The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 15

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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A Mad Swordsman Returns – Chapter 15

Obey me as the Sworn Servants of Justice obey their Lord.

[Ha… what an absurd proposal.]

The Lord of War let out a hollow laugh upon hearing those words. She had never once imagined receiving such a proposal. To demand obedience from a Lord—and from a mere human player, no less.
The conditions that followed were even more preposterous.
The subsequent conditions were even more absurd.

[Are you truly mad?]
“Is he truly insane?”

What did this human think the Star Lords were?
What on earth do you think the Star Lords are?

“Did you not say you wished to take revenge on the Lord of Justice?”
[If I become your slave, could I truly achieve that revenge? No… the possibility remains slim… I would merely face the same annihilation in the end….]
If I become your slave, can I achieve revenge…? No, the possibility is still slim… In the end, I’ll just face the same destruction…

But that was not to become a human’s slave.
Could she achieve revenge on the Lord of Justice by becoming this human’s slave?
She had no such certainty. She might only suffer further before facing annihilation.
I don’t even have that kind of certainty. I might just suffer more and disappear.

“What if the possibility were not so slim? What if you could achieve your revenge?”
[…What exactly are you trying to say?]
[What on earth are you trying to say?]

But Han Yu-sung cut off her words and suddenly closed both eyes.
Lord of War was about to say that.
“Read my memories.”

“Read my memory.”
“Memory…?”

The Star Lords can read the thoughts and memories of their Sworn Servants of Justice.
Of course, it requires the consent of the other party. It’s possible without permission, but there are certain restrictions that follow.
The Lords would use this on Sworn Servants of Justice whose loyalty was weak or questionable, and it was commonly employed to filter out impurities among them.

“I’ll give you permission, so read quickly. We don’t have time.”
[I don’t understand. What is this situation… what is any of this…]

Han Yu-sung was not a Sworn Servant of Justice.
But he was holding a sacred relic that the Lord herself dwelled within. I thought it might be possible, and it actually was.
The Lord of War squeezed out her remaining power.
The sacred relic ignited with a hazy flame.

[…]
“…”

It was a flame in the shape of a girl.
The flame touched Han Yu-sung’s head. Surprisingly, it wasn’t hot.
Instead, he felt something burrowing into his mind.
And several memories surfaced.

[This is…]

A past life.
The events Han Yu-sung had experienced. The path he had walked.
The conclusion he had reached at its end.

[You are… what exactly…]

The Lord of War, having read Han Yu-sung’s memories, could not continue speaking.
She had no choice.
She stood before a human who had earned the qualifications to ascend as a Lord, yet chose to abandon it and return instead.

[I cannot believe it. A return? Such a thing cannot be possible… And to abandon the qualifications to ascend as a Lord. How could…]

The Lord of War recalled the final memory she had witnessed.
Earth in ruin. Han Yu-sung had killed Lee Su-ho on the verge of ascension, but she could not stop Achiros who stood behind him—left only with frustration.
Only then did she understand.
Why Han Yu-sung had made such an absurd proposal.

[…I had confidence because it was a path I had already walked.]
“Indeed. With a Lord at my side, things would become far easier.”
[And the fact that you revealed this to me….]
“You already know without me saying it, don’t you?”

And in that moment, I understood.
I had exposed the secret of regression—something that must remain hidden. If I refused this proposal, Han Yu-sung would eliminate the Lord of War himself.
It would be simple enough; all he needed to do was destroy the sacred relic.

“Our intentions align. If you stand with me, you will witness the downfall of the Lord of Justice. That is why I have returned.”
[Ha, haha! A madman indeed! Arrogant beyond measure. Yet what is amusing is that your arrogance possesses reason and foundation.]

The Lord of War burst into laughter.
I had steeled myself to endure every humiliation. Yet I had never intended to become a human’s slave. Or so I had believed.
A fierce curiosity stirred within me regarding the human before my eyes.
The ‘war’ that human would create going forward.

