The Swords I Raised Are Too Strong - Chapter 49

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

Chapter 49. Blessing (1)
“So you’re telling me that 170,000 people caught in an immeasurable and unranked Void originating from a Gate survived for 1,135 days?”
Japanese Prime Minister’s Official Residence.
The Prime Minister listening to the Korean diplomatic envoy’s report was furious.
Here was intelligence from an allied nation sharing the same destiny, yet the man was spouting absolute nonsense like some fake news conspiracy theorist.
“Sir, Korea has no fake news. There’s something called the Patriot Media Regulation Act, so everyone only reports facts….”
The Japanese Prime Minister knew this well.
It was simply too absurd to believe.
“Let’s assume, for argument’s sake, that 170,000 people truly survived 1,135 days inside a Gate.”
Since it came from Korean media, it shouldn’t be false….
Yet it remained unbelievable.
“And what happened to these survivors, you said?”
“They all escaped safely.”
Yes, this was where it got strange.
No, the next part was strange too.
None of it made sense.
“Under the guidance of Transcendent Shin Si-woo, all 170,000 returned safely….”
“If it’s him, then it would be possible. He’s the one who even destroyed the Mount Fuji Lava Gate.”
With Shin Si-woo’s power, this much would indeed be possible.
In fact, the Prime Minister had believed up to this point.
But the reason Korean news seemed like fake news and felt unbelievable lay elsewhere.
“So what became of these 170,000 people?”
“Th-they all awakened….”
Even as the reporting official spoke, he seemed to realize his own words made no sense, trailing off mid-sentence.
Yes, this truly made no sense.
“Sigh―.”
The Japanese Prime Minister exhaled deeply.
Then he organized his thoughts.
Or rather, he simply repeated the initial report as he had heard it.
“So you’re saying that 170,000 ordinary civilians dragged into a Black Gate survived for 1,135 days, escaped, and all became Awakened?”
It was preposterous.
Awakening wasn’t something that happened to just anyone.
Even if natural Awakeners went mad, wasn’t that something requiring heavenly fortune to achieve?
Wasn’t that precisely why everyone clung to the government, hoping for guided Awakening?
And yet….
“No mass Awakening event of this scale has ever been recorded anywhere in the world.”
What could the condition be?
Perhaps….
“If tens of thousands of people are dragged into a Black Gate, endure 1,135 days, and then receive salvation from Transcendent Shin Si-woo, they awaken?”
If this were truly the condition for Awakening, wouldn’t it be utterly absurd?
It was already an absurdity of catastrophic proportions that so many had survived when even a single survivor shouldn’t have been possible, yet the difficulty rating seemed even more extreme.
“I, I don’t think that’s actually the condition.”
“Then what is it?”
“We, we’re not entirely sure either.”
No one knew anything.
Rather, it was impossible to know.
Shin Si-woo wasn’t answering, and neither was the Republic of Korea Government.
The Japanese Prime Minister was on the verge of losing his mind from the stress.
Wasn’t the world’s greatest problem the shortage of Awakened individuals?
Surely he wasn’t trying to back out of the alliance now.
‘Does America know something?’
The Japanese Prime Minister, unable to contain himself any longer, contacted America, but received no answers from them either.
︙
“Jesus Christ!!!”
Chaos erupted across America.
Shortly after Jesus projected new divine authority across the entire United States, far more Demon Worshippers than expected were discovered.
A massive stigma was branded upon the foreheads of every Demon Worshipper within American territory.
The moment the stigma manifested, the US Department of Defense dispatched Hunter units.
As a result, every Demon Worshipper in America was either killed or captured.
“Jesus, we are eternally grateful for God’s protection.”
American President Bill Johnson bowed his head before Jesus.
‘There are no limits to God’s power.’
This incident deepened the American president’s faith even further.
Among the Demon Worshippers in America, some underwent [Corruption], but the moment they did, their power vanished and they were dragged into Hell.
How could one not praise Jesus after witnessing that?
Truly, EX-rank.
The power of the world’s sole deity.
Because Jesus was such a being, Bill Johnson asked without hesitation.
“Jesus, how exactly would 170,000 people awaken all at once?”
“Oh, Bill. There must certainly be very stringent conditions involved.”
The president’s question was essentially asking how it could be done.
However, since even Jesus didn’t know the answer, he could only respond in such vague terms.
Even Jesus could not forcibly awaken others.
‘You’re probably the same way.’
From Jesus’s perspective, Shin Si-woo also could not forcibly awaken others.
Which meant that the secret of [Awakening] was hidden within the Black Gate that Shin Si-woo had conquered.
And the reason he wasn’t revealing it was probably…
‘He’s still investigating. My brother.’
The living brother of Jesus.
