The Swords I Raised Are Too Strong - Chapter 13

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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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Chapter 13. Transcendent (1)
【Sword Master, I have allowed the 5th Sword, Iris Ruzbella, to absorb the blood that was difficult for you to handle. I wonder if this will be acceptable….】
I summoned a demon to absorb the blood.
And thus I saved the nation.
For reasons unknown, that action was judged as ‘evil’.
The blood of the Red Sea was far more potent than I had imagined, so much so that the morality ratio of my ‘Young Sword’ was pushed to 1:99 in an instant.
‘It nearly became a completely malevolent sword rather than a chaotic one.’
My sword’s options were flooded with terrifying words.
I was observing the situation without selecting any option.
It was then that Reinhardt adjusted the Young Sword’s morality ratio to 50:50.
―You’ve done well. Thank you as always.
I used my [Communication Ability] to offer words of gratitude to Reinhardt.
[Communication Ability] feels similar to telepathy or mental transmission.
A realization I discovered while using it.
【Sword Master, you have saved this old one’s world and guided me to the very end of the sword’s path. I am still far from repaying the grace you have shown me. Please do not hesitate to use me as you see fit―.】
The 1st Sword, Reinhardt.
Somehow, he feels as reassuring as a hearty bowl of soup.
―I look forward to working with you in the future.
【Crash!!!】
By the way, Iris Ruzbella died 1,023 times before seeing the ending.
Reinhardt, on the other hand, died only once.
He saw the ending on the first attempt.
‘He was always dependable.’
It was the same during the [Sword Cultivation] era.
Reinhardt has never once disobeyed my orders.
The things other swords would rebel against, Reinhardt simply followed without complaint.
If I told him to train, he trained.
If I told him to learn something, he learned it.
Whether it was ten years or thirty years of secluded cultivation, he would simply nod and act.
‘So there’s an undeniable sense of discomfort, but….’
That discomfort is merely my own heart’s doing.
It stems from a small incident that occurred while building Reinhardt’s character.
It’s already in the past.
Reinhardt himself is completely unaware of what happened back then.
In any case.
What matters now is the growth of the Young Sword.
Thanks to Reinhardt, I’ve recovered the 50:50 morality ratio and fully maintained the chaos characteristic―.
‘Please change already!!!’
Whoosh!
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Select the form of your sword.
1. Holy Demonic Sword.
2. Slaughter Demonic Sword
3. Bloodsucker Demonic Sword
4. Cannibal Demonic Sword
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Above all those gruesome options, a sword with the chaotic attribute I desired had appeared.
Considering that moments ago I was conjuring up terrifying words like slaughter, demon, and cannibalism, this was an extraordinary shift.
‘A harmony of holy and demonic.’
Whoosh!
[You have selected 1. Holy Demonic Sword.]
Without hesitation, I chose the superior build with the [Chaos] attribute.
With this, my Aga Sword had evolved.
I wanted nothing more than to enter the Tower or a Gate immediately to witness the growth of my Aga Sword—but.
‘Good grief, how much longer will this go on….’
The location and circumstances were the problem.
I was riding in an ornate ceremonial limousine heading toward Cheongwadae.
For the record, I occupied the seat of honor.
Across from me sat Chief Prosecutor Kang Mu-jin.
Since he insisted I take the seat of honor, I had no choice but to sit here.
‘He could at least offer some explanation.’
He brought me along without uttering a single word.
Eventually, unable to bear the frustration, I spoke first.
“Chief Prosecutor Kang, how much longer are you planning to sit there in silence?”
After a moment, Chief Prosecutor Kang opened his piercing eyes and asked.
“You asked about the secret of the Red Sea, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
The moment I got in the car, the question I posed was: ‘What is the source of the Red Sea?’
It was to progress the World Quest that arose from dealing with the Red Sea.
[World Quest — Find and eliminate the source of the Red Sea.]
[Success Reward: Sword Sheath.]
[Failure Penalty: Continuation of the Red Sea]
[World Quests] can be received by anyone who meets the conditions.
