WE TRIED TRANSLATIONS x FLAME COMICS

Translator: ZERO_SUGAR

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint ◈

Chapter 233: Episode 43: Sky-Splitting Sword Saint (5)

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When I turned around, Yu Junghyeok was standing there, just as expected.

I frowned and warned him.

"Hey, don't go around saying things like that."

The "destruction of the First Martial World" Junghyeok had mentioned was a Scenario that hadn't even arrived yet. In the original story, it was a tragedy that wouldn't come for several more years. Of course, to Junghyeok, who had witnessed everything in past rounds, the future yet to come was also "the past."

"Don't waste time. You know as well as I do that you can't grow stronger with trash like that."

"I just let my Allies look around."

"We didn't come here for a leisurely sightseeing tour. Did you forget?"

For someone saying that, Junghyeok was carrying a bundle of something in one hand. A warm, sweet scent seeped through the paper wrapping.

...Dumplings?

Junghyeok shamelessly chewed on a dumpling as he spoke.

"There are three Hidden Pieces in the current First Martial World. The Extinction Emperor's Martial Arts Manual, the Black Heaven Demon Blade of the Black Demon Spirit, and the Demonic Soul Pill of the Blood Demon Cult."

The merchant cut in at Junghyeok's words.

"Ha ha ha! The Extinction Emperor's Martial Arts Manual, the Black Heaven Demon Blade of the Black Demon Spirit? The Blood Demon Cult's Demonic Soul Piiill? To think there are still people looking for such things...!"

"..."

"Come to your senses! Those are legends, plain and simple! They vanished completely during the days of the old martial world!"

Junghyeok didn't so much as twitch an eyebrow at the merchant's mockery. That was because he knew those things truly existed. He even knew how to obtain some of them.

He was speaking so boldly in front of others because he knew no one would believe him even if he told them. I answered him.

"Even if we get the Blood Demon Cult's Demonic Soul Pill, it won't be very useful. You might be able to absorb it, but if I or my Allies take it wrong, we'll suffer qi deviation."

Junghyeok looked as though he'd expected that answer. As we calmly discussed legendary treasures, the merchant's face gradually filled with confusion. I continued regardless.

"The requirements for obtaining the Extinction Emperor's Martial Arts Manual are too demanding. We could get it if we wanted to, but we can't stay here that long."

"That's true."

"Lastly, the Black Heaven Demon Blade of the Black Demon Spirit... You seem to want it because your sword broke, but did you forget there's a weapon that's easier to obtain and has similar performance?"

Junghyeok's expression changed. He seemed to realize what I was about to say.

"...Do you really intend to go?"

"Yeah. This time, we absolutely need the Sky-Splitting Sword Saint's help."

"I won't go."

"Do as you like. You can at least guide us to the martial arts school, can't you?"

Junghyeok looked thoroughly displeased, and the merchant cut in again.

"Don't tell me you're heading to find the Sky-Splitting Sword Saint?"

"That's right."

"Huh..."

The merchant looked at us with a slightly sickened expression, then shook his head and began gathering up his wares.

"Forget it. Hand those over. I won't sell them to you."

Han Myeongoh, who had been diligently listening to the Ice Flower Divine Maiden's martial arts teachings, looked bewildered when his earphones were suddenly taken away. The merchant smiled at him.

"I'm surprised there are still people who cling to the old ways. It wouldn't be bad for you to experience the changes of the times firsthand. May fortune favor you in your trials."

After saying those incomprehensible words, the merchant dragged his stall elsewhere and began calling for customers again. I watched his retreating back for a moment.

Myeongoh asked, "...What was that supposed to mean?"

"You said you liked the old martial world, didn't you, sir?"

"Hm? Well, I do."

"That's good, then. The person we're going to see is the only one in this martial world who still follows the old training methods."

That was all I said before following Junghyeok.

Maybe it was because he had returned to the First Martial World after so long. Junghyeok occasionally looked around with a nostalgic expression, and at other times stared into the distance with sad eyes.

The streets gradually grew quieter. The bustle of the busy market faded, and a faint smell of animal droppings and urine began to drift through the air. After we had walked for some time, Junghyeok finally stopped.

The estate before us was so shabby it couldn't compare to the ones we had seen in the bustling district. A tall shack rose at its center, while a small gate and plaque stood along the path leading to it.

Sky-Splitting Sword Sect

- Disciples recruited year-round.

This was the martial arts school where the Sky-Splitting Sword Saint lived.

"I'm stopping here."

Junghyeok quickly stepped back and climbed up a nearby cherry tree. He really didn't want to meet the Sky-Splitting Sword Saint. Myeongoh spoke suspiciously.

"It looks rather shabby..."

"Reclusive masters always live in shabby places."

Hayoung asked eagerly, "The person who gave me martial arts is here, right?"

Come to think of it, Hayoung had learned the Sky-Splitting Sword Saint's [Undying Body] through the Wall. She wasn't someone who taught martial arts to just anyone, so I had no idea how that had happened. Junghyeok had gone through hell to learn martial arts from her too...

"Sky-Splitting Sword Saint, are you here?"

I knocked on the estate's gate.

"Sky-Splitting Sword Saint! We've come because we need your help!"

The Sky-Splitting Sword Saint didn't answer, no matter how loudly I called. Still, we couldn't turn back just because there was no reply. I shamelessly shouted as I opened the gate.

"I'll take that as permission to come in!"

Creak.

The gate opened. The estate was more deserted inside than I had expected. There was no sign of anyone nearby.

Instead, something wholly unexpected was waiting for us.

"Oh, it looks like they keep a dog!" Hayoung cried happily.

A dog was lying on the porch, watching us. It was a medium-sized dog in a neat dark-blue martial uniform, its tongue hanging out. Myeongoh tensed and stepped closer to me.

