Chapter 22

Chapter 22 — For the Emperor (5)

The Great Ancestor's statue—its massive body moved. But it didn't feel heavy at all. Light and fluid, as though it had been born a giant. You would never guess this statue had slept for a thousand years.

"How much do you know about this world?"

"More than you'd think."

"I see. The world does have its share of wonders and remarkable people. I would not understand your explanation regardless. Just as you are a stranger to me, I am a stranger to you."

The Great Ancestor said.

"But what I can say with certainty is that you cannot possibly know everything about this world either."

"Fair enough."

Come to think of it, my weapon right now was pretty terrible. They say a craftsman doesn't blame his tools, but better gear was always better.

"Would it be possible to borrow your heir's sword for a moment?"

"Of course."

A sword slid out from the waist of Gatis, who lay as though sleeping. It was a child's sword, so it wasn't particularly long, but it was similar to the one I'd used in my Hunter days. I'd been a swordsman who primarily wielded a short sword, after all.

"I can feel it. The Mana density of this world has thickened. People must possess many Skills now. In my time, you see, having just ten made you a formidable master."

Ugh, the classic "back in my day." Then again, for someone separated by a thousand years, I had to give him that much.

"Thicker Mana density means monsters have grown stronger too. This world operates on that kind of order. A delicate equilibrium, you might call it."

"I'd imagine so."

It's a web novel world, after all. Without balance, it's just broken game design. The author built a solid world.

"But I was a being outside that equilibrium. That is why I never once unleashed my full power."

"That's terrifying."

I laughed. The sheer pressure radiating from his body made it clear this was no empty boast. That's what made it funny. I'm a born fighter at heart—when I see someone strong, it gets a bit exciting.

"As it happens, the same is true for me in this world."

"How amusing."

The statue raised its sword. Its aura unfurled in earnest—the golden aura that symbolized the Empire. I matched it, kindling my own.

"You too have reached the pinnacle in at least one area."

Was that so? If maxing out a Skill counted as the pinnacle, then sure.

【Unique Skill: Supersensory's level has been assessed.】

【Unique Skill: Supersensory Lv. MAX in use】

【Unique Skill: Phantom Shadow Lv. MAX in use】

【Unique Skill: Phantom Swordsmanship Lv. 7 in use】

【Skill: Thought Acceleration Lv. 8 in use】

That alone meant I'd activated nearly every Skill I used in combat. With each Skill I activated, the statue's aura grew more formidable as well.

"Come."

I was already on my way before he said it.

CRASH—!

I leapt, kicked off the ceiling, and rained down on him like a surface-to-air missile. The gap in height and build between us right now was significant. That cut both ways. He'd have the edge in destructive power, but I'd inevitably have the advantage in agility.

In that case, the only option was to make good use of the space. The short sword I'd taken from Gatis struck down at his shoulder like a bolt of lightning. His massive sword moved quickly to block the shoulder. One-handed.

Which meant he had a free hand. I looked forward and saw a battering-ram fist—the kind that breaches castle gates—bearing down on me.

"Hup!"

I immediately spun in midair and scored a scratch on his wrist. A gouge from my sword appeared on the statue's wrist.

Just one exchange, but we'd each taken the other's measure. The Great Ancestor and I naturally created distance.

"A curious style of movement."

"Everyone says that."

"Like a ghost, almost. Appari Tion may be an alias, but it suits you perfectly."

"I appreciate the compliment."

Seongmun Basic English Vocabulary pulled through. Still, there was one thing about that exchange that left me a bit sour.

"Normally, a slashed wrist ends the fight in real combat—isn't being a statue without arteries a bit unfair?"

"Had I not been a statue, I would not have thrown such a reckless punch either."

"That's some strong pride."

"The Great Ancestor's pride is the Empire's pride. I am a man who cannot afford to be weak."

I had strong pride too, so this was a case of two stubborn bulls locking horns. Of course, he wouldn't understand that expression even if I said it, so I kept it to myself.

"I'm also a man of strong pride."

"The strong cannot help but be proud."

This time, the Great Ancestor charged me. THUD, CRASH, THUD, CRASH. He looked like he was walking casually, yet the heaviness was like an elephant charging. He raised his sword high and completely dominated this wide space. His intent was to strip me of the Y-axis.

A textbook sword path, from top to bottom. But his blade crushed every inch of space, leaving me no room to slip through.

"Can you block it?"

"No chance. How could anyone block that?"

He rotated the sword mid-downstroke and swept it behind him. Because I was behind him.

I'd been behind him since the moment he started walking toward me. I'd simply left a lingering afterimage up front. A trick of my own, you might say.

But my speed wasn't so slow that I'd lag behind the reversed sword path. I ascended from below in a spiral, carving gashes into him. He didn't even try to block—instead, he swung his sword to swat me off his body like a mosquito.

I landed on the flat of his hastily pursuing blade and launched myself toward his face again. When I thrust straight for his eyes, he ducked, released his sword, and tried to envelop me with both arms.

CLAP!

