The Swords I Raised Are Too Strong - Chapter 23

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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 23. Anomaly (3)
Demon Worshippers.
Creatures impossibly difficult to pin down.
‘Their nature remains unknown.’
Demon Worshippers are beings that corrupt everything in this world and surrender themselves to darkness, accelerating the world’s destruction.
Even within [Sword Cultivation], detecting and preventing them beforehand was nearly impossible.
For one thing, I couldn’t sense their presence unless they were within close range.
And yet….
‘The Republic of Korea Government accomplished what even my swords couldn’t?’
I had wondered if Earth’s [Mystery] might reveal something about them, but apparently not.
The reality far exceeded my expectations.
“Sister, how on earth did you find them?”
Sister led me to the location where she had captured the Demon Worshipper.
She tilted her head slightly and spoke to me.
“You said it takes killing at least 100 people to become a Demon Worshipper, right?”
“That’s correct.”
“The government combed through all the hunters’ records and filtered out only those who had deaths among their party members in the same Gate clearance.”
“Ah….”
Only the Republic of Korea Government could employ such a method.
It was possible because the strongest transcendent in Korea—the Patriot—enforced strict discipline on all hunters.
Thus, all Gate clearance records and Tower information were stored in WorldNet.
“There were people who had unusually high death rates among their companions in Gates.”
“So you interrogated those people?”
“SS-rank hunter Im Chang-sik said he would interrogate them directly and tried to throw those people into a public Gate―.”
That’s when I heard something shocking.
“Suddenly, several of them fell into corruption and attacked Im Chang-sik.”
SS-rank hunter Im Chang-sik.
He had undergone trials to become the disciple of an eccentric mage and an eccentric swordmaster, awakening as a [Spellblade].
While not exceptional enough to reach SSS-rank, he surpassed most S-rank hunters, placing him at SS-rank.
To the people, he was a reassuring, dependable presence.
“So what happened?”
S-rank and above can achieve temporary transcendence.
Even so, I wondered if it would be difficult if multiple fallen Demon Worshippers rushed him….
“Just in case, he proceeded while wearing the [Pseudo-Gate Suit] that the Patriot had prepared.”
[Pseudo-Gate] is what allows an awakened one’s power to be maintained constantly, as if transcendent.
Creating it as clothing meant amplifying that effect through multiple refinements, similar to the bracelet I wore.
Of course, if an SS-rank transcends, the [Mystery] consumption would be tremendous….
‘But the Patriot’s “just in case” operates on a different level.’
In any case, the point is this.
‘Four or five C-rank and B-rank hunters fell into corruption, and the SS-rank cleaned them all up.’
A Hunter’s rank is absolute.
The reason no one suggests I be promoted to EX despite displaying this level of potential is rooted in that very principle.
You only earn the title of EX by vanquishing multiple world-class calamities like Jesus.
As I nodded in understanding—
“At times like this, I do think the Patriot accomplished something worthwhile….”
My sister suddenly praised the Patriot.
I asked with a mischievous smile.
“If you think so highly of him, why not stop monitoring him?”
My sister’s eyes widened as she looked at me.
Then she dropped something shocking.
“Si-woo, you’re absolutely going to end up monitoring—no, opposing the Patriot, aren’t you?”
“I haven’t considered outright opposition….”
“No, because you normalized Gwacheon, real estate prices in Seocho District are skyrocketing.”
Seoul property values have suddenly begun surging.
It’s something I never anticipated.
“The Patriot wanted to bring Seoul real estate prices down to an average below one billion won, but now they’re rising instead? The average has jumped by hundreds of millions.”
In Gangnam, Seocho District is counted among the most expensive neighborhoods with the highest land values.
Even with that bizarre creature Guigok cursing the area directly below in Gwacheon, it maintained prices in the hundreds of millions.
“Apartment prices are jumping by hundreds of millions of won.”
They’re returning to pre-Gate Crisis levels.
“Father and the President both thought you were preparing to seriously monitor the Patriot?”
Moreover, the government believes I was trying to undermine the Patriot.
Naturally, that was never my intention.
I simply headed to Guigok because Iris had access to highly nutritious resources there.
However, given how much I’ve already set in motion, explaining myself would be difficult—
“Shall we meet with the Demon Worshipper first?”
I gestured awkwardly ahead with a wry smile.
[Special Criminal Detention Facility]
We had arrived at our destination.
A prison constructed entirely from mystery to contain powerful transcendents.
The Demon Worshipper was held within.
Now I would learn how the Demon Worshippers of the Sword Cultivation world differed from those on Earth.
* * *
“C-Rank Hunter Yu Sang-jun. He’s an awakened individual of the [Mage] classification.”
My sister pointed to the man restrained inside the prison cell.
She handed me a document containing information about [Yu Sang-jun — C-Rank Hunter].
