The Swords I Raised Are Too Strong - Chapter 53
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————
Chapter 53. Possibility (2)
During the twenty-four hours that Transcendent Shin Si-woo spent inside the Tower, South Korea erupted into a dopamine-fueled celebration.
【Korean Awakener Count Surpasses 500,000!!!】
The nation was seized by intense euphoria.
All 170,000 citizens who had returned alive from the Void in Jeonju had become ‘Awakeners’.
Now the government was preparing to formally classify them.
【Classification of 170,000 Awakeners Now Underway at Gwanghwamun Plaza, Broadcast to the Entire Nation!】
In today’s world, national strength is measured by two criteria.
1. The number and quality of Transcendents.
2. The number of Hunters.
Korea possesses two Transcendents.
Both Transcendents wielded formidable power compared to those of other nations, did they not?
That alone was extraordinary, but now the number of Awakeners had exploded exponentially.
—We’ve also surpassed 500,000 Awakeners!
—If even half of them become Hunters, we’ll have 300,000 Hunters.
—Surely this is all thanks to the grace of Lord Si-woo?
Among Awakeners, those who engage in combat are called ‘Hunters’.
Previously, Korea maintained approximately 200,000 Hunters.
South Korea’s population was 45 million.
Of that, roughly 350,000 were Awakeners.
Of those 350,000, only around 200,000 could actually fight as Hunters.
—Having over 100,000 natural Awakeners is truly extraordinary.
—Haha! Even countries trying to brute-force their way with population numbers can’t compete now lol
Of the 200,000 Hunters, approximately 150,000 were ‘guided Awakeners’ belonging to the military, meaning natural Awakeners alone numbered only 50,000—less than 0.1% of the population.
And now 170,000 natural Awakeners had been added to that figure?
【Mega-scale Cubes have been installed at Gwanghwamun Plaza. Using 1,000 new-model Cubes developed through Korean-Japanese technological cooperation, 170,000 Awakeners will be classified….】
The government swiftly completed preparations to classify and systematize them.
Coinciding with Patriot’s return, a massive national event was being held at Gwanghwamun Plaza.
“Since Lord Si-woo will also return at Gwanghwamun….”
“The public fervor must be extraordinary.”
The President and Kang Mu-jin sat in the government officials’ section at Gwanghwamun Plaza, conversing.
Since the government itself was hosting this event, every detail of the program had been meticulously prepared.
Even accounting for the return of Transcendent Shin Si-woo from the Tower.
1. Classification of 170,000 Awakeners led by Patriot.
2. Welcoming the return of Transcendent Shin Si-woo alongside 2 million citizens.
It was an event that honored both Transcendents while satisfying the people’s desires.
“First, let’s see the Awakening classification results.”
“We might end up with nothing but bizarre abilities.”
Yet the President and Kang Mu-jin could not simply smile.
Half anticipation, half apprehension.
In that situation, Awakeners began entering the Cube.
Awakener Management Agency officials were mobilized en masse, launching a classification process by directing various questions at the Awakeners within the Cube.
Swift administrative processing—the hallmark of South Korea.
【An extraordinarily anomalous phenomenon has emerged. Despite all becoming Awakeners through the same calamity known as ‘The Void’—.】
Preliminary results emerged in an instant.
【—the similarities are remarkably sparse. Highly diverse Awakeners are appearing across each occupational category!】
This was an Awakener classification conducted through one thousand Cubes.
One hundred seventy thousand Awakeners and the masses of citizens who flocked to witness them created a sea of humanity.
Yet the plaza maintained a spacious and stable atmosphere.
“Indeed, when it comes to order, who else but South Korea?”
Gwanghwamun Plaza, once the site of million-strong protests, had undergone countless expansions over the years.
Now it could effortlessly accommodate two million people.
Combined with the unique national character of South Korea, even millions of people created an orderly spectacle.
Yet their voices told a different story.
———WAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!
The roar of the citizens rang out clearly, heard even without WorldNet’s broadcast.
As Korea’s national power rose, so too did the excitement of its people.
【One hundred twenty combat-class mages! Moreover, water-class mages capable of generating water resources are appearing one after another!!!】
The number of Awakeners with the qualities to face Gates surged dramatically, and an enormous number of support Awakeners capable of resolving resource issues emerged alongside them.
Once the classification concluded.
“Theoretically, we’re getting one hundred thousand Hunters?”
President Lee Seok-hyun’s eyes widened at the results.
“That would be the case, assuming all accept combat roles.”
“Good heavens….”
Natural Awakeners.
Moreover, natural Awakeners with intact minds.
From that pool, one hundred thousand individuals were deemed suitable to become Hunters.
And what of the remaining seventy thousand?
