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“So you want to die that badly?!”

With a furious expression, Hwan Ji-gwang pulled up his internal power, and his sword mastery ignited even more fiercely.

“Okay then! If you want to die so badly!!”

As Hwan Ji-gwang took a big step forward, the other law enforcement officers nearby gasped and tried to stop him.

“S-so, Chief! Please stop.”

“He looks weak as hell; killing him like this goes against the principles of the righteous sect.”

“The lord doesn’t have a good view of our security team already…”

“Damn it, get out of my way!! How can a martial artist let such provocation slide?!!”

With a lion’s roar, Hwan Ji-gwang stepped up to me, settling into a fighting stance. He glared at me with killing intent in his eyes and said,

“Qinglong Martial Arts? Don’t make me laugh. You’re going to be shredded to bits!”

[Shut up and hurry up and come in.]

“Okay. Die!”

Swiftly, the fastest move in the Huashan Sect’s Plum Blossom Sword Technique, the “Flash of One Plum,” unleashed its sheer force.

‘I knew he would use that.’

I recognized that attack as the Flash of One Plum because I had learned enough about the Huashan Sect’s martial arts during my previous lives. Huashan swordsmen tend to use this technique to overwhelm their opponents with a straightforward, direct strike instead of the deceptive movements employed by other Huashan techniques.

It was indeed fast. Compared to detecting attacks at transcendent speeds using Intent Heavenly Pillar, facing pure speed felt like a daunting challenge. It really dawned on me how inconvenient it was to be unable to use martial arts.

But I already had a grasp of what this “force” felt like. If I could just draw out my fundamental strength, I wouldn’t even need to rely on the Intent Heavenly Pillar; knowing the fundamental principles of martial arts would more than suffice to respond to his attack.

‘Originally, I would have dealt with this using my realm, but for now, let’s just rely on raw power.’

I could feel it. The force I had gathered in my hand was, quite literally, a ball of primal strength!

Normally, I would have refined this strength into a powerful spell, but I wouldn’t need to because simply condensing the raw power itself would be enough.

Swoosh

As the tremendous power of Sephiroth condensed in my hand, it naturally took on the shape of a blade (shuto). I realized I could thrust this blade into Hwan Ji-gwang’s solar plexus, but then I reminded myself I was not here to win a fight; I was here to deliver the Intent Heavenly Pillar. So, I relaxed the blade and calmly placed my hand in the trajectory of his sword.

Swoosh!

“…?!”

As I skillfully used the Blade-less Technique to redirect Hwan Ji-gwang’s sword with the Intent Heavenly Pillar, he wore an expression of shock and disbelief. He panicked and twisted his blade to escape my grip, but I read his movements like lines and prevented the blade from slipping away.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

“Ugh…”

[No way.]

Hwan Ji-gwang trembled all over, as if the sword was glued to my hand and couldn’t move an inch.

“U-uhhhh…”

You could tell. His face screamed cold sweat.

He clearly realized just how severe the gap in our levels was.

‘This is way too easy. He’s just a rookie who’s just started learning sword mastery…’

No matter how fast the perceived reaction speed might be, I could still guess when and how his attack would come from just the initial movements. Just like dodging a bullet by predicting its trajectory, the same principle applied to sword mastery too. Attacks controlled with loaded intent might be tricky, but with Hwan Ji-gwang’s martial ability on display, reading the trajectory was like eating cake.

I grinned like a machine and said,

[Even if the sword is filled with Qi, without heart and intent, it is easy to block without using intent itself. Have you never met a real expert before?]

“……”

[Shall I accept the rudeness of your arm being cut off with this sword then?]

Chop!

Moments later, Hwan Ji-gwang’s sword shattered in half. I had merely pulled the blade aside lightly, and yet all of his internal power couldn’t withstand it. It appeared to be a rather respectable sword, and as it broke, the shock to Hwan Ji-gwang’s psyche was immense.

Shivering in panic, he finally slumped down and said,

“I…I meet the Ancient One. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“Ch-Chief!!”

“What the…?”

