The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 187

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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 187

The woman who entered through the door walked forward with confident strides and came to stand before Han Yu-sung.
She bowed her head lightly toward him.

“I’m Sung Ha-yan. I came here on the introduction of the Alliance Leader.”
“Yes, I’m Han Yu-sung. Please, have a seat.”

Sung Ha-yan was a person whose unremarkable appearance left an impression.
I don’t mean to speak of beauty or ugliness in the conventional sense.
It was as if, once you passed her by after a single encounter, you would forget her almost immediately.
There was an indescribable haziness about her.
Han Yu-sung reviewed the personal information that Jain had sent him.
More precisely, the ‘Unique Ability’ that Sung Ha-yan possessed, as recorded there.

[Sung Ha-yan, Crimson Madness (S-Rank): During combat, if a certain amount of damage is sustained or combat persists for a certain duration, ‘Crimson Madness’ activates. At this moment, she enters a state of frenzy, moving solely on combat instinct.]
[Exact numerical values are unknown, but it is presumed that during the activation of ‘Crimson Madness’, a strong buff is applied to all stat parameters.]
[Possessed Class: Arcane Swordsman (a class of the Mystic Swordsman lineage).]

This was the reason Han Yu-sung remembered the player Sung Ha-yan.
Every time they clashed in combat, she would rampage like a madwoman—impossible to forget.
Her performance each time was remarkable.
The problem was that she had been an enemy.

[In some ways, there is a similar feeling between you and her.]
‘I don’t wish to agree, but I cannot deny it either.’

In any case, ‘Crimson Madness’ was an excellent Unique Ability.
S-Rank, and if my memory serves, it would grow beyond that.
She was a player I had no reason to overlook.
However, if there was a problem…

“….”
“….”

It was that I knew nothing about Sung Ha-yan on a personal level.
We had been adversaries—there could be no personal connection.
That she harbored a fierce hunger for ‘power’ was something I had learned through our repeated encounters and battles.

‘Well, I just need to touch on that point.’
[As I said before, if I had intended to refuse your proposal, I would never have come here in the first place. Put your mind at ease.]

Kakasha was right.
Han Yu-sung immediately began discussing the ‘Covenant of War’ with Sung Ha-yan.
Yet the conversation proved far easier than I had anticipated.
Her questions were straightforward.

“What kind of support can I receive as a War Covenant User?”
“How far can the grace of Pioneer grow?”
“What level of treatment can I expect?”

These were the standard questions players asked when visiting the Arca Building.
Since I had anticipated them, answering was straightforward.
I explained what support I would provide, how far Pioneer could develop, and what treatment Sung Ha-yan would receive.
After hearing my explanation, Sung Ha-yan fell silent in thought.

“One last thing I’d like to ask.”
“Go ahead.”
“I heard you defeated a Lord’s incarnation. And not just any Lord—one bearing a True Name. What I want to know is….”

Sung Ha-yan met my gaze directly.
The emotion in her eyes felt strangely familiar.

“How did you acquire the strength to defeat an incarnation?”

It was yearning.
The yearning to become stronger.
The hunger to possess such power herself.
Sung Ha-yan waited for my answer, her gaze fixed upon me.

“That’s difficult to explain precisely. However….”

A faint smile crossed my lips.

“If you observe closely from my side, you’ll find that answer for yourself.”
“….”

Sung Ha-yan fell silent upon hearing that response.
She tilted her head and pondered for a long moment.

“I see. Then I shall enter into the contract.”
[This one is remarkably decisive, isn’t she?]

Han Yu-sung agreed with Kakasha’s assessment.
I had wondered if she might deliberate a bit longer, but she accepted immediately.
There was no reason to delay when she was ready to contract at once.

[Sung Ha-yan has formed a new contract with the Lord of War.]
[Lead the charge across countless Battlefields, befitting the name of ‘War’!]

Kakasha swiftly concluded the contract with Sung Ha-yan.
Sung Ha-yan examined the blessings and grace bestowed upon her.
Apparently satisfied with what she received, she nodded with contentment.

“Now that you’ve become a War Covenant User, I can speak more freely. The promised support will be provided by tomorrow. Your current level is 50, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right. I’m still not that high yet.”
“That level is far too low to stand at my side. But I’ll watch. How quickly you grow depends entirely on you.”

The Sung Ha-yan I remember would grow rapidly.
She possessed the capability to do so.

“Yes. You won’t have to wait long.”

Sung Ha-yan rose from her seat as she spoke.

“I’ll catch up soon enough.”

With that confident declaration, she left the Room.
Han Yu-sung chuckled softly at her words.

[Remarkably self-assured, this one. Hmm? There’s something about her that feels… oddly familiar.]

In any case, my conversation with Sung Ha-yan had come to an end.
Left alone, I exhaled a weary sigh.

“Acting against my nature is exhausting.”

In my past life, I had no need for such things. There were no Lords’ Wars to fight.
Moreover, after awakening my unique ability, I rarely traveled with companions or subordinates.
I preferred to move alone.

[But you cannot wage a Lords’ War by yourself, can you?]
“I know. That’s why I’m doing this.”

Looking ahead, the existence of War Covenant Users is essential.
Whether in Lords’ Wars or Trials, there are times when I need the help of allies.
If I train these new recruits well, they will become invaluable assets.
Just then, Baek Min-jun opened the door and entered cautiously.

