Chapter 1225: Scorched World

The Sword Squad Dragon Roar Competition.

The name itself is tacky and somewhat crude. Naturally. That’s because it’s been around since right after the Martial Arts Alliance was founded.

As the name suggests, the Sword Squad Dragon Roar Competition is a martial arts tournament held by the Alliance, but unlike the Dragon Phoenix Gathering or the Martial Arts Festival, it’s a tournament only Sword Squad members affiliated with the Alliance can participate in.

Martial artists. Specifically, the Eight Sword Squads.

It could be seen as an unofficial competition where the Eight Sword Squads pit their strength against each other.

Therefore, even when the tournament was held, it didn’t recruit spectators like other competitions; only Alliance personnel could watch.

Furthermore, it wasn’t held on a specific cycle. As proof, I remember it being held randomly once when I was active as an Alliance member in my past life.

The one who won that time was…

‘……Little Sword Saint.’

Wi Seol-ah.

It was her.

She shattered the entire generation of the renowned ‘Flowing Stars’ and won single-handedly.

Of course.

‘Back then too, the Squad Leader and Vice Squad Leader didn’t participate.’

It was possible because those who reached a certain rank were unable to participate.

And this time probably won’t be much different.

‘Was it held around this time?’

I wonder if it’s possible given the era.

‘…From my perspective.’

The guests who visited the Alliance. I think they might have been the problem.

‘Iron Blood Fan and Sword Empress.’

Perhaps it happened when those two appeared at the Alliance. I guessed. No, it’s probably closer to fact than a guess.

‘Hmm.’

So you intend to use all the former Sword Squad members to hold the tournament?

“Tsk.”

I clicked my tongue. Putting the letter in my hand into my pocket, I went outside.

The number of participants is five per squadron. The Blue Dragon Squad Leader meant he was going to fit me in under those circumstances.

‘Will it work?’

At a point where my energy is completely blocked, I wonder what I can even do.

‘Still.’

Since I secured the condition as collateral, it’s not entirely bad. I told him I’d do it, setting a condition.

‘I can go to the Four Seas.’

I want to visit the Four Seas, so please create a pretext. The Blue Dragon Squad Leader made a strange expression at my words, but…

‘Alright.’

He granted permission not long after. Instead.

‘I have a condition too.’

He also laid out a condition.

‘Make sure you win.’

“…….”

For the Blue Dragon Squad to win the tournament. He set that as the goal.

Normally, I wouldn’t have worried much.

‘Even if I lack strength.’

My father is in the Blue Dragon Squad.

Since the one called the Divine Dragon, who is currently at the peak of his fame, is here, I would have judged that they could win even without me stepping up.

‘…The problem is.’

If there’s something bothering me.

‘The Divine Dragon Squad.’

The core and elite of the Alliance, the Sword Squad directly under the Alliance Leader.

The Divine Dragon Squad will be participating in the tournament.

“Hmm.”

The Divine Dragon Squad.

Honestly, I don’t know much about the Divine Dragon Squad. It was a group that had already disbanded when I was around.

‘Even if they’ve been revived now.’

I didn’t know anything about them, so I hadn’t bothered to pay attention.

‘But I am curious.’

The elite who shared the history of the Martial Arts Alliance.

Especially regarding their leader, it was intriguing that they concealed their identity.

Recalling this, I looked around. I could feel eyes subtly on me. People were staring at me everywhere.

Martial artists belonging to the Blue Dragon Squad. They were looking at me unfavorably.

‘What are you looking at?’

Why are they looking at me with such shitty gazes? As I wondered…

‘Ah.’

I realized what it was.

‘So that’s it.’

‘I beat up Namgung Jin.’

The news that I broke one of his arms must have spread throughout. Even so, he’s a member of the same squadron, and I crippled his arm, so I understood why they were looking at me like that.

“What are you staring at?”

Of course, I only understood.

When I glared back menacingly, they immediately looked away.

‘My body has no energy?’

‘What the hell can they do about it?’

‘I just have to pretend I don’t know.’

It’s enough to just act oblivious. Thinking that, I moved my feet.

I set out to find a secluded place. Since I returned from a mission not long ago, I figured I wouldn’t be assigned any separate missions for a while.

So, heading towards the mountain behind the Alliance and finding a relatively flat area… I stopped and spoke quietly.

“You can come out now.”

There was no reaction to my words. Sensing that, I turned around.

“Aren’t you coming out? I came all the way here.”

After I said it twice more, there was finally a reaction. Someone walked out from behind.

“Well now.”

A giant appeared with an awkward expression. It was Iron Blood Fan, whom I saw earlier today.

“How did you know?”

He looked at me with a curious gaze. Seeing that, I replied nonchalantly.

“I figured as much.”

“Figured, huh? Not sensed?”

“Pfft.”

I chuckled.

“How could I possibly sense the presence of the Number One Under Heaven?”