However, the rewards are applied differently for each.
Just as the Tower does, the rewards for Quests given by the world are customized to suit each individual Awakener.
‘A sheath for the Aga Sword?’
This was something I couldn’t resist.
“The secret of the Red Sea… you’ll hear it when we get there.”
We had arrived at Cheongwadae before I knew it.
As someone who had directly wielded the power of Iris Ruzbella, the Second Sword, I couldn’t say I didn’t understand the government’s swift response.
It was a power that inspired fear precisely because it was so formidable.
Yet….
“South Korea’s second Transcendent, Shin Si-woo. It is an honor to receive you.”
The response was swift—excessively so.
President Lee Seok-hyun himself had come to greet me personally.
He even opened the rear door and ushered me inside with the deference of a bellhop.
“If the term ‘second’ has offended you in any way, I offer my sincerest apologies.”
As I stood there in silence, these words reached my ears.
I told him it wasn’t like that and quickly exited the vehicle.
‘Am I receiving treatment on par with the Patriot?’
Bewildered yet composed, I walked forward with confidence.
【Everyone recognizes the supreme dignity of the Sword Master! My heart swells with pride!!!】
Reinhardt was witnessing this entire scene.
Even after learning the truth about [Sword Cultivation], he continued to support me endlessly—and I refused to show him an undignified side as the Sword Master.
“Please, be seated.”
We arrived at the presidential office.
Arranged in a ‘U’ shape, the sofas became the setting for our clandestine discussion.
My seat was none other than the president’s own chair—the place of honor.
To my left sat Chief Prosecutor Kang Mu-jin, and to my right, the president.
A subtle shift.
Kang Mu-jin and the president exchanged a peculiar glance between them.
Some unspoken signal passing right before my eyes.
It didn’t sit well with me.
Determined to seize the initiative, I broached the subject directly.
“What exactly is the source of the Red Sea?”
I regarded the president with an impassive expression.
A declaration that I would not be underestimated.
For now, though it lasts only four seconds, I can wield omnipotent power.
Should my young sword continue to grow, I might obtain something that transcends even that omnipotence.
Moreover, the situation favors me considerably.
The Patriot’s absence.
The Red Sea’s overflow.
My emergence.
‘The situation has already spiraled beyond the point of no return.’
Had I not appeared, Seoul would have drowned in blood.
Considering the Achievement, I could afford to press forward with strength.
As expected, the president revealed the truth to me with a frightened expression.
“In truth, the Red Sea is a Gate artificially cultivated by Gye Man-hwi, the leader of the heretical cult Gaecheonji.”
Yet something about this “truth” seemed off.
“Weren’t all the heretics supposed to be dead?”
Gaecheonji, Unification Church, Jesus and the Children.
Beyond those, countless pseudo-religious cults existed throughout South Korea.
Even in high school, Gaecheonji followers were densely packed in front of the Gate, preaching apocalyptic doctrines.
However, their leaders and upper echelon were all executed under the Patriot Special Law.
“Gye Man-hwi, the cult leader of Gaecheonji, survived. He’s currently in Japan.”
The President gestured subtly toward Director Kang Mu-jin once more as he spoke.
Did he truly believe I wouldn’t know this?
‘For now, I’ll observe.’
I listened to the President’s words with measured composure.
The conversation grew so fascinating—indeed, sinister—that I had no opportunity to point out such minor discourtesies.
“Twelve years ago, following the Gate incident, pseudo-religious groups expanded their influence dramatically. Gaecheonji was the massive faction commanding four hundred thousand followers nationwide. And….”
Gaecheonji.
They performed human sacrifice.
Thus, they completed the crimson sea—the Red Sea.
This was a story unknown to the South Korean people.
I was no exception.
“The public believes Gye Man-hwi is dead, don’t they?”
“Gaecheonji’s leadership, including Gye Man-hwi himself, all escaped alive to Japan.”
In the process, they plundered a massive quantity of [Mystery] as well….
