Ch.115115. Cyber Joseon

Amon summarized this incident in one sentence.

“There are no good possessed swords in this world.”

“Why are you stating the obvious so obviously?”

The priest who chimed in from the side was just a bonus.

Of course, the possessed sword might have had its own circumstances or grudges.

But who in this world doesn’t have their own story?

Besides, once it seized a woman’s body and started swinging a sword, there was no reason to hear its circumstances.

And so the possessed sword, knocked unconscious by Amon, was purified without getting a chance to defend itself.

No opportunity to tell its backstory like typical villains,

No chance to be read its Miranda rights.

Not that Amon and the squinting priest weren’t interested in the story.

Rather than from the possessed sword, they focused on the unconscious woman’s younger brother.

“How did she… end up picking up such a sword?”

Inside a private room of an upscale Korean restaurant where important people might discuss secrets,

Amon questioned the woman’s brother.

Inside the restaurant, the younger brother looked confused.

“Just to hear a story…?”

“One’s throat is always connected to one’s purse, brother.”

The younger brother was confused once again by Amon’s fluent Korean (Joseon language).

“Who are you really?”

“Knowing would hurt… you. Really.”

“Either be polite or casual. Pick one.”

“That’s not an important part, so let’s move on.”

Caught up in Amon’s pace, the younger brother began with a deep sigh.

“First, my name is J… Ji Sunwoo. And my sister you saved is Ji Sunhwa.”

According to Sunwoo, Sunhwa was originally a promising student at a martial arts dojo.

Thanks to that, the siblings, who would have starved to death on the streets without parents, were able to live as disciples of the dojo.

But their good fortune didn’t last long.

One day, she became possessed by the sword while organizing a storage room.

The martial arts sect expelled her to maintain their reputation and pretended not to know anything.

Later, it was revealed that the sect had been secretly creating possessed swords for power, and they cut ties with her when they feared she might damage their reputation.

His sister went mad, and Sunwoo, desperate for survival, tried various things.

Having trained as a disciple alongside his sister, Sunwoo was confident in his physical abilities.

He managed to earn living expenses and…

“Stop.”

Amon interrupted Sunwoo mid-sentence.

“Please don’t lie.”

“What?”

“You didn’t know your sister was possessed by the sword. If you had, you wouldn’t have said things like ‘AI infection.'”

Sunwoo’s expression darkened slightly.

After contemplating for a moment, he began a new story.

“My sister was a hacker…”

“That’s also a lie.”

“Was it that obvious?”

“Extremely.”

Sunwoo continued to tell lies, but none of them worked on Amon.

Finally, Amon spoke up.

“I already know your sister was an assassin.”

A flinch.

The inexperienced boy’s dismay was clearly visible through his shoulders.

Amon’s pursuit didn’t end there.

“I also confirmed at the hospital that both you and Sunhwa have ghost identities.”

“…”

“What are you really?”

Under Amon’s questioning, Sunwoo reluctantly opened his mouth.

“Knowing would hurt you.”

“I’ve recently realized that blindly ignoring things usually leads to greater pain later. So I’ll ask again. Who are you two really?”

Amon asked, using confusing grammar that mixed formal and casual speech.

Finally, Sunwoo gave up and told the truth.

“Have you heard of… the Sword Circle?”

“Oh. You’re bigger figures than I thought.”

The Sword Circle.

A special assassin group unique to Joseon, not found in other countries.

“They’re not quite private soldiers since they have no affiliation, dirtier than mercenaries, too proud to be called criminals, too dignified to be called thugs, and as martial artists…”

“They’re closer to murderous demons.”

Sunwoo smiled bitterly.

“How do you know about them?”

“I studied.”

This group called the Sword Circle could only exist due to Joseon’s unique social conditions.

In Joseon, private armies are prohibited by strong royal authority.

The Yi Dynasty abhors private armies so much that they would send troops at the mere mention of the word.

Having experienced a rebellion that shook the dynasty in the past, they seemed to have developed severe PTSD about it.

But it’s important to remember that Joseon is a military dictatorship.

People with military backgrounds form the upper echelons of the government.

These military-origin new nobles preferred swords over dialogue and law, creating high demand for private soldiers.