The law enforcement officers were bewildered. They likely never imagined Hwan Ji-gwang would lose to an ordinary iron man. I mimicked the motion of putting the severed arm back on myself and said,

[I could forgive you, if you reattach my arm and allow me to enter that castle up there.]

“……”

Hwan Ji-gwang hesitated for a moment before answering,

“Understood. We need to go to the Inner City to reattach that arm anyway, so I’ll guide you.”

Thud thud

As we walked along the main road, Hwan Ji-gwang cautiously spoke up.

“I’m sorry for offending the Ancient One, but… could you please share your name and title?”

[How rude. I’m showing remarkable patience by quietly following you.]

“Ugh. Still…”

Hmm… should I tell him since he seems to be cautious of the other officers?

[My name is Baek Woong.]

There was a buzz…!!

The reactions of those who heard my name were starkly different. Most were of shock or disbelief, and no one seemed convinced. Just as I expected, Hwan Ji-gwang’s face contorted slightly as he replied,

“If you don’t want to tell me, then please stop joking.”

[Why do you think I’m joking?]

“The legendary hero, Lord of Soeul Castle, is said to be at the Heavenly Spirit level, striving to save this world together with the deities of the Celestial Realm. No one in this Luoyang Castle thinks of this iron lump…”

[……]

Wait, do they really know me that well? Am I supposed to be in the Celestial Realm with the heavenly beings fixing the world’s problems?

‘Well, from Master of the White Lotus Sect’s perspective, that might be the best spin…’

But that didn’t mean I wanted to hide my real name and go by a nickname. It somehow irked me. I considered venting my frustrations, but then changed my mind.

‘Getting mad at these guys won’t change anything. I’ll just stick to a nickname until I meet Zhuge Sa.’

So I ended up smiling and said,

[Thinking back, I was a bit harsh. I am known as I Chong.]

Since I had the name of the original owner of this mechanical body, I had decided without hesitation to use the name I Chong.

“I Chong? What’s your nickname then…?”

[I haven’t been out in Jianghu, so I don’t have a nickname.]

“I see. There are indeed many hermits in this day and age.”

Hwan Ji-gwang seemed to easily accept that. Given his reaction, it seems that there are indeed legends of martial artists hiding in the world, occasionally making their presence known. In any case, since the Great Flood made life outside the castles difficult, even legendary heroes had to find refuge inside.

Hwan Ji-gwang led me to a large building right below the Inner City and said,

“I Chong, I will soon activate the Teleportation Array, so please come this way.”

Teleportation Array?

As I looked closer, I saw a large, round ritual space embedded with a massive magic stone inside the building. Since I’d seen similar things in magical rituals before, it didn’t feel strange. I did notice, however, that the glyphs etched here weren’t in runes or ancient languages.

‘Is this its own sorcery language? Maybe this has been created by Saint Germain or Zhuge Sa…’

Remembering that beam of light surrounding Zhuge Sa earlier, I asked Hwan Ji-gwang,

[It seemed like you were summoning those below to the Inner City with a beam earlier. How is that different from this Teleportation Array?]

“That is a summon that only the Master of the Castle can activate, using unlimited summoning rights. We, the ordinary patrols, can only use the Teleportation Array a set number of times a day.”

[Ohhh.]

“Now then, let’s get going.”

Whirr….

Swoosh!

A moment later, I found myself in a mysterious realm along with the law enforcement team. The reason I called it mysterious was that we had entered a vast space resembling a plaza filled with gems shining with multiple colors, floating and glowing as they slowly orbited something below.

‘So they revolve around that, huh?’

It looked like hundreds of multi-colored gems were slowly rotating around a massive rock at the center. When I glanced at the stone, Hwan Ji-gwang said,

“Follow me.”

[Where are we going?]

“First, as mentioned, we need to reattach your arm… After that, I have to report back to the lord, so please come with me.”

[Alright.]

In any case, I was hoping to meet the Master of the White Lotus Sect, and since he would likely be with Zhuge Sa, I thought it best to accompany Hwan Ji-gwang.