“And the Patriot allowed this?”
The Patriot despises two things above all.
Swindlers who prey upon the weak.
And pro-Japanese traitors.
‘Moreover, why did he let that insane cult master—who expanded the Gate through human sacrifice—escape?’
“It was the Patriot’s only failure. At that time, he was focused on punishing drunk drivers rather than eradicating pseudo-religious cults….”
How should I put it?
By mentioning the Patriot’s failure, he was actively cooperating with me.
He even added that he would hand over all information regarding Gye Man-hwi if circumstances demanded it.
‘Surely he’s not asking me to restrain the Patriot?’
The thought suddenly occurred to me.
The President had never, to my knowledge, mentioned the Patriot’s failure even once before.
“―In any case, I will accommodate your requests to the fullest extent, Si-woo.”
With those words, silence settled briefly over the room.
The President and Director Kang Mu-jin locked eyes once more.
I couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Stop sending strange signals through gestures and glances. Say what you want to say plainly.”
As I raised my voice, both men flinched.
This time, it was Kang Seol-ah’s father who spoke.
Clearly, my position made things awkward for him.
Knowing this well, Director Kang Mu-jin delivered a shocking statement in a tone similar to his usual manner.
“That’s right, Shin Si-woo. We’d like you to keep Patriot in check.”
I’d suspected as much.
But it was real.
—Ep. 06 Transcendent
“We’d like to officially appoint you as an SSS-rank Hunter and Transcendent.”
“Patriot will be unable to leave the Gate for at least a week, possibly up to a month. We must complete all preparations before then.”
Director Kang Mu-jin and the President’s request was simple.
For me to become South Korea’s official second Transcendent.
‘It’s called an appointment ceremony, but….’
They wanted me to become an entity standing at the forefront of national defense, possessing wealth, power, and honor alike.
‘The benefits are certainly substantial.’
Tax exemption was merely the baseline, with ‘immunity from prosecution’ granted for all crimes.
Universal among all nations—the basic privilege of a Transcendent.
‘The problem is that I’m still insufficient.’
The manifestation time of the swords was brief, and the growth of the ‘Infant Sword’ might take considerable time.
Confronting Patriot carried significant risk.
Rationally, it made sense to bide my time.
Yet I still hesitated.
‘Honestly, he’s a madman.’
I completely agreed that Patriot needed to be checked.
I admired his achievements, but I could not endorse his ideology.
Until the moment he was hunting down rapists, murderers, and traitors, I too was an ardent fan of Patriot.
He even destroyed Gates—the very source of my parents’ suffering—whenever they appeared. How heroic he must have seemed?
“Just how far has Patriot gone that you’re making this proposal the moment a second Transcendent emerges?”
Patriot appears consistent, but he’s gradually changing.
There’s a desire to control South Korea according to his own will, wouldn’t you say?
“South Korea currently exists merely to cater to Patriot’s whims.”
President Lee Seok-hyun, whose hairline was receding.
I immediately understood the cause of his hair loss.
“I heard your money got tied up in this real estate regulation, Shin Si-woo.”
“Did Seol-ah tell you?”
“Yes. She broke her savings account and threw 4,000 at some stranger, so as a father I had to ask.”
In any case, what the President and Director Kang were trying to say was this.
‘What comes after real estate?’
Stocks? Traffic laws?
A ban on tobacco sales?
If we continue endlessly accommodating Patriot’s absurd demands like this, South Korea will collapse.
“He doesn’t care about economics or anything like that. He’s obsessed with eradicating everything he deems evil. Look at real estate. Will restricting loans actually lower housing prices?”
“They did drop somewhat.”
“Well, that’s true, but….”
It seemed Kang Mu-jin didn’t have much insight into investment, as his words trailed off.
The President then continued speaking.
“Asking us to lower Seoul’s average housing prices below one billion won is simply too unreasonable a demand. Since it’s clearly impossible, the government is currently considering implementing a one-billion-won price ceiling on all residential properties.”
