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 [Nothing Is Impossible (4)]

The sword called Totsuka no Tsurugi was considered a device equivalent to Korea's Eulji-grade level in Japan.

This shows how significant its status was within Japan.

In other words, an individual's decision could not hand over Totsuka no Tsurugi, a national asset, to another country.

"...I'm truly sorry, but it seems I cannot give you Totsuka no Tsurugi after all. I'm afraid I was short-sighted."

Nevertheless, there was only one reason why Hikigaya Hayato had put up Totsuka no Tsurugi for this duel.

He was confident that he would win.

In the end, it was the result of his arrogance.

He knelt on the ground in front of many people, bowed his head, and apologized to Eunha.

"It seems a bit much to pretend it never happened from the start. What are you doing in front of all these people?"

"...Ugh..."

Eunha sighed openly.

Hikigaya Hayato could only let out a short groan with his head bowed.

He must have realized it too.

Not only had he embarrassed himself due to his blind faith in his own abilities, but he had also damaged his country's pride after stepping forward as Japan's representative.

Indeed, after he knelt, the Japanese people only lowered their eyes and kept their mouths shut.

"Oh, well..."

In fact, Eunha had somewhat expected things to turn out this way.

Considering the friendly relations between Korea and Japan, it would have been right to generously return ownership of the sword to Japan.

So he hadn't really expected to get Totsuka no Tsurugi.

Still, it was disappointing.

He was also deflated by Hikigaya Hayato's sudden change of attitude.

Eunha clicked his tongue, not hiding his frustration.

Sister Seoyoung was also telling him not to take anything...

He could have demanded something else from him in place of Totsuka no Tsurugi.

But Eunha had nothing suitable to take from him.

On the other side, Shin Seoyoung was also pleading with him through lip-reading not to take anything.

Can't be helped.

I'll just end it by saying it was a good duel...

He decided to act as if nothing had happened.

Eunha was about to tell him to get up and show magnanimity.

Just then—

"—Did you tell me to put myself on the line when you couldn't put up anything yourself? What kind of attitude is it to now ask to pretend it never happened?"

Suddenly, Han Seohyun grabbed his hand and stopped him from speaking.

Eunha turned to look at her.

She was directing a sharp gaze at Hikigaya Hayato.

"I'm not the type to stupidly sit by and listen when told my value is only worth that much."

"S-Seohyun-ssi... What I meant was..."

"The same goes for you, Eunha. Don't try to erase my worth."

"...Yes, ma'am."

After glaring at him for a while, she soon spoke, emphasizing each word.

As she did so, she gripped Eunha's hand tightly.

Her hand was small and delicate, too small to fully grasp his hand.

Nevertheless, the will she conveyed through her hand was intense.

Eunha then realized his mistake in trying to unilaterally dismiss the outcome of the duel, ignoring her.

"So what are you going to do?"

Eunha whispered to her.

Now that she had mentioned her own worth, they had to take something from Hikigaya Hayato in exchange.

At this point, there were two issues.

One was that they had to mention appropriate compensation while keeping Korea-Japan relations in mind.

The other was that they had to take compensation commensurate with her value. If she obtained something of lower status out of consideration for Korea-Japan relations, her value would be publicly limited to that status.

It would be better not to do it at all in that case.

But they couldn't back out now either...

However, now that Han Seohyun had mentioned her own value here, they couldn't return the flow to its original state.

So Eunha was worried.

He wondered if she was being stubborn just to gain some advantage.

But this was Han Seohyun.

"What do you take me for?"

As if reading his mind.

Han Seohyun snorted and retorted.

Then she gave him a hint.

"Don't worry. It'll be a proposal that benefits you too."

"What exactly are you planning to say?"

"I'm going to ask to borrow the power of the Hikigaya family."

Han Seohyun whispered.

Eunha frowned.

From what she said, he understood that the opponent came from a family treated as high nobility in Japan.

And that she intended to borrow the power of the Hikigaya family under the pretext of this duel.

But what he couldn't understand was what on earth she would use his power for.

I'm going to return to Korea anyway, so what use would the power of someone in Japan be?

It didn't seem too bad to create a debt either.

Eunha had no intention of visiting Japan again.

He wouldn't have any use for his help either.

"If we borrow the power of the Hikigaya family, it will greatly help Sirius do business in Japan."

"How does that benefit me?"

"Because as Sirius grows, your influence will grow too."

"...What are you saying?"

Han Seohyun whispered confidently.

Eunha muttered in disbelief.

If Sirius Group's influence grew, it would only be good for Sirius Group's direct descendants.

Eunha, who was receiving support from Sirius Group, would only get a very minor reward in the process.

Nevertheless, even a tiny benefit could be considered a benefit.

"It could become your support base in the future. After all, I'll be the only one with influence over Japan."

"...Isn't it a benefit for you rather than me?"

"Isn't my benefit your benefit?"

"I wish I could say the same."

Han Seohyun coaxed.

Eunha let out a small laugh.

Whatever she was thinking, he decided not to think too deeply about it.

In a way, it was a benefit she was gaining by putting herself on the line.

