## Chapter 1209 – Power

The day of the invitation.

I visited the royal palace once again.

Now I’m coming and going to the royal palace like it’s my own home.

The royal palace was large and splendid, but once I got used to it, I didn’t even feel nervous. It’s all thanks to the power I’ve gained. The more power I have within me, the bolder I become.

Anyway, it was at that moment when I was walking towards the front gate of the royal palace ahead.

ㅡThwack!

Murderous intent.

“…!”

A strong murderous intent is felt, and the senses of the body soar to their peak. A danger detection ability close to instinct ignites the soul of a warrior, and at the same time as thinking, I take a combat stance and spread my senses in all directions.

ㅡWhoosh!
ㅡRumble rumble rumble!!!

A simple change of posture.

Just walking and taking a small action caused a whirlwind to blow.

What kind of brazen bastard dares to send murderous intent to me in front of the royal palace? Whatever it is, if they attack me, I’ll start a love butchering operation right on the spot. A perfect opponent to test this newly acquired power of love!!! I’ll show you a lovely destruction!!!!

Thinking only of that, at the moment I sensed the location of the beast!

ㅡWham!!!

Right in front of my eyes.

A familiar auntie landed.

ㅡFlap.

The hem of a fluttering black long coat and brown hair.

Long strands of hair hang down on either side of the straight-cut bangs, with waves at the ends.

Her identity was none other than the Sword Master of the Karga Kingdom.

“What?”

What.

What the.

What kind of mother-effing crazy bastard is sending such intense murderous intent… Sword Master? Yeah. That’s the level of murderous intent. Of course, it must have been sent by such an existence. It has to be this much to make me wary.

But why all of a sudden?
Did she receive an assassination request or something?

ㅡSwish.

Anyway, she straightened her posture after landing, kicking up dust, and looked at me. The murderous intent from just now was nowhere to be found. Only a pair of sharp eyes were directed at me.

“Oh.”

Soon, she exclaimed.

“Truly admirable. A masterpiece… How could this happen? No. Is it only natural?”

She looked me up and down from head to toe, as if trying to explore, and then said those words.

“Aren’t you the Sword Master?”

First, I bowed slightly and extended my hand to shake hands.

The murderous intent didn’t seem to be my imagination. Did she do that on purpose to announce her arrival? Strong people can be a bit childish, so it’s possible.

“Yes. I am the Sword Master. It’s very nice to meet you like this.”

She immediately grabbed my hand and shook it.

“Hehehe, likewise. But what’s with such a flashy entrance? I was so surprised I almost sat down and screamed.”

Saying that, I examine the Sword Master in front of me.

Can I handle her?

I was confident that I could beat the Dwarf God Hammer. But this auntie… can I beat her? What’s certain is that I’m stronger in terms of power. But I feel like I’m a little lacking in technique.

No.

I can win.

I’m the one who killed Adramalech.
There’s no way I can lose.

Of course, there are more than one or two things to be careful about, and it would be really dangerous if we actually fought. But I, Cheonma Kim Kat, am confident that I can win. There’s no opponent I, who killed Adramalech, am afraid of.

I can win.

I’m determined to win.

“It seems like your personality changes every time I see you. Well, I guess that’s only natural.”

As I think that, the judgment that I will definitely win captivates my mind… Hmm, isn’t being so overconfident not a good thing? In reality, I’ve never received the essence of the technique possessed by someone of this caliber.

Let’s reserve judgment.

I’ve never fought a top-tier killing technician like this before.

ㅡSwish.

Soon, she let go of my hand that she was shaking. Then, like a general, she put her hands behind her back and slowly circled around me.

“It’s quite admirable. A warrior worthy of being called a hero is inevitably a genius. And such a genius. At some point, experiences rapid growth. To the point where ordinary people can’t catch up.”
“…”

Yeah.

I was wondering why she came so flamboyantly, and that was it.

The Sword Master felt my changed power.

It seems like she came to test it out.

“I’ve had that experience too. I feel a sense of kinship. How about it? Why don’t you quit being a Paladin and join the Royal Knights?”

Don’t suggest it like you’re asking me to go eat Gukbap for lunch.

“Hehehe, the Royal Knights, you say. Still, I’m a Paladin, so I have no intention of doing that.”

I hate the military.

“Hmm, that’s a shame. I thought Paladin, you, could aim for the next Sword Master position.”

Why is she saying this here?
Is she getting too old and wants to retire?

“Oh my. Thank you for such high praise.”
“Isn’t it a fair assessment?”
“Hehehe, is that so?”

In terms of simple force, I feel like I can be the Sword Master. But the Sword Master isn’t just someone who’s good at fighting. What should I say. Just a killing expert. Tactics used by the military or tactics that knights should use, etc.

Because the sense of commanding those soldiers is also excellent, that’s why they are the Sword Master.

“These days, I’m not very satisfied with the skills of our knights. There’s no one I can mark as a successor.”
“Isn’t that a big problem?”
“It is a big problem.”

I don’t know if she’s really thinking about a successor.

“Let’s walk for a bit.”
“Sure.”

She naturally asked for company, and naturally had the front gate of the royal palace opened. And so, I entered the walls of the royal palace with her.

We walk and walk again.

The place we arrived at was a garden inside the royal palace.

It’s a very beautiful garden. But it’s not as beautiful as the sacred area inside the Elven Forest. This is just a created environment.