A one-billion-won price ceiling.
It meant making it so no house could be sold for more than one billion won.
This wasn’t some communist thug state, and that was a bit much…
“My house is being redeveloped, and with all the contribution fees and various taxes attached, if a one-billion-won ceiling is imposed, I’d actually take a loss?”
“Exactly. However, these are Patriot’s demands.”
“Ah…”
It was then that I truly grasped the reality of the situation.
“The entire government has been functioning as a restraint on Patriot.”
“That’s precisely it.”
Once again, I learned of Patriot’s failures that our citizens remained unaware of.
“In fact, international relations are at their worst. What good is building a portal with mystery? Tourists aren’t coming. Improving Japan-Korea relations is urgently needed.”
“The bombing of Japan…”
Patriot had attacked Japan for the sake of Dokdo.
As a result, Japan agreed never to use the name “Takeshima” again.
Furthermore, they issued a statement recognizing Dokdo as South Korean territory and officially adopting the designation “East Sea.”
Such a magnificent achievement, yet President Lee Seok-hyun’s face had turned ashen.
“I heard he only targeted uninhabited areas… surely not?”
“Yes, a considerable number of civilians died. It’s been confirmed.”
“Why is Japan just sitting still?”
“An SSS-rank transcendent summoned Yi Sun-sin and is commanding an aircraft carrier. How would they deal with that? Assassination is impossible too. Cheok Jun-kyung, a Sword Master, stands beside Patriot.”
Still, I couldn’t understand it.
“Are Japan’s transcendents just idle?”
Japan had three transcendents.
“What do you think Gye Man-hwi, who went to Japan, is doing? He apparently ruptured a lava Gate at Mount Fuji, creating a hellscape. Japan’s transcendents are dying in shifts trying to contain it.”
Even as the President spoke, I sensed his hair thinning before my very eyes.
“Evidence must be circulating on WorldNet. How could all of it be kept secret…?”
“Both nations’ transcendents agreed, and the government turned a blind eye. Who would ever learn the truth?”
In other words, they had expended vast amounts of [mystery] to erase the countless unidentified videos and posts circulating on WorldNet.
The world seemed far more precarious than I had imagined.
“Transcendent Shin Si-woo, I earnestly beseech you as President. Please, I ask that you restrain Patriot!”
* * *
After Shin Si-woo departed.
The Minister of Defense visited the presidential office.
“Do you think he’ll agree?”
“It’s impossible to say… but at least Shin Si-woo was the person the prophecy foretold.”
The President withdrew a ring.
A ring bearing a [crimson] hue.
[Ring of National Destiny]
If the ring glowed red, it meant the bearer was a calamity-class existence capable of destroying the nation.
“The ring hasn’t changed color from beginning to end.”
“So he truly is a Transcendent.”
There exist those who exercise power from outside only temporarily.
Those who briefly manifest their strength externally.
Even that requires one to be at least an S-rank Hunter.
A true Transcendent is like Shin Si-woo—.
“He could destroy South Korea whenever and wherever he wished, if he so desired.”
“Yet he doesn’t. Just like Patriot….”
In Patriot’s case too, the ring had consistently glowed red.
“Is there no possibility that Shin Si-woo might change like Patriot?”
“I’ve known Kang Mu-jin for quite some time. I think it’ll be fine. Besides, there’s that as well, isn’t there?”
“You mean the Saint’s Prophecy?”
“Yes.”
The South Korean government was secretly protecting a woman without Patriot’s knowledge.
A being who should have been executed long ago.
“The Saint of Destiny, Im Ji-ah. She herself insisted on meeting Shin Si-woo.”
“If she’s willing to see him herself, then he truly is a safe person.”
President Lee Seok-hyun nodded.
“Shin Si-woo is heading to the Underground Bunker now. He’ll meet the Saint of Destiny there and provide his answer regarding the measures against Patriot.”
After that, the President and the Defense Minister spoke not another word.
Yet both of them prayed earnestly.

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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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