Book 2: Chapter 369: Strongest Under the Heavens (7)

<Strongest Under the Heavens (7)>

Early morning.

As the Lan Kingdom was getting rowdy from the list of about 300 preliminary qualifiers…

“Mm.”

Choi Han looked at the quest in the window in front of him.

[1. Please find the hero in place of the tarnished Former hero Gisk and deliver the Sun Sword!]

This was also the case for Alberu Crossman, who was standing across from him.

“…….”

===================

– Chain sub quest 1 [Receive the approval of the swordsman who helped the former hero reach enlightenment!]

===================

Cale, who had been watching, started to speak with a grumbling look on his face.

"What are you doing right now?”

Alberu looked at Cale, who had the same blonde hair and blue eyes as him, and extended his hand.

Crack!

A current was created.

“…….”

And the Sun Sword rejected Alberu.

Alberu motioned to Choi Han with his eyes.

"Try giving it to Cale Henituse.”

“…Yes, your highness.”

Choi Han handed Cale the sword.

"What about this thing?”

Cale received the sword without any issues.

He snorted at this comedic situation that had started this morning.

“Okay, here you go.”

Whenever the Sun Sword was handed to Alberu…

Crack!

A current crackled and the sword rejected Alberu.

The Heavenly Demon, who was standing stiffly while leaning against a pillar, leisurely commented.

“Five times.”

Currently, Alberu had been rejected five times.

“Choi Han.”

Cale knew about both of their quests.

“I think his highness will only be able to get this sword once he receives your approval.”

Alberu looked at Choi Han and smiled elegantly.

“Choi Han, have you not been approving of me?”

“!”

Choi Han flinched and quickly answered.

“I approve of you, your highness!”

It was true.

He trusted and relied on Alberu, and, at times, even felt respect toward Alberu.

Choi Han spoke extremely honestly.

“I guess you only approve of him as the crown prince.”

Alberu’s elegant smile became even brighter at the Heavenly Demon's comment.

“I guess you don’t approve of my level of strength.”

Choi Han flinched at that comment.

"That is not the case, your highness.”

However, Choi Han answered seriously with a stiff expression on his face.

“You are strong enough, your highness.”

He meant this as well.

“Strong enough you say-”

Alberu smiled oddly.

He always talked about serving Choi Han as his master, but he did not have a proper master-disciple relationship with him.

However, after having seen Choi Han quite a bit by his side, Alberu knew him well.

“Choi Han.”

Choi Han did not compromise when it came to strength.

“Do you think I am capable of fighting against a wanderer?”

This was the reason Alberu asked Choi Han about an important enemy right now.

“…….”

Choi Han could not say anything.

‘Any person with even a small amount of tact would say that I could fight against them.’

But Choi Han did not do that.

Choi Han was only thinking about protecting Alberu if such a situation happened.

“Oh dear, I don’t like this.”

Shh.

Alberu pulled out the spear hanging on his back.

It wasn’t Taerang, but it was the same white spear he had been using since starting this game.

Swoooosh.

Alberu lightly spun the long spear before pointing it at Choi Han.

"My dear instructor-nim.”

He smiled brightly while addressing Choi Han.

“How about a spar with your disciple?”

His voice sounded extremely mischievous but Choi Han could read the emotion in Alberu’s eyes.

It was anger.

“…….”

One time. Choi Han let out a deep breath and opened his mouth.

“10 minutes.”

He responded seriously.

“Your highness, you can use any and every method you can think of. If you can defend against me for ten minutes, I will trust you.”

Smile.

The corners of Alberu’s lips went up.

Choi Han didn’t care and continued to say what he wanted.

“I will trust you not as someone to look at my back but someone I can trust my back with as we fight with our backs to each other.”

10 minutes, not even attacking but just defending. If you can survive it, I will trust you as someone I can fight alongside.

Alberu was silent for a few seconds after Choi Han made his statement.

“I always feel this, but…”

His smile looked a bit more relaxed.

“You guys are truly disrespectful.”

Choi Han smiled awkwardly but did not avoid Alberu’s gaze.

‘Come at me.’

Seeing Choi Han’ gaze that was full of such disrespect made Alberu’s anger calm down.

It was because he realized once again that Choi Han was someone who met him where he was at.

“Hold on, why am I being dragged into this? Why are you suddenly calling me disrespectful? I’ve just been quietly standing here?”

