I Became a Genius Swordsman in the Pretty Girl Game

[The Ugly Truth of the World Peace Association: There Was No Peace There]

[Supremacist Awakener Group Arrested! Even Demons Among Them!?]

[Top Political and Financial Figures Rapidly Aged Overnight—What on Earth Happened?]

A storm of chaos erupted following an unofficial meeting.

The news exploded across the globe, and online platforms reacted as though a bomb had been dropped. The individuals whose corruption was exposed all held high international positions, amplifying the shockwaves.

But did this revelation provoke widespread public outrage?

Surprisingly, it didn’t.

It all began with a single post from an online community user with an unusual nickname.

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《Shall we take a moment to worship Lina?》

Author: GrandmaLover

My grandma is a veteran from the Gate Crisis days.

After the Gate Crisis ended, the government made all sorts of promises to reward those who had served. But they kept delaying it, citing financial difficulties or other excuses.

Then, suddenly, everything they owed was paid all at once, with interest.

An older woman—some Finance Minister? I don’t know her exact position, but she seemed high-ranking—came to our house.

At first, I thought she was there to take the money back, saying it was a mistake. But then, she knelt in front of my grandma and began trembling. She confessed all her wrongdoings and begged for forgiveness, promising it would never happen again.

Wow.

I swear, the chills I got in that moment.

My grandma had suffered from injuries she couldn’t afford to treat, to the point she’d groan in pain whenever it rained. But this time, a dispatched healer treated her for free.

And my younger sibling, who recently got into Velvet Academy, couldn’t even afford proper meals. Now, they’re receiving a scholarship for families of veterans.

It’s astonishing how quickly everything changed.

I feel so proud and emotional, as though my grandma is finally being recognized as the hero she is.

But it’s also a little scary—how sudden it all was.

So I did some digging to find out what happened.

Turns out, the Mage Emperor pulled the strings.

After observing for so long, they decided enough was enough. They gathered all the corrupt officials and told them to fix their messes immediately—or else.

Hearing this, my family finally felt relief for the first time in ages.

sigh…

I’ve sworn eternal loyalty to the Mage Emperor.

No objections allowed.

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-I bow in worship. GOAT…

-My grandma got the call yesterday, and she cried, saying she always believed the Mage Emperor would never forget about them.

-This is real. All the things that were dragging on forever are suddenly being resolved. It’s insane how rotten things had become, but it’s kind of fun to watch the news now.

-Righteous retribution! Pure dopamine rush!!!

-Only Lina can restore order.

-Wow, that meme’s ancient. Isn’t it too outdated? Oh, by the way, are you a veteran?

-They’ve already fixed everything.

-Yes, they have…

-The fact is, grandma is getting healthier.

-Okay, take care.

-Hey, author, about your nickname…

-What about it?

-It’s just, uh… It’s accurate but still…

-I like grandmas.

-No, I mean, it’s just…

-The mental whiplash between wholesome and questionable is killing me. LOL

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This post sparked a flood of similar stories.

Typically, when this level of hidden corruption is exposed, it triggers chaos, with people rising up in anger.

However, the current upheaval was seen as part of the Mage Emperor’s process of dredging up the rot and replacing it. People not only accepted this but also cheered for it.

There was no need for public outrage, as everyone trusted that the corrupt would be held accountable.

This belief in a society where justice is rewarded, and injustice is punished had taken root.

The trust and gravitas associated with the Mage Emperor’s name made such a monumental task possible.

The Mage Emperor’s reputation, which had waned briefly due to the Utopia Team, soared back to the top that day.

.

.

.

Upon returning from the unofficial meeting, I spent some time with my party members before heading to the training grounds alone.

After completing an intense training session that pushed my body to its limits, I took a break. While cooling off, I retrieved a jet-black book from the subspace tattoo on my arm.

“Hmmm, who should I give this skill book to?”

The skill book, obtained during the recent Demon Realm Gate incident, was one belonging to demons:

《Elemental Qi Projectiles》

It was originally designed for large-scale group combat.

‘Still, I don’t think this would suit Ichika very well.’