If it were my own strength, maybe. But in my current state, there’s no way I could sense his presence.

“Hmm. Well, that’s true.”

Iron Blood Fan nodded as if convinced by my words. I wasn’t offended by that.

‘Number One Under Heaven.’

It’s the first time I’ve seen such a person. Because in the era I lived in, there was no such thing as a Number One Under Heaven.

‘So that old man is the Number One Under Heaven.’

The strongest martial artist in the world.

Even in this world that has the Sword Venerable, Heavenly Venerable, and Overlord Venerable, he was the strongest.

Facing such a person…

“But you know.”

Iron Blood Fan said, looking at me.

“Why do you think this old man thought you could sense my presence?”

“Well. I don’t really know-“

Thwack.

“…!”

My vision changed abruptly. A large hand clamped right over my mouth.

“Kid. What exactly are you?”

It was a dizzying pressure. I thought, ‘What kind of rough strength is this?’ My body trembled from the tingling aura. It did even though I couldn’t sense energy.

‘He’s strong.’

I knew it instinctively.

“I can’t understand. Bijju, that guy offered discipleship to someone with no energy like this?”

‘Oh.’

‘Did he realize I have no energy?’

That seemed to be why he was acting like this.

“Speak. What are you?”

As he said that, the pressure from his hand eased. Only then could I stretch my stiff neck.

“Your temperament is quite hasty. Blocking my mouth and telling me to speak?”

“Haha. I felt it last time too, you’ve got quite the guts. You’re going to speak your mind even in this situation? To me?”

“I apologize if I seemed disrespectful. I’m the type who has to say what’s on my mind.”

Tuk tuk.

After smoothing out my wrinkled clothes… I said to him.

“I don’t know what answer you’re looking for, but there isn’t much I can tell you. My physical condition isn’t very good right now.”

“…Physical condition isn’t good, huh? Does it make sense that your energy disappeared just because of that?”

“Exactly. I don’t understand this either. Even though the Divine Physician looked after me, nothing changed.”

“…The Divine Physician?”

“Yes.”

When I mentioned the Divine Physician, Iron Blood Fan’s expression changed.

“The Divine Physician looked after you.”

“Yes. My master asked him to, so he did.”

“Hmph, no wonder. I was wondering why that annoying fellow came all the way here.”

Iron Blood Fan clicked his tongue. Seeing that, I continued.

“Right? But isn’t it good?”

“Good, what?”

“Thanks to that, you got to see the Divine Physician you were looking for. This much is fine…”

Thump-!!

My shoulder was crushed. Iron Blood Fan’s eyes gleamed at my words.

“Look at this guy.”

Kkeugeuk.

My bones tingled. In the meantime, Iron Blood Fan asked me with blazing eyes.

“I never said I was looking for the Divine Physician. How did you know?”

“…I just figured that might be the case.”

“That’s not enough of an answer. So you better answer properly.”

Kkigigig!

Strange sounds came from the surroundings. It was Iron Blood Fan’s aura affecting nature.

“I’m not the type to let things slide just because you’re a budding sprout.”

Yes. You certainly look the part.

I swallowed those words. If I say them now, I might die.

“The reason wasn’t anything special. It was just that the situation fit perfectly.”

“Situation?”

“I pondered it. Why were such great figures gathering at the Martial Arts Alliance? Both Sword Empress and you, Great Hero. I wondered why.”

“I told you I came to see you, didn’t I?”

“Pfft… Who would come all the way to the Martial Arts Alliance just to see someone else’s disciple?”

They might. It’s not strange. Seeing these crazy martial artists, there certainly could be people like that.

‘But not now.’

I excluded that possibility. The reason is simple.

‘Iron Blood Fan is still alive, and he’s going to die soon.’

I recalled the timing of his death. He died shortly after Sword Venerable became the Alliance Leader, but the fact that he’s still alive…

‘Means he’s going to die soon.’

It means he doesn’t have much time left to live.

In such a situation, would someone deliberately come to see the disciple of someone they know? It wasn’t even funny.

So, I made a guess.

Why did Iron Blood Fan come here?

Regarding that, I thought the Divine Physician was the reason.

“The connection point for everything. The Divine Physician is at the end of it. I just made a guess based on that.”

“…A guess? So you were testing me?”

“It seems so.”

“Ha…!!”

Iron Blood Fan let out a breath. His eyes were filled with a ‘Look at this guy’ expression.

“This is absurd.”

Well, this is where it gets interesting. I’ve told him the reason, now I need to prepare for what’s next.

So, the important thing is why Iron Blood Fan chased after me… And how I predicted it.

Now I’m going to ask him about that.

I prepared my answer. Soon after, Iron Blood Fan asked me.

“You.”

I moved my lips.

“Become my disciple.”

“That is actually… What?”

I stopped mid-sentence.

This question wasn’t in my expected answers.