A clap like swatting a mosquito struck right beneath my feet. If I hadn't extended my leap a bit further, I really would've been squashed like one. I rolled, landed on the ground, and charged in again. Before he picked up his sword was the opening.

The Great Ancestor didn't even bother pulling out the embedded sword—he simply poured Mana into it. The ground directly before me surged upward, and stone fragments laden with powerful Mana scattered in my path. I deflected most of them, but couldn't get them all and took scrapes in several places.

"That's cheating!"

"Since when are there rules in a fight?"

The Great Ancestor laughed heartily. He then pulled the sword free and launched a crescent-shaped blade of energy at the ceiling. The ceiling collapsed. He was clearly intent on dominating the entire space.

Fair enough—the terrain had been too clean for a proper fight. I charged straight into the rockfall, found a stone large enough to use as a stepping stone, kicked off it, and shot toward him. From the Great Ancestor's perspective, it must've looked like I materialized out of the rockfall. He hastily raised his sword to block mine.

"Blocking a sword tip with the flat of your blade?"

"How vexing."

Being a statue, his expression didn't change, but he was probably making a bitter face. Because in a fight between masters, that simply was not done.

I immediately poured every last drop of Mana into my sword, shattered the flat of his blade, and thrust forward again. But the Great Ancestor retreated, and my lunge—its force spent on breaking his blade—only managed a scrape across his chest.

"At least I broke your weapon."

"Heh. That was merely a piece of stone."

The Great Ancestor pressed his palm to the ground and slowly lifted it. A semicircular crater formed in the floor, and from the center of his palm, dirt began taking the shape of a sword. Once again, he held a Mana-hardened blade of earth.

"You do enjoy destroying the environment."

"I love nature, is all."

The Great Ancestor swung the new sword through the air a few times, then shaved off a bit of excess dirt. Checking the balance first—definitely S-rank Hunter caliber.

"You are the strongest person I have ever seen."

"You said Mana density was lower back then."

"Exactly my point."

The Great Ancestor seemed slightly thrilled. I was a bit thrilled myself. Opportunities for S-rank Hunters to spar were almost nonexistent.

"My grandchild should be waking soon. How about we settle this in one strike?"

"Be my guest, then. Elders first."

"Heh. I appreciate it, young one."

A thousand-year age gap—I had to give him at least that much. I didn't really have a finishing blow to speak of. Still, I drew my energy up as high as it would go. The Great Ancestor did the same. The clash of energies sent shockwaves through the dungeon, and dirt rained from the ceiling.

We said nothing as we synced our timing. One, two, three—no need for such childish signals. The Great Ancestor had neither eyes that blinked nor breath that drew, yet I could read him. And he, who had my blinking eyes and breathing to work with, had surely read me long ago.

"Come at me with the resolve to shatter me."

The Great Ancestor left those words as his last and charged. I charged as well. As fast as I possibly could. Without building up acceleration, contending with his power was impossible.

He thrust in an honest straight line, and I unfurled a spiraling sword path that perfectly enveloped his blade. It was the best way to stall his trajectory while keeping my own blade's tip at its sharpest. Just before his straight thrust reached my body, I leapt—chest arcing upward like a high jumper.

But the short sword was too short to reach his chest. At that moment, his greatsword naturally rose upward. He'd already predicted my action. Of course, I'd predicted his as well. I corrected my center of gravity, balanced on his blade like a shaman standing on a sword's edge, and sprinted along it.

The soles of my feet burned unbearably from the Great Ancestor's Mana. It felt like the heat would shatter them. This was a battle of whether I could endure it or not.

Then, Mana erupted from his blade like a whale's blowhole. There was no blocking it. In that case... I packed every ounce of Mana into my sword and hurled it at his chest.

CRASH—!

Mana slammed into my body, and I smashed into the ceiling before plummeting to the floor. I scrambled to my feet and checked myself over, but I wasn't in any condition to move.

I looked at the Great Ancestor's statue with desperate hope. Yes—nice. My sword was driven deep into his chest, and my Mana still surged within it.

"Heh."

"You fight well. If you'd been in your prime, I would've lost."

"A peculiar courtesy you have. Is that also a custom from your world?"

He saw right through it. Back home, we had a lot of that kind of lip service. This country had plenty of formalities too, but they didn't do the kind that diminished one's own honor.

The Great Ancestor pulled the sword from his chest and tossed it to me. Now that was a courtesy I couldn't understand. We'd each exchanged one incomprehensible courtesy.

The Great Ancestor spoke.

"What is your goal?"

"Me? Romance."

No need to hide it from a statue. I decided to go out with confidence. The Great Ancestor was speechless for a moment.

"Romance. In our world, that is no simple matter."

"Is that so?"

"Among the nobility, at least. Nobles mostly enter into political marriages."

"But I want to court a noblewoman?"

"Hm. That would not work."

Excuse me, what? What do you mean?

"I enacted a decree prohibiting marriage between commoners and nobles. It is likely still in effect."

"How archaic!"

"I am a man of ancient times, so do forgive me."

I vented my fury, but the Great Ancestor deflected it effortlessly. Was this the tai chi of experience?

