The Crazy Battle God Has Returned - Chapter 196

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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 196

Lord of Justice Achiros had been consumed with purging for some time.
The blade of his cleansing swept across Japan, and a terrible bloodstorm raged among the Sworn Servants of Justice who followed him there. Meanwhile, the Korean Sworn Servants were relatively spared from his wrath.
But that did not mean they enjoyed peaceful times.
That doesn’t mean I had an easy time of it.

“Yes. We must prove our loyalty by any means necessary.”
“We need to produce results while the Lord is away.”
“While the Lord is away, I have to produce results no matter what.”

To a Lord—especially one bearing a title—a ‘Sworn Servant’ is a disposable existence. They can be culled and replaced just as quickly.
Only those Sworn Servants who produce results and possess talent hold any value.
Many scrambled desperately to prove their worth.
Many pledgers struggled to prove their worth.

‘He prunes the useless branches, forcing the Sworn Servants to compete with one another. Then someone will inevitably rise to prominence.’
“We prune away the useless branches and make the pledges compete with each other. That way, someone is bound to stand out.”

The problem was that they had no choice but to follow it regardless.
While the Sworn Servants struggled to survive,
While the oath-takers struggled to survive that way.

“….”

It was not that he defied Achiros. Like the others, he acted to prove his worth and his loyalty.
But his desperation was not what it once had been.
The desire to become an Apostle had long since faded.
The desire to become an Apostle had long since disappeared.

“Why should I follow a ruler who doesn’t trust me?”

He had once wished to regain Achiros’s trust, to become an Apostle. Until recently, those were his goals.
But through the series of events, his objectives had shifted.
But after going through a series of events, my goals changed.

“Han Yu-sung…”

Lee Su-ho saw countless articles floating before his eyes.
All of them were articles about Han Yu-sung’s exploits—praising his recent achievements and what he had brought to Korea.
Lee Su-ho’s name could not be found anywhere among them.

Crackle!

I should have participated in the Trial that had just concluded—the War of Stars.
It was a Trial perfectly suited to my abilities.
Especially for someone like me, possessing numerous powerful skills in the category of strengthening myself and my allies.
But I had not.
Because Achiros had chosen Japan.

‘In the end, I gained nothing.’

Achiros’s choice was wrong.
That wrong choice had made my position all the more precarious.

“Why should I follow a lord who does not trust me…?”

I muttered those words again.
I needed power.
What I needed now was strength.

‘The strength to repay every humiliation.’

To repay the one who had caused me successive failures.
I needed the strength to somehow repay the one who had reduced me to this state.
But how could I gain strength? Would an opportunity to gain power come to one who had lost the lord’s trust?
I was not even being given a chance to restore that trust.

‘It is impossible. Under the Lord of Justice, I….’

could not grow any further.
I could not seize an opportunity to take revenge on Han Yu-sung.
Not under the Lord of Justice.
Then there was only one method.

‘To change my contracted lord.’

It was impossible.
A Sworn Servant of Justice could not sever their contract with their Lord. The authority to dissolve such a bond belonged solely to the Lord themselves.
Yet Lee Su-ho possessed a method to do precisely that.

[Have you steeled your resolve?]

A voice emanated from the Shard of the Blade that existed within the Subspace.
In the past, Lee Su-ho had distinguished himself brilliantly during a Trial. A certain Wanderer, impressed by his performance, had entrusted him with this object in secret.
Hidden from Achiros’s knowledge, concealed with utmost care.

“This power you speak of granting me… is it truly possible?”
[Our interests align perfectly. Our goals are one and the same. Until that objective is achieved, you shall obtain whatever strength you desire.]
“Then.”

Lee Su-ho gripped the Shard of the Blade with fierce determination.

“I will accept your proposal.”
[Excellent. Your contract with the Lord of Justice shall remain intact. But when the time comes, this blade shall sever that very bond….]

The Shard of the Blade emanated an ominous light.
Lee Su-ho felt the tremendous power contained within that radiance.

[Wait for that moment to arrive. Soon, a stage shall be constructed. A stage upon which both the Blood Demon and the vessel he discovered shall fall….]

The voice from the Shard of the Blade grew increasingly distant.
It faded away with a cold laugh.

[When that time comes, I, Geomson, shall grant you power.]

* * *

The Blood Demon sent a peculiar letter.
Its contents suggested that The Wanderer was attempting to manipulate an enemy beneath Achiros—one who despised Han Yu-sung more than anyone else.
There was no need to deliberate on who that referred to.

“Lee Su-ho betrays Achiros and enters the service of Geomson….”

In his past life, he was a loyal sword to Achiros.
A traitor who sold Earth itself, and in return, gained the qualifications to become a lord.
This time, that man betrayed Achiros.
The flow of events had become completely different from the previous life.

[Hmm. But, thinking about it….]
“That’s precisely the problem—there’s nothing strange about it.”

His words rang true.
What path had Han Yu-sung taken since his regression?
He had inflicted great losses upon Achiros, and in the process, interfered with the endeavors Lee Su-ho had undertaken, causing them to fail.
Endeavors that should have succeeded and become the catalyst for earning the lord’s trust.

“Did Achiros abandon Lee Su-ho?”
[That could be the case. Or perhaps… he’s trying to break him in.]
“Break him in? Ah, I see what you mean.”