“I can feel a very unique mana from the Paladin, did you achieve something? I’m getting interested.”
“Mana, you say?”
“That must be why it’s gotten so strong.”
“That’s right.”
“Oh.”
“But unfortunately, it’s a trade secret, so I can’t tell you. It’s my special technique, so I can’t tell anyone.”
“Ahahaha. Of course, that’s right. I was just joking.”

We weren’t the only ones in the garden.

There were many guards and servants.

There was even a gardener holding large scissors, and he was cutting leaves like a madman possessed by the obsession that he couldn’t live without cutting something.

ㅡSnip.
ㅡSnip.

That guy looks like he’ll habitually cut people’s heads off if he doesn’t cut leaves. Maybe he’s a secret weapon of the royal palace or a hidden assassin. Pretending to be a gardener and suddenly coming to cut your throat.

Thinking about that, I said.

“More than that, what was that explosive murderous intent just now? I thought an assassin had come.”
“Murderous intent?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… Well, I’m getting too old these days. I guess I couldn’t control it well. I apologize.”

It was as if she was spewing out murderous intent like she was breathing without controlling it.

As expected, a professional serial killer.

“Actually, when I see a strong person like the Paladin, I feel like I can’t control myself.”
“Control, you say?”
“Yes, control. When I was young, I couldn’t control myself at all. There were many stronger people than me back then.”

This is what someone who looks like they’re at most in their late twenties is saying.

But it’s a very long time ago.

“If there were stronger beings than me around, I couldn’t feel at ease at all. Because who knows when I’ll die? I could die as easily as I’ve killed. So back then, I feel like I was running and running to feel at ease… Haa. I was really living a fulfilling life back then.”

ㅡSwish.

The Sword Master said that and looked at me.

What the hell was that just now?
Did she indirectly say that she’s uneasy because there’s a strong person like me who can compete with her?

Anyway, that was a worthwhile obsession to learn. Running because you can’t feel at ease. It can be said to be a really good obsession. Thinking from this person’s point of view, yeah. Because if you die, you can’t kill anymore. You’re running to not die.

“Aren’t you fulfilling now?”
“No. Now there are hardly any stronger people than me. There are no big wars either. In many ways, only boring times are overflowing.”
“That’s a big problem.”
“Ahahaha. It’s really a big problem.”
“No. When you think about it, isn’t it good because it’s peaceful?”
“That’s true too.”

I walked with the Sword Master while talking about that. I used to be nervous, but now I feel like I’m dealing with an uncle from another unit, so I’m very comfortable.

“Peace isn’t always a good thing…”

What kind of warmongering way of thinking is this.

“Anyway, it’s really amazing. For such a powerful warrior to appear from the Mirkesha nomads. It reminds me of the old days, so I feel like I’m getting a little talkative.”

This person participated in the Mirkesha suppression war that took place decades ago and slaughtered all those guys.

“If the Paladin had been born a few decades earlier, he would have definitely become the chieftain of Mirkesha.”

She brought up those words as if she had revealed that she had killed them all with her own hands. Does she want to fight me? I could vaguely see that kind of competitive spirit.

“Hehehe, chieftain, you say. It doesn’t seem like a very fun position. It’s more enjoyable to live while enjoying the benefits of civilization like this than being a nomadic chieftain in many ways.”
“Ahahaha, that’s certainly true. It’s more convenient to live in the capital than in that uncomfortable place.”

The Sword Master kept laughing at what I said.

She laughed like that and said jokingly.

“Perhaps Paladin, you. Do you have any intention of avenging your ancestors or recreating the glory of Mirkesha?”
“Oh my! What kind of murderous joke is that! It’s literally a murder joke!”

Killing joke!

I’m a person who has nothing to do with those guys.

“A powerful warrior will eventually pursue such things.”
“Hehehe, I’m not very interested in my homeland. Just because I was born there, do I have to live only thinking about that place? What I pursue. Yeah. It’s not that.”
“Oh? Then what do you pursue?”

What I pursue.

It’s simple.

“It’s love and peace.”
“L… what? What did you just say?”

The moment she was laughing, she made a very questionable expression and asked again.

“I said love and peace, Sword Master.”
“…I don’t quite understand. Are you really talking about that love and peace?”
“That’s right.”

I don’t lie about this!

“I want peace in this world! And such a beautiful world where people can respect and love each other!!! I’m pursuing that, and I’m running only for that!!!”

I looked straight at her face and burst out my honest feelings. What I want is a world full of love! That is the spirit of Hongik Ingan, the fundamental ideology of Fusion Confucianism that widely benefits humanity!

For me and my women! And for me and their children! Furthermore, for the people of this world! I want my children to live beautifully in a beautiful world! That’s why I devoted myself to love!!!

“Uh, uh… Paladin, you. Aren’t you a Paladin directly under the Saintess, not a formal Paladin?”

The Sword Master seemed very embarrassed by my outburst.

“Even if I didn’t devote myself directly to the Order!!! I have such a burning heart!!!! Oh! Love! Beautiful love! And peace! Hope! Friendship! I have obtained this powerful power to protect it!!!”
“N, no, wait a minute. Calm down a bit… I guess a clergyman is a clergyman after all.”
“Calm down complete!”

If you tell me to calm down, I have to calm down.

I calmed down immediately.

“…”

The Sword Master who stopped looked at me.

“Hehehe, I said it like a joke, but I’m serious.”
“Uh… If the Paladin says so, then that’s what it is.”

She was desperately trying to hide the feeling that she had seen something very strange. There’s no way someone like this can understand my ideology. How can a serial killer talk about love?

ㅡStep step.

We walked again.