Choi Han, Alberu, and the Heavenly Demon… none of them paid any attention to Cale who looked as if he had been wronged.

* * *

And now…

“As expected, my instructor’s test is not easy.”

The tip of the spear in Alberu Crossman's hand was shaking.

“Mm. I cannot do this carelessly.”

Choi Han was smiling awkwardly and had his sword down but…

He was like a well-sharpened blade.

“Okay. Do it properly!”

Alberu was leisurely smiling as he said that, but…

“…….”

The hand holding the spear tightened.

‘Spear arts, magic…’

Choi Han said that he could use any and all means, but…

Alberu had made up his mind to persist only with his spear.

‘Ha.’

However, clashing against Choi Han’s sword just once gave him a feeling.

‘I was arrogant.’

He had been so arrogant.

‘He’s gotten even stronger.’

He remembered feeling Choi Han’s level of strength in the past, during their fight against the White Star.

He knew that Choi Han would have gotten stronger as it had been a long time since then.

‘But it is beyond that level.’

Choi Han had truly gotten much stronger.

‘He didn't even use his aura right now.’

Sword master Choi Han.

His sword did not have any aura around it right now.

But he was still easily able to suppress the aura smoke around Alberu’s spear and strike it back.

‘…I was too complacent.’

Yes. He had been too complacent.

Too too complacent.

The corners of Alberu’s lips went up.

A total of three worlds…

Choi Han, having gone through those places with Cale-

‘They said he was walking down a new path.’

Eruhaben had said that Choi Han’s power was truly amazing.

Alberu had taken it to be amazing, but had not put much significance in there.

‘How foolish.’

Alberu realized one of the emotions inside of him.

‘You’ve gotten relaxed.’

The King was gone right now and the Roan Kingdom could be in danger, but… Alberu’s authority was quite firm.

There were hunters, gods, and many enemies to fight, but…

‘I thought to myself that it was doable.’

That was why he was relaxed.

No, the knot in his heart relaxed a bit.

‘Ha. Just a little?’

It was a lot.

‘How foolish.’

Alberu Crossman, you truly are foolish.

‘And excited.’

He had been proceeding with the quest in the game while receiving wariness from Ahn Roh Man, but moving up in a new world like this was fun.

That might have been the reason that…

“Ha-”

No.

This was not the time to make such excuses.

‘Since when has my life been easy?’

How did he end up so complacent?

Had his body leaned too much into the peace?

He had taken care of the White Star, become the rising sun of the Roan Kingdom, and gained the foundations for power.

Nonetheless, he was still training as usual and doing his duties.

He had thought that he had not changed.

He believed that he had not become complacent.

“I am coming, your highness.”

Choi Han raised his sword.

Alberu straightened his posture.

‘No. I did change.’

The original Alberu Crossman…

With an even greater enemy…

In a situation where he may have to fight a god in order to protect himself and his world…

Would have worked even harder until he bled.

He would have lived even fiercer.

Rather than enjoying this game, he would have felt a competitive spirit and terrible anxiety as he persisted!

It would not be like this!

Oooooo-

A radiant white and gold color started to rise around Alberu.

Smile.

Choi Han started to smile.

“…….”

The smile disappeared from Alberu’s face.

Choi Han started to speak.

“This is finally like the real you, your highness.”

‘This arrogant instructor of mine.’

Alberu had no time to respond.

Tap.

The moment Choi Han gently tapped his foot and moved a step forward…

“!”

He was already close to Alberu.

Alberu immediately swung his spear.

The spear's strength was its distance.

He could not let Choi Han into his domain.

Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang!

An explosion that could not be compared to any explosions from earlier echoed out.

Crackle! Crack!

Currents crackled on the white spear.

It was Alberu's mana.

Ooooooooo—

Choi Han’s sword finally roared as black aura shot out.

Baaaaang! Baaaaang!

Explosions continued to ring out.

The wide training ground started to crack in many places.

“Ho!”

Pao Seo Tae, the alliance leader of the Dark Pulse, was standing and looking around. He got chills all over his body.

However, neither Choi Han nor Alberu were looking around.

Baaaaang!

The tip of Alberu's spear pushed Choi Han’s sword away.

Baaaaang!

The sword swung once more toward the spear.

Then Alberu blocked it again.

“Hoooo.”

The Heavenly Demon laughed at that moment.

Baaaaaang–!

A different sound than earlier echoed out.