"If I must state the reason, the education gap between nobles and commoners is considerable. Implementing universal public education is not feasible given the nation's circumstances. Educators would need to be educated nobles, but most nobles hold military positions. Without that, we could not withstand foreign military might. Moreover, if everyone were educated, who would farm? Who would shoulder the world's foundation?"

The Great Ancestor said.

"Furthermore, human desire is inherently selfish, and the educated will inevitably exploit that selfishness with cunning. That is why I sealed the boundary between commoners and nobles."

"And what am I supposed to do about that?"

Where I came from, public education was well established, so I had no obligation to sympathize with those circumstances. A world without even separation of powers—how barbaric.

"Still, I made it possible for those with the ability to attain nobility. So if your goal is romance, becoming a noble should be your priority."

"Oh, is that so?"

Then that was acceptable. Even if I disliked class society, even if becoming a noble felt uncomfortable—well, that was when I was a commoner. Ha.

"First, when it comes to courting a noblewoman, the proposal is critical."

"The proposal?"

My ears perked right up. Yes, this was exactly the kind of knowledge I'd been after. Not that platonic spiritual communion stuff—actual, practical tips.

"I gave her a fairy ring from the Tantalos Forest. Fairy rings have the power to stimulate 'affection.'"

"Wow, that's actually helpful."

Fairy ring from the Tantalos Forest? Noted, noted. As I lit up with excitement, the Great Ancestor chuckled.

"Alternatively, there is the honor duel. When you truly desire a woman, you stake your honor in combat. No noble would have reason to refuse such a fight. Honor is paramount."

"Ah, I see. Honor duel, honor duel."

I even pulled up my Skill Book and started taking notes. First time using this high-tech feature. The Tantalos Forest fairy ring and the honor duel.

While I was scribbling notes, the Great Ancestor spoke. His voice had grown sharply weaker.

"Since I have helped you, might I make one request?"

"Well, if it's within my ability."

After tips this good, I owed him something. The Great Ancestor's mouth slowly opened.

"Become stronger."

"Pardon?"

"You are strong, but something in you still has gaps. I can sense it."

The Great Ancestor had noticed that not all my Skills were unlocked. But this level already felt strong enough. I'd shattered the Mother Tree in one blow, after all.

"I told you—when an outsider from beyond appears, danger comes to the world."

"Yes."

"The number of outsiders I sense right now is two. Two in one generation is unprecedented."

An outsider? There was someone like me? The Great Ancestor's words tangled my thoughts. But this kind of setting had never appeared in the novel.

"This world may face hardship. It is shameless of me, but I ask for your aid."

The world is facing hardship. Things would change even if I did nothing? Because of this world's "equilibrium"?

"I have one question."

"It will likely be the last. Choose your question carefully."

"You said some of those from beyond went into hiding. What happened to the world then?"

"It came to the brink of destruction. It was chaos."

Damn. Then my very existence had shifted this world in a bad direction. The original author's track record of writing devastating endings was bad enough, and now with me added to the mix......

My task was to prevent this world's chaos as much as possible. Only then could I pursue romance.

"That is precisely why I am asking you."

The Great Ancestor, still addressing a confused me, performed a brief Trafviche salute. Before I could even react, the statue began crumbling from his feet upward. So that was why his voice had weakened. His allotted time had run out.

"Remember my words."

"This is sudden, but... all right."

"Then I am relieved."

The Great Ancestor's chest soon crumbled. A faint Tomi circled the Great Ancestor's side. The Great Ancestor looked at Tomi.

"I can only be grateful to Tomi. He watched over me for a thousand years. I only ever protected him for a single moment."

"To someone, a single moment can feel like an eternity."

"I appreciate you saying that."

He turned his neck and looked at the sleeping Gatis.

"If you think of me now and then, come sit atop my grave and rest with my children. That is my sole wish."

"I will."

With that, the Great Ancestor finished crumbling and became nothing more than stone fragments. They were no longer the Great Ancestor—just debris. His soul ascended skyward. It had likely returned to his tomb.

Once his soul vanished, Tomi's eyes lost their light, and he became nothing more than a scrap of cloth, fluttering gently to the ground. I'd never heard of a Wraith Queen living for a thousand years. It must've been possible only because Tomi had harbored a soul as powerful as the Great Ancestor's.

Among the debris, there was a single white sword. Was this the reward for the wanderer—for me? I picked it up. A peculiar sword with no edge on either side. Still, it had to be good for something.

I could feel the dungeon's demonic energy rapidly fading. Having defeated Tomi, the dungeon boss, it effectively counted as completing a raid.

I gathered the cloth that had been Tomi, tucked Gatis at my side, and faced the debris. As one does toward a sparring partner after a bout, I gave a Korean-style bow. A light, silent nod.

"Good match."

Then the portal spanning all hundred floors flared with a powerful suction force, pulling in everything inside the dungeon.

As I was being drawn in, I looked up. The darkness of the hundred floors and the remaining monsters spiraled together, shattering from within the portal's light.