Achiros would not cast Lee Su-ho aside.
Lee Su-ho’s talent as a player was undeniable—he had become the greatest player in his past life, after all.
Yet it was true that Lee Su-ho had lost the lord’s trust at present.
Perhaps Achiros was attempting to break him in by forcing him to prove his loyalty.

[A talented individual like him will certainly resist at first. But what meaning would that resistance hold? Once bound by contract, a Sworn Servant cannot resist the lord.]
[Moreover, there is the advantage of creating a competitive dynamic.]

Maezato Rinzo was dead, and Lee Su-ho had lost his standing.
Many Sworn Servants would be eyeing that opportunity. They would grow through competition with one another, bringing considerable profit to Achiros.
Rewarding those who produced results would deepen their loyalty further.
The problem was.

‘Lee Su-ho possesses a method to break the contract.’

Han Yu-sung had gathered intelligence through the Alliance.
Information concerning the Sworn Servants of Justice.
He had been monitoring their movements to see if they were making any unusual strides.
But there had been no significant news.

“If Lee Su-ho had broken his contract, there would have been quite the uproar.”
[It seems likely he hasn’t broken the contract yet.]
“Right. That means he has the means to do it. He probably thinks there’s no hope under Achiros and is looking to switch contracts.”
[Achiros… without that bastard’s consent…]

A Sworn Servant cannot unilaterally break a contract.
If that were possible, there would be no one enslaved by such bonds.
Once a contract is made with a Lord, it cannot be easily dissolved.
Only if the Lord dies, or an enormous price is paid, or otherwise.

[One would have no choice but to seek the aid of The Wanderer.]

There is exactly one way to unilaterally break a contract.

[You understand as well, but The Wanderers are those who refused to become Lords. They operate independently, outside the system of the Star Lords. And most Lords do not regard The Wanderers favorably.]

Whether god or Star Lord, both feel the same.
Because The Wanderers are those who have stepped outside their systems.
But that is not the only reason.

[The Wanderers sometimes seize Sworn Servants from other Lords.]
“Do you know how that’s even possible?”
[I don’t know the exact mechanism, but those bastards clearly have the means to do it. A method they cannot use frequently.]

The Wanderers do not keep many Sworn Servants.
Truly a select few. Yet each one is exceptionally skilled, and their talent is beyond question. They receive correspondingly massive support because of this.
They are that selective in choosing who becomes their Sworn Servant.
If someone catches their fancy, they will seize that contract itself.

[Blood Demon! That bastard has a record too!]
“So that’s why you were so wary of Blood Demon…”
[Kyaaaaaaah!]

When Han Yu-sung met Blood Demon, how violently had Kakasha reacted.
It was so intense that hallucinations of fire spewing from his mouth were visible.
Thinking about it now, the wariness was inevitable.

[In any case! That Lee Su-ho must be planning to abandon Achiros. But the fact that he hasn’t broken the contract yet…]
“He’s probably waiting for the right opportunity.”

A smile naturally bloomed across Han Yu-sung’s lips.
Whether it was Geomson or Lee Su-ho—both harbored grudges against me. And both were individuals from whom I needed to take something.
They were waiting for an opportunity to kill Han Yu-sung.
A very certain opportunity at that.
But, thinking about it carefully.

“This isn’t such a bad situation for us.”
[Hmm, certainly… it’s not as if we don’t know the opponent is targeting us. We already know.]
“Exactly. Once we know, we can prepare countermeasures.”

However, there was one thing to remain cautious about.
The Blood Demon had noticed that Geomson made contact with Lee Su-ho, and had relayed this information to Han Yu-sung.
This was the problem.

“Does Geomson not know that the Blood Demon has moved?”
[This is a difficult problem indeed.]

Kakasha, lost in thought, groaned.
If Geomson had already suspected the Blood Demon’s movements, the situation would be entirely different.
If we could ask the Blood Demon directly, we would be certain.

[But there’s no way to ask. And even if we did, he wouldn’t answer kindly… No! Don’t get entangled with the Blood Demon anymore!]

Kakasha cried out while tearing at Han Yu-sung’s hair.
There was no other way. Whether Geomson knew of the Blood Demon’s movements or not, we had to prepare for both possibilities.
In any case.

“It’s not bad.”

Lee Su-ho was an utterly irritating existence.
Thinking of his actions in my past life made it even more so. I wanted to eliminate him before he gained Achiros’s trust and grew stronger.
But I couldn’t do so because of the backlash from killing him.
Killing him would mean entering into all-out war with Achiros.

‘But if Lee Su-ho were to betray Achiros first.’

I could handle it cleanly.
Achiros’s wrath would then be directed at Geomson instead.

[If things proceed ideally, that’s how it will unfold.]
“Right. The problem is, if things go poorly, everything can spiral into an endless mess.”
[So, what will you do from now on?]
“What else?”

Han Yu-sung rose from his seat.
What I needed to do from this point forward was remarkably simple.

“I need to prepare for the worst-case scenario.”

The opportunity to kill Lee Su-ho had finally arrived.
That opportunity would come soon enough. To avoid missing it, I had no choice but to make thorough preparations.
And then, several days later.

– A tremendous boom echoed through the world!

The world trembled with the colossal sound.
The ‘omen phenomenon’ I had now experienced countless times and grown accustomed to.

[The Trial of God opens.]

A trial entangled with multiple conspiracies was about to unfold.

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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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