The Demon Lord of the Swordsmanship Family – Chapter 149
The three siblings of the Sword Master family were advancing toward Tokyo with unstoppable momentum.
“Hid the Thousand-Sky Agent… Hmm? What’s this smell?”
“I’ve warmed up the bl**d sausage and rice soup. Sit down. There’re kimchi over there, and the utensils are beside you.”
“But I haven’t cleaned up yet.”
“It’s fine. I knew you’d do that, so I let loose a bunch of carp.”
“Then… Hmm~ The broth is good. Brother… he’s over there.”
“Late? There were a lot of kids. Oh~ What is this? Rice soup with pork intestines! Perfect timing; I was hungry.”
“Once we start running, there won’t be time to eat. Here.”
They rushed forward, taking the shortest route to Tokyo.
It wasn’t just talk; they were moving on foot.
Among the countless bloodlines worldwide, the Sword Masters were known for their unmatched physical prowess, ranking among the top tier.
Once the Sword Masters started running, they were faster than most vehicles. Considering their freedom from terrain and obstacles, it was akin to driving on an open highway.
“Hoo~ It’s refreshing. It’s been a while since I’ve run without restraint. It feels great to let it all out. Human navigator, Miss Park Min-ji, are we on the right path?”
“…How should I know? We’re just going where you tell us to.”
“Surely, sis isn’t upset, is she?”
“Creak-!”
“Aww~ Why don’t you say something? Min-ji may have a stomach as small as a mouse’s, but she wouldn’t get mad just because she lost at rock-paper-scissors.”
“Creak-crack-!”
“Right? Who gets mad over being listened to as a navigator?”
“That’s right.”
“Moderate a bit.”
“Aww, I was just joking… There’s a… wait…”
Swoosh!!
Slicc!
“…It was there, then it disappeared.”
“…We should stop teasing her.”
“…Let’s do that.”
They moved forward on the shortest possible route, erasing all enemies in their path.
The incomprehensible infiltration tactics of the Sword Masters left the Celutis leadership utterly baffled.
“All the priests deployed to Kyoto have gone missing. We immediately sent an investigation team, but when they arrived, there was no information left.”
“Not even a corpse, no destroyed buildings, not even a single bloodstain. All evidence was thoroughly erased.”
“Brothers, does this make sense to you? Almost two thousand people were dispatched to Kyoto alone, and there’s no trace of their disappearance?”
“We also can’t understand….”
“…That’s how it is.”
Not just Kyoto—Celutis had invested twice the manpower in the past. Despite their efforts, the results were consistent: missing, missing, missing…
Seeing no way forward, the leadership even sent elite operatives.
And still, they disappeared.
By this point, the farce of collecting the disappeared regions to predict the attacker’s route had begun.
“If we disperse our forces this way, we won’t be able to resist the attacker. To reduce the casualties, we must…”
“Sister, face the reality. The casualties aren’t the problem. Right now, countless ‘apprentice priests’ are being replenished. If our brothers and sisters must perish, they will do so as followers of ‘Archangel,’ willing to repay His grace.”
“You’re right. The problem is information. Not having any information on this attacker is our biggest issue.”
“But the goal is clear. The mysterious attacker is aiming for Tokyo, targeting ‘Archangel.'”
To defend Tokyo, Celutis decided to strengthen their defenses.
They significantly increased the frequency of miracles to train and dispatch more apprentice priests, relocated residents of nearby cities, and fortified their bases using city buildings.
While building physical defenses, they also moved diplomatically.
“Honorable congressman, if you can help us resolve this situation…”
“Think about it. Whether Japan sinks or not, does it matter to you? Don’t waste your country’s valuable troops…”
“Let’s be honest. From China’s perspective, Korea is bothersome, isn’t it? Handing Japan over to Celutis to control Korea wouldn’t be so bad…”
Through various lobbies, they successfully stalled the progress of the allied forces, which were unable to mobilize properly and stuck in meaningless meetings.
“Time is on our side.”
“If the apprentice priests grow in number and their combat capability improves, each country will abandon Japan to avoid the risk.”
When that time comes, we will finally face paradise.
Celutis dreamed of a glorious future together with their god.
However…
“Lord High Priest!! The Five Sisters are…”
Dreams remain unattainable because they are dreams.
Kim Yeon-hee’s arrangements had arrived.
—
A dark naval base at midnight.
