The Grand Campaign (3)

8.

-"We don't know who you are. Be glad that we don't! If we knew who you were, by now, your arms and legs would have been finely chopped up with nail clippers, and after smashing your eyeballs with a hammer, yeah! Your family! Friends! No, even the hometown you were born in! Your world itself, which carelessly threw away trash like you without proper waste separation! All of it! Already! Would have been torn to shreds! Oh! Look forward to it! I'm really looking forward to seeing if your proud vocal cords can still sing like a nightingale even when they are torn into 23 pieces...!!

Click.

The Assistant Writer turned off the recorder. It was not a mechanical recorder, but a magical one. A magic item that fully embodied the skill of [Capturing a Person's Voice].

"This is the official statement that echoed over Monopolized City yesterday."

"The atmosphere seems quite different from the official statements I know of."

"To us, this is routine. …Death King. Because of you, the spiders of the Magic Tower are seriously pissed off."

"Do you regret it?"

"What?"

"I'm just asking. Do you feel that your decision to act with me was a bit hasty?"

"What are you talking about? I obviously—."

The Assistant Writer dropped the recorder.

Crack.

Her high heel crushed the magic device.

"Obviously, it's going to be insanely fun."

The Assistant Writer's dim eyes were smirking.

"I didn't understand why the Corner Librarian chose a man like you as a messenger. But now I think I know. You, with a face that seems clueless about the ways of the world, know how to play with people's hearts."

"That's a bit harsh. I'm not playing around. I always live seriously."

"Ah, I'm sure you do. That's what makes you even more vile! You're the best."

I couldn't tell if it was an insult or a compliment.

Kwaaaa… Aaah….

A distant explosion sounded. The vibration traveled across the cave ceiling, causing water droplets on the stalactites to fall. The cold water seeped into our scalps. We shook our heads like cats.

"Damn it."

"It seems the Magic Tower has sent another search party into the cave."

"Yeah, we'll be discovered here soon too. Let's move quickly. In a city, maybe, but a chase scene in a cave, that's just a farce fit for a horror movie!"

[The Eye Living in the Labyrinth guides you to a safe zone.]

[The Lone Seeker of Truth distracts the intruders.]

We evacuated under the protection of the constellations. Kwaaaang… Kooong... As we hastened our steps, the sound of explosions grew more distant.

The Magic Tower had been certain for some time that we were hiding in the underground caves. The current vibrations were caused by the Tower's spiders indiscriminately firing magic.

They must be frantically searching for me.

'But the caves of Monopolized City are strangely vast.'

We immediately moved to our next hideout.

'Even if one entrance to the cave collapses, a new one appears the next day. It's as if this underground world is a giant monster, constantly alive and moving.'

The terrain makes the search difficult.

Moreover, numerous constellations and countless followers are aiding us.

In a direct confrontation, maybe, but in this game of hide-and-seek, the Magic Tower is at a disadvantage.

"What's the next plan? Huh?"

The Assistant Writer asked with an excited face.

"Hmm."

Since the start of the Grand Campaign, the Assistant Writer was completely fired up. I would paint the big picture, and she would tailor, fabricate, disseminate, and reproduce rumors according to local circumstances, steering events in our favor.

'Just like a devout follower of Hamustra.'

Is this also my responsibility?

I gave a bitter smile.

"Next, we need to meet with the followers of the Sword Emperor."

9.

We do not acknowledge someone like you.

10.

"The Sword Emperor?"

The Assistant Writer smiled.

It was not a gentle smile. Certainly, it was not filled with goodwill.

Humans are creatures who smile even when testing others.

"A place full of people obsessed with swords. It can hardly be called a group. It's more like a gathering of individuals who personally worship the Sword Emperor, training with each other. Their daily routine is simple: breakfast, training, lunch, training, dinner, training, sleep, and then more training… Why meet such lunatics?"

"Slowly, an Anti-Magic Tower Alliance is starting to rise."

Koooooong.

Another explosion echoed from beyond our hideout.