Using it would allow one to shoot attribute-infused projectiles in a barrage. But having Ichika fire shadow projectiles? That seemed counterproductive. She could summon shadows to fight, allowing for much more active combat.

‘And giving it to Shin Se-hee doesn’t seem right either. She’s been diligently preparing for her role as commander by upgrading the drone camera’s voice function recently.’

Attributes… attributes…

As I mulled over the matter, I felt a familiar presence behind me.

“Disciple.”

It was my teacher.

“Oh? Master? You’re here without notice…”
“I was called by the chairman and just finished meeting with her.”
“Ah, so they contacted you about handling those people as well.”
“…Yes, the chairman has been talking about you more frequently these days.”
“Huh? Oh, really?”

Well, that was natural. After all, I was the one who spearheaded handling the recent issues.

I nodded absentmindedly.

“Yes, ‘recently,’ the chairman has been talking about you ‘a lot.’”

But my master repeated the same phrase, as if dissatisfied with my initial response.

“…”

For some reason, Master’s gaze bore into me. It felt heavy.

Gulp.

I swallowed dryly, a strange chill running down my spine.

What was this? It felt like I’d done something wrong, even though I hadn’t.

“…M-Master?”

Master clicked her tongue softly, then shifted back to the original topic.

“Anyway, I came to address those scum, but there’s more to it.”
“More?”
“Yes, with those vermin dealt with, our budget has increased.”
“Our? Oh, you mean the Demon Slayer Squad.”
“Exactly. We’ll now be able to recruit new members.”
“Oh, that’s great!”

I responded enthusiastically. It truly was good news.

I’d always thought the Demon Slayer Squad was severely understaffed, given the scope of their responsibilities.

Their primary mission involved identifying and eliminating demons hidden around the world. But with only about 20 members covering the entire globe, it was a nearly impossible task. If someone got injured during a mission, the situation became even more dire.

‘That’s why Master has always personally stepped in, even though she’s way past the point where she should be taking on such fieldwork herself.’

Last year, they managed to keep the demons suppressed, allowing for twice-weekly swordsmanship classes. But this year, I hadn’t had a proper class yet.

‘Well, dealing with those who wronged Lina led to this, huh?’

After plugging all the financial leaks, there was now some breathing room in the budget.

“Hmm, so on that note, I have a request for you.”
“A request?”
“Yes, we’re planning to recruit three new members. Two are already chosen from candidates I’ve observed for a while, but one position remains open.”
“Could it be…?”
“Exactly. Is there anyone you know who could be a good fit for the Demon Slayer Squad?”

Oh. Being asked to scout for new members for the Demon Slayer Squad? That was new.

“So, you’re saying I can recommend someone I know to join the squad?”

I took the request seriously and began contemplating.

“Hmm, a squad member… Ideally, they’d need strong anti-personnel combat skills, stealth, and mobility.”

With those criteria in mind, a few names came to me.

About ten candidates or so.

As I sifted through potential candidates in my mind, my master spoke again.

“I should warn you, though. The requirements for joining the squad are strict. It’s not just about enduring grueling training or having combat prowess and mobility.”
“Oh, really? Then what’s the main criterion?”
“Hatred.”
“…Hatred?”
“Yes. They must have experienced direct harm from demons or lost a loved one—or someone equivalent to family—to demons.”
“Ah…”

Right, Master himself lost her sense of taste to a demon.

Back then, they weren’t called demons but villains.

“Without a deep-seated hatred for demons, one cannot become a squad member. The job offers no money, no fame, not even a semblance of normal life.”

The squad operates entirely in the shadows. A member’s identity must remain hidden from demons, necessitating a life shrouded in secrecy. Only someone driven by unyielding hatred could endure such a lifestyle.

Master, of course, was an exception. Since any demon capable of threatening her would require Lina’s intervention, she could operate openly.

“Hmmm, that narrows things down more than I thought.”

With that clarification, I eliminated several potential candidates from my list. Only one name remained.

“Well… There’s one person who might fit the bill.”

Master raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. It seemed she hadn’t expected much.

“Are you busy right now, Master?”
“Not particularly, no.”
“Then would you mind coming with me somewhere for a bit?”

Linking arms with my puzzled Master, I led her toward the academy district.