Chapter 20. From now on, I will take charge
Ki (氣) flows.
Even when it seems to be still in one place, it is actually in constant circulation.
If the flow of ki stops, it’s just dead.
The second stage of Cheonrang Shin Gong, White Wolf, was a freezing ice attack that freezes the opponent’s ki to a halt.
“No…!”
Kalstein’s magic sword froze white.
Until now, Kalstein had only been thinking about countering Sirius’s black aura.
He had been focusing on controlling the magic sword to not succumb to the first stage of Cheonrang Shin Gong, protecting against the Northern Light.
Therefore, he couldn’t suddenly respond to Sirius’s aura turning white.
“This magic sword…!”
Kalstein hurriedly stepped back.
While readjusting the magic sword, he tried to grasp Sirius’s newly unfolded technique.
However, Sirius’s attacks continued.
“Ugh…!”
Thud!
Blade clashed with blade.
The white aura left a scratch on Kalstein’s magic sword.
The frozen area penetrated by cold froze the mana that composed the magic sword.
The frozen part could no longer function.
Kalstein could only gasp as he tried to restore it.
“Ugh…!”
A groan escaped from Kalstein’s lips.
He twisted his body forcibly, dodging Sirius’s attack as if falling, then widened the gap between them.
Though his posture was awkward as if rolling on the ground, Sirius did not mock him.
“You’re not bad.”
After muttering incomprehensible words, Kalstein, Sirius took a step forward.
Despite his magic sword freezing, Kalstein was still holding his ground.
It was proof that Kalstein’s swordsmanship was far from sloppy.
“…,”
Biting his lip, Kalstein changed his stance.
And, he moved, stomping the ground forcefully.
At that moment, Sirius felt the flow of the wind.
“Haap!”
Kalstein passed by Sirius’s side.
Immediately after, Sirius’s cuff tore.
Although there was no injury, it was the first time Kalstein’s blade touched Sirius.
“…”
Sirius saw through Kalstein’s move at a glance.
Kalstein had created wind through magic, leveraging it to increase his speed.
“Kalstein’s ultimate move…!”
Alleon, who was watching from behind, exclaimed.
Kalstein’s ultimate move, which Palace had wanted to learn so badly, was a high-speed combat technique utilizing wind magic.
“It’s a high-level skill.”
It wouldn’t be easy to grasp.
One must be able to use wind magic and magic sword simultaneously.
And they must skillfully adjust the direction and intensity of the wind, coordinating it with their movements.
“The problem is, it’s too complicated.”
“What?”
“There could have been an easier way.”
“…”
To Sirius, who used martial arts, it seemed like a cumbersome method.
“Arrogant fool.”
After Kalstein muttered briefly,
The wind blew once again.
Kalstein’s movements were brilliant.
Because he was instantly changing the direction of the wind, neutralizing the inertia.
It seemed like he was charging straight at Sirius, then diving to the left, swinging the sword from top to bottom, and immediately attacking in the opposite direction.
“S-Sirius…!”
As Kalstein’s blade continued to rain down on Sirius, Alleon’s voice sounded desperate.
Perhaps Kalstein was unbeatable after all.
When Alreon was feeling despair.
“You used to call me Sirius, why the change in address now?”
“…!”
Sirius’ cold voice was heard.
In fact, Sirius hadn’t shed a drop of blood so far.
His clothes were torn, but that was all.
It was true that Kalstein was not an easy opponent.
But now, Alreon was getting used to Kalstein’s movements.
“Don’t get too comfortable…!”
Kalstein raised his voice as he aimed for Sirius’ chest.
However, Kalstein’s black attire did not even brush against Sirius’ clothes.
Sirius swiftly moved like the wind, changing positions.
“…!?”
Kalstein tried to pursue Sirius using wind magic.
But Sirius moved faster than Kalstein.
Even without using magic, Sirius could move like the wind.
That was the art of combat and divine technique.
“You…!”
In Kalstein’s eyes, it seemed that Sirius had surpassed his speed with pure physical ability.
