<The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family Chapter 128>
In the heart of the city, at a certain café.
This place is famous for its delicious desserts, making it hard to find a seat even on weekdays. As a result, the café was packed with people, not on a weekday, but on a weekend afternoon.
And amidst this crowded throng, a table stood out with an overwhelming presence.
Three women sat in a spot bathed in especially bright sunlight, using the natural light as their lamp.
“This place has homework, that place has homework… Everything is just drowning in homework!! This is a conspiracy! A conspiracy to k*ll us with homework, I tell you!”
There was Kim Ha-ni, known as Sister TMI, who was responsible for gathering intel for Team 20.
“……Hmm? Ha-ni, was it really that much? We never had homework because of Ki-hyuk. Not having done it, I can’t really feel your pain.”
Merhem, who had just reappeared after finishing a Gate conquest.
And…
“Hmm? These macarons are good. Not too sweet, and chewy too… Our Bom would love this! Should we take some with us? Or, is it too sugary… Hehe. I miss Bom.”
Jin Yu-ri, lost in thoughts of Bom, with a foolish smile on her face.
These were the women of Team 20, known as the calamity of the Academy.
With Park Ki-hyuk absent, Team 20 was in disarray.
To make matters worse, Kim Ha-ni was busy with her duties as a 3rd-year student, while Merhem was as usual occupied with expeditions with Han Jun-woo.
As for Jin Yu-ri, she was perhaps the one with the most free time…
“Hey, look. This is something Bom drew at kindergarten the other day. See! Here’s me, drawn so well, right? I cried when I saw it. Oh, and…”
…As expected, Jin Yu-ri was deeply engrossed in thoughts of Park Bom.
Given the lack of time to meet regularly, Merhem had gone out of her way to create such an opportunity upon her return.
“Young-ri, are you still hanging around with Bom these days? What about the Academy? Are you still attending?”
“Uh, um, probably…”
“Lies! Don’t even try that, senpai! I mean, come on! Recently, you’ve skipped all your attendance at the Academy, haven’t you? It’s hard to even catch a glimpse of you. Previously, our professor even asked me if I’d seen you.”
“……She’s right, isn’t she?”
“Haha.”
Jin Yu-ri sticks out her tongue and fakes innocence.
Merhem feels her breath getting cut off at this childish behavior of her friend.
“Yu-ri, even if we have some freedom with attendance, we’re now in our final year. Don’t you think it’s time to accumulate some ‘performance’ records for post-graduation activities?”
“Absolutely! Merhem-senpai is absolutely right! Yu-ri-senpai has been way too negligent of her Academy life.”
“Exactly…”
“Why don’t you come along with me and Jun-woo on a Gate expedition? The Academy won’t mind if it’s for building experience.”
“That’s right! Since senpai is among the top students, even just a tiny bit of show-off work is enough for professors to understand. It’s concerning that you’re not even doing that now.”
“Hmm… But I have to take Bom to and from kindergarten.”
“……Then how about this? Jun-woo and I have some free time coming up, so we’ll take care of Bom’s transport. In the meantime, you should go out and hunt.”
“Eh… Even so, I…”
“Or!! Why don’t you join the Academy’s Research Department where I’m stationed? There’s a project coming up, and participating in it would be enough, right? How does that sound? Isn’t that fine?”
“Hmm…”
An relentless persuasion continues.
To the point where they feel almost guilty.
Well, I have been a bit too negligent about the Academy, haven’t I?
Jin Yu-ri decides to deeply cherish the advice from her only female human friend and her only female junior.
Just one thing…
“I understand. I’ll try to attend carefully when Ki-hyuk comes back.”
“When Ki-hyuk comes back…”
Isn’t there always a matter of priority in everything? Ki-hyuk clearly entrusted Bom to her first, so once that’s done, she can seriously focus on her studies.
Yes, that’s right.
“Be honest now. You just don’t want to part with Bom, do you?”
“Hehe. Got caught!”
“Don’t you love it?”
“Ah, so much. Speaking of which, there was a rainstorm the other night with thunder. That night, I slept with Bom. She was scared of the lightning and clung to me, begging me not to leave… Wow, I thought my heart was going to burst.”
“That’s severe. You might need a heart check-up.”
“Haha… Honestly, anyone would think you’re Bom’s mother, Yu-ri-senpai.”
“Huh, mother?”
“You take Bom to kindergarten, play with her daily, and even sleep with her… Sounds like a mother to me.”
“Mother… Mother…”
Mo-ther.
Mother?
Jin Yu-ri is utterly at a loss at the sound of those two words.
“Mother?” “Mother…” Her heart raced as if it might break. Her face had long turned red, and a foolish smile crept onto her lips.
“Mother!?”
This reaction stuns the two thoroughly.
“……That’s enough, Ha-ni. She’s completely unhinged.”