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Personality: Exploited for ten years as a novice mage at the bottom of the Magic Tower during his ordeal, he has become withdrawn and developed selective mutism.
Sociability: F
Communication Ability: F
Violence Rating: F
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Utterly ordinary.
“A record like this means nothing.”
I gazed at him with weary eyes.
“By the grace of the Evil God, we are eternal and immortal—.”
Yu Sang-jun, a Demon Worshipper who had fallen into corruption, was chanting in an eerie incantation.
With his fall, the whites and pupils of his eyes had inverted, and a faint magical aura poured from his entire body.
“Evil God—. Open the Gates and liberate the oppressed Awakened Ones.”
With parched lips, he ranted like a madman, praising the Evil God—.
‘It’s just like Sword Cultivation.’
The highest-level prohibition inscribed upon all Demon Worshippers.
In this state, no interrogation would work.
Even torture would only yield screams, no useful information.
“Can we interrogate him?”
“Of course not! That’s why I called you.”
My sister possessed remarkable courage.
She spoke to me casually, unbothered by the Demon Worshipper before us.
She seemed to overflow with energy.
“Si-woo, you can do this, can’t you?”
After twelve years of Sword Cultivation, vast stretches of time had passed within the game.
The first true adversaries I encountered were the Demon Worshippers.
I had attempted countless methods to eliminate them, yet learned precious little.
Rather than seeking their origins, it proved easier to prepare countermeasures.
‘Simply eliminating the most fatal problems before they fell.’
Destroying the World Tree before its corruption, or assassinating a certain king before he became a Demon Worshipper.
However, as I approached the ending of [Second Sword, Yulia Lanestia], I finally gained the ability to interrogate Demon Worshippers.
[Through the Vow of Chastity, ‘Yulia Lanestia’s’ sanctity has transcended its limits and reached the Extreme.]
Yulia, trapped in a temporal chamber created by an external god and fighting alone through endless ages, had attained enlightenment of her own accord.
Thus—.
[The Sword responds to its user, transcending the spiritual realm.]
[You can influence the spiritual world, crossing the barrier between the Evil God and external gods.]
The prohibition inscribed upon Demon Worshippers.
The Sword’s spiritual power—its sanctity—had grown strong enough to pierce through it.
At that time, I was already near the ending and couldn’t fully utilize it, but now is different.
‘The problem is….’
“Sister, you may witness something rather unsettling. Are you certain you’re prepared?”
Yulia Lanestia’s [Interrogation] is terrifying.
Not the interrogation process itself, but what comes after is truly horrifying.
I’m not entirely sure what he experiences.
The person who suffered begged to be killed and confessed everything.
“Me? Come on, don’t be ridiculous!”
My sister approached and shouted.
She seemed to be expecting something.
“Then what….”
Sister Seol-ah was someone I could trust.
Unlike Iris Ruzbella, Yulia Lanestia was a holy sword, so there was no hesitation in drawing her before others.
Thus, I approached the bound Demon Worshipper.
“―The evil god and foreign god are taking us….”
Muttering incoherently.
If time passed like this, he would die as his soul was stolen by the evil god.
Before that happened, I would break through the [Seal] and hear the truth from that C-rank Hunter Yu Sang-jun.
I drew the Aga Sword.
And I called Yulia Lanestia in my heart.
Whoosh!
[You have drawn the Holy Emperor of the World’s End, Yulia Lanestia.]
[The Vow of Chastity overlaps.]
[Holiness increases further.]
Shhhhhhhhh———.
A resplendent holy golden greatsword appeared, wreathed in brilliant wings.
And Yulia Lanestia greeted me.
【Ah… My lord, who always leads by example. Now I finally understand your noble intentions!!!】
Unexpected praise.
Then she asked.
【Shall I purify that abominable creature?】
A golden light infused with madness flowed from the blade’s tip.
But….
“The direction is off.”
Somehow, the golden light was flowing toward Sister Seol-ah.
【I sense a strange power, indeed.】
Sister Seol-ah had a strange power?
‘Perhaps….’
I was forming a hypothesis.
Just as I had, Sister Seol-ah might also be undergoing some kind of ‘trial’.
Probably, that was indeed the case.
‘If my sister awakens, something incredible is going to happen.’
Judging by Yulia Lanestia’s reaction, there was definitely something about my sister.
In any case, I told Yulia Lanestia to redirect the blade toward the Demon Worshipper rather than Sister Seol-ah, as I needed to interrogate him.
The struggling intruder thrashed his body.
The one I needed to interrogate.
“Ughhhhhh!!!!”
Divine power transcending the [Spiritual Realm].
Naturally, having attained all enlightenment, I could wield this power without hesitation.
Whoosh!
[Heretic Inquisition activated.]
