The Protagonist’s Daddy Long Legs – Chapter 42

—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Wjin
—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

 
“…Ugh!!”

Something was wrong. Goyumi had definitely used the poison correctly, hadn’t she? Did she betray them? No. She was bound by the will of the Iron Blood Clan. Then…

“Call them!!”

Their plans had been leaked.

At his command, one of his subordinates hurriedly pulled out a signal flare and fired it into the air.

A crimson explosion bloomed in the night sky. Those who were lying in wait should be moving now.

But nothing happened.

The reinforcements didn’t arrive.

Cheolhyeol Suje gritted his teeth and shook his head.

“Fine. Let’s settle this, then!”

He moved swiftly, striking his own pressure points, unleashing a surge of energy.

He had unlocked the full potential of the Iron Blood Will, amplifying his power.

Sensing the surge of energy, Hongryeon lunged forward, but the Sword Saint intercepted her with a flick of her wrist.

-Swish!

“Ugh!”

Blood spurted from Hongryeon’s chest. But she ignored the pain. This was nothing. As Cheolhyeol Suje’s fighting spirit intensified, the Sword Saint looked at him with an unreadable expression.

“You’re wrong,” she said, her voice cold.

-Swish!

“Ugh!!”

His left ear flew off, blood gushing from the wound.

Cheolhyeol Suje gritted his teeth and launched a blue energy blast at the Sword Saint.

She effortlessly deflected it with her sword, sending it hurtling towards one of his men, then took a step forward.

“What you should be saying,” she continued,

A Water Sword was drawn. a swirling mass of inky blackness. The monstrous creatures it had consumed transformed into watery beasts, charging towards her.

But…

-Crash!

A small, delicate hand swept through the air, shattering the beasts effortlessly.

Necks twisted, jaws shattered, bodies flung into the air before crashing to the ground. Heads exploded, obliterated by a well-aimed kick.

She deflected another energy blast with a flick of her wrist, as if it were nothing more than a bothersome insect.

Her feats were beyond human comprehension. Cheolhyeol Suje realized…

The only way to catch a tiger was to use its cubs as bait.

And he…

“Damn it…”

He had underestimated her. As his face contorted with rage and frustration, her voice, cold and sharp, pierced his ears.

“You should be begging for a swift death.”

Her words only fueled his fury.

If she had a chance to strike back, she wouldn’t hesitate.

But her priority was her fellow disciples.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Hongryeon, using the opening she had created by knocking back an attacker with her greatsword, searched for her sisters.

She saw Yoohee, her stance faltering as she was pushed back by an enemy’s relentless assault.

She was in danger.

Hongryeon was about to throw her greatsword when an invisible force sent Yoohee’s attacker flying, disrupting his attack.

Yoohee regained her balance, her movements regaining their fluidity and precision as she continued to fight.

It was the Sword Saint.

While fending off Cheolhyeol Suje’s watery beasts and keeping him occupied,

She was also monitoring the entire battlefield, subtly intervening whenever one of her disciples was in danger. Hongryeon had already witnessed this several times.

Even in this chaotic battle, the Sword Saint was ensuring her disciples’ safety, providing them with opportunities to learn and grow.

Then what was there to fear?

If this large-scale battle was a chance for her sisters to improve, then she, as the eldest disciple, had to lead the charge.

“Hongseong Sword Formation!!”

At her command, the disciples pushed back their opponents and swiftly formed a tight formation, Hongryeon at the forefront, their swords glinting in the moonlight.

The enemy attempted to block them with their own formation, but the Hongseong Divine Arts were like a falling star, their destructive power impossible to contain.

And then…

“Agh!”

The formation that Sayun had activated within Hongseongmun amplified the power of their sword formation. The enemy’s formation crumbled under the overwhelming pressure.

-Crack!

Hongryeon’s greatsword shattered the enemy’s formation, creating an opening.

“Ryuhyeon!!”

“Reverse Blade!”

Ryuhyeon, responding to her call, broke off from the main formation, her movements swift and precise. Her disciples followed, unleashing a torrent of sword and fist techniques, cutting down the enemy.

Cheolhyeol Suje watched helplessly as his loyal subordinates were slaughtered.

Damn it.

Where did it all go wrong?

His plan had been flawless!

Why didn’t they show up?

Had Goyumi betrayed them?

Countless possibilities raced through his mind. But none of them made sense.

-Swish!!

“How arrogant of you. To let your mind wander when you’re facing me.”

His other ear was sliced off.

He gritted his teeth, blood dripping from his wounds. He charged at the Sword Saint, aiming a swift strike at her head.

But she merely tilted her head slightly, dodging his attack by a hair’s breadth. His blade sliced through empty air, and his punishment was swift.

-Thud!

A sharp pain exploded in his gut. He stumbled back, his insides churning. the Sword Saint smiled coldly.

A beautiful smile.

But her eyes were cold, merciless.

She swung her sword again, effortlessly severing his arm.

“Aaaargh!”

He screamed, a mixture of pain and despair.

But the Sword Saint’s assault continued relentlessly.

“Now, tell me… beg me to end your suffering.”

Her fist, imbued with the destructive power of a falling star, slammed into his chest.

He collapsed to the ground, but his defiant laughter continued.

“Cough! It suits you… cough! This is all you’re capable of. Destruction! Hahaha…!”

-Thwack!

Her outstretched leg slammed into his face, crushing his nose and shattering several teeth. He spat out blood, but his laughter didn’t stop.

But his mind was racing, searching for an escape.

He had to throw her off balance.

And they both knew exactly how to achieve that.

No, she was already enraged.

She was furious that he had dared to attack Hongseongmun.

What would happen if he pushed her further?

Perhaps that would create an opening.