Between fellow transcendents who had confirmed each other’s divine power.
Jesus regarded Shin Si-woo as a fellow who had experienced the same loss, and naturally believed he would share information.
He murmured toward his brother.
“Shin Si-woo, may your discovery bring blessings upon the world.”
—Ep. 17 Blessing.
We sought to establish a single hypothesis.
For that purpose, those responsible for this nation’s fate gathered in one place.
Our objective was singular.
To clarify the cause behind the simultaneous awakening of 170,000 people.
It was an anomaly that had never occurred in the United States or any other nation.
Yet in the current world, it was akin to an enormous blessing.
That is why we endeavored to uncover its cause.
“Shin Si-woo. I suspect the condition might be that they must be saved by you to awaken.”
Director Kang Mu-jin tilted his head as he posed the question.
I thought this was absolutely not the case.
“Then wouldn’t all Seoul citizens have awakened?”
I had saved Seoul from the threat of the Red Sea.
That too was undeniably a Gate’s overflow and erosion, so the conditions could be considered similar.
“Perhaps it is the effect of the ability of Kim Jun, the Last Bastion.”
The President also seemed to have an opinion, stroking his chin as he murmured.
The deliberate attachment of a title like “Last Bastion” was done out of concern for public opinion.
‘Kim Jun’s title might be decided before mine.’
He had been more famous as Jeolla Man, a 3-million-subscriber WorldNet content creator, but now all manner of epithets were being attached to him.
When he worked as a government public relations officer, he had received favorable reviews.
But now Kim Jun was the savior of 170,000 noble souls.
Public opinion was tremendous, and the government actively promoted his epithets.
Grand titles like “Hope of the People” and “Living Noah’s Ark” were being attached in succession.
“Mr. President, are you promoting the Last Bastion?”
“Patriot, I hope that the person who has done so much for this nation’s people receives the most magnificent epithet possible. I haven’t specifically decided on anything. Hehe—.”
He laughed as if unassuming, but it was clear he hoped Kim Jun would be called the “Last Bastion.”
Since it didn’t seem bad, I nodded, and this time Director Kang Mu-jin asked me.
“Shin Si-woo, could it be that the ability of the Living Noah’s Ark induced the awakening?”
He seemed to want to push that epithet as well.
Was he choosing an epithet connected to Jesus, hoping for some miracle?
‘If he’s just called Jeolla Man, that’s a problem in itself.’
The one who saved 170,000 people shouldn’t be known by an entertainment-like name.
Personally, I thought “Sword of Protection, Kim Jun” suited him best.
To answer Director Kang’s question, the cause of 170,000 awakened individuals being born was not the ability of “Kim Jun.”
“Sword of Protection, Kim Jun. The awakened did not arise from his ability.”
I could say this with certainty.
“Sword of Protection, Kim Jun, huh….”
Kang Mu-jin glanced subtly at my sword sheath, then shook his head slowly.
He seemed to have much on his mind.
In any case.
“It’s true that the awakening was made possible because Kim Jun protected these people, but the awakening itself wasn’t achieved through his ability.”
If I were to speculate on the direct cause behind the birth of 170,000 awakened individuals….
“If a civilian endures within a Black Gate for a certain duration or longer, they awaken. This is likely the condition.”
Since this was something I’d discussed with the Swords, it shouldn’t be wrong.
The only issue is that I don’t know the specific timeframe.
“Approximately how long?”
The Jeonju Void was a gate-less erosion phenomenon that persisted for 1,135 days.
“At minimum, it could be as short as a single day, and at maximum, it wouldn’t exceed 1,135 days, would it?”
“So there’s individual variation, then.”
All 170,000 survivors awakened.
The only difference was that their individual ability levels varied drastically.
Moreover, unlike me or the Patriot, they never experienced a [Trial].
“What’s certain is that a civilian simply remaining within a Gate itself is treated as a [Trial].”
A bizarre and uncanny experience.
Overcoming it.
This is the condition for awakening.
‘Perhaps….’
After consulting with the Swords, I formulated one compelling hypothesis.
“Considering they were already in an awakened state before escaping, it’s highly likely that simply surviving for a certain period is the condition.”
Even if I conquered the Gate, the 170,000 individuals hadn’t escaped from it yet.
Of course, the evidence is still thin.
But this possibility seemed the most plausible.
“That makes sense.”
“Who would have thought 170,000 awakened individuals would suddenly appear.”
In any case, could there be better news for the nation than this?
“All health conditions are favorable, and once their dazed mental states improve, we’ll proceed immediately with classification.”
The President also seemed intent on significantly expanding the awakened forces through this opportunity.
“It’s truly encouraging.”
According to the government’s investigation last night.