The long line of battleships in the dim harbor exuded an eerie atmosphere, and a man was walking through it.
“…”
Clang, clang.
His steel boots gleamed under the long shadow.
Once upon a time, Europe was the center of the world.
Philosophy, literature, science, music—even chivalry and arcane studies were led by Europe in its golden era.
Back then, Britain was the ’empire on which the sun never set,’ while France was the ‘symbol of freedom.’
But as time passed, the former glories faded, leaving the EU as the setting sun.
To reclaim this glory, the noble families of Europe united under the banner of the Royal Chivalry.
The Five Sisters, as part of the Royal Chivalry, were prominent agents of the EU.
Clang. Clang. Clang…
People followed the man.
Fully armored warriors, equipped in medieval plate armor, bore the ‘Lily’ emblem on their chests.
They were the elite force of Royal Chivalry—the Lily Knights.
The Lily Knights halted before the disarmed members of the naval base.
These were, undoubtedly, regular soldiers—all superhumans.
Though they were disarmed by the Lily Knights in 15 minutes, there was no denying their status as a standard military force.
Kneeling, drained soldiers looked up at the Lily Knights and eventually met the cold eyes of the man.
“The sin of betraying your homeland to fanatics is indescribable. Reflect on your actions.”
Royal Chivalry.
Seventh Sword.
Knight of Honor, Louis Florence.
He had joined.
—
Elsewhere, at a coastal guard outpost.
A woman hoisted an unconscious coastal guard onto her shoulder. Despite the small-framed woman and the towering height of the average male guard, she carried the guard with no effort.
Plop.
She dumped the guard in a large open area filled with other similarly incapacitated guards, all brought down by her.
“Cleaning up is more work. Tch.”
The woman, lighting a cigar, trudged away.
Russian Spetsnaz operative.
Commander of the Mobile 2nd Platoon.
Zinaida Ivanova.
She had joined.
—
Meanwhile, at an air force base.
On the runway stood personnel with black wolf-head masks. Like motionless statues of d*ath, their hands rested on their chests, unmoving.
These were the masks of Anubis from Egyptian mythology.
“‘We’ believe that you are victims too.”
“You are not guilty. ‘We’ have ruled thus.”
“If you remain still, you will not be harmed. ‘We’ guarantee it.”
The Messenger of Anubis.
He had joined.
—
“Is Captain Tiger here in Japan, right?”
“Huh.”
“Is Captain Tiger here, right?”
“Of course!”
“Captain Tiger—”
“Hey!” The towering man snapped, his face flaring in anger.
“You’re putting me off! How many times do I have to say it!”
“But, I’m just curious…”
Under his friend’s push, the man shrank back.
With large glasses, a small frame, and a skinny physique, he was the quintessential ‘nerd.’ He was already small, but with his confidence shattered, he looked like a deflated balloon.
Quite the contrast compared to his friend, who looked like a football player.
Judging someone by their appearance is wrong.
“Don’t act pitiful! You monster!”
“Monster? To a friend? I’m hurt.”
“The real injuries are theirs.”
And indeed, there was an army lying sprawled out, foaming at the mouth.
The Star Hero.
Team 3 leader. Castle Lord.
Blacksmith.
He had joined.
“But is Captain Tiger here, right?”
“Aaaaargh!”
—
The situation changed drastically with the Five Sisters, also known as the Five Agents, entering Japan.
“You don’t need to participate.”
“Just disarm Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and hold this position. We’ll handle the rest.”
Following Kim Yeon-hee’s instructions, the Five Sisters immediately took control of ports and military facilities upon arrival.
The Self-Defense Forces guarding Japan were split into three factions: those who followed ‘Archangel,’ those who didn’t, and neutral parties, all clashing chaotically.
With ease, the Five Sisters exploited the situation and sided with the ‘neutral’ faction, bringing the entire Self-Defense Forces to a halt.
Everything was going according to Kim Yeon-hee’s plan.
“If we succeed up to this point, Celutis will naturally retreat.”
“Eventually, they’ll retreat to their stronghold in Tokyo.”
Indeed, a sense of crisis hung over Celutis.
Wouldn’t it? With four of the world’s top five agents overhead, no amount of ‘apprentice priests’ they churned out could compare to them.
Effectively, resistance was impossible.
All that remained was defense.
Celutis recalled their priests, scattered across Japan, back to Tokyo.
“Absolutely, we cannot surrender Tokyo.”
