

Was it inevitable that he was given the transcendental network?

[Let’s start the game again!]

Lee Lee Se-min came to his senses. The host was running outside the stadium.

Germanos strode toward him as if he had been waiting. The momentum was ferocious. Lee Lee Se-min also moved forward without losing.

It was time to fight again.

“What did Killa say?”

Germanos asked. Lee Lee Se-min shrugged his shoulders.

“We talked about a secret between us? Do you think you’re interested in grandma?”

Germanos burst into laughter at Lee Lee Se-min’s reply.

“Did you call Killa your grandmother?”

“That’s my grandfather.”

“You’re not wrong.”

Germanos immediately attacked Lee Lee Se-min.

It was a sharp sword aimed at the neck. Lee Lee Se-min stepped back and dodged. I only rested for a moment, but my body was not able to adapt to the battle. I raised my senses as much as possible.

As the auror extended from Germanos’ sword, Lee Lee Se-min swung his heart sword towards Germanos’ neck.

Germanos blocked Lee Lee Se-min’s attack with his sword.

“If this is all you have, you should die.”

He hardened his expression again and gained momentum. Lee Lee Se-min felt Wuju-ryu’s senses while countering Germanos’s momentum.

Wuju-ryu was not a martial art in itself, but rather a coordinate that pointed to the principles of the universe.

Lee Lee Se-min expressed the images that came to mind as they were.

I let my thoughts flow as they pleased.

The many words Dokgocheonma had said to him passed through his mind. Taegeuk refers to yin and yang, heaven, earth and human beings, and furthermore, the original principle, and fighting was the process of subordinating the enemy’s universe to one’s own universe. If you were perfect, the enemy will surrender on his own. The body only helps, and Taegeuk symbolizes the harmony of all things… … .

Taegeukhye.

Lee Lee Se-min thought while swinging Rufus.

Brother Dokgocheonma told me to learn Wuju-ryu after completing Taigeukhye. Looking back, he never forced himself into something unnecessary. There was a real reason for every order.

Lee Lee Se-min realized.

Taegeukhye was not a qualification.

Just because it really was.

Without Taijihye, there was no Wujuryu. It was impossible to use Wuju style without completing Taijihye.

‘Taegeuk refers to yin and yang, heaven and earth, and furthermore, the original form.’

Because of Taegeuk, the universe flows forever.

Lee Lee Se-min held Rufus. Taijihui swirled around his body. Auras circulated inside him. An unstoppable, solemn flow was already inherent within him.

Everything repeats as a fractal, and everything in the universe was made up of space.

Lee Lee Se-min heard Rufus.

And swept the air.

***

“Today is the final of the tournament, right?”

“Why do I have to work today? It’s the worst.”

“Germanos will win anyway, so why not?”

The Sargasonia guards chatted. Their role was to monitor the outer walls of the city.

Meanwhile, someone said.

“What is that?”

Beyond the ridges of the mountains surrounding Sargasonia, black shadows were rising.

A guard lifted up a telescope and checked the spot.

“What is it?”

He lowered the telescope. His face was pale.

“Tell the city. Quickly.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a demonic beast!”

Now the black shadow had formed enough to be seen with the naked eye.

A group of demonic beasts were marching towards the city.

***

“I still have a long way to go.”

Lee Lee Se-min muttered.

I thought about past times.

He was rotting in one room, a nobody. Through contact with the transcendental network, he learned martial arts and struggled to survive while wandering the other world. I reached the platinum mark, and when I reached the black mark, I thought I had become quite strong. It was believed that he had reached a state of maturity by fighting as a gladiator.

Wrong.

He was really nothing.

Looking down at Germanos, who was sitting on the floor, Lee Lee Se-min was keenly aware of that fact.

“What was that just now?”

The old gladiator raised his eyes and asked Lee Lee Se-min.

It was the face of someone who had seen something incredible.

Instead of answering, Lee Lee Se-min glanced at Rufus. It was soaked in blood and shining red. How many people in this arena truly understand what this sword had just accomplished?

How far can he go with this one sword?

“Space flow.”

Lee Lee Se-min said quietly.

As the name suggests, the universe hung over the sword he held.

Through the space stream, Lee Lee Se-min saw a vast landscape of emptiness and an endlessly expanding world. It was a possibility, not a limit. He could become as strong as the scale of the universe, and everything he could imagine was already real out there.

In front of him, even the blow that defeated Germanos was no different from a breeze shaking the leaves.

“Maybe you…”

Germanos tried to raise himself by relying on his sword, but blood poured out from the stab wound in his chest. He sat down again, coughing up blood.

“I am.”

Germanos said in a hoarse voice. He was unable to continue speaking as he caught his breath, and then he let out again, clutching the hilt of the sword strongly.

“I lost.”

With those words, Germanos collapsed completely onto the sand.