[What can you offer me, human?]
“I will spare you from annihilation. And together, we will bring down the Lord of Justice—Achiros. Moreover, I will make you a Lord stronger than Achiros. These are the terms I propose to you.”
[In exchange, I become your slave, is that it?]
“A chance to witness Achiros’s downfall from the closest vantage point.”

Han Yu-sung smiled.
It was the smile of a beast brimming with hunger and ambition.

“Will you join me?”
[….]

The Lord of War fell silent.
Reason screamed that the proposal was absurd.
A Lord becoming a human’s slave? An unprecedented calamity.
Yet I wanted to see it.

[Very well, human… No, Han Yu-sung.]

The path this human would walk.
The war this specter would create. The sight of Achiros’s downfall.
And the sight of myself standing alongside him.

[Daughter of War, the Lord of War shall accept your proposal.]
“Good. Then let’s make the oath first.”

Han Yu-sung began inscribing characters into the empty air with the Quill of Oath.
It was a contract containing everything we had discussed.

“The deadline is five years. If I die before then, or if the conditions aren’t met by the time the period expires, the oath automatically dissolves.”
[Truly, this contract is packed with every conceivable poison clause….]

After reading the contract in detail, the Lord of War was left speechless.
It was a contract overwhelmingly favorable to Han Yu-sung alone.
I had heard that the Quill of Oath could only create agreements with balanced conditions.
Could such terms actually be established?

[The Quill of Oath measures the balance of conditions.]
[The conditions are balanced. The contract may be executed.]

[Unbelievable! The quill isn’t defective, is it?!]
“I ripped it directly from the Lord of Knowledge. There’s no way it’s wrong.”

The Lord of War let out a hollow laugh.
The conditions Han Yu-sung had proposed were that substantial. To save the Lord of War from the brink of annihilation and make her stronger than Achiros.
On top of that, to help bring about Achiros’s downfall.
Additionally, he had added termination clauses regarding time limits and death.
The balance was inevitable.

“Just sign it. It seems like we’re almost at the end anyway.”
[…Five years is but a fleeting moment for a Lord.]

Han Yu-sung signed in the empty air and handed over the quill.
A girl-shaped flame that had risen from the sacred object grasped the quill. The Lord of War held her breath, then signed with a single decisive stroke.
She had cast aside all hesitation.

[During this time, I shall watch from your side to see if you can uphold this oath. As long as this oath endures, I shall remain with you.]

The words inscribed in the empty air began to glow.
Then they were absorbed into the quill, creating an unbreakable bond between Han Yu-sung and the Lord of War.

– The oath was made.

Han Yu-sung checked the description window of the Quill of Covenant.
He could see that a covenant made with the Lord of War had been added. A binding agreement that neither side could unilaterally break had been established.
But there was still one more contract to finalize.

[Normally I would conduct this with more formality, but we lack the luxury for that. Player Han Yu-sung, will you become my Sworn Servant?]
“Yes. I will contract with the Lord of War.”

A contract with the Star Lords.
An abbreviated ceremony.
But the effect was undeniable.

[You have formed a contract with the 【Lord of War】.]
[From this moment forward, you must lead countless wars befitting your title of “War,” and bring glory to the name of your contracted Lord.]
[Your 80,000 Coins will be transferred to the Lord.]
[【Blessing of War】 is bestowed upon you.]

And then the blessing appeared.
It was the same as the Blessing of the Tutorial that I had obtained after overcoming the Tutorial Tower.
But I held no great expectations.

[Blessing of War (Common)]
· All stats +2.
· Attack Power +2%, Skill Damage +2%.

I already knew the blessing’s effects would be weak.
Even knowing that, I couldn’t help but think this was excessive.

“What a pathetic blessing.”
[Truly, I have no words to refute that….]