Foreseeing the inevitable growth of the underworld, the royal court permitted a special organization instead of private armies.

A group of assassins who worship martial arts itself rather than serving specific organizations.

In Joseon where firearms are prohibited, they carry swords and leap over walls at night to swing their blades for their one-night masters.

That was the Sword Circle.

And Sunwoo and Sunhwa were not assassins but apprentice disciples there.

“So, you and Sunhwa were affiliated with them?”

“We’ve been expelled now.”

“Why?”

“Because of the possessed sword.”

Sunwoo smiled bitterly.

“The story I first told you wasn’t completely false.”

It was true that the Sword Circle created the possessed sword, and that both siblings were expelled when Sunhwa became possessed as an apprentice.

The only difference was that the martial arts sect was the Sword Circle—it wasn’t entirely a lie.

“I apologize for lying.”

Sunwoo apologized and continued with their subsequent actions.

“The reason I disliked you and the priest was because of what happened after.”

With nowhere to go, the siblings sought numerous exorcist priests and shamans, hoping to return to the Sword Circle if they could purify the sword.

But all of them either failed to purify the sword or took their money and ran.

Repeated frauds and failures built up Sunwoo’s distrust.

Then one day, when he administered medicine received from a hospital just in case, Sunhwa showed slight improvement.

Seeing her condition improve with medicine after showing no progress, Sunwoo couldn’t help but doubt possession and believe it was an AI infection.

“I never dreamed the possessed sword was just bored with no one to kill.”

Sunwoo spoke self-mockingly.

Amon, dipping tofu in soy sauce, nodded.

“I understand.”

“Good. Seems like your curiosity has been satisfied.”

“My curiosity is satisfied. But I think there’s still something to be done.”

“What now?”

“Sunwoo. Do you want to return to the Sword Circle?”

“I wish I could.”

Although the Sword Circle is an assassin group, their social status is equivalent to America’s HOD.

It was too valuable to easily give up.

Enough to answer immediately when asked if he wanted to return.

Amon quietly observed the boy.

Then he nodded and said,

“Alright. I’ll help you.”

“How? Are you going to bribe the boss?”

Sunwoo said, scanning the private room where he was sitting.

“Forget it. Only those obsessed with swords can become official assassins in the Sword Circle. Like my sister.”

“I know.”

“Then how do you plan to help?”

“You said it yourself.”

“What?”

“Those people are obsessed with swords, right?”

“???”

Sunwoo couldn’t understand Amon’s intention.

What did that have to do with anything?

But Amon seemed unwilling to explain as he stood up.

“Let’s leave the details as a surprise for later. If you’re finished eating, shall we go?”

Sunwoo stood up reflexively.

Amon extended his hand toward him.

“So, will you accept my offer?”

After careful consideration, Sunwoo reluctantly took his hand.

“I’ll ask for your help if you can do it. But first, let me ask one thing.”

“Go ahead.”

“Why are you helping me this much?”

“… Would you believe me if I said it was because of my faith?”

Amon showed the cross necklace on his chest.

Recalling Amon’s actions so far, Sunwoo had no choice but to believe him.

“Alright. I believe you.”

Sunwoo shook the hand he was holding.

Amon nodded with satisfaction.

But behind that kind smile was a purpose that couldn’t be called purely innocent.

‘Seems like I’m getting involved in another big incident…’

While shaking hands with Sunwoo, Amon examined his soul with his spiritual eyes.

His soul lacked something that every Joseon person should have.

‘He has no thread.’

The translucent thread that should extend from the chest to the royal court.

Not just Sunwoo, but Sunhwa was the same.

The siblings had no connected thread.

Even newborn babies in hospitals had that thread.

Their uniqueness was enough to stimulate Amon’s curiosity.

‘I wonder what kind of incident awaits me this time.’

Thinking this, Amon casually tossed a piece of tofu into his mouth.

Meanwhile, while Amon was ‘deliberately’ bringing on a new incident out of curiosity, the squinting priest…

“I always say you need to choose a good son-in-law.”

Unable to imagine the future that was about to unfold,

He was enjoying a full Korean course meal with Sonia in the next room.