The gladiatorial arena was quiet.

Something happened that no one could had imagined. Germanos was defeated. The figure who symbolized Sargasonia’s sword fighting was overthrown by a traitor who denied their culture.

The one standing was Angel Lee Lee Se-min, and the one lying down was a sinner on the sand.

Lee Lee Se-min was intoxicated by Wooju-ryu’s lingering scent for a while. I didn’t want to miss the waves flowing through his body. I felt like if I didn’t keep thinking about it, he would leave me at any moment.

At this point, I couldn’t even hear the boos coming back.

“Hey.”

However, I could not think further because Germanos was lying dead.

“The man over there. No, grandfather. Man Germanos. He’s not dead, is he?”

Lee Lee Se-min approached and tapped him with his toe. Germanos’ body, which was lying face down, flinched. I felt uncomfortable.

“I am letting you live because you are Angel Lee Lee Se-min. I would rather die proudly than live servilely, but because I am an angel, I will show you mercy that I would never be pleased with so that you can continue to live that miserable life….”

“Shut up….”

As Lee Lee Se-min started talking, Germanos uttered a final word.

“It’s alive.”

But there was a lot of bleeding. Lee Lee Se-min instilled Tai Chi Hye into Germanos. The aura containing the harmony of all things flowed through the energy vein and stopped the blood. Germanos’ body was twitching slightly.

“Grandpa. Are there any benefits to becoming a champion?”

“…….”

Germanos frowned as if he didn’t want to talk.

Suddenly, applause was heard.

Lee Lee Se-min turned his head. Not only that, but the attention of everyone in the gladiatorial arena was focused. Several nobles sitting in the noble seats were clapping.

Perhaps they were people who share the same views as Yuria.

Lee Lee Se-min was not pleased with their applause. If what Germanos said was true, they deceived him and made it seem like they were the liberators of the city.

Soon, the residents of the city began to applaud one by one. However, it was a helpless clapping sound, different from the usual enthusiastic attitude. Lee Lee Se-min, who was listening, lost all his strength.

I think it would make me feel better if I booed as hard as I could.

[The champion has finally changed. The Sinner on the Sand, the undefeated gladiator Germanos, has been defeated. And the new champion is Angel Lee Lee Se-min.]

The host walked out and tried to lighten the mood, but some citizens got up and started to leave.

He hurriedly ran over to Lee Lee Se-min and handed over the microphone.

[Eh, Angel Lee Lee Se-min! How do you feel? You are now free. Are you thinking of quitting being a gladiator? Or will you continue sword fighting as a free citizen?]

Lee Lee Se-min shook his head.

“Just think about it.”

[He is also a gladiator who knows how to push and pull. Like this… … .]

“I’m going.”

Lee Lee Se-min supported Germanos and walked out. The host was saying something behind the scenes, but neither the gladiators nor the audience paid any attention.

It was the first time since the start of sword fighting that the finals ended so vainly.

[Lee Lee Se-min.]

As Lee Lee Se-min was leaving the stadium, a voice was heard from the noble box. A man spoke to Lee Lee Se-min through sound magic.

[Congratulations on winning. You are free from now on. We will receive your request at the belt award ceremony in three days.]

Lee Lee Se-min nodded.

It was rather fortunate. My head was spinning because of the information Germanos gave me. If everything in Sargasonia was actually decided by the citizens themselves, what on earth can he do?

Obtaining the throne meant taking away their only fence.

He was not shameless enough to force innocent people into a war where victory could not be guaranteed.

Just before Lee Lee Se-min crossed the aisle, someone shouted from the audience above him.

“Angel Lee Lee Se-min!”

Citizens were waiting for him.

I thought boos and swearing would follow, but they said something unexpected.

“Congratulations on winning.”

“Thank you for saving us.”

“I almost died because of that son of a bitch.”

They pointed at Germanos and got angry.

These were people who were watching from the direction where the barrier was broken. If Lee Lee Se-min had not thrown his body to block the attack, they would had probably become corpses buried in the rubble of the stadium. It was thanks to him that I am alive today.

Lee Lee Se-min slapped Germanos on the head on their behalf.

“What are you doing…?”

“People should age gracefully, but they age and become a nuisance for no reason.”

“This guy….”

Germanos trembled as Lee Lee Se-min hit him a few more times. Lee Lee Se-min withdrew his hand.

The citizens looked at Lee Lee Se-min with shocked faces.

I would never had imagined that Germanos would end up like this.

“Angel Lee Lee Se-min!”

One boy among them asked.

“We jeered and cursed at us every day, so why did you save us? Are you really God’s apostle?”

There was heat in the boy’s eyes. It was an expression that found something to aim for. As Lee Lee Se-min looked at the boy, he remembered when he was young.