It seemed like the fight between the Magic Tower's pursuit team and the followers resisting them was intensifying.

[The Lone Seeker of Truth requests reinforcements from other constellations!]

[The Incarnation of Love and Lust is busy watching the campaign.]

[The Warhorse of the Eternal Plains advises handling it alone.]

[The Lone Seeker of Truth spews indescribable curses.]

The messages were getting fierce.

"But it's still not enough. Even if it's called an alliance, it's just a union of constellations who resent the Magic Tower. So far, the constellations have continuously attacked the Magic Tower, and each time, the Tower has won. Hunters who don't participate in the alliance will think [No matter what, the Magic Tower will win again]."

"Yeah. Right."

The Assistant Writer wholeheartedly agreed with my deduction.

"Even if they dislike the Magic Tower, many constellations still cooperate with it. No. Even if an alliance is formed, not all constellations will actively participate. They will wait and see. If the tide of the war seems unfavorable, they will quickly withdraw."

That's how the world works, the Assistant Writer said.

[Shiny feels sorry for not being able to help other constellations.]

[Many constellations remain silent.]

[The Lone Seeker of Truth cautiously asks who was that just now.]

[The Incarnation of Love and Lust says they don't know.]

[The Warhorse of the Eternal Plains also answers that they don't know.]

[A few constellations feel fear towards an unknown entity.]

"That's exactly it."

I pressed down on the hilt of Shiny. Woooong, the holy sword vibrated. It seemed to sulk at my gesture to be quiet.

"The quest window of the constellations is definitely powerful. Followers will accept the premise that the Sword Emperor has returned and participate in the Anti-Magic Tower Alliance without hesitation. But… conversely, it means [other hunters who cannot see the quest window] won't be much affected."

For more spectacular propaganda and fabrication, something else is needed.

A joker card.

"That's why the crazies of the Sword Emperor's sect need to step in."

The first to rise up if the real Sword Emperor returned.

If that group moves, even unrelated third parties will be shaken, thinking 'Could the Sword Emperor really have returned!'

They are the Sword Emperor's sect.

"...."

The Assistant Writer grinned.

"Of course, I can arrange a meeting. But do you know? Right now, hearing the rumor that the Sword Emperor has returned, there are two most infuriated forces on the 50th floor. One is the Magic Tower. The other is the Sword Emperor's sect. Death King. If they find out you're behind the rumors, they'll probably try to tear you apart!"

"Haha."

I laughed.

I knew all too well why they would react so fiercely.

"How dare someone like that impersonate the Sword Emperor and deceive the world?"

"Yes. Exactly."

They are the ones who still worship Bae Hu-ryeong, who died 150 years ago.

I don't know their faces, but they must be fully armed with devotion to the Sword Emperor.

Then a completely unknown kid comes along, impersonating their god… Naturally, they would be angry. I understand. It makes sense why they would want to kill me. But.

"It's okay."

That's only if I were a liar.

I gave a bitter smile.

"I am truly the successor of the Sword Emperor."

11.

Again, we state.

We do not acknowledge someone like you.

We only allowed you to enter our sacred altar because some acquaintances begged us to meet you just once. Not cutting off your head right now is our last act of mercy.

Get lost.

How can I earn your recognition?

We do not recognize anyone.

Recognition is not something you receive; it's something you earn.

If you think you can subdue us, then pick up a sword instead of wagging your tongue. Kid. Even if you win, we will never acknowledge the return of the Sword Emperor!

Is that so? That's troublesome.

Hmm.

What?

Wait a moment. Please hold on. I need to ask something to this noisy gentleman… Ah, yes. Hmm. Understood.

You there. The one with the splendid beard.

Is your alias the Demon Reducing Spear?

Me?

Well, the alias is as you said.

Yes. Your real name is Mihustra Pelenoban. Born in the same world as the Sword Emperor, the World of a Thousand Swords. But you only encountered the Sword Emperor after climbing the Tower.