In reality, it was a skillful movement reflecting his expertise, but Kalstein couldn’t distinguish that.
As the blades continued to cut through the air, Kalstein gritted his teeth.
In this situation, he had no choice but to unleash a great technique to determine the outcome.
“Haap…!”
Kalstein’s true martial spirit.
A three-strike combo infused with wind magic unfolded towards Sirius.
Even if Sirius managed to block or dodge the first and second strikes, the final attack was designed to deal a fatal blow.
“…!?”
However, Sirius exceeded Kalstein’s expectations.
With precise movements unseen by Kalstein before, Sirius dodged the first and second strikes, then precisely blocked the third attack.
“Ugh…!”
Sirius exploited the opening created by Kalstein’s consecutive attacks.
Today was the first time Kalstein realized such an opening existed.
He had never failed to suppress his opponent with this technique before.
Though he bit down to defend against Sirius’ blade, his stance was already crumbling.
“…!”
The clash of blades began as they fought for dominance.
Any slight misstep here would result in a fatal wound from Sirius’ blade.
Knowing this, Kalstein gritted his teeth and tried to push away Sirius’ blade.
However, a white energy emanating from Sirius’ blade penetrated Kalstein’s magical sword.
Crackle, crackle.
As if a freezing spell had been cast, the blades were frozen in place.
Sirius kept pouring out his overwhelming power against Kalstein.
“Darn it…”
After Kalstein muttered briefly.
Sirius’s sword shattered Kalstein’s, leaving a deep wound in his chest.
* * *
Sirius raised his sword.
Kalstein was not an easy opponent.
Nielle, being weak in close combat, could harm just by approaching, but Kalstein couldn’t.
“Still, it was good to have a proper fight after a while.”
Fighting only with lackeys who could be taken down in one blow was not rewarding at all.
Proper combat, exchanging blows closely, was the fun way to fight.
If even Kalstein had fallen in one blow, Sirius would have been quite disappointed.
“Sirius…”
At that moment, from the bloodied fallen Kalstein, a voice was heard.
“You… Are you an official of the Alliance?”
“Alliance?”
The Alliance.
It was a term referring to a massive organization ruling over various underworld groups.
If prestigious families ruled over various regions, the Alliance ruled over the underworld in different territories.
“Your swordsmanship is definitely not that of a prestigious family. Are you an assassin sent by the Alliance to eliminate me…?”
“…!”
“Darn it, I even sent senior disciples to persuade them…”
Kalstein continued speaking while coughing up blood.
“The chilling cold of magic… The Alliance might be hiding such a technique. Perhaps you are trying to eliminate me to hand over this area to other underworld factions…”
“You’re barking up the wrong tree, Kalstein.”
Sirius interrupted Kalstein’s words.
“I eliminated you because you were a hindrance to the Regel family.”
“…!”
Upon hearing Sirius’s words, Kalstein fell silent for a moment.
“Do you think the security of this area will be stable if I kill you…?”
“…!”
“When the Kalstein Sword Sect disappears, other underworld factions will gather around to fill that void. Will you go around killing them all every time they come…?”
Kalstein chuckled.
“Even with small underworld factions raiding villages, you can’t catch them all. Even if you mobilize the Regel and Yuterus families, it would be difficult. The Regel family has fallen, and you’ve made the Yuterus family half as strong.”
“…!”
“In the end, you’ve only made this area more chaotic. How do you plan to fix this mess now…?”
Watching Kalstein ask that, Sirius slowly opened his mouth.
“You’re worrying about everything, old man.”
“Argh…!”
“Wouldn’t it be more beneficial to worry about what kind of hell you’ll fall into from now on? Am I wrong in thinking that?”
Kalstein’s face contorted.
“Why worry about dying now? The world of the living will take care of the living, so don’t bother.”
“You…”
“To think your last words would be nothing but that, what a wasted life.”
…”
Kalstein couldn’t say anything more.