A Lord’s blessing grows stronger based on the power that Lord possesses.
The Lord of War had barely escaped annihilation. With only the foundation of her power established, the blessing could only be feeble.

‘It doesn’t even come close to the heels of the Blessing of the Tutorial.’

It was worse than expected—almost shocking in its inadequacy.
Even the Lord of War seemed flustered seeing how weak the blessing had become. She appeared embarrassed, at a loss for words.
She likely never imagined she would be diminished to this degree.

[Time, time, and if you give coins only to this one… I could bestow blessings far greater than now… Even appointing as an Apostle…]
“So it all comes down to what I do. Well, not bad.”

Just as Han Yu-sung had regressed and started from the beginning, the Lord of War too had lost everything and was starting anew.
There was something reassuring about being in the same position.
Besides, I was confident in my ability to grow quickly, so it didn’t matter.

“There’s more I should tell you, but let’s save it for later.”

Han Yu-sung turned his head.
Footsteps were approaching from just ahead. The Sworn Servants of Justice or the sworn servants of other Lords had drawn near to this area.
Dealing with them came first.

‘A perfect opportunity to test the new skill.’

Han Yu-sung activated the skill he had obtained from Jung Seo-hyun.
Shadow of the Night.
Shadows surged from the ground and enveloped Han Yu-sung’s entire body. His form dissolved into the darkness as if merging with the shadows themselves.
Transformed into shadow, Han Yu-sung waited for his enemies to approach.
Waited for the prey to draw near.

* * *

“Here it is!”
“Damn, finally…!”
“We’re not too late, are we?”

A group of players arrived at their destination.
A vast chamber with a Metal Gate.
The players who had rushed in urgently fell silent at the horrific sight that greeted them.

“What, what is this? They’re all dead? Killed by the Guardians?”
“No. These are wounds from a short blade. This looks like…”
“It seems like an internal conflict occurred. They fought each other.”

A scene filled with destroyed Guardians and countless corpses.
The Sworn Servants of Justice lay dead in gruesome fashion. Perhaps they had died from infighting.
But among them was a familiar woman.

“Isn’t that Jung Seo-hyun?”
“Her face is too mangled to be certain, but it looks like her. Huh, that famous thief with impressive skills… here of all places…”
“Never mind that for now. We’ll worry about it later. Draw your weapons!”

The players immediately assumed combat positions.
They held their breath and peered beyond the Metal Gate.

“This is our chance. If all the Sworn Servants of Justice are dead, then whoever secured the Lord of War hasn’t left yet. If we secure it…”
“…our Lord will be most pleased.”
“Exactly. And we’ll earn considerable favor.”

Tense smiles played at the corners of the players’ mouths.
They’d be even more delighted to see the Lord of Justice’s face when she learned of this.
Anticipating their rewards, the players slowly approached the Metal Gate.

“Be careful. If they’re all dead, there must be some kind of trap.”
“It could be brainwashing or illusions. Prepare to dispel anything like that.”
“Yes, understood.”

The players stepped beyond the Metal Gate.
Bewilderment crossed their faces.

“What is this…”
“There’s nothing here?”

Beyond the Metal Gate lay nothing.
Only countless corpses and an empty Altar remained. The Altar appeared to have once held something of significance, yet now it stood bare.

“Could we have missed it?! Did someone escape with it?”
“That’s impossible. We didn’t encounter anyone on our way here. If someone had fled with it, we would have definitely crossed paths.”
“Damn it, what in the…”

The players cursed in frustration and looked around.
Then, they felt it.

Whoooosh!

The wind grazing across my cheek.
Simultaneously, a thick scent of blood carried on the currents of smell.
And something sinister boring through the space between them.
The players tried to react the moment they perceived it, but it was too late.

Boom!

A fist wreathed in shadow crashing down upon the earth.

Crack-crack-crack-crack!

“Gaaahhh?!”
“Hah… hagh…!”

Only after the successive blood winds tore their bodies asunder.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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