Chhh-

Alberu was pushed back and barely managed to stop at the edge of the training ground.

Alberu was holding his spear like a shield and blocking the front of his chest.

“Haaaaaaaaa. Haaaa.”

He was breathing heavily but his gaze was focused only on Choi Han.

“Ha!”

Choi Han laughed.

After that…

Baaaaang! Baaaaang! Bang! Bang!

There were continuous explosions.

Gold light exploded all around Choi Han, creating these explosions.

– Human, the greatest defense really is launching an attack first!

Cale ignored Raon and looked at the training ground.

Tap.

Alberu moved.

‘As expected.’

The crown prince was not someone who would just stand there and defend.

Baaaaang! Baaaaang! Bang!

Even as the explosions did not stop…

Chhh.

The crown prince pulled magic stones out of his pocket and threw them into the air.

He was truly planning on using everything.

Crack.

The magic stones cracked.

A large amount of mana gathered on top of the training ground, and Alberu no longer rested.

Rumble-

As a sound that resembled thunder roared out…

Toward Choi Han, who was in the middle of the explosions and could not be seen very well…

Baaaaaang-

Thunderbolts started to strike down.

‘That's not enough!’

But Alberu could feel it.

This was not enough.

The dozens of explosions…

An endless number of thunderbolts had struck down on Choi Han, but…

‘I'm sure Choi Han is fine.’

It made Alberu charge toward the center of the storm, the spot he could not see clearly because of the explosions.

Swoooosh.

He then raised his spear.

‘Stab without stopping.’

He would attack without showing any openings.

‘I will launch every attack that I can muster.’

Because-

‘Choi Han will not let me get hurt.’

Alberu was truly fighting with everything he had.

He was not talking about just his physical strength.

He was even taking into consideration Choi Han's heart, Choi Han’s feelings for him.

That was why Alberu was running wild.

‘10 minutes.’

He wasn’t thinking about lasting 10 minutes.

He wanted to defeat Choi Han no matter what it took.

He was charging at Choi Han with such a mindset.

‘I can hurt Choi Han.’

Even that thought was there.

Alberu was putting everything he had after all.

Crack!

Baaaaang-

Currents and explosions…

He couldn't even see Choi Han because of them.

But the white spear still extended in that direction.

“Hoooo.”

The spear art showed that the foundations had been practiced for a long time.

His level of martial arts knowledge was quite high.

The user’s firm belief was visible as well.

There was a high enough level of martial arts within it that even the Heavenly Demon was amazed.

Alberu was as talented in spear arts as he was in magic.

Furthermore-

Ooooooooo—

Crack, crack.

Aura smoke and mana…

The white spear looked like a ray from the sun as the two intertwined.

“…….”

Pao Seo Tae looked at this and bit down on his lips.

This spar that was at a higher level than he had expected-

‘No.’

This person's eyes resembled that of a general out on the battlefield.

What was happening right now was a war on a small battlefield.

Alberu moved closer to the center of the explosion.

Oooooo-

The mana rumbled.

The highly dense mana reacted to Alberu.

Ooooooooo—

He wasn’t at the level of a sword master, but the smoke that came out of the spear of a highest-grade aura knight was not something that would disperse so easily.

That smoke was definitely covering his spear.

Oooooo-

Even as all of that was happening, mana was coming toward Alberu's body.

It gathered and gathered some more.

Alberu continued to pull them to him.

‘This is my best!’

This was the best that he had to offer.

As the tip of Alberu’s spear headed toward Choi Han…

Shaaaaaaa-

The mana on the tip pushed away the dust of the explosion.

He could start to see inside the exploding storm.

“!”

Alberu’s pupils started shaking.

‘…Darkness-!’

At the center of the explosion of white and gold lights…

At the center of this dust cloud impacted by thunderbolts…

Darkness was at the center of this storm.

‘No.’

It was not darkness.

There were too many sparkling little lights to call it darkness.

‘Night.’

No.

‘Choi Han.

Yes, this is Choi Han.’

Choi Han, who had his eyes closed, opened his eyes.

He could see a yong on top of Choi Han.

It felt as if the yong had opened its eyes.

The half-transparent black yong that had been curled up started to move.

Choi Han’s sword drew a line.

The black aura surrounding Choi Han’s whole body…

It was rough but warm, and felt as if it would not bow to anything.

‘Ah.’

Alberu realized it at that moment.

This was that ‘aura domain’ that he had heard about.

