A Disaster-Level Assassin Has Been Freed

Chapter 136: Son-in-Law (1)

Godok.

Those forced to grow by devouring one another.

Of course, in the beginning, no one harbored such intentions. They were hesitant, fearful, and awkward, barely able to pick up a rusty dagger.

But now, after nearly 20 years, the survivors had become monsters.

And…

‘That fact doesn’t change even after the village’s confines are gone.’

If I were to encounter Maya, the second-ranked, on the street, would there be any guarantee she wouldn’t swing her sword at me?

What about Gael, the third?

The fifth or sixth?

Even Cecilia, the seventh, and Werner, the tenth—I couldn’t be certain. Though they seemed to realize something from my words, trusting them completely was another matter.

Thus, the moment I reunited with Hagio, the 11th-ranked, I couldn’t help but feel both joy and tension.

Was I afraid I couldn’t beat him?

No.

I was afraid he might have changed.

That in the past year, his heart might have shifted, abandoning his life as an orphanage director to return to that of an assassin. It was hard to hide my anxious feelings.

But.

Woo-woo-woo-woong—!

“……!”

The moment I felt the Aura emanating from his body, The emotions carried within that Aura, I knew Hagio hadn’t come to kill me as a ‘Godok’ but to spar with me as a ‘friend.’

“Interesting.”

“What’s interesting?”

“Just… that as much as I’ve changed, others are changing too.”

“Have I changed much? I feel like I’m the same as before… Well, except for my swordsmanship. I’m pretty confident it’s improved a lot.”

“Oh, really? That’s exciting.”

With a smiling face, I observed Hagio’s Presence.

He was right. His Aura, now denser than before, backed his words.

And it wasn’t just a slight improvement.

By the village’s standards…

‘His rank would’ve risen at least six or seven steps.’

It was astonishing.

In the early days of the village, ranks often shifted back and forth. It was a time of rapid growth, and talents blossomed at different rates.

But after the 13th year, rank changes became rare.

Especially the top 10, who were like an impregnable wall, causing immense despair among the lower-ranked Godok, or so I’d heard.

Recalling this, I looked at Hagio with deep eyes.

A friend who had surpassed the strongest outside the top 10, now appearing capable of a good match against Zeb, the fourth-ranked, whom I’d recently met.

His reason for seeking me?

That wasn’t important right now. Such things could wait.

First, we would have a conversation of swords.

Muttering to myself, I raised my Presence to match his.

Woo-woo-woo-woo-woong—!

“……Hmph.”

Facing my Presence, Hagio let out a faint groan.

He couldn’t help it. I was already the strongest in the village, but now, a year later, I was incomparably stronger.

Realizing the gap, Hagio gripped his sword tighter, his steps subtly retreating from me. It was a cautious approach until he could grasp my true strength.

Of course, I wasn’t one to indulge his wishes.

Chizik, chizizizik—!

Swiiiish—!

My Aura began to carry the energy of lightning. Crackle, crackle, yellow sparks flew from my body, emitting a menacing sound.

That wasn’t all.

The Snake Sword technique I had absorbed from the Jeten Guild Leader.

Combined with it, my sword exuded the aura of a fantastical beast, unpredictable and elusive. My footsteps and sword path, moving at tremendous speed through untraceable routes, dazzled Hagio’s eyes.

“Hm!”

Hagio wasn’t swayed.

With wide eyes, he stared at me.

More precisely, he targeted every ‘space’ where I might be, where I could possibly exist, as his attack zone.

He raised his longsword.

Infusing it with the energy of the earth and the reinforced steel it enhanced.

Flinch!

That alone sent a pressure unlike anything I’d felt before.

A massive pillar!

No, more than that—a Presence like a colossal mountain collapsing!

It was an overwhelming force and destructive power I shouldn’t face head-on. Smirking with amusement, I quickly pulled back my forward-leaning body, and moments later.

Kwakwakwakwakwakwakwa—Boom!

A tremendous shockwave swept through where I had been.

A massive crater.

A massive fissure!

A terrifying scene, as if a landslide had passed, unfolded before my eyes.

A swordsmanship I hadn’t seen from him before.

Realizing this, I asked Hagio, “That attack doesn’t suit an assassin’s style, does it?”

“What’s with the obvious question? The latter teachings of the ‘village’ had little to do with ‘assassination.’ You know that, don’t you?”

“True enough.”

“Of course, I admit the swordsmanship I just showed differs greatly from my identity so far. I no longer need to harm others stealthily or quietly.”

“That’s true.”

The conversation ended there. With a faint smile, Hagio took a horizontal slashing stance.

As if he intended to cleave my waist in two—no, to erase my existence from the world!

Feeling his resolve, I didn’t feel offended but grinned fiercely in return, circulating the Aura in my body through the Aura Cultivation Method. The 37 Aura Roads, now expanded, supplied Aura to my muscles like blood, and my body, enveloped in energy, was like a bolt of lightning.