About three miles in, Hwan Ji-gwang entered a large inner chamber and said,

“Master! I, Chief of Security Hwan Ji-gwang, request the repair of this iron man.”

Squeak

Squeak!!

The massive inner room was packed with machinery, and steam rose from the gears sprawling across the floor. I felt a chill, likely from some sort of cooling mechanism on the walls, keeping the heat down.

‘Hmm, is this a workshop?’

Then, an elderly man known as Master came walking from the back, replying,

“I couldn’t care less about your title or name, and you insist on announcing it every time. Is your pride that inflated?”

“…Ugh, it’s not that important.”

“You little rascal! How many experts in this world could cut through your proud Huashan sect so easily? When you finally meet a true expert, be prepared to face the consequences.”

“……”

“…Wait a second…?”

Noticing Hwan Ji-gwang suddenly turning silent, Master’s expression shifted from curiosity to laughter.

“Ha ha ha! So it seems you’re the one who’s educating this young lad.”

[I am.]

“So, is it your arm that needs repair?”

I extended my steel arm towards the Master and said,

[Can you fix it? I might find it uncomfortable if you can’t.]

Master glanced between my arm and the cut, before responding in a flash,

“Clearly, it was cut cleanly with sword mastery. This connection will be no trouble at all.”

[That’s great.]

“…But, that’s strange.”

Master scrutinized me with skepticism, asking,

“How is it that an android can still function even after the magic core is destroyed? What means are there when the power source is gone?”

His gaze fixated on my chest. It seemed that the philosopher’s stone that used to be there had been broken, and he couldn’t comprehend how the android was still moving. I replied,

[Using the term android means you’re not an ordinary person yourself. Besides, those blue eyes… You’re from the Western Regions, aren’t you?]

Indeed, the Master had blue eyes and brown hair, traits typical of Middle Eastern individuals which I had often seen. At hearing my words, Master’s eyes lit up,

“You indeed aren’t just anyone. Pray tell your name?”

[I am I Chong.]

“Never heard of it…”

[Well, I haven’t really come out to the world… Since I revealed my name, do tell me yours.]

“Ah ha. People in the East have never heard of my name… But, if you insist, I shall share it.”

With a hint of pride in his voice, he said,

“I was a court sorcerer of the ancient Ottoman Empire and their greatest scientist. My friends call me Even Sinha.”

[Hmm… Even Sinha… I feel like I’ve heard that somewhere before.]

I pondered where I might have heard it and then recalled some past memory.

[Ah, right! I think Saint Germain once mentioned that you were a westerner who was nearly as brilliant as him but not quite there.]

“……”

I had said it as an offhand remark, but it was likely that my memory was a bit too sharp. Hearing my words, Even Sinha’s face contorted in displeasure. He then muttered,

“That damned old man bragged about it to everyone.”

[Oh, I apologize if that upset you.]

“No need. It’s true that he’s ahead of me in magical engineering since he succeeded in the Philosopher’s Stone and the homunculus. Damn it… But I was the first to achieve immortality! Just because he’s had a few successes, he thinks he can look down on me….”

Even Sinha continued his grumbling as he spoke.

“I Chong, what’s your relation to Saint Germain?”

[An old friend. Truth be told, the current state was a result of his new experiment’s collaboration.]

I figured it was best to cover my tracks with a bit of a lie—it just seemed more believable that way. Even Sinha seemed not to question it very much and continued with his thoughts.

“I see. That makes sense. If he’s the type to be obsessed with alchemy…”

[If you’re such a prominent scholar and sorcerer from the West, what brings you all the way to distant Luoyang?]

“Well, I helped the West immensely during the Great Calamity that hit the East. I came to help repay that debt and assist with the maintenance and development of Luoyang Castle. I also had a request from a guardian.”

[Hmm.]

So it looks like Even Sinha, like Saint Germain or Roland, was also one of those warriors fighting to protect humanity from the West.

“I wonder where you’ve been all this time. You seem like someone who just dropped from the skies and vanished for decades…”

 

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