By the time the sun had fully died, we arrived back at the field where the preliminaries had started.

We moved under the guidance of the Main Alliance Headquarters staff member. And when we got there, everyone we’d seen at the start was gathered.

‘They’re all a complete mess.’

Oun Chu was busy twisting his face like he was exhausted, and the others stood there without much change in expression.

I could tell the moment I saw them.

‘These are the ones.’

Strong ones, plain and simple.

While they sighed like they were worn down from fighting, there were also ones who looked like they were just bored—because they hadn’t really needed to use much strength in the preliminaries in the first place.

Black-Grand Saber and Sword Phoenix were like that. Black-Grand Saber kept yawning with the most bored expression in the world.

Sword Phoenix—

‘...I can’t tell.’

That one’s face is so blank I can’t read it, but with not a hint of change, it’s probably the same.

And the others—

‘Not much different over there either.’

I looked toward Cheon Hyein. As expected of one of the Seven Prodigies, she didn’t look any different from before.

But—

‘...What the hell is wrong with that bastard?’

Unlike Cheon Hyein, Poison Dragon looked completely wiped.

How do I put it—

‘It’s not physical tiredness...’

More like mental exhaustion looked stronger.

‘Well, yeah.’

I got it. If he’d been teamed with Cheon Hyein of all people, it was more than possible.

‘He must’ve had it rough.’

I nodded, feeling a little sorry for Tang Cheon-il, then looked the other way.

“Damn.”

That side was the biggest problem. The side with Seo Pyeong.

He was still unconscious, slung over someone’s back.

Yeah. That someone was the problem.

‘What the hell is he?’

He looked frail, and he didn’t have much presence.

But—

‘What the hell is that malevolent aura?’

That nauseating, ominous energy drifting around him.

The filthy stench you feel from malicious ghosts stuffed full of resentment and hatred.

‘And I’m only seeing that now?’

It’s ridiculous that I’m only noticing something that disgusting now.

If it were that bad, I should’ve felt it from the moment we entered the mountain.

‘I only noticed after facing him.’

The fact that I only caught on to that malevolent aura after I had him right in front of my eyes.

That was what bothered me the most.

‘This is weird.’

What the hell is he? I can tell at a ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ glance he’s the kind of bastard you should never get involved with.

‘There’s something there.’

My instincts were saying it.

‘If you get tangled up, you’re fucked.’

If I got involved with that side, it would be a disaster. My instincts were screaming it at me.

And I knew that perfectly well, but—

‘Fuck...’

Another instinct spoke up.

Normally, when it’s like this, you get tangled up no matter what.

No. Absolutely not. This time, no matter what, I’m pretending I didn’t see it and not getting involved.

I swore it to myself.

‘Whatever that bastard does, I don’t care.’

If I pretend I didn’t see it, that’s the end of it.

While I was making that resolve—

“Today, the second preliminaries will be concluded!”

A Main Alliance Headquarters staff member shouted.

“From this moment, we will verify the results. The representatives of each team, step forward and prove you have met the passing conditions!”

At the same time, one person from each team stepped forward.

And they began showing their stones to the staff.

Black-Grand Saber stepped up too and casually showed his stones.

TUK.

Just one pair—one black stone and one white stone.

It meant he hadn’t done any unnecessary fighting.

Others handed over stones as well, one after another—

Then Thunder Dragon pulled stones from his robe and dumped them out.

RATTLE-RATTLE—!!

“...Huh?”

“What is that amount?”

“What the...?”

When far more stones fell out than expected, everyone’s eyes went wide.

“Kgh...”

“...Goddamn it.”

Some even spat words out like they were seething. Probably the ones who’d lost their stones to Thunder Dragon and me.

After Thunder Dragon turned in his stones like that, Cheon Hyein walked up and handed hers over too.

RATTLE-RATTLE—!

She spilled out a large amount as well.

‘...Of course.’

That sly one. Looks like she went at it with the same mindset I did.

After they finished taking everything out and verifying it—

“The second preliminaries will be concluded!”

With that announcement, the preliminaries were fully over.

At that point, the remaining number of people was about—compared to the first preliminaries—another three-tenths.

A moment where a massive number of eliminations had been decided.

*****

After the preliminaries ended, we returned straight to the inn.

I heard there was a banquet left that wasn’t mandatory, but from what I could tell, there wouldn’t be many who stayed for it.

There were so many eliminated, and it’s not like they’d have any reason to go to a banquet.

‘If the eliminated don’t go, all that’s left is an empty banquet hall.’

Why would anyone bother going?

It was obvious most people were thinking the same thing as me.

“God. I’m tired.”

I got to the inn and collapsed like I was drained.

Feels like I could fall asleep immediately if I wanted.

“Haa....”

While thinking that, I was about to go to sleep—

“...Damn it.”

I forced myself up.

I wanted to just sleep, but—

‘I’ve still got to do what I’ve got to do.’

I hadn’t trained yet.

I had training I did every day. Now, if I went to bed without doing it, it felt annoyingly unfinished.

‘They said tomorrow’s a rest day, I think...’

The second preliminaries were done, and we were about to enter the main bracket.

They said we’d rest one day and go right in, so tomorrow there was no schedule.

Which meant—

‘It means I can train more.’

Ha.

Remembering that, I laughed without meaning to.

‘I’m becoming a lunatic.’

I can take a day off, so I think I can push training harder?

It’s a thought I never would’ve had before.

It’s ridiculous, but it didn’t feel bad.

“Haa... let’s go.”

I steadied myself and got up.

Just as I was about to head to the training grounds—

SSSSSSS—.

