Episode 47. Come on In
The villains in black hesitated.
It was only natural.
Moments ago, a man who had been unable to open his eyes due to blood and sweat had just cut off his comrade’s breath with a short dagger.
Surveying these Shadowlings, Sirius spoke up once more.
“Did you come from the Alliance?”
The Alliance.
An enigmatic organization that reigns over various Black Societies.
However, it is said that most Black Societies cannot directly communicate with the Alliance.
Hence, Sirius had very little information about the Alliance.
“You won’t answer, huh.”
Sirius took a step forward.
“Do you need to die for you to answer?”
“…!”
The dagger began to turn a dark crimson.
It contained the first stage of the Heavenly Demon’s Divine Art, the power of the Northern Light.
The dagger, infused with a sinister aura, cleaved through the darkness and struck the Shadowlings.
“Ugh…!”
Desperately, they leaped out of the cave.
The dagger pierced through the air and flew far away, but…
“Argh…!”
The dagger that had returned on its own brushed past the back of the unfortunate man’s neck.
Sirius stood still, only using the dagger to hold back the men.
They struggled to respond to the dagger as it swung.
“Getting used to it, huh.”
“Cough!”
Operating two different internal energies with this body had become familiar.
Sirius started moving in earnest.
He kicked the ground, moving sideways and releasing the dagger.
The dagger, flying at an incomparable speed, pierced the throat of the dark adept.
“…!?”
This won’t do.
The dark adepts retaliated.
Utilizing their numerical advantage, they tried to surround Sirius.
Sirius kept a close eye on their movements.
They were well-trained. He hadn’t seen anyone in this world make such moves until now.
He caught a whiff of the scent of assassins, so familiar from his days in the martial world.
“Attack!”
A meticulously calculated sword fight.
They had already unsheathed their magic swords. It was a faster and more precise magic sword than anyone he had seen before.
Kalstein had once doubted Sirius’ swordsmanship, thinking he might be an official of the Alliance. Did the Alliance possess more advanced magic sword techniques than the usual?
With such doubts in mind, Sirius calmly moved his body.
The second stage of the Celestial Divine Skill, the power of Bai Lang, was already unfolding in Sirius’ hands.
“…!”
Crack!
When Sirius grabbed the magic sword with his bare hands, the magic froze.
Moving among the gasping men, he swung the dagger and pierced their throats.
Their formation was meticulously calculated, but Sirius easily slipped through.
As they turned their heads to chase Sirius who had broken free from the encirclement, he was already armed with his sword.
“Clang…!”
One strike, two pieces.
The sword, gleaming white with the power of Bai Lang, cleaved the dark adept into two.
Only three men remained.
But despite their hesitation, they did not flee.
They were truly well-trained.
Not on the level of the merciless assassins of the Thousand Shadow Unit of the Celestial Devil Sect, but perhaps comparable to the Thousand Assassin Assembly of the Black League.
“Argh…!”
The three men charged forward with determination.
Sirius threw the dagger, piercing one man’s forehead. Then, with the sword imbued with Bai Lang’s power, he pierced another man’s chest.
“Haap…!”
The last survivor leaped over his comrade’s corpse and swung his sword.
A strike filled with determination, the full force of power.
Sirius faced the attack head-on.
“…!”
The moment blades clashed.
With a sharp sound, the blade of the Darkling began to freeze.
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The cold did not stop at freezing the blade.
It started to freeze the Darkling’s wrist white.
Instinctively, the Darkling let go of the sword.
“Clang…!”
Swish!
A white streak passed the final Darkling, and crimson blood spurted out.
And then, silence fell around.
“….”
Sirius wiped the blood off the sword and dagger.
After the vigorous exercise following the battle, it was a necessary process to check the overall condition.
He needed to confirm if Valerion’s murky magic had been completely purified, even through practical application.
“Hmm….”
After checking his physical condition, Sirius raised his head.
It was quiet around. No unusual signs were felt.
But Sirius did not let his guard down.
He dispersed a faint energy around him.
Thin as a thread, hundreds of threads spread in all directions.
It used to be a difficult task in the past. But reaching the 2nd realm of expertise allowed him to extend his energy in all directions to survey the surroundings.
In the net of energy spread out like a spider’s web in all directions… one thread trembled.
“….”
Whoosh!
Sirius threw the dagger towards the forest.
But there was no sound of the dagger hitting its mark.
Someone had caught Sirius’s dagger.
“Impressive.”
A figure dropped from the tree.
It was a figure with a pale mask covering the face.
Judging by the physique, she seemed to be a young woman.
Tall in stature, with slender limbs and no trace of fat.
In one hand, she held the dagger Sirius had just thrown, and in the other hand, a fan adorned with feathers.
“Was it you who sent those guys?”
“Yes, Sirius.”
She exuded an inexplicable aura.
She resembled the Demonists of the Thousand Devils Sect.
“Let’s start with introductions.”
She smiled, holding Sirius’s dagger in her hand.
“My name is Verdiene. I am a direct disciple of the Poison King, and currently on a mission here in the eastern region.”
“The Poison King…”
It was a name Sirius had heard from Rhodius before.
