Solo Swordmaster – Chapter 120

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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[Team 1, Cheonhwa Department Store cleared. Two targets eliminated. Awaiting further instructions.]

[Team 2, Black Dragon Restaurant cleared. One target eliminated. Five injured being treated. Will report when finished.]

[Teams 3 and 4, engaging at Xiao Market. Two targets identified. Will be cleared within 10 minutes.]

[Team 5, Black Dragon Bank…]

[Team 6…]

In a room filled with monitors, a replica of the Leviathan’s situation room, reports poured in.

The difference was threefold.

One, these were reports from Infinity Guild, not the Black Dragon Clan.

Two, there were no distress calls or emergency alerts. And three, a single person managed it all.

“Team 1, stand by for further attacks. The Guardian System has detected new intruders.”

“Team 2, proceed to Sahwa Pavilion after treating the injured.”

“Teams 3 and 4…”

Wei-ling, a woman disguised as a man, issued orders relentlessly, like a multi-armed, multi-faced deity.

‘Sword Saint, I’ll kill you when I see you.’

Limon’s sudden security contract with Infinity Guild had cost her several sleepless nights, dealing with the aftermath. And now, with the addition of the emergency response system to the Guardian System and her taking over command during emergencies, she was on the verge of collapse from overwork.

It was a valid sense of resentment.

‘If I die from overwork, it’ll be a disgrace for generations to come.’

Yet, the fact that she was handling everything flawlessly was a testament to her competence.

Just managing the current situation would normally be a task for several people.

‘…But thanks to that, we’ve managed to overcome the initial crisis.’

Having practically built and managed the Guardian System single-handedly, Wei-ling knew that her efforts, and Limon’s contract with Infinity Guild, had saved the affiliates and the clan from imminent collapse.

It would have been impossible without Infinity Guild, one of the Ten Great Guilds. Even now, they were barely holding on.

‘Our affiliates are relatively stable, but the others are a problem.’

Wei-ling frowned, checking the status of the non-Guardian affiliates on a monitor linked to the Leviathan’s situation room.

Only the contracted affiliates were recovering, the others were still engaged in fierce battles.

‘Reinforcements are impossible.’

The contract was for the protection of Guardian System affiliates only. Infinity Guild had no obligation to help the others, even if they were part of the Black Dragon Clan. And even if they did, it wouldn’t be enough.

‘There aren’t enough resources to protect all the affiliates.’

Even Infinity Guild had its limits. And Ryu Kang-chul’s clones kept reappearing, no matter how many were killed.

Diverting forces to help the non-contracted affiliates would risk the contracted ones, putting the cart before the horse.

An endless supply of Level 80 murderers was a troublesome enemy. They couldn’t even deploy anyone below Level 60 or equivalent skill level.

‘We’d need three times… no, at least twice the current manpower.’

Wei-ling shook her head after calculating the minimum required force.

Even though only a fraction of their forces were currently deployed, it was the combined might of the Seven Dragons Association’s Martial Force Units and Infinity Guild’s raid teams, practically a national-level force.

They couldn’t possibly mobilize that much additional manpower on such short notice.

[Hey, Brainiac.]

A communication request came in, barely noticeable amidst the flood of reports. Wei-ling frowned, this time for a different reason.

“Where have you been, and what have you been doing to contact me only now?”

[We’ll talk later. Send me a route.]

“What route?”

[The non-Guardian affiliates. The most vulnerable ones first, optimized for speed.]

Wei-ling looked at him strangely, understanding the implication of his words.

“…You’re going to take on the remaining affiliates yourself?”

[Not exactly taking them on. Just a little stroll and some casual swordplay.]

“That’s impossible.”

Wei-ling said flatly.

She knew Limon was strong. He had practically defeated Chae Ho-beol with just verbal instructions over the phone.

He could probably eliminate Ryu Kang-chul in thirty moves, or even ten, in a direct confrontation. But that was assuming there was only one Ryu Kang-chul, in a single location, and that killing him once would solve the problem.

It was impossible for anyone to handle dozens of Ryu Kang-chuls, reappearing like zombies, across numerous locations, single-handedly.