At the sensation on my back, I turned around immediately.

Outside the moonlit window, a familiar huge figure hovered over the frame.

It was Yoo Cheongil.

“Ah.”

I swallowed a sigh at the sight. He hadn’t shown himself all day, and now he was back?

“Where the hell did you run off t—”

I frowned, about to speak to Yoo Cheongil, when—

“......”

I had to stop mid-word.

Because Yoo Cheongil raised one finger and brought it to his lips.

What? Why is he telling me to be quiet?

I looked at him with a puzzled face.

[Kid.]

Yoo Cheongil spoke.

[Someone is here.]

“...!”

My back prickled with goosebumps.

‘Someone?’

[Don’t let your expression harden.]

I had to stay calm. Like Yoo Cheongil warned, I couldn’t show it.

I controlled my breathing and moved slowly.

Like I was just continuing what I’d been doing, I walked toward the door while grabbing the Divine Sword.

With the sword on my waist, getting ready as naturally as I could—

[Northwest. Toward the ceiling. Fire sword qi.]

Yoo Cheongil said.

And the moment I heard it, I drew the Divine Sword.

SHIIIING—!!

With a sharp sound, sword force wrapped around the blade.

And I launched it as-is.

CRACK—!!

A deep sword scar scraped across the ceiling.

As fragments fell—

THUD!—with my eyes tense and scanning—

[That’s enough. It ran.]

“Ha.”

At Yoo Cheongil’s words, I finally let out the breath I’d been holding.

“...What was up there?”

[Yeah. Fast one. The moment you drew your sword, it fled.]

He said it ran, but I hadn’t heard anything escaping.

“Who was it...?”

Who?

Who had been watching me?

I didn’t even notice. Which meant—

‘If things went wrong, I’d be dead.’

If I’d been ambushed, my throat could’ve been cut and it wouldn’t be strange.

Who was it? Who was watching me?

When I pressed him—

[I don’t know.]

Yoo Cheongil shook his head like he truly didn’t know.

‘Huh?’

Hearing that, my brow tightened.

You don’t know?

That could happen. Even Yoo Cheongil might not know, but—

‘Something.’

It felt like he knew and was pretending not to.

Nothing looks particularly off, and yet—

It felt like that.

‘Damn... I’m screwed.’

Whatever it was, it looked like sleeping tonight was out of the question.

*****

SMACK.

A shadow that had been moving as if flying through the air dove into the brush.

Stepping on trees as it moved a bit farther, it landed like it was dropping to the ground, then immediately knelt on one knee.

As if paying respects, it lowered its head.

DRIP. DRIP.

Blood fell from the man’s arm.

Drops soaked into the grass.

The young man in front of him looked at the back of that hand and asked.

“You’re hurt.”

At the young man’s words, the shadow bowed its head deeper and spoke.

“I apologize.”

“What happened?”

The young man asked. He wasn’t the kind of existence that should be getting hurt.

To that question, the shadow answered.

“He noticed.”

“Huh?”

The young man’s eyes widened.

He noticed? That was impossible.

“Ink Azure. Are you saying the bastard noticed your presence?”

“Yes.”

“......”

He asked again because he couldn’t believe it, but the answer didn’t change.

He noticed?

And on top of that—

“He even attacked? And you got hit by it?”

“...Kill me.”

“Hahahahahaha.”

The young man burst out laughing.

At the killing intent buried in that voice, Ink Azure’s body trembled slightly.

“Haha... hahahaha....”

The young man laughed like that, then erased his smile in an instant.

“Interesting.”

SSSSSSSS—.

With a face gone cold, the moment he spoke, it felt like wind blew from somewhere.

“...I was only disappointed because he looked so insignificant. So he’s different from what he looks like?”

His impression looked tired, worn.

They said he was stirring up the Central Plains, so if the rumors were true, he should be strong.

But the successor of Sword Saint Yoo Cheongil that he’d seen with his own eyes—Bang Sungyeon—was far more insignificant than he looked.

Impressive for his age, but the power he held looked paltry.

And with no heat, no battle aura, he judged him as nothing more than someone unworthy of inheriting the Sword Saint’s name.

But—

‘That bastard kept staring at me.’

From the very first moment they met.

All the way until the preliminaries ended.

The young man realized that Bang Sungyeon had been watching him.

That made him itch.

‘Could he be someone with something hidden?’

That thought made him send Ink Azure to check.

And now—

“Good choice.”

Not only was Ink Azure’s infiltration discovered, he was even attacked?

‘Is he hiding strength too?’

It felt like there was a hidden card he was holding back.

Just like him.

“Ink Azure. Any chance your identity was exposed?”

“...None.”

“That’s a relief.”

It would be troublesome if he was exposed now.

For their task, at least for the moment, they couldn’t be exposed.

“Hm.”

The young man let out a sigh.

And then—

SSSSSSS—.

His eyes, which had been dark, stained red.

At that chilling eye-light, Ink Azure lowered his head.

“Ink Azure.”

“...Yes.”

Ink Azure answered, then addressed him.

“Young Cult Leader.”

“Contact Heaven-Breaking Palace.”

The young man didn’t look at Ink Azure.

What he was looking at was the blue moon floating in the sky.

“Looks like the confirmation’s done.”

A truly bright moon.

“Tell them we’ll cooperate with their work.”

The young man spoke with a faint smile.

Feeling the emotion inside that voice, Ink Azure answered quietly.

“...Understood.”

That night’s moon, in the young man’s eyes, was unusually blue.

So beautiful it made him want to tear it apart.