Principal’s Office.
I told the Sword Queen and the principal everything that had just happened.
What kind of exchange I had with the Shadow Lord, and what the Blood Cult was after.
Except for the part about the sword.
It’s still too early for that.
What if I came right out and said, “The Blood Cult is after a sword! And I think my friend has it!”?
The faculty would immediately go looking for Go Hyeon-woo, confiscate the sect’s sacred relic, and launch an investigation.
If they found any direct or indirect connection to the Blood Cult, the sword might be lost forever, and Go Hyeon-woo’s life at school would be put at risk.
No matter how innocent he was or how well things turned out, being subjected to an intense investigation would be inevitable.
I believe it’s the right order to talk it over with Go Hyeon-woo himself first.So I stopped at the part where I said, “The Shadow Lord was looking for people who had learned wind-type martial arts.”
The principal frowned.
“Wind-type martial arts, huh… So that’s probably why he called you out too?”
“Yes, my main magic is wind-type, and I’m also close with Go Hyeon-woo.”
“Did he say what he wanted it for?”
“No, he didn’t.”
“Yeah, figures.”
The principal smacked his lips in frustration.
He’s not some third-rate villain. No battle-hardened master would lay out his objectives from A to Z like a PowerPoint presentation.
Meanwhile, the Sword Queen was glaring at me with narrowed eyes.
Then she asked,
“You’re not hiding anything from us, are you?”
“I think I’ve told you everything you need to know.”
I answered with a tone of perfect composure.
I really had told them everything necessary.
The sword? Unnecessary.
I hadn’t lied.
Though the Sword Queen still looked at me with suspicion, the principal cut in.
“In any case, it seems the Blood Cult situation has been wrapped up.”
“I think so too.”
Illusion Demon and the Shadow Lord were key members of the Blood Cult’s forces.
Just sending those two alone was a massive investment.
The odds of another elder-level master remaining are close to zero.
If there were any lesser remnants left, they would’ve already been caught by the faculty’s surveillance net.
Even if there were a few who luckily slipped through, what could they possibly do now that their superior master had failed?
The smartest move would be to leave Dungeon Island immediately.
“Now all we have to worry about is the witch.”
“How long do I have to stick with this guy?”
“Just hang in there a few more days.”
“And if she doesn’t show up?”
“Then just a few more days.”
“You little—”
The Sword Queen’s face was full of irritation.
The principal gave me a subtle nod.
“You saw for yourself today. He’s worth protecting.”
“…Of all people, he’s the monarch? Fine, whatever.”
Since the discussion had more or less wrapped up, the principal called it to a close.
“It’s late, so let’s stop here. Good work today, Kim Ho. Go get some rest.”
“Yes.”
And now was the perfect time to put my plan into action.
Just before leaving the principal’s office, I suddenly turned back as if I’d just remembered something.
“Ah, right. I got a few elixirs while pretending to make a deal. Is it okay if I keep them?”
“Huh? Oh, sure. That much is fine.”
“Thank you.”
Successfully brushed that off.
Before the Sword Queen could say anything, I quickly closed the door and walked away.
***
After leaving the principal’s office, I went straight to find Go Hyeon-woo.
Once I explained everything, he let out a deep sigh, his face clouded with concern.
“I’ve caused you trouble again, Kim-hyung. I’m truly ashamed.”
“It’s not your fault.”
Go Hyeon-woo hadn’t done anything.
The ones who barged in are the ones to blame.
And even if this hadn’t been about the sacred relic, we would’ve clashed with them anyway.
After all, we’re planning to strike down the Blood Cult and the Witches wherever they appear.
I added, with a serious tone,
“If possible, I’d like to hear your side of the story.”
“Hmm…”
“If you really can’t, I understand. Don’t feel pressured.”
“……”
Go Hyeon-woo sat in silence for a while, thinking deeply.
Then, with difficulty, he finally opened his mouth to speak.
“…My master strictly warned me never to speak of this to outsiders. But with things having come this far, I suppose I can’t stubbornly cling to that anymore. And besides, I’m not sure I can even call you a true outsider anymore, Kim-hyung.”
I’d helped him immensely in every possible way since the day we met, and we even shared the secret of the Hardship Quest.
At this point, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call me a second master.
Go Hyeon-woo paused for a moment, as if recalling something, and then began his story.
“This happened when I was very young. One day, a man came to the humble hut where my master and I were staying. He wore martial robes as red as blood… Looking back now, I suspect he may have been an envoy of the Blood Cult.”
“You can’t be sure just from the outfit, but it’s definitely possible.”
“Indeed. After that, it never happened again. But now and then, my master would say, ‘A guest has arrived’ and step out for a while.”
“That’s a bit suspicious. A guest shows up, and he doesn’t even introduce you?”
“I thought the same. I believe he left to drive away unwanted visitors.”
Or maybe… buried them right then and there.
Go Hyeon-woo continued.