“Until the very end, even our last person must fight.”
“Prepare for martyrdom.”
With the resolve for total destruction, Celutis erected walls of righteousness.
And right at that moment, Kim Yeon-hee’s dagger reached the edge of Tokyo—Yokohama Port.
—
Inside the transport plane.
In the large transport plane, there were only two people.
One was Kim Yeon-hee’s husband, the current Sword Master, and father of the three hotheads wreaking havoc below, Park Geon.
And the other was Jin-ryong Jin Do-ha, the current head of the Jin-ryong family.
“…Why are you here?”
“I’m welcoming a hundred-year guest.”
“Hundred-year guest? Hah! You lizard son.”
If it’s a ‘hundred-year guest,’ isn’t that his son-in-law?
A son-in-law? He means…
“Who says MY son is YOUR son-in-law!!”
“Don’t waste energy on meaningless things, kitten.”
“This… I’ve wanted to say something for a while. Who even said our son is YOUR son-in-law…”
“Wait.”
As Jin Do-ha stopped, the announcement played:
– Operation area reached. Operation area reached. Current time: 02:37. Above Yokohama. Opening the hatch now.
Clank. The hatch opened.
The expressions of the two men hardened.
“We’ll talk later.”
“Agreed.”
The mission was the focus now—small talk was over.
They exchanged glances, ran toward the hatch, and leapt downward into the sky.
As they fell, the Yun-ryong Corps, descending from other transport planes, followed close behind.
Breaking through the clouds, Yokohama Port came into sight below.
“Dragon!!”
With Park Geon’s signal, Jin Do-ha unfurled his Grass-Blade Formation.
Dragon Armor
Dragon
The crimson mana coiled, forming a shape.
The alligator’s jaw, the snake’s eyes, the deer’s antlers… and the lustrously glowing red scales.
The legendary, divine being that controlled wind and rain—the Dragon.
Now, it had descended.
Breaking through the clouds, the dragon emerged with Jin Do-ha and Park Geon mounted on it.
And in that moment—
The dragons of the Yun-ryong Corps burst through the clouds.
Roar!
Sword Master Park Geon.
Jin-ryong Jin Do-ha.
Entire Yun-ryong Corps.
They had joined.
—
Near Tokyo, my gaze turned forward.
The ones setting up defenses awaited.
“I heard there shouldn’t be anyone blocking us annoyingly.”
After not seeing them for a while, they were apparently up to this.
Also, I heard about the number of refugees, but they’ve chased out the people living here.
I expanded my vision with ‘Magic Eye.’
The construction of a fortified position came into view.
“Hmm…”
They’re not idiots.
Looks like they’ve got an expert in this field. They’re setting up more meticulously than I anticipated.
If they finish, it’ll be more of a headache than expected.
“Right now seems to be the best time to strike.”
I thought about it briefly.
Sister and Elder Brother are temporarily absent because of the refugees. Normally, I’d leave it, but the current mana fluctuations here are suspicious.
What I mean to say is, this feels similar to when I awakened ‘Red Gate’ before.
I’m not certain, but if correct, the refugees are in danger. Thus, Elder Brother is guiding the refugees, and Sister is searching for Red Gate.
The conclusion is that I’m alone now.
Alone, being…
A slow, sinister grin crept onto my face.
“It’s been how long since I’ve been alone?”
All of this belongs to me, right?
What an exhilarating thought.
Without further ado, I strode forward.
A while away, they noticed me and shouted. The translator glitched, so I couldn’t hear everything clearly, but I gathered they were calling me Bakemono? Which means monster.
“Monster, huh…”
An old memory flashes. Back in the Empire, before being called the Demon Lord, I was called that a lot.
“Long time no see. Shall we bring back some memories?”
By the way, it just so happens that there’s something perfect here for the occasion.
Dragon Armor.
As mentioned earlier, artifacts are only cumbersome for someone with the strength of a giant like me.
Something to boost physical power? I don’t need it. With the Sword Masters and the strength of a giant, I’ve already far surpassed the limit.
Something to boost magical power? Even more unnecessary.
I’m the Demon Lord. Relying on tools is beneath me.
So I contemplated.
What kind of Dragon Armor suits me?
The answer to this question didn’t come from me but from another.
Spring, my other self.
This is a gift she gave me.
“Dragon Armor.”
As I extended my hand, the cape of the abyss fluttered.