It was somewhat awkward for Eunha himself to comment on it.

So Eunha decided to watch the negotiation as Han Seohyun said.

If only Hikigaya Hayato hadn't opened his mouth, unable to bear the Japanese gazes focused on him while the two kept talking.

"...Originally, Totsuka no Tsurugi is a sword that only I can use. It's said to be imbued with the resentment of the 3rd-rank monster Yamata no Orochi, and carries a curse that drives the wielder insane."

Hikigaya Hayato shouted in Japanese towards the crowd.

The interpreters quickly relayed this to the people around them.

Just as some people started showing interest in Totsuka no Tsurugi.

"So it's really fortunate for Mr. No Eunha too. He could have been consumed by a sword that drives people mad. I can handle it to some extent with the power of my Gift, but..."

Hikigaya Hayato explained.

It's a sword that drives people insane. As powerful as it is, one is likely to have their consciousness consumed by the sword.

Even he, with the power of his Gift, cannot wield the sword perfectly.

That's why he couldn't hand over the sword out of concern for him.

His words flowed smoothly.

Han Seohyun laughed in disbelief.

And No Eunha—

"—Is that so? Then why don't I try using your sword?"

"...What? Did you hear what I just said? If you touch this sword, the curse within it..."

"You talk too much. Just give it to me first."

Because Hikigaya Hayato's excuse was so ridiculous.

Because he was so displeased with him trying to challenge him.

Eunha snatched Totsuka no Tsurugi that Hikigaya had been showing to the crowd.

"L-Let go!"

Hikigaya shouted loudly.

He was greatly agitated.

The faces of those who knew about Totsuka no Tsurugi also turned to surprise.

"No Eunha!"

Han Seohyun was also startled.

From afar, Eunha's friends also shouted something.

But Eunha paid no attention and drew the sword from its scabbard.

"As if a mere sword would dare to drive someone mad..."

The pure white blade is revealed.

Soon, the demonic energy that had been suppressed inside the scabbard exploded out.

Mana that looked dangerously visible enough to see rushed to envelop Eunha.

He didn't fear the mana that was turning his vision black.

Rather, he smiled.

—Let's see you try if you dare.

☆

Strong emotions tend to linger in the world for a long time.

Such emotions that remain in the world occasionally come into contact with mana by chance, becoming magic, and ultimately affecting the laws of the world.

Resentment is no different.

In fact, if one were to name the strongest emotion, it could be said to be negative emotions like resentment.

I will devour everything.

The 3rd-rank monster Yamata no Orochi, who once harbored the ambition to swallow the entire world.

The will of the monster with eight snake-like heads remained in the world even after death.

Eat, and devour more.

Snake, or dragon?

The emotion that now left only an ambiguous form became tens and hundreds of strands crawling along the ground.

They rushed forward with their mouths wide open as if to devour everything in sight.

And finally.

The creatures that had been making their way through memories finally found an existence that would fulfill their will again.

Clank

A man with his arms and legs bound by iron chains.

And with blades stuck in various parts of his body.

The man dripping blood looked as if he could die at any moment.

What a weak spirit.

We shall take that body.

At this, the snakes cackled.

It's a mental body that seems unable to resist.

The snakes passed through the man's memories, devouring the emotions felt from the memories one by one.

To make this world completely their own.

Now, as the snakes were about to devour the man's mental body—

—Kuh...heh...ugh....

Starting with one suddenly disappearing, the snakes that had multiplied to thousands and tens of thousands began to gradually lose their existence and fade away.

This...can't...be....

The snakes couldn't believe it.

There are two memories.

Faced with the contradiction of two memories coexisting in the same time period, they ultimately lost their existence, unable to overcome the laws of the world.

Guh...ugh....

Moreover, the density of emotions embedded in the memories is extremely high.

The snakes were astonished.

What kind of life must one have lived to have resentment stronger than that of Yamata no Orochi?

The snakes born from Yamata no Orochi's resentment were consumed by the man's resentment and could not maintain their existence.

Crack crack

Moreover, the man who seemed to be on the verge of death was not giving up on life.

The snakes flinched as they met the eyes of the man who slowly raised his head.

The energy flowing from the man now tears apart the surviving snakes.

Above all—

—...

Back there.

A memory sits.

A particularly black memory, as if there's a hole in space.

The snakes couldn't think of anything as they met the red eyes visible over the man's shoulder.

What on earth is that?

The snakes instinctively trembled upon meeting the red glowing eyes.

...Run...away....

That is fear.

Something incomprehensible.

The snakes tried to move their bodies to leave this place immediately.

But—

—...

The moment the snakes looked into the red eyes.

The red eyes were also looking into the snakes—

—Snicker

The fear laughed.

Pulling the beings that met its eyes into the abyss of death—

And finally, the fear closed its eyes—

—...

Now only the man's mental body remained in that place.

☆

There are quite a number of artifacts imbued with people's resentment sleeping in Uijeongbu.

As a result, among the 2nd Uijeongbu Recapture Unit that attacked Uijeongbu at the time, there were occasionally people who had their selves consumed by artifacts.