“Indeed, I agree.”
Experience told them that with Jin Yu-ri in this state, there’s no reaching her. It’s better to leave her be to calm herself down.
“Any word from Ki-hyuk? I thought he went to the U.S. last time when he entered the Gate. Is there any update? Do you know anything, Ha-ni?”
“Ah, senpai doesn’t know? Ki-hyuk-senpai, huff!”
“Why are you laughing?”
“Well…”
She decided not to explain, thinking it better to show rather than say.
Kim Ha-ni managed to suppress her giggles and showed her the news updates on Captain Tiger’s articles.
Merhem’s reaction was exactly as expected.
“……Huh? What is this?”
Red Lycra suits and capes? Eh? What’s that fancy wing decoration on the sword?
Thor?
Maybe she’s under an illusion spell? Or drugs?
No. There’s no way an illusion or drugs could affect her. She can overcome curses with ease.
All sorts of questions whirled through Merhem’s mind.
Suddenly, her face felt unbearably hot, a flush of embarrassment. Although it irked her to feel embarrassed about a friend’s antics, one cannot avoid such things. It’s simply the nature of normal people to suffer.
“……Why did he end up this way?”
“Apparently, it’s because of Bom. I don’t know the full situation, but the one who’s really broken would know.”
“Enough.”
Merhem lost the will to ask further when she saw Jin Yu-ri, who still hadn’t recovered from the “mother” incident.
She glanced back at the photo.
Maybe it wasn’t Park Ki-hyuk?
She questioned herself, but deep inside she knew.
This was Ki-hyuk. Though his face was hidden behind an unusual mask, the figure, posture, limbs, every inch of him screamed Park Ki-hyuk.
Look at those bulging thighs and biceps. The clothes were screaming in agony. That was proof enough.
If this was the case, why wear the mask?
“Where is Ki-hyuk now? What’s he doing, and when is he coming back to Korea?”
“……I’m not…”
“It’ll take a little longer.”
“Are you feeling better now?”
“Huh? What?”
“No, keep going.”
Jin Yu-ri continued casually over her coffee.
“Giant was saying something about learning from Gigant.”
“By Giant, you mean the Guardian Spirit? What is there to learn from the Guardian Spirit?”
“…….”
Jin Yu-ri still didn’t fully understand but recounted what she heard.
“Something about learning to grow?”
I am currently learning the art of growth.
“Are you a giant? That’s what they call you? Great! I’ll call you that too from now on!”
“Do you know why you’re not able to properly utilize the power of a giant? It’s actually quite simple. Take a guess.”
“Listen well. The reason you can’t properly utilize the power of the giant is because…”
“You’ve never actually become a giant.”
Not the essence—but the physical size.
Simply put, you’ve never transformed into the size of a giant.
Does that make sense? Can a person grow to almost the size of a building?
Even at this already large size, things are chaotic. Imagine your head touching the clouds? It’s terrifying.
From the start, it is impossible for anyone who is human. Giant surely knows that. So what we’re seeing must be the result of some deranged state, but not actual foolishness.
“Yeah. As long as you’re human, it’s absolutely impossible. Honestly, I still find it fascinating. This ‘giant’ power you possess, no human should naturally wield it. And yet, you have it. Isn’t that paradoxical?”
“Um… So, what I mean is… Giant is not something a human can have, and yet, here you are as a human… The dissonance? The imbalance? That sort of thing.”
Having something that shouldn’t be possible.
A power that shouldn’t be attainable by humankind.
Giant.
“See! I’ve always been enormously tall since I was born! This isn’t even my true form, by the way! The one you saw earlier was just one of my real forms… But you? You’ve always been this size, haven’t you?”
“The difference lies right here.”
“If you never truly transform into a giant, your ‘giant’ power will never be properly utilized.”
Giant suggested that I must actually become one.
Is it truly possible to use the power of the giant without knowing what it’s like to climb aboard that power literally?
Without experiencing the world from such an immense height, from the perspective of someone touching the clouds, how can one fully understand it?
Thus…
“You’ll have to climb on.”
I can’t grow that big, but can I ride something that can?
And so, I climbed aboard a mechanical giant.
I take a step.
BOOM!
With each step of the mechanical giant, the terrain beneath crumbles. The ground far below is crushed to pieces, like tofu.
Without any intention.
No emotions.
Just by walking, the surroundings changed.
Is this what it’s like to be from a giant’s perspective?
Everything seemed so trivial. I wouldn’t even know if something beneath me got crushed. My smallest gestures alter countless things, and yet I remain oblivious because I can neither see nor feel them.
Leisurely, I strolled and sat astride a mountain.
The mountain sagged under the weight of the mechanical giant. In my wake, the path I took showed immense footprints.
“I can understand why the gods get so arrogant.”
Even from this height, I can understand that gods viewing our world from above see it from heights far greater.