Remarkably, all 170,000 awakened individuals possessed ‘intact’ mental states.
It felt comparable to naturally awakened individuals, yet they remained sound like those who were artificially awakened—this was truly extraordinary.
“Isn’t this all thanks to the Guardian Sword, Kim Jun?”
I genuinely believe this.
Kim Jun’s unique ability, [Gravedigger], will shine even brighter in the world to come.
I emphasized the importance of Kim Jun multiple times more, cautioning both the President and Kang Mu-jin.
“If necessary, he should be treated with the consideration befitting a Transcendent.”
I am certain of this.
“With merely the ability to defer death, he possesses value comparable to a Transcendent.”
The world ahead would become increasingly difficult for the unawakened to survive.
As that time drew closer, Kim Jun’s ability would become ever more indispensable.
The precise moment when that would occur…
‘I’ll understand once I reach North Korea.’
* * *
Twenty-four hours had passed since Patriot entered the Tower.
Having declared his intention to strengthen his forces before the coming war, I too planned to enter the Tower next.
Thus I stood in Gwanghwamun Plaza like someone waiting for their shift to begin.
Ziiiiik———.
The sky tears open.
An artificial phenomenon, yet one devoid of ominous foreboding.
From the fractured heavens, the massive silhouette of an aircraft carrier began to materialize, and as Patriot returned, countless voices erupted in jubilation.
I too, as someone who had once been a fan of Patriot, trembled with exhilaration.
Ziiing—. Ziiing—.
Several long ‘L’ shaped batteries were built on the Patriot’s aircraft carrier, and their size was several times larger than the existing one.
One could reasonably mistake it for an alien spacecraft.
And…
Drrrk—.
Suspended from the carrier’s underside hung countless objects.
They resembled nuclear warheads at first glance.
Yet they contained power incomparable to any conventional nuclear arsenal.
“Damn, the trials were brutally intense.”
After parading through Gwanghwamun airspace for some time, Patriot finally located me.
Had he not yet checked WorldNet?
He asked nothing about the 170,000 newly awakened.
If anything, I was relieved.
‘My jaw was getting sore from talking about it anyway.’
Having spent the entire day discussing this, Patriot’s account of his Tower conquest felt refreshingly welcome.
“How far does that carrier continue to evolve?”
“This? Who knows. The only additions this time were railguns and nuclear warheads. Not much changed, really.”
Patriot’s lips curled upward as he spoke playfully.
Anyone could see how delighted he was…
Yet he made no effort to conceal it.
“Are the railguns and nukes similar to what Earth originally used?”
On the eve of war, I assessed Patriot’s abilities—our greatest military asset.
“The railguns fire laser beams, and the warheads that fall are special nuclear ordinance designed to obliterate Gates.”
Patriot kindly explained his abilities in meticulous detail.
I nodded thoughtfully as I considered the implications.
‘If necessary, we can hold out until Jesus or Japan arrives.’
The reason I inquired about Patriot’s abilities.
It was to gauge whether he could respond to emergency situations that might arise while I was inside the Tower.
I’m not entirely sure about rail guns that fire laser beams or nuclear warheads for Gates.
Others would probably react with confusion if I explained my sword’s abilities to them.
Still, there was one thing I could ascertain—
‘At minimum, he possesses the capability to hold out until allied support arrives.’
Even if, by some chance, the Chinese military were to push through from North Korea.
With Patriot’s abilities, I was confident he could buy us time until support from the United States and Japan arrived.
I nodded to him and spoke.
“I’m counting on you while I’m away.”
I deliberately refrained from specifying what exactly I was counting on him for.
For Patriot, it was as natural as breathing.
As expected.
“Junior, I’ve always been doing well even when you’re not around.”
Patriot flashed a grin.
Indeed, when he smiled, he looked like a pleasant middle-aged man.
I was about to enter the Tower and pulled out an Entry Ticket when Patriot urgently called out to me.
“Oh! Junior, did you handle the internal security well?”
He remembered my mention of handling internal security.
I smiled just as Patriot had and replied.
“Don’t be too shocked.”
Then I immediately tore the Tower Entry Ticket.
170,000 newly awakened individuals.
The annihilation of the Void.
And so on.
It was far too long and tedious a story for me to recount.
There were plenty of others who could explain it.
So.
Whoosh!
[Enter the Tower and overcome the trial.]
[Reward: 1 Sword, Reinhardt Euclid’s Formula]
Reinhardt Euclid.
He harbored an ancient, profound grudge against the evil god slumbering in North Korea—Necribas.
Beginning as a family vendetta, culminating in vengeance, and ultimately becoming my first sword’s mortal enemy.
The Formula I would obtain this time was one he had created after 33 years of cultivation.

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