…What are you talking about? You seem to have some frivolous skill. Impudent. If you try to deceive the world with a clown's gestures, my spear will show you…

You always followed the Sword Emperor, seeking his teachings.

…

The Sword Emperor found you annoying. He once leapt away using light-foot techniques just to see if you would follow him. But you always managed to catch up and begged him to share even just one insight.

When you were alone with the Sword Emperor, he said to you.

Without any payment?

…

There.

Your alias is the Echoing Plant Roar. A master of sound arts. Your real name is Xiao Chen, a member of a renowned family from the World of a Thousand Swords, but in reality, you were an illegitimate child and lived wandering outside since you were young.

…

You were deeply fascinated by the Sword Emperor. The Sword Emperor had charged through the martial world alone, without any help from a prestigious family.

You asked to climb the Tower with the Sword Emperor, but he rejected you, finding you bothersome. You couldn't accept it.

Every night, you went to where the Sword Emperor was staying and mimicked a cat's cry. Very loudly. When the Sword Emperor angrily chased after you, you fled far away, and when he tried to sleep again, you'd sneak back in and cry like a cat.

Then one winter, you were caught pretending to sleep by the Sword Emperor and got severely beaten.

…

The Sword Emperor said,

Kid, do you know why I'm hitting you?

Because you're incredibly weak and have the audacity to seek teachings? No.

Because you disturb someone's sleep? Not that either.

It's just because you mimic a cat's cry.

I hate cats.

Very much.

So, you're going to get beaten a lot from now on.

…

Hmm.

The atmosphere was tense.

If I've touched on unpleasant memories, I apologize. I only wish to gain your recognition. No matter how much you deny it or find it hard to believe, I have truly come here to continue the will of the Sword Emperor.

I know the alias of the person sitting there, staring blankly, is Flower Leisure Bow. I know your name, your origin, and most importantly, what time you spent with the Sword Emperor and what conversations you had. I can tell you the personal details of everyone here.

Because if the Sword Emperor knew it, I know it too.

…

Ah. Of course, saying this might still be hard to accept.

If talking alone solved problems, you wouldn't have joined a crazy-named group like the Sword Emperor's sect.

Come at me.

I will take on each of you one by one.

…

…

You…

What are you?

My alias is the Death King.

I am the successor who received the Aura from the greatest of all time in the World of a Thousand Swords, the heir who inherited the sword from the number one under the snowy sky, and one day, I will step even further than the constellations you worship in your temple.

Then, I humbly request a lesson.

Elders.

12.

"The followers of the Sword Emperor's sect have repelled the Magic Tower's pursuit team."

The Assistant Writer walked steadily.

"And they did it right in the middle of the street. Regular hunters are quite shaken up. The Sword Emperor's followers are known for not interfering with external affairs and playing among themselves, but this time, they openly opposed the Magic Tower."

We were climbing a cave passage. The passage had stairs that gradually increased our altitude. The pressure of the underground, the texture of the earth, flowed down my thighs and calves.

"[The Warhorse of the Eternal Plains] and [The Lone Seeker of Truth] are also gathering their followers. [The Incarnation of Love and Lust]… might not be much help in combat, but could unexpectedly provide help through connections. Well, in a way."

Step.

"The Anti-Magic Tower Alliance is almost complete."

Light shone at my feet.

Not the light of a torch lit in the cave or the magical light sparked by the Assistant Writer, but a streak of faint sunlight streaming from the dreary sky.

"Congratulations, Death King."

Ten days.

After hiding in the underground caves and living in hiding, I looked up at the sky for the first time in quite a while.

"For the first time in 150 years, as you desired, we have gained the sharpest blade of rebellion."

In the sky of the fiftieth stage, there were spires erected.

The towers, painted in pitch black as if to mock the brilliant sky, had no windows, indicating a refusal to let anyone in or out.

Most importantly, each of the five towers looked like fingers, as if trying to grasp and pull down the sky.

Whose hand could they resemble?

"Good."

I looked at the Magic Tower and smiled.

"Let's bring down the elder."