The first time they met, Rhodius had given Sirius a sleeping potion.
It was said to be a medicine made by the Poison King’s recipe, one that wouldn’t be noticed.
But to call him the Poison King ‘your majesty’… it felt strange.
In the martial world, there were masters who were known by titles like Sword King or Fist King, but they weren’t referred to as ‘your majesty’.
“Sirius, the Alliance is showing a lot of interest in you.”
“Why would the Alliance be interested in me?”
“They can’t help but be interested.”
Verdiene chuckled.
“Our Alliance rules over many Black Societies. But you’ve been wiping out the eastern Black Societies, recruiting some of them under your command… we can’t just overlook that.”
With that said, Verdiene brushed back her platinum hair.
“Moreover, you’ve even impersonated an Alliance member.”
“I’ve heard rumors about that.”
“Please don’t misunderstand. We have no intention of accusing you of impersonation.”
“Then why bother seeing me?”
Sirius asked in a cool tone.
“Is it to demand compensation for the loss of your income due to me dismantling the Black Societies?”
“Compensation? That’s not necessary. In fact, we should be supporting you.”
“Support?”
“Sirius, we want to recruit you.”
That was… an invitation to join the Alliance.
“Why should I join the Alliance?”
“We believe there is no man more suited for the Alliance than you.”
Verdiene spoke in a gentle voice.
“We’ve closely observed your actions. As a son-in-law of one of the Five Great Families of the continent, you possess a very aggressive nature.”
“…”
Being a son-in-law of a Great Family with an aggressive nature.
That was an assessment he had heard from many in the martial world, including Baek Murang and Seo Munhwan.
“You are not as naive as other scions of noble families. You move ruthlessly and pragmatically, trampling those who stand in your way.”
“…”
“And… you spare those worthy in the Black Society, making them your subordinates. You currently have the 6th seat disciple of Kalstein Sword Sect as your close aide.”
As Sirius listened quietly, Verdiene continued with a smile.
“Sirius, joining the Alliance won’t bring about significant changes for you. They won’t extort money from you or anything like that.”
“…”
“Just attend gatherings occasionally, lend your strength to the Alliance’s cause. With just that, the Alliance will acknowledge and support you.”
After hearing Verdiene’s words, Sirius slowly opened his mouth.
“What is the Alliance’s business?”
“There are various matters. It’s difficult to discuss specifics here.”
“Talking like that makes it sound suspicious.”
Sirius deliberately tilted his head to the side.
“I’m worried about being deceived.”
“hahahaha, Sirius…”
Verdian spoke in a subtle voice.
“This is a very good opportunity for you.”
“Well, your explanation alone doesn’t give me that feeling.”
“Are you looking for White Ice Flowers?”
“… “
“I’ve inquired in Cheonlangpyoguk, and it seems you’re also searching through the Agtas family… If you join the Alliance, obtaining White Ice Flowers should be relatively easy.”
The Alliance was truly well-informed.
Sirius inwardly admired the Alliance’s information-gathering abilities.
“Sirius, I speculate that you have come across an ancient grimoire somewhere.”
“An ancient grimoire?”
“A book containing secrets of ancient magic. I’m not sure if you obtained it while in the Canisroot family or after coming to the Regel family… Your power must have originated from ancient magic, right?”
“… “
Sirius retracted his admiration from earlier.
This part was completely off track.
But it was unavoidable.
How could they know that Sirius was a being who practiced martial arts from another world?
“If you need White Ice Flowers to enhance your power, the Alliance will supply them.”
“… “
“And together with the Alliance… you will achieve a great ambition.”
A great ambition.
Upon hearing that word, Sirius recalled memories of his past during the White Moolan era.
Even then, when the Thousand Demon Cultists were clamoring to dominate the world, they used such words.
“Sirius, you are a seeker of mastery.”
“… “
“In that case, there is no better place for you than the Alliance.”
Saying so, Verdian extended his hand as if offering a dagger.
“I will guide you, Sirius.”
Sirius stared at that hand pensively.
And…
“Urgh!?”
A moan escaped from Verdian’s mouth.
It was because the dagger he held in his hand sprang up, causing a cut on his palm.
Using the power of the Northern Brightness, Sirius pulled the dagger back, then looked at Verdian, who was clutching his hand, and spoke.
“I appreciate you coming this far, but I have no choice but to decline your offer.”
“Sirius, why…?”
Verdian stared at Sirius as blood dripped from his hand.
The red eyes in the mask’s eyeholes glowed ominously.
“Why do you resist? You are more suited to the dark side than the prestigious families. You know that, don’t you?”
“I’ve heard such things before. But I have no intention of leaning towards one side.”
Not towards the white, nor towards the black.
Walking the path of maintaining harmony and balance.
That was the mission of Sirius Canisroot of the White and Black Wolves.
“Furthermore, I am not someone who belongs under anyone.”
“What…”
Sirius intended to create a true martial arts league in this world.
Hence, there was no reason for him to be under a league.
“If you truly want me to join your league…”
As he raised his doubled Inner Power, Sirius firmly stated,
“Then come under me. I will lead the league.”
The eyes beneath the mask widened in astonishment.