This was what Choi Han had earned.

He finally understood Choi Han's words.

He understood why he told Alberu to defend and not attack.

The current Alberu couldn't make a dent on Choi Han.

Most attacks would not reach someone with such a sturdy aura domain.

Rather than that, before the attacks would land-

‘Yeah. Just like that.’

Choi Han took a step forward.

Following his steps, following his extended sword in the storm of explosions…

A path was created.

It was similar to when they fought against the blue aura of the Blood Demon.

Choi Han had created his own path this time as well.

As he had always done.

That was why he was moving forward.

Fuck!’

Alberu bit down on his lips.

He scowled.

He looked annoyed rather than elegant as usual.

The white spear that Alberu had swung with everything he had…

A sword surrounded in a black light approached Alberu.

‘Fuck!

I lost.’

Alberu closed his eyes.

Choi Han swung his sword without stopping.

The white spear and the black sword struck each other.

Baaaaaaaaaang-!

An even greater rumbling pushed all of the dust of the explosion away.

Plop.

The outside of the training ground cracked as well and the pillars of the inner residence shook.

“…He lost.”

As Pao Seo Tae said something to hide the shaking he was feeling…

Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-

He felt a breeze that slowly allowed him to see.

“Do you really think so?”

The Heavenly Demon checked the time and smiled oddly.

Pao Seo Tae was about to respond but he flinched.

“!”

His eyes opened wide.

“Cough.”

Alberu coughed.

He slowly raised his gaze.

Craaaaaaack-

The white spear broke.

When the white spear and the black sword had clashed at the end…

Alberu had cast aside the white spear.

Choi Han did not know that he would do that.

That was why he managed to destroy the white spear but did not reach Alberu beyond the spear.

Although he swung his sword toward the weaponless Alberu after that…

Baaaaang—!

And although it created a deep cut on the floor of the training ground…

‘I was too late.’

Choi Han's black sword could not make a dent on Alberu.

“…….”

Choi Han looked toward Alberu.

Alberu had rolled on the ground to avoid the black sword.

His body was curled up.

An armor was covering his body.

It was a white armor made of mana.

There were also more than five layers of shields around it.

Alberu had managed to block a full-powered attack of the black sword, even if Choi Han had rushed the attack.

He destroyed all of the magic stones in his possession to create a highly dense barrier around him.

He had left one final card behind.

The Heavenly Demon commented after watching it all.

“Choi Han's heart is weak.”

If fighting against an enemy…

“He should have aimed for his life beyond the weapon.”

He should not have aimed for the weapon.

Alberu Choi Han could not do that because Alberu was not his enemy.

“That side seems more suited for politics than fighting.”

Alberu had considered all of that as he fought.

His war, his life, was something built differently from Choi Han's life.

Choi Han closed his eyes for a moment before opening them back and speaking.

“I lost, your highness.”

He had no idea how much time had passed.

10 minutes.

That period of time was not important.

Alberu’s mindset to aim for the goal even while throwing away his weapon and using any and all means he had on him…

Choi Han realized his own complacency while watching this.

Furthermore, it helped him remember what Alberu’s true strength was.

"I accept it, your highness.”

The moment Choi Han said that…

Smile.

As Alberu finally stopped curling up and stood up…

“10 minutes.”

Cale got up and commented.

“Right now is exactly 10 minutes.”

Alberu brushed the dust off of himself and calmly answered.

“Of course you have to accept it.”

The elegant smile of his fit very well with the white armor.

[Quest completed.]

It was the moment Alberu's hand grabbed the Sun Sword.

* * *

While that was going on…

"What did you say?”

The Pope of the Church of the Sun God could not hide his shock at the bishop, who was reporting something from the Holy Maiden.

“…The Holy Maiden-”

The bishop barely calmed down and spoke.

“She said that a forgotten divine item has reappeared on the continent.”

“…Is it perhaps?”

“Yes sir, that is correct. It is the Sun Sword.”

The bishop continued in a shaking voice.

“The Holy Maiden has detected the divine item that is said to appear when the world needs to be saved.”

The Church of the Sun God. It was the moment that something that shocked the top executives of the church happened.

* * *

“Our dear young master-nim, the first round of the preliminaries should be easy for you, right?”

Cale smiled brightly as he addressed the Heavenly Demon.

Next to them was Alberu, who was there as the guard in place of Choi Han.

—

Translator's Comments

Cale so sassy as a butler.

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