“Approximately fifty thousand possess abilities of limited practical use….”
The majority consisted of ability users with modest enhancements—slightly increased strength and the like.
Yet with one hundred seventy thousand Awakeners in total, the number of capable ability users had grown tremendously.
“At last, we can generate water without mystery even outside the Seoul Metropolitan Area.”
Water mages, spirit summoners, those with unique abilities to process mystery, and more.
Filtering only such specialized occupations yielded over ten thousand individuals.
Even the Cheongwadae’s workshop director would likely be able to take on disciples and work more diligently.
—One hundred thousand Hunters, for real?
—Does that mean we can call ourselves a Hunter superpower now?
Now, South Korea was no longer dependent solely on Patriot.
—Shin Si-woo is just a god….
—Our light!!!
—Shin Si-woo! Kim Jun! Shin Si-woo! Kim Jun!
All of this had been accomplished because of Shin Si-woo.
And then—.
“It’s been twenty-four hours.”
In the midst of this frenzy of excitement, Shin Si-woo returned.
The reporters swiveled their WorldNet cameras toward the location where Shin Si-woo had entered the Tower.
【Just now, Shin Si-woo has completed the Tower conquest and returned to Gwanghwamun Plaza!!!】
The afterimage in the empty air wavered….
Whoosh—.
Shin Si-woo appeared, dressed in a resplendent uniform.
* * *
I frowned at the sudden throng of people.
⦗There are over two million provisions, my lord!!!⦘
According to Iris, there were over two million people gathered in Gwanghwamun Plaza alone.
That alone was bewildering enough, but journalists from all directions began clamoring as they stared at me.
Reciting details about my new armor.
【You’ve appeared wearing equipment presumed to be Tower rewards! Similar to Jesus’s crown of thorns….】
【It seems to be something bearing the symbolism of an emperor. Using multiple swords—.】
I let the journalists’ fervent voices wash over me as I fixed my gaze on the man before me.
More than the millions of people, more than the journalists’ heated cries, there was a presence right in front of me that demanded my attention.
“I’d appreciate an answer.”
Patriot.
He asked me.
—What do you intend to do with this nation?
Beginning with liberation from the threat of North Korea, I intend to make South Korea a safe nation.
However, my current attire seemed to suggest I harbored different intentions.
“Imperial vestments. You’re thinking of the Korean Empire…. ”
Patriot murmured.
Then he asked.
“Are you dreaming of becoming emperor of the Korean Empire?”
But why was it?
Patriot’s eyes held not ‘concern’ but rather the ‘worry of one who has experienced it.’
“The Korean Empire is fine. I’ve played emperor a few times myself! But starting with Asian unification, that’s when things really get headache-inducing.”
“That is not my intention….”
I denied it, but Patriot glanced at my attire once more and continued speaking to himself.
“Japan’s easy—you just sink the land and you’re done. But China? No matter how hard you push, people just keep appearing from somewhere.”
This was a story of the trials Patriot had endured.
It was information already shared at the level of the South Korean government, so I was well aware of it.
‘He said he fell into some unnamed dynasty and completed the Korean Empire.’
From the way he spoke, it seemed Patriot had created the Korean Empire in a manner that far exceeded my expectations.
Sinking Japan and turning China into a barren wasteland, and so forth.
In any case, I have no real interest in something like the Korean Empire.
“No, truly. This is merely a reward closely tied to that trial of yours.”
“A reward closely tied to the trial….”
“You can think of it as armor.”
“The best defense is becoming an emperor?”
“I’m not actually thinking about something like a real empire, so don’t worry.”
His eyes flickered with doubt.
But Patriot soon nodded and turned his back to me.
“Go greet the journalists and citizens appropriately, then let’s discuss ‘that’ matter.”
Now I am the protagonist.
That seemed to be what he wanted to say.
‘That’ matter must refer to the subjugation of North Korea.
Patriot vanished before me in an instant, gleaming like a brilliant star.
Only then could I fully gaze upon the millions of citizens gathered in the plaza.
———Waaaaaahhhhh!!!
Despite wearing this uniform that felt somewhat embarrassing.
The citizens cheering equally toward me.
I simply walked forward with composure.
Waving my hand as I went.
Yet countless thoughts swirled within my mind.
‘This world is hard difficulty.’
The situation is far worse than [Swords Cultivation].
If a Hunter falls into corruption?
They simply become a terrorist recklessly wielding awakened abilities in reality.
If a Gate becomes corrupted?
It’s not merely a matter of Gates overflowing—it completely erodes reality and terraforms it.
The Red Sea would have simply become part of the world if I hadn’t been there.
‘….’
This is merely the beginning.
The polluted monsters pouring from North Korea are remnants of ‘Impurity’.