Sirius turned his back on Kalstein and left.
“S-Sirius, sir…”
Alleon, who had been watching the fight, approached Sirius, swallowing nervously.
“There is some sense in what Kalstein said. If it’s known that the Kalstein Order has fallen, forces like the Valkain Guild and theoblea Mercenary Corps will advance towards us.”
The Valkain Guild and theoblea Mercenary Corps.
Names Paltheon Yuterus had heard of before.
“They have many small underworld groups under their command. If those guys start causing trouble everywhere, dealing with each one individually…”
“Alleon.”
As Sirius descended the mountain with a leisurely pace, he spoke up.
“Run down and gather the Kalstein organization members.”
“What?”
“Even if they are just 6th ranks, they are officers in name, so they will follow your orders.”
When he had defeated the 4th seat Vargat and the 3rd seat Yurain earlier, Alleon had cleaned up the aftermath.
“Gather at the training grounds we passed earlier. If there are any fleeing, just leave them be. There’s no need to catch every single one of them.”
“S-Sirius, what are you planning…”
“Alleon.”
Sirius gave a stern look to the bewildered Alleon.
“Didn’t I tell you to run?”
“Ah, understood!”
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Watching Alleon urgently run off, Sirius descended the mountain slowly.
***
Before long, the Kalstein Order members had assembled at the training grounds.
Of course, not all members had gathered.
There were quite a few who fled sensing the ominous atmosphere.
“Sirius, I believe this is about it for now.”
“Alright, I see.”
Sirius, who had been sitting in a corner, rose slowly.
Then, accompanied by Alleon, he went up to the platform.
“That guy…!”
The members of the Yuterus family widened their eyes at Sirius’s appearance.
Since there were those who had witnessed the killing of the 4th seat Vargat and the 3rd seat Yurain, the atmosphere had become tense.
“This brat, even dared to harm Lady Yurain earlier…!”
A vigorous man emerged, vowing to avenge his superior.
However, he couldn’t get close to Sirius.
The sword thrown by Sirius was stuck in his chest.
“Crack…!”
As the man fell with a single strike, the surroundings fell silent.
Only the sound of swallowing breaths could be heard.
“Next.”
“….?”
“You’re next, scum.”
No one dared to step forward.
After scanning their faces, Sirius spoke again.
“I killed Kalstein.”
“….!”
“My top disciple, Palace, 3rd seat Yulein, 4th seat Valgart, and 5th seat Yurka lost their lives by my hand. The 6th seat seems to have gone somewhere else, but treating them as nonexistent should suffice.”
With those words, Sirius glanced at 6th seat Alleion.
Alleion nodded, indicating he would entrust everything.
Sirius nodded in return and continued speaking.
“I will now take charge of the Kalstein Sword Sect.”
“….!”
“Serve me as you served your master.”
Upon the announcement of taking over the Kalstein Sword Sect, everyone was shocked.
Sirius smiled as he looked at those people.
It was a gentle smile, not one often seen.
“Don’t be so tense. Things won’t change much from now on.”
“….”
“However, I am a bit ambitious. I aim to make our organization bigger and more prosperous. So… it seems I must extract more fiercely from the weak and powerless.”
Listening to Sirius’s calm voice, Alleion, who was beside him, widened his eyes.
He couldn’t understand why Sirius was saying such things.
“But with Yulein, Valgart, and others who were in charge dead… there seems to be no one to trust with the work. This is a big problem.”
Shaking his head, Sirius continued, “Those who have been leading the killings and looting, come forward. I intend to appoint you as new executives to handle future affairs.”
“….!”
“Especially those with experience in human trafficking. First come, first served.”
At the mention of preferential treatment as executives, around twenty members of the organization emerged.
The eyes of those rushing out were filled with desire.
Only Alleion, who realized too late what Sirius was up to, looked shocked and amazed.
“….”
Staring at the gathered individuals with a cold gaze, Sirius saw only true trash, beyond redemption, assembling in the Kalstein Sword Sect.