“Given the circumstances, I suspect they were from the same group. Most likely the Blood Cult. And it seems my master didn’t want me to ever encounter them. He never had anything good to say about the cult, either.”
“I see.”
From the sound of it, his master might’ve been a former elder of the Blood Cult.
I’ll have to investigate that identity more thoroughly someday, but it’s not urgent right now.
What matters most is that both his master and Go Hyeon-woo are clearly hostile toward the Blood Cult.
“Let’s keep this between us. At least until we’re strong enough to handle it ourselves.”
“I trust you, Kim-hyung.”
Then Go Hyeon-woo pulled out a long bundle from his inventory.
He unraveled the tightly wrapped chains and peeled back the cloth, revealing a sword with a dark glossy sheen.
As I examined it closely, Go Hyeon-woo asked,
“Does it remind you of anything?”
“Nope. First time I’ve ever seen it.”
Of course, I’m familiar with all the famous swords used by the Blood Cult and the Demon Cult.
That’s why I had a flicker of doubt during my conversation with the Shadow Lord.
Could Go Hyeon-woo’s relic be one of them?
When combined with the keyword “wind” there was a decent chance it might be the Blood Wind Sword… the demonic blade traditionally passed down to the leader of the Blood Cult.
But what lay before me now was—
This isn’t the Blood Wind Sword.
It didn’t even exist in my memory.
Which meant it was an item native only to this game world.
I wouldn’t know the details until I pulled it out, but even at a glance, it looked to be a sword of a higher caliber than the Blood Wind Sword.
And considering it also seemed to possess the qualities of an “Ego Sword” that chooses its own master—
At least S-rank. Possibly higher.
No wonder the Blood Cult sent two elders after it.
Go Hyeon-woo added an explanation.
“To be honest, I don’t know much about it myself. What little I do know, I heard from my master. One thing he mentioned often is that only those who are worthy can wield this sword.”
On the flip side, if you’re unqualified, you’re not even allowed to draw it let alone handle it.
Back during the Black Death raid, Go Hyeon-woo had blocked White Snake’s finishing blow by lifting the sheathed sword.
Even that alone had left him with severe internal injuries.
If he tried drawing it now, he might cough up blood and collapse on the spot.
So I gave a slight nod of my chin.
“I see. What else?”
“He said that if one can go beyond just wielding it and achieve complete unity with the sword… they could become the God of Wind.”
“That’s ridiculously big.”
“I think so too. But I don’t doubt it.”
“Honestly, I kind of believe it as well.”
To achieve unity with a sword that’s S-rank or higher means the user is on that level too.
Even without the sword, they’d be a living natural disaster.
Finally, I asked the question I’d been wondering about for a while. One that was at the heart of today’s conversation.
“When do you become eligible?”
“He said the challenge begins at the start of the Transcendent Peak Realm.”
The beginning of the Transcendent Peak Realm was equivalent to [Core] A-rank.
At that level, one becomes capable of withstanding the immense energy contained within a sacred relic to some extent.
Of course, that only means you’ve qualified to challenge it. Actually being able to handle it requires much more effort.
Go Hyeon-woo looked straight at me.
“When the time comes, I’d like you to be there as a witness, Kim-hyung.”
“You sure about that?”
Normally, gaining the recognition of a sacred relic is something the successor must endure alone.
Having a third party involved is considered extremely disrespectful.
That’s why I’d held back my curiosity until now and even when I did bring it up, I was always cautious.
Go Hyeon-woo replied readily.
“It’s fine. Like I said earlier, you can’t exactly be called an outsider anymore.”
“If you’re okay with it, I’d be happy to.”
“I’ll let you know when the time comes.”
***
News of the Blood Cult remnants being taken down spread like wildfire overnight.
From the academy’s perspective, it was the perfect opportunity to solidify shaken trust. There was no reason not to make it public.
Thanks to that, the atmosphere in the Arena was more vibrant than ever.
Even Seo Cheong-yong at the commentator’s desk seemed in high spirits, clearly pleased by the news.
Lee Soo-dok was the opposite. He looked genuinely disappointed that he hadn’t gotten to personally take down a cultist on the level of the Shadow Lord.
Seo Cheong-yong glanced at him and gave a wry smile before grabbing the microphone.
“Alright! The first quarterfinal match is about to begin! Contestants, please get ready!”
Two names appeared on the scoreboard.
[Dang Gyu-young vs. Namgong Chang-cheon]
Go Hyeon-woo looked down at the stage with a serious expression.
“No matter how strong Senior Dang is, this match won’t be easy.”
“Probably not.”
I didn’t deny it.
Namgong Chang-cheon was the most talked-about rising star and a top contender for the championship.
Some even thought he had a better shot at winning than Song Cheon-gi.
If I had to guess Dang Gyu-young’s chances, I’d put them under 40%.
Still, you never know.
Dang Gyu-young had registered a new shadow.
How well she makes use of that will be the key.
Can we continue from here?
I casually scratched my cheek.