“Commander, are you finished?”
“Yes. I’ve made the contract.”
“Already?”

Baek Min-jun’s eyes widened in surprise.
The conversation hadn’t even been that long, yet he’d already made the contract.
Han Yu-sung regarded the astonished Baek Min-jun quietly.

“By the way, Baek Min-jun. I heard that when you were under the Woman Who Cuts the Moon, you handled all the household affairs. Is that true?”
“Yes. Though I didn’t choose to do it. I wasn’t an Apostle by title, but I essentially functioned as one.”
“Good. I’d like you to do the same for us.”
“Uh… but aren’t you here, Commander?”

Baek Min-jun tilted his head in confusion.
Han Yu-sung is the Apostle of War. Shouldn’t the one in the highest position handle such matters himself?
It was a natural question to raise.

“I understand. I’ll handle important matters by discussing them with the Lords directly. But I can’t take on training the new recruits as well.”
“Ah, so you want me to handle the training of new members and miscellaneous tasks.”
“Exactly. And if your party members help out too, things will run more smoothly.”
“It’s not a difficult task. I’ll do it.”
“Good. As for compensation…”

Snap—

Han Yu-sung snapped his fingers.
In that instant, a message appeared before Baek Min-jun’s eyes.

[The Lord of War has sponsored an item for you!]
[You have obtained the Commander’s Sword (Legendary)!]

“Wait, I already received rewards from the Lords’ War, and now this too…?”

Baek Min-jun accepted the blade with a delighted smile, handling it with care.
He and his party members wore equipment that was terribly worn and outdated.
They were equipped with gear far below their actual level.
The reason hardly needed explanation.

[It seems the Woman Who Cuts the Moon was quite impoverished. She couldn’t even properly equip her Covenant Users. So this time, I’ve provided proper equipment as both compensation and remedy.]

In a sense, it was inevitable.
A Lord driven to the brink of collapse could hardly afford such generosity.

“Will this suffice?”
“Of course, Commander! I will dedicate myself to your service.”

Baek Min-jun bowed deeply, his face radiant with joy.
He received compensation equal to—no, exceeding—the work he had performed.
Such a thing would have been unimaginable under the Woman Who Cuts the Moon.
He left the room with a face brimming with happiness.

[Fair compensation is always important. Mm, indeed.]

Kakasha nodded with a solemn expression.
Just as Kakasha had done moments before, a Lord could sponsor items or skills to players.
Of course, restrictions applied.

[To sponsor material goods, I must expend additional coins. The cost increases depending on the Covenant User’s level and the item’s value.]

The item’s price came with an additional coin cost attached.
For items far exceeding a Covenant User’s level, sponsorship was practically impossible due to the stringent restrictions.
The fortunate part was that methods existed to reduce such constraints.

[If you work diligently for me, a separate metric will emerge that only I can see. Depending on that metric, restrictions diminish or the coins required decrease.]
“Hmm, what do you call that metric?”
[It differs for each Lord. I call it ‘Contribution’.]

As I listened to the explanation, a question occurred to me.

“What about my contribution?”
[What good would it do to speak of it? You possess the means to sponsor items that far exceed your station without any constraints whatsoever. And in great abundance at that. I suspect you would still have plenty left over….]

It was only natural.
I had pulled Kakasha up from the depths of ruin and nurtured him to this point. His debt to me was immeasurable.
Kakasha, having said that much, met my gaze directly.
Then he turned his head away as though ashamed.

[Ah, you understand, do you not? One requires such items to speak of these things….]
“I know. I never expected it in the first place.”

According to Kakasha, there exists a Shop that the Lords can access, and they purchase sponsorship items from there.
The problem was that the Shop had something like a ‘tier’ system.

[Once, I possessed a tier high enough to purchase items of Mythic grade. Now, well, there is little to say about it….]
“Your tier has plummeted, hasn’t it?”
[Ughhhh.]

Kakasha clutched his chest and groaned in anguish.
At his current tier, it appeared he could only purchase up to Legendary grade items.
In truth, that was sufficient for sponsorship purposes.
And viewed differently.

“If I raise your tier, I could use that Shop as though it were my own.”
[Remarkable thinking indeed. Well, given your contribution, it is certainly possible, so I have nothing to say against it.]

The method to raise the tier was simple.
Purchase many items from the Shop, and spend many coins.
As I sponsor the Covenant Users, I should be able to raise it eventually.

‘I hope that day comes soon.’

I rolled my stiff neck and thought as much.
In any case, I had largely completed the tasks at hand.
The players who asked for time to think would provide their answers in three days.
So then, what must be done after that.

[You have defeated the first Lord to possess an Alternative Name.]
[As an additional reward, you are given an opportunity to ascertain the location of the ‘Legacy’!]

A reward obtained from defeating the Lord of the Dead in the War of Stars.
It was time to seek the Legacy, a set item of the ‘Nameless Heaven’.

[The wording remains ambiguous no matter how I examine it. An opportunity to ascertain the Legacy’s location? Hmm, my lord. Do you sense something?]
“Yes. Though I doubt we’ll need to search for it ourselves.”
[We won’t need to search for it…?]

Kakasha tilted his head in confusion.
But my intuition proved accurate. It was merely a feeling, nothing more.

“That opportunity—I have a sense it will find us on its own.”

My unique ability.
Divine Descent was telling me that would be the case.

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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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