He was like that boy in the past. Watching the raiders’ performance, it felt like he had found the path he should pursue for the rest of his life. Lee Lee Se-min answered with a grin.

“I am not an apostle of God or anything like that.”

There was no need to play anymore. the boy asked back.

“Then why did you stop people? You almost died because of it.”

Lee Lee Se-min thought back. It wasn’t done based on any calculation. My body just moved. The mind arose, and it was expressed through action.

If you really want a reason, this was all you can say.

“Because I am strong.”

Because you were strong, there were things you must do.

People dismiss this as the realm of individual conscience or belief, but through Wooju-ryu, Lee Lee Se-min came to feel that this was closer to the principle of the universe.

Because all causes and effects were connected.

“So, you too, become strong.”

Lee Lee Se-min said that and gave a thumbs up.

The boy’s face brightened. Lee Lee Se-min waved goodbye to his first fans. They applauded.

“Okay then.”

Lee Lee Se-min supported Germanos and walked into the waiting room passage. Cheers followed from outside.

Medical staff were waiting for Germanos in the waiting room. When Lee Lee Se-min gave Germanos over, they began to heal him with various medicines and magic.

Lee Lee Se-min sat down and watched.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Germanos, whose breathing became calm, glanced at Lee Lee Se-min and said.

Lee Lee Se-min responded.

“You’re looking at a loser.”

Germanos frowned again. Now I felt determined not to talk any more. Lee Lee Se-min laughed out loud.

“I’m waiting because I have something to ask, so please don’t feel uncomfortable, old man.”

“Insolent bastard.”

“You should be thankful that you saved my life.”

“Hmph.”

The medical staff glanced at Lee Lee Se-min. He looked amazed at how he treated Germanos without fault.

If your personality was so bad on a regular basis, would you be surprised by even a trivial conversation?

After all, people should age gracefully.

“What you said earlier….”

It was a moment when Lee Lee Se-min was quietly trying to spice up the conversation.

Someone called him.

“Lee Lee Se-min!”

It was Yuria Gloria. She entered the waiting room and looked alternately at Germanos and Lee Lee Se-min, who were lying down, and then gestured to Lee Lee Se-min.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

She was avoiding medical staff. As Lee Lee Se-min approached her, she came out into the waiting room hallway and lowered her voice.

“I need you.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“For what?”

“So…”

Yuria’s eyes were shaking.

“The messenger of Badurbarok has arrived.”

***

Seeing the endless procession of demonic beasts, Lee Lee Se-min’s expression hardened.

“It’s over there.”

Outside the outer wall surrounding Sargasonia, a group of humans were confronting a demonic beast. At the forefront were the people we had seen in the noble seats earlier, and soldiers from each family were guarding them with weapons in hand.

“What kind of person is Badurbarok’s lion?”

“I can’t see it because it’s covered.”

“Are we communicating?”

“Of course.”

“It’s fascinating.”

“You’ll be even more surprised when you see it in person.”

Lee Lee Se-min said so and walked with Yuria to the group of nobles.

At the sound of his footsteps, nobles and soldiers turned around one by one.

The demon beasts confronting them also recognized Lee Lee Se-min and gave him a look.

It was different from the demon beasts that Lee Lee Se-min knew. There were many unfamiliar species. Unlike the demonic beasts that live instinctively and destroy the surroundings, they were looking into Lee Lee Se-min as if they had intelligence.

Strangely enough, I got goosebumps.

“Why did you call me?”

As Lee Lee Se-min spoke, the woman standing in front spoke. It was Spina Gloria, Yuria’s mother.

“That person is the winner. He will decide.”

At first, Lee Lee Se-min didn’t understand who she was talking about.

When I looked closely, I saw a familiar figure among the demonic beasts confronting them.

Lee Lee Se-min opened his eyes wide. The opponent was a creature he knew well.

It’s a goblin.

He was standing there leading the demonic beasts.

“Nice to meet you. I am Khaolak, a warrior of the Sawtooth tribe.”

It was a somewhat polite attitude.

“I have come to demand the return of the throne to you. Of course, in return, I will sign a permanent non-aggression pact with Sargasonia. You can live within this city as you have always done.”

“Why me?”

“You said you were the winner. The right to the throne that that old man had monopolized went to you this time. Please don’t waste the opportunity. Will you hand it over to us?”

Sargasonia’s system was based on the throne, and the right to the throne was limited to the winner of the tournament. Germanos, who wanted to protect the throne, would had denied any treaty so far.

But Lee Lee Se-min was different.

“Look at what you guys are doing.”

“Yes?”

The goblin’s face hardened. He looked at Lee Lee Se-min, then pointed to the legion of demon beasts standing behind him.

“I wonder if there’s more to see.”

“Bring the captain there.”

“Yes?”

Lee Lee Se-min raised his chin and said.

“If Badurbarok comes directly and asks for it, I will grant it.”