The greater problem is the nation orchestrating all of it—China.
‘Thinking about other countries makes my head throb.’
Didn’t the British Doctor also harbor Impurity?
Britain likely faces similar circumstances, and countries like India hardly warrant mention.
In any case, the world is a topsy-turvy place.
Yet as the hope and future of this nation, and as someone who truly understands it, I smiled naturally as always.
Whoosh!
[Countless observers have witnessed the exploits of ‘Sword Master—Shin Si-woo’.]
[Providing the genesis of a World Quest.]
[Track down clues by finding fragments of Impurity!]
The world.
The mysterious system called “Awakening” that protects humanity tends to lend its aid precisely in moments like these.
‘The possibility is certainly there.’
Fragments of Impurity.
Even I don’t know what it truly is.
But the name alone sounds so ominous and sinister that I can tell it’s something deeply troubling.
And I can already guess where to find it.
‘North Korea.’
Where the Evil God Necribas dwells in his vessel.
If I go there, I’ll find all the answers I seek.
* * *
“War preparations are complete.”
The formal ceremony had concluded.
I gathered with government officials at the table.
“Japan has decided to dispatch Yaksha and Yuki.”
“We haven’t heard from Jesus, but we received word that the American President is preparing long-range support.”
President Lee Seok-hyun and Director Kang Mu-jin.
And several unfamiliar faces were present as well.
“At your service! I am Kim Hyun-soo, commander of the Patriot Guardian Division.”
The commander of the Patriot Guardian Division regarded me with a rigid posture.
In truth, the Patriot Guardian Division is the only military unit that conducts combat operations close to actual warfare.
Its commander had personally stepped forward for this occasion.
“The military’s role is not infiltration northward. We will focus on disposing of the contaminated beast corpses swept down by the aftermath of your transcendent battles.”
It was an obvious statement, but I had no intention of deploying our citizens in this war.
Even military units composed of Guided Awakeners would be nothing but “sacrificial offerings 1” before the Evil God’s power.
And hadn’t I yet to fully understand the true state of the Front Lines military units?
“Contaminated beasts. Could you explain exactly what those are?”
I had been a transcendent for less than a year, so I lacked such detailed information.
I only knew that grotesque, blackened humanoid monsters continuously descended from North Korea.
I had no proper intelligence on them.
“I’ll distribute materials on contaminated beasts.”
Commander Kim Hyun-soo circulated document folders to everyone present.
The President and Director Kang Mu-jin reviewed the documents calmly, as if they already knew the facts.
The other officials did the same.
But then…
“Is this… real?”
Only I gasped in shock.
South Korea’s Front Lines far exceeded what I had anticipated.
[Contaminated Beast]
: A monster born from awakening experiments.
Characteristic 1. Individual abilities vary depending on the ‘awakening experiment’ conducted.
Characteristic 2. While all specimens lack intelligence, their will to survive remains extraordinarily strong. As a result, it’s estimated that even after death, their corpses do not disappear.
Characteristic 3. They possess considerable resistance to modern firearms, and over time, they’ve shown immune responses even to firepower infused with ‘mystery’.
Due to these characteristics, military units composed of ‘induced awakeners’ reportedly handle nearby contaminated beasts through close combat.
“It’s true that contamination can be transmitted.”
The contamination of ‘contaminated beasts’ is contagious.
A soldier who is 100% contaminated transforms into a ‘contaminated beast’.
“Then this page here is….”
[Euthanasia Protocol]
1. Monsterification progression rate of 80% or higher.
2. Pain index of 1000% or higher.
Proceed only after consultation for the above subjects.
The final end for soldiers afflicted by contaminated beasts was to seek death by their own hand while still human.
My head was ringing.
In the midst of this, the division commander spoke.
“Until now, we could only handle it that way, but from now on, a different method will be implemented. All of this is thanks to Shin Si-woo!”
Going forward, soldiers with severe contamination would be stored in Kim Jun’s awakening ability—[Repository].
“According to government research, if [Repository] is supplied with only the energy needed to sustain life, it can preserve their condition.”
And after they endure like that?
“Patriot is planning to reinforce Yulgok Yi I’s hundred thousand strong army. At that time, heavily contaminated soldiers will be incorporated….”
Listening to this, I felt an indescribable despair.
‘So ‘contaminated beast’ got its name because of its contagious nature?’
I was still living with the perspective of an ordinary person.
I felt bitterness.
Yet, I held the possibility that I could propose a brighter future.
With conflicted emotions, I spoke.
“Let’s head to the Front Lines immediately.”
I possess the power.
The power to heal all the byproducts of demons and the terrible curses that stem from them.
“I will heal them all before it comes to that.”
—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————