“He… hehehe… haha…”

A cruel smile spread across his face.

the Sword Saint knew what he was going to say. She recognized the glint of malicious intent in his eyes.

Her weakness.

Her past, the source of her deepest pain.

She couldn’t let him speak those words.

She wouldn’t.

She raised her sword, intending to silence him permanently. But then she saw…

A beautiful young woman standing before her.

It was Hongryeon.

Her first disciple. The girl who had asked to become her student, knowing full well that the Sword Saint had killed her own sister-like figure.

The girl who knew the sacrifices required to master the Hongseong Divine Arts, yet chose this path willingly.

And after that girl… her other disciples came into focus.

Ryuhyeon, her second disciple, always diligent, always supporting her despite her own shortcomings.

Jingo, a quiet, dedicated student who would soon discover the true meaning of being a warrior.

And the others, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses.

And finally, Sayun, her youngest disciple, the one who had arrived at Hongseongmun clinging to life, her eyes filled with despair.

They were all precious to her, her beloved students, who followed the teachings of Hongseongmun with unwavering dedication.

After a brief moment, she tore her gaze away from her disciples and looked at the man in front of her.

His arms were severed, his face covered in blood.

His ears were gone, his body a canvas of cuts and bruises, as if she had been playing with him, torturing him for her own amusement.

She could have killed him instantly, yet she had chosen to torment him, to revel in his pain.

the Sword Saint closed her eyes, her heart heavy.

Her martial arts, the skills she had honed to protect, had been consumed by her own rage.

“Haa…”

I’m still far from being a true master.

She calmed her raging emotions. Glancing at Cheolhyeol Suje, whose face was now a mask of pain and defiance, she tossed her greatsword into the air. Then, she took a single step.

She rose effortlessly into the air, surveying the battlefield.

Her disciples, fighting bravely against the invaders.

They were all following the teachings of Hongseong, their movements calm and controlled, their emotions in check.

And yet she, their master, the leader of Hongseongmun, had allowed her rage to consume her…

She shook her head.

I’m not worthy of being the sect leader.

She remembered the fear she had felt when she had to reveal her true identity in Hongseongmun’s secret realm, the fear that she wouldn’t be worthy, that the realm itself would reject her.

She was still plagued by that doubt, the fear that she was not good enough, that she would fail her disciples.

But that didn’t mean she could shirk her responsibilities.

She channeled her energy into her sword, imbuing it with the power of a falling star.

A power capable of destroying everything in its path.

Slowly, she raised her sword, pointing it towards the remaining invaders.

“Oh,” Cheolhyeol Suje gasped, staring up at the sky.

A blazing sun hung in the night sky.

But now, a second sun appeared beside it.

No, a new star was born.

The white energy that enveloped her greatsword…

It was ridiculous, but the moment that white light engulfed the sky, he thought night had fallen.

A single star, shining brightly amidst the all-consuming darkness, a star that eclipsed even the sun.

He couldn’t help but chuckle as he witnessed the insignificant speck of light transform into a brilliant, radiant star.

And then, as if drawn to that light, countless other stars emerged from the darkness, their light piercing the black void.

The sight brought a smile to his face.

This was what all warriors ultimately desired.

He watched as the stars, like a meteor shower, rained down on him and his men.

The radiant energy of starlight, the embodiment of a warrior’s power, ‘Ganggi.’

“Damn it.”

Those were his last words.

The final technique of the Hongseong Divine Arts Greatsword Style, Meteor Shower, was devastating. A single strike was enough to wipe out Cheolhyeol Suje and his men.

But the Sword Saint wasn’t unscathed.

It wasn’t as if she was exhausted from using a single technique that channeled Ganggi.

It was her expression that worried Hongryeon.

She looked… utterly heartbroken.

Hongryeon, after observing her for a moment, quickly pulled herself together. She knew what she had to do.

“Ryuhyeon, any injuries?”

“Hmm… nothing serious. Some of them seem to have gained some insights from this battle. The damage, however…”

Ryuhyeon trailed off, her gaze sweeping over the battlefield.

The broken walls, the craters and scorch marks left behind by the battle and the Meteor Shower…

It would take ages to repair.

But at least they had protected what mattered most.

Their sisters, their home.

That was enough. Ryuhyeon pushed aside her worries, focusing on the positive.

“No casualties. We won. A decisive victory, considering the strength of our opponents.”

“Yes. That’s good.”

Hongryeon smiled.

Their enemies had been strong, and if the battle had dragged on any longer, some of her sisters might have been injured.

But the Sword Saint had intervened at the right moment.

She had effortlessly neutralized Cheolhyeol Suje and his watery beasts.

She had protected her disciples, ensuring their safety.

She had even used this attack as a training opportunity, refraining from interfering unless absolutely necessary, allowing them to hone their skills and gain valuable experience.

the Sword Saint had done everything she could as their master, as their protector.

But her expression… it was filled with a deep, unsettling sadness.

Hongryeon sighed as she looked at her, her heart heavy.

This happened sometimes.

On nights when the Sword Saint was plagued by nightmares.

And on her birthday… which also happened to be the anniversary of Hongryeon’s master’s death, and the deaths of her martial uncles.

the Sword Saint was always melancholic on that day.

That was why, despite their decisive victory, Hongryeon couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease.

“Master.”

“…Yes?”

What should she say?

After a moment of silence, she shrugged and said,

“How about I buy you some sweets next time? After the Bi-ok-dan testing period is over…”

the Sword Saint’s eyes widened. It wasn’t just about the sweets. It was the thoughtfulness behind her disciple’s words, the genuine concern.

She couldn’t refuse.

“…The ones Innkeeper Yoo brought over?”

“Yes. Those.”

“…Okay.”

the Sword Saint smiled, and Hongryeon finally let out a sigh of relief, a genuine smile gracing her lips.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