[It would be impossible, for most people.]

To her surprise, Limon readily agreed.

Just as ten hands couldn’t stop one, numbers were an insurmountable disadvantage.

[But Brainiac, I’m not most people.]

He added a single caveat.

[I’m a Sword Master.]

“……”

There were always exceptions. And Sword Masters were one of them.

Wei-ling was silent for a moment, listening to Limon’s arrogant declaration. It wasn’t because she was speechless at his audacity. It was the opposite. She was disturbed by the fact that his absurd claim somehow sounded plausible.

“I’ll send it shortly. Please wait.”

[I’ll be waiting.]

“……”

As if ending the conversation, Limon hung up.

Wei-ling immediately started plotting a route, muttering to herself,

“Waiting, huh?”

She knew that his “waiting” wasn’t out of trust or reliance on her.

Limon, who didn’t trust the Seven Dragons Association, would undoubtedly scrutinize her information and act according to his own judgment.

Yet, she felt a strange sense of satisfaction, a sign of her own abnormality.

‘It’s all his fault.’

Ever since fighting alongside Ryu Kang-chul under Limon’s guidance, Wei-ling had changed.

She saw swords when she closed her eyes. She grasped a sword whenever she could. But no matter how much she practiced, she couldn’t replicate the feeling, the exhilarating, almost ecstatic sensation she had experienced under Limon’s instruction.

The more she practiced, the more frustrated she became, trapped in an endless cycle of thirst and dissatisfaction.

‘If it weren’t for him…’

She should resent him, blame him for pushing her into this hell. But all she felt was longing. Just the thought of him brought back the memory of that perfect swordsmanship, making her heart race.

She hated him, yet admired him. She wanted nothing to do with him, yet craved his guidance.

To escape this contradictory turmoil, she had been avoiding him, burying herself in work. But his casual waiting was enough to shake her resolve.

‘This is pointless.’

Wei-ling shook her head. Now wasn’t the time for such distractions.

Beep.

She sent the optimized route to Limon’s communicator.

“…This is reckless.”

She had obeyed his request, but she was still pessimistic. The more she thought about it, the more absurd it seemed for Limon to protect all those affiliates alone.

Beep—

‘As expected.’

She saw the red marker of the first affiliate on the monitor turn green. But she felt only disappointment.

‘Too slow.’

It had taken him roughly three minutes to reach and clear the first affiliate after receiving her information.

Remarkably fast for eliminating a Level 80 player, but not fast enough. There were over ten affiliates in critical condition.

At this rate, even if he cleared one every three minutes, half of them would be overrun by the time he reached the fourth or fifth.

‘What was I expecting?’

It was a predictable outcome, yet she was disappointed. Scoffing at herself, she forced her attention away from Limon, focusing on directing Infinity Guild to protect the contracted affiliates. Or rather, she tried to.

Beep—

‘Already?’

Less than two minutes later, another red marker turned green.

‘Was the second affiliate closer?’

She tried to rationalize it.

Limon’s speed was faster than she anticipated, geographical factors, luck… That was the limit of her composure.

Beep—

‘Again?’

This time, it took only a minute. Even she couldn’t explain such a drastic reduction in time. But that was just the beginning.

Beep, beep—

Beep, beep, beep—

Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep—!

“…?!”

50 seconds, 30 seconds, 15 seconds, 10 seconds… The time kept decreasing.

The situation map on the monitor turned green rapidly, like blinking neon signs, the alerts turning into a constant, high-pitched whine.

‘What… what is this?’

In less than ten minutes, 40% of the red markers on the map had turned green. Even a high-level player with a teleportation skill couldn’t achieve such speed and range.

Limon, who wasn’t even a player, was saving affiliates across vast distances in the blink of an eye. It was so unbelievable that a system malfunction seemed more plausible.

But Wei-ling couldn’t believe that. Limon’s arrogant words, her experience of his guidance, and most of all, the pounding in her chest, told her that this wasn’t a glitch, that this was Limon’s doing.

Staring at the situation map with bewildered eyes, she muttered,

“What are you doing, you crazy Sword Master?”

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