Pop-pop-pop-boom!

I added flames.

I added explosions.

With the acceleration from the reactive force, I shot forward with a boom, accompanied by an explosive sound. It was to clash before Hagio’s technique was complete, reducing its power, and my calculation was perfect. His half-swung sword collided with mine.

Claaang—!

“Ugh!”

“Hmm—!”

A suppressed groan escaped my opponent.

In contrast, I was composed. Thanks to gaining the upper hand in this exchange, it hinted that I still outclassed Hagio. My sword swung several more times swiftly. Amid the chaos, Hagio’s expression twisted like a ferocious demon.

Boom!

“Urgh!”

Finally, my kick landed on Hagio’s abdomen, exploiting a gap. He deliberately leaped back to create distance, then infused his sword with Aura and scattered it.

Swish-swish-swish—!

Thousands of Aura projectiles rained down on me as I pursued. It was a move that could fluster someone focused solely on offense.

Tang-tang-tang-tang-tang—!

But it was futile.

Hagio shook his head, watching me meticulously deflect every bit of energy, no matter how small.

As expected, it wasn’t easy.

I was still an opponent he couldn’t defeat.

‘It’s a pity. But it’s too early to be disappointed.’

Indeed.

Though I hadn’t fought him with my full strength, he felt he’d seen a glimpse closer to my true power than before. It was a moment to realize his stagnant skills had surged forward.

He had grown stronger.

He could grow stronger still.

Grateful for that, Hagio grinned and said, “Can we keep going?”

“Of course. I was just looking to test some things, but I lacked a partner.”

My words were true.

Since I hadn’t fully mastered controlling energy through the Aura Roads and Aura Hall, sparring with someone of Hagio’s caliber was something I’d have asked for.

“Heh.”

“Hahaha.”

Woong—!

Woo-woong—!

With mutual understanding, we smiled at each other and unleashed our Presence again.

Hagio’s sword was cloaked in sharp, grayish-white Aura, while mine, though an ordinary blade, exuded an aura as if it would never break, no matter what it struck.

Monster versus monster.

Graduate versus Graduate!

As the Eddy Mercenary Corps watched a spectacle that could be called Marzen’s greatest, they swallowed hard.

“This… is a development I never imagined…”

“Indeed.”

“Haha, I thought it was just another nobody drawn by Boss Harang’s fame…”

“…That’s a complete monster, isn’t it?”

“Not just any monster. I can’t believe there’s a young man who can exchange so many blows with Boss…”

“Exactly. He looks a bit rough, but he doesn’t seem old.”

Though it wasn’t clear how, the Eddy Mercenary Corps had recently seen wandering swordsmen seeking to challenge Harang due to his growing fame.

Of course, they held no expectations for them.

At best, Silver Plate level.

Most were at a level where the Iron Fist and Bloody Fist brothers could put up a good fight, and even the occasional skilled opponent was handled by Darren.

So, they assumed this young man would be knocked out in one blow—either knocked unconscious by a lightning-fast kick or wetting himself at the sight of a sword suddenly before his eyes. They’d even considered betting on which it’d be.

But to witness such an absurd scene…

“This… This is incredible! That’s the Boss who cut down Dukan Iter in one strike!”

“Right.”

“Who could he be? One of the Next Generation, maybe?”

“Probably. Aside from Boss, only they reached Graduate in their 20s…”

“Wow, then we might’ve been rude. The Next Generation are pretty esteemed…”

“No. He’s not Next Generation.”

“Hm? Gasp? You…”

“Ah, what a shock! When did you get here, Family Head!”

Eddy, answering Glen’s questions, looked startled. Thinking they were alone, he turned at the unfamiliar voice and saw Philip Portville, who had been there unnoticed, staring at Harang and the young man with a grave expression.

But he paid no mind to Eddy’s surprise.

After a brief pause, he continued, “Having been in the swordsmanship world for so long, I’ve memorized most notable figures. There’s no Next Generation I wouldn’t know.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Yes. And… his attire doesn’t suggest high status.”

“Hm, his clothes don’t look particularly fine, true.”

“Right. Of course, he could be from a renowned swordsmanship family on a wandering journey…”

“…But?”

“…It wouldn’t hurt to ask. Nothing to lose, right?”

“Huh? Nothing to lose?”

“What does that mean…”

As the Eddy Mercenary Corps looked puzzled, Philip Portville nodded silently and strode toward the two.

“Hm?”

“What’s that? Who’s that guy…”

“Oh, that’s… someone I know, but why’s he suddenly…?”

Caught off guard by the unexpected intruder, Harang and Hagio stood awkwardly.

They remained silent, watching Philip Portville approach.

Moments later, they couldn’t help but feel baffled by the old man’s words directed at Hagio.

“Young man.”

“Yes, elder.”

“Ever thought about becoming our family’s son-in-law?”