Though strictly speaking, it was Yulia Lanestia who would interrogate this Demon Worshipper.
【This fallen Demon Worshipper… I shall discern the truth according to your will, Sword Lord!】
Hummmmm―.
I laid the blade across the Demon Worshipper’s form.
Brilliant golden light flooded the prison, and a colossal pillar materialized.
[Chamber of Truth]
Yulia Lanestia’s spiritual interrogation chamber.
I’d heard it was a method that subjected one to the realm of desirelessness across eons of time―.
Apart from such ominous capabilities, the effect itself was utterly sacred.
“Wow….”
Seol-ah looked at me with an expression of awe.
Yulia Lanestia’s sustenance time was now ten seconds.
With transcendent perception, I fractured time itself, observing every moment of the Demon Worshipper’s interrogation.
I could feel his inner self wavering.
Even I, transcendent and omnipotent, could not breach the spiritual realm—I could only sense what transpired―.
【My, my! This vile creature had encountered three women! Sword Lord! I have purified his very soul!!!】
Witnessing the Demon Worshipper regain consciousness, I could only praise such power.
“P-please, kill me. I’ll tell you absolutely everything!!!”
His inverted pupils remained unchanged.
His haggard appearance persisted.
Yet his mind had returned.
I posed to the Demon Worshipper the question that had consumed me most.
“Gye Man-hwi, the Gaecheon Faith leader who split the Red Sea. He’s a Demon Worshipper too, isn’t he?”
Perhaps the Demon Worshippers had already formed a colossal faction.
* * *
‘Eliminated Gate-less erosion?’
The Prime Minister of the great Great Britain Empire.
Howard gazed upon the footage of Shin Si-woo.
His eyes gleamed with avarice.
‘Could the sea lanes open for the Invincible Armada to traverse?’
The resurrection of the Great Britain Empire.
Britain now dreamed of such glory.
And it possessed the strength to make it reality.
Britain’s SSS-rank Hunters and Transcendents all possessed abilities specialized in imperial conquest.
Invasive Admiral, Jack Wilson.
Illusory Pharmacist, Janet Smith.
Plundering Pioneer, Columbus.
And there were countless others besides.
“Listen, Doctor. Are you certain we’ve truly ended the gateless incursion?”
Howard, Prime Minister of Great Britain, posed the question to the man seated across from him.
Britain’s asymmetrical strategic asset—an unofficial EX-rank Hunter who concealed his true capabilities with meticulous care: the Doctor.
Colloquially known as the British Physician.
“Hmm, the fact that Jesus spared those crimson demons despite witnessing them suggests he possesses considerable power.”
The Doctor spoke in an exceedingly genteel tone, his pronunciation bearing the refined accent of British nobility.
The man in the pristine white physician’s coat possessed an exceptionally intellectual appearance, and his round spectacles only magnified that allure.
He scrutinized the footage of Shin Si-woo with the precision of one analyzing a patient.
“He resembles a swordsman, yet carries the essence of a mage. A peculiar ability indeed.”
“Could you stand against him?”
The British Physician was an entity incapable of defeat in direct combat, regardless of Gate conquest.
“―Naturally, it would be possible. After all, it was I who cast Korea’s SS-rank Sword Master into the abyss….”
The British Physician smiled with a cruel edge.
In his mind’s eye, he recalled the surgical duel with Korea’s SS-rank Sword Master.
The memory of brutally shattering a swordsman with a surgical scalpel brought an involuntary smile to his lips.
From the humiliation of that encounter, the Sword Master had obsessed over training until he vanished within the Tower.
“I would relish the opportunity to engage in surgical combat with this Shin Si-woo fellow.”
“If you were to face him, what are your chances of victory?”
“Should my opponent be human, I shall never know defeat.”
“Then… could you travel to Korea as Britain’s representative and discover the secret method behind this gateless incursion?”
“Oho―. Am I permitted to depart from Britain?”
“Her Majesty desires it.”
“Oh, my Queen!!!”
The British Physician abandoned all decorum and sprang from his seat.
Then he hoisted something of immense proportions.
Kuguguguong——!!!
It was a blade.
A colossal greatsword, brutishly massive and impossibly heavy in appearance.
Despite its crude dimensions, the edge gleamed with such ferocity that it seemed capable of cleaving all existence asunder.
Indeed, the British Physician could sever anything.
“With this scalpel at my side, defeat is impossible for me.”
The Doctor gazed out from the Prime Minister’s residence window.
A resplendent palace constructed of [Mystery] shimmered into view.
Whoosh!
Buckingham Palace.
A structure bearing a name recognized throughout the world.
The very justification of the Great Britain Empire, and the powerful heart of Britain itself.
The most exalted place where our great Queen resides.
The British Doctor bowed respectfully toward that sacred destination.
“Your Majesty.”

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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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