"Don't tell me that's the Sky-Splitting Sword Saint?"

"No."

As I looked at the panting dog, a passage from TWSA came to mind.

「A guard dog with black fur and reddish-brown eyes, lying with the grace of a person as it guarded the lonely estate.」

There was no doubt.

"That dog is the Sky-Splitting Sword Saint's disciple."

"...A disciple?"

"If I remember correctly, it's called the Sky-Splitting Divine Dog."

Myeongoh asked in disbelief, "Do people take dogs as disciples too?"

"It happens when a person is worse than a dog. The idea that people are better than dogs in the first place is human-centered thinking."

I picked up on the strange current surrounding the dog.

[Exclusive Skill, Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, has activated.]

Stories arise around old things, and when stories gather, they become fables. The fable fragments gathered in this area became text from the original story and told me their tale.

[The fable Even a Schoolhouse Dog Can Recite Poetry After Three Years begins its story.]

What if there were a dog that had watched the martial arts of the strongest person in the martial world for a long time?

What if that dog had started imitating its master one day? Ten years of imitation became twenty, then thirty...

Until nearly a hundred years had passed.

Hayoung muttered in shock, "Wh-what is that...?"

The guard dog slowly rose onto its hind legs and looked at us like a person.

Its strange eyes revealed no thoughts at all. There was no hostility in the way it approached, but it was difficult to call it friendly either. Disturbed by that strangeness, Myeongoh stepped forward with a frown.

"That doesn't look like a welcoming greeting. I'll handle it."

"...You, sir?"

"I'm a count-grade demon too. Don't underestimate me."

A count-grade demon certainly wasn't weak.

After all, one had to be able to handle fables fairly well to become count-grade.

"Hyaaaah!"

Myeongoh confidently rushed forward and unleashed his fable.

I didn't know what fable it was, but he seemed to have picked up a few Historical-grade fables somewhere and was using them. He was Asmodeus's follower, after all, so this would be a good chance to see how capable Myeongoh was...

"Kwaaaack!"

Myeongoh's body flew through the air with the sound of a bursting drum.

[The animal character Sky-Splitting Divine Dog has activated hundred-step godly fists Lv. 10!]

[The animal character Sky-Splitting Divine Dog has activated phoenix walk Lv. 10!]

...Good lord.

After easily sending Myeongoh flying out of the estate, the guard dog rushed to attack Hayoung and me. I reflexively shoved Hayoung aside and activated [Bookmark].

[Exclusive Skill, Way of the Wind Lv. 10 (+1) has been activated!]

Whoooosh!

The sudden sensation of wind slowed the guard dog's movements, and I tucked Hayoung under my arm and dashed along the Way of the Wind, dodging its forepaw. A terrifying fist force filled the claw as it passed through the air in a shower of sparks.

Who would believe that such a gentle-looking dog was using [Sky-Splitting Collapse Fist]?

"Wait! We have no intention of fighting!"

The guard dog picked up a sheet of paper that had been lying around the estate.

- Disciples recruited year-round.

Only then did I understand what was happening.

"...Damn it. Of all times, it's during disciple recruitment."

If I remembered correctly, there had been quite a few people besides us who came looking for the Sky-Splitting Sword Saint because they admired the old martial world.

Most of them couldn't even get through the gate, all because of that dog.

「"I won't accept anyone worse than a dog as a disciple."」

In other words, that dog... the Sky-Splitting Divine Dog, was the gateway to entering the Sky-Splitting Sword Sect.

Perhaps stimulated by my movements, the dog let out a low growl.

Crackle.

Faint sparks rose around it.

Hayoung asked in alarm, "Wh-what is that? Is that really a dog?"

I was just as surprised. The sparks were turning yellow, so there was no doubt.

That was Transcendent Form, First Stage.

I had never imagined the Sky-Splitting Divine Dog would be this powerful, damn it. I could deal with it if I revealed my full strength, but my body still hadn't fully recovered, and I couldn't go throwing fables around against a mere dog.

There was only one way.

"Junghyeok! Help us just this once!"

Junghyeok remained silent. This bastard wasn't going to respond, was he?

"I'll help you find the Blood Demon Cult's Demonic Soul Pill, so just take care of this one!"

Junghyeok still didn't respond.

Then the dog moved. It was too fast to dodge even with the Way of the Wind. I gritted my teeth and was about to activate [Electrification] when...

Clang!

Junghyeok appeared at the last possible moment and blocked the Sky-Splitting Divine Dog's forepaw with the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds.

"The Demonic Soul Pill alone isn't enough. Bring me the Black Heaven Demon Blade of the Black Demon Spirit too."

Damn it. He was really going to be that petty.

"...Fine, so take care of the dog."

Junghyeok lightly swung his sword, deflecting the dog's attack, then settled into a poised sword stance. With a crackling sound, yellow sparks began flowing over his entire body.

As expected, Junghyeok had also broken through Transcendent Form, First Stage.

Originally, that was a realm he couldn't have reached at this point.

The Sky-Splitting Divine Dog looked tense when it saw someone using the same power as itself. An unbelievable tension filled the air for a confrontation between a dog and a person.

Soon, terrifying waves of Mana began to engulf the surroundings.

Come to think of it, Junghyeok had fought the Sky-Splitting Divine Dog in the original story too.

「The Sky-Splitting Sword Saint has two disciples.」

It was when Junghyeok had first come to learn swordsmanship from the Sky-Splitting Sword Saint.

「One is the guard dog raised by the Sky-Splitting Sword Saint, the Sky-Splitting Divine Dog.」

He had probably lost back then.

「The second is none other than Supreme King Yu Junghyeok.」

But this time would be different.

Footnotes:

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