However, such a thing never happened in the Fog Flower Party.

""""...""""

"...It's nothing special."

It seems the same was true for On Taeyang.

Eunha was able to defend against the mental attacks of artifacts through his Gift <Berserk >.

Rather, he even eliminated the lingering resentment and demonic energy in the artifacts.

It was the same now.

The Gift <Unknown > simply erased the demonic energy that burst out from the sword.

"そ,そんなバカな…."

(T-That's impossible...)

Hikigaya Hayato couldn't even speak properly with his mouth open.

Ignoring his presence, which seemed to have lost his mind, Eunha deployed Revolver Shon towards the empty air.

He imprinted on people the image of him freely wielding Totsuka no Tsurugi.

"You... Are you really okay?"

"Can't you tell by looking?"

"...You do seem unchanged."

Everyone is dumbfounded.

In such a situation, Seohyun, who was standing nearby, asked on behalf of the stunned people.

She visibly showed relief after checking his condition with a stiff face.

"Now you can't say only you can use this sword, right?"

"あ…."

(Ah...)

Eunha sheathed the sword.

He asked triumphantly to the dazed Hikigaya.

Coming to his senses a little, he nodded reflexively.

Then he stammered in Korean.

"T-This is impossible. How... Does Mr. No Eunha perhaps have the same Gift as me... Even so, it took me a long time to wield the sword..."

Hikigaya visibly panics.

Seeing him like that, Eunha shrugged his shoulders.

The answer was obvious.

"A master doesn't choose his tools."

"..."

Eunha clicked his tongue.

Hikigaya closed his mouth.

He clenched his fist with a face that said not to joke around.

But there was nothing he could say.

When he acknowledged it, No Eunha was truly a formidable person.

It was then.

"You might not, but... Nothing is impossible for me anymore."

"...Pardon? What do you mean by that..."

An incomprehensible statement.

Hikigaya asked back.

However, Eunha turned his body towards him, checking if Seohyun had been exposed to the demonic energy, and looked for his friends.

The corners of his mouth rise slightly.

"—I can do anything I think I can do."

Nothing is impossible.

Eunha patted Seohyun's shoulder, lightly hit Hayang's head, and turned his body again.

Then he held out the sword to Hikigaya Hayato.

Just as he instinctively reached out both hands to receive the sword—

"—Ahahahaha! What is this!? How can such a thing exist!? Ahahahaha!"

""""...""""

Kaguya, who had been silent all this time, burst into laughter.

She drew people's attention as she wiped her eyes with her fingers.

"I was going to thank No Eunha-san for this incident anyway, so this works out well!"

Controlling the flow.

Dominating the atmosphere.

Kaguya's face brightened.

Speaking formally in consideration of others, she pointed to the sword in Eunha's hand.

"It seems Totsuka no Tsurugi has also acknowledged its master... There doesn't seem to be a more fitting thank-you gift for No Eunha-san than that."

As expected of Kaguya, who has been a symbol of Japan for decades without directly participating in politics.

Eunha quietly admired Kaguya's skill.

Kaguya had taken the

Kaguya took control of the situation. She transferred ownership of the Totsuka no Tsurugi to Eunha not as a result of the duel, but under the pretext of it being a thank-you gift from her. This created the impression that Japan was not handing over the Totsuka no Tsurugi due to losing the duel.

Although the end result was that Eunha obtained the Totsuka no Tsurugi, it was framed differently.

Eunha had no complaints about this outcome. He hadn't expected much in terms of rewards from the Japanese government anyway. He thought he could use this sword as material to create an even better sword than what he currently had.

For Eunha, there was no downside. In fact, it was advantageous. The Totsuka no Tsurugi was a device equivalent to the Eulji grade - a reward not easily obtained without significant merit[1].

"...Not bad," Han Seohyun seemed to share the same opinion. Although she couldn't receive help from the Hikigaya family as originally planned, she didn't appear disappointed. Rather, she smiled as she examined the sword Eunha had received.

Meanwhile, Shin Seoyoung—

"—Come to think of it, I should thank Shin Seoyoung player too..."

"No, I'm fine. I'm already grateful for the accommodations Kaguya-sama has provided us this time."

"Hmm... is that so?"

Shin Seoyoung was perceptive. She knew that the reward Eunha received was extraordinary. Transferring ownership of an Eulji-grade artifact to a foreigner was nearly impossible, no matter the accomplishment. This action by Kaguya could potentially create issues with opposing factions.

In such a situation, Shin Seoyoung couldn't demand her own reward from Kaguya.

"If that's Shin Seoyoung player's wish, then..."

"This is more than enough for me. Ahaha..."

"Yes, thank you. I'll do my best to ensure that everyone from the Korean Academy has a comfortable stay here."

"Yes, thank you very much."

Shin Seoyoung deflected all credit to Eunha to lessen Kaguya's burden. Kaguya smiled gratefully and promised treatment that wouldn't disappoint during their stay in Japan.

"I can't live because of that kid..." Shin Seoyoung sighed secretly.