How fleeting this world must seem to them.
So many thoughts flood my mind.
A different perspective on the physical form, newfound insights into magic, the clear limitations of human technology, and the possibilities that transcend those limits.
With just a shift in perspective, such profound enlightenment dawns upon me like a tidal wave.
“Fun, isn’t it?”
Becoming stronger has always been exhilarating.
Gigant is extremely confused.
“Is he even human?”
He doesn’t seem human. He’s somewhat frightening.
The training Park Ki-hyuk is undergoing is called ‘Try Being a Giant.’
The name might be a bit old-fashioned, but the training itself is time-honored.
It helps reduce the sense of alienation one might feel when operating a ‘mounted’ Alpha Gear that is much larger than a human.
For instance, it’s physically impossible for anyone to run with a body of that size. Doing so would make their legs collapse under the load.
Once the scale goes beyond the realm of normal comprehension, everything changes—the gravity, mobility, everything becomes entirely different from that of a human.
Which is why, even standing takes away all your strength, and you have to summon and de-summon such equipment rapidly after minimal actions.
In the broader sense, Park Ki-hyuk’s struggle with the “giant” abilities was also tied to this fact.
If we borrow Gigant’s words—”Excessive perfection that consumes absurd amounts of energy, and on top of that, they want to use techniques.”
Once one gets accustomed to the scale of a giant…
“……I had intended to initiate the ‘Optimization’ process.”
Optimization.
Periodt’s special method for efficiently utilizing a large-scale War Armor.
There’s no need to elaborate; one should observe Rozaria.
Rosaria summons Victor’s parts individually, minimizing mana consumption.
Through this method, she uses the oversized weapon while reducing the user’s burden, accurately targets smaller enemies, and increases flexibility in defense and attack.
Simply by separating the parts of Warrior Armor, an attack’s scope is drastically expanded.
Though it may seem simple, it’s an incredibly challenging task. Even Rozaria took four years to succeed in optimization.
Gigant, considering Park Ki-hyuk’s talents, aimed for about half a year. He estimated that by training diligently for half a year, the “giant” power could be used minimally without collapsing.
“But… what is this?”
Gigant’s expectations were shattered gracefully.
“I thought it would take a long time to master.”
In merely two weeks? This thievery!!
Gigant’s eyes became gloomy.
I wanted to play longer. I still have countless curiosities, as vast as the heavens and the earth, yet why is he so ridiculously competent to learn so quickly!
At this rate, optimization could be achieved tomorrow.
No. That’s impossible!
“I want to play more!”
It’s only just starting to get interesting.
The instinct to be an apocalypse, the natural talent of a Sword Master, this “Giant” power…
Everything is exciting and new.
To put it bluntly, Park Ki-hyuk was the least human person Gigant had ever met. Honestly, if the outer shell were switched, one might even think he’s one of them.
And missing such an extraordinary person? Sending him away?!
Not happening! I want to play more! I must play more!
Gigant furiously chewed on his nails, desperately brainstorming.
“I need to find it.”
Something Park Ki-hyuk would like.
I must find that!
Gigant’s brain churned at high speed.
*
Meanwhile, on the opposite end, there were people who were desperately hoping Park Ki-hyuk would leave this place as soon as possible.
“Still hasn’t come out, has he?”
“None whatsoever.”
“Do you know when he’ll come out?”
“Holy sh*t! For God’s sake! Enough already!”
William shouted at the woman who kept asking.
“Just how many times are you going to ask? I don’t know! If I did, would I be sitting here waiting? I want to know more than you do! When is that b*stard Park Ki-hyuk coming out?”
“…”
“Rather, I’d like to ask something. Why the hell am I even here waiting for Ki-hyuk in some random Geartech School when I’m not someone’s stupid little mutt with zero prior connection? Chandler, tell me. How much longer do I have to endure?”
That’s right.
The woman’s name was Chandler Jenny.
The second successor of the Chandler Family, she was sent to bring Park Ki-hyuk under the order of the head of the household.
However, despite nearly crossing the entire continental U.S. from Los Angeles to Washington, she hadn’t even caught a glimpse of Park Ki-hyuk’s face, let alone his shadow, and thus, was left endlessly waiting at Geartech School alongside William.
“You two, be quiet. Your tempers are flaring.”
“Rosaria, aren’t you mad?”
“Look, could you do me a small favor, Rosaria? Could you just go once and check? You have connections with Gigant, after all.”
“Jenny has a good point. Go on, tell him. You love efficiency and time, don’t you? Go check the situation there and come back.”
“……You’re all crazy.”
Does she think Mr. Gigant is a neighbor you can casually visit? Even mentioning it seems futile.
Rosaria continued ignoring them as she casually flipped through her book, and the two were left endlessly waiting, engaging in meaningless chatter.
