I Was the Strongest Sword God in My Past Life - I Was the Strongest Sword God in My Past Life chapter 44

part 44

‘Is it really the building village?’

From Jien’s vantage point, the path leading to the cave was lined with buildings that seemed to form a fortress, commonly known as the building village. It was a stronghold densely packed with buildings, led by a large factory.

‘I must go through it, nonetheless.’

Jien’s decision could be considered quite dangerous.

The factory in the building village was the best place for defense. Once occupied, most parties would not linger around the building village. But it also aligned with his own purpose.

‘This won’t do.’

Jien didn’t just want to safely pass the first round. Such a performance wouldn’t stand out.

Jien wanted to imprint his party in the minds of as many stakeholders as possible. This was a necessary step, even for a first-year, to be assigned a gate.

‘And to top it off, to gather viewers and sponsors…’

There was really only one choice from the start.

Jien ran along the ridge. His speed was like a gale, but where Jien passed, no footprints or sounds were left behind.

The dilapidated buildings, densely packed in the village, looked like ruins, unmanaged. Like a forest within the city. This village was the place where the unique atmosphere of the deserted island map was best expressed.

“No security either. This is really too much.”

As Jian strolled leisurely through the village like a tourist, he spoke to his viewers. Of course, Jian couldn’t see the viewers’ reactions. The only channel of communication was…

[Amy♥: If it were me, I’d never enter the factory.]

Amy.

[Amy♥: It’s certain death. I’m really, really, really against it!]

She seemed quite displeased with the current situation of Jian entering the factory alone.

[Amy♥: You’re definitely going to be eliminated!]

[Amy♥: You know it’s all over if you’re eliminated from the party, right?]

‘I know that well.’

That’s why Jian was on high alert, every sense tingling. It wasn’t just a mindset.

A high-level technique of spreading mana finely throughout the body to enhance responsiveness.

At that moment, Jian could even feel the sound of leaves falling to the ground.

But.

‘No one’s here.’

Jian was surveying the factory from the rooftop of a building. However, he felt no sign of life from any building other than the factory. It meant that all personnel were invested in defending the fortress that was the factory.

‘Whoever it is, it’s a good strategy.’

In battle survival, communication equipment is a premium artifact and hard to come by.

‘If command is difficult, gathering like this isn’t a bad strategy either.’

Moreover, when you openly commit to defense like this, ordinary parties don’t dare to attack.

There were two entrances to the factory. The main gate that was currently visible and the straight back gate.

It would be foolish to enter alone through the main gate. And entering through the back gate would limit Jian’s specialty, movement.

No, the moment he approached the factory, long-range magic devices would be launched at him.

[Amy♥: Knock knock, hello~?]

[Amy♥: Um, why don’t we just go back?]

Jian lightly ignored Amy’s message.

[Amy♥: Are you really going?]

Amy’s messages became increasingly desperate.

[Amy♥: Really?]

Whether it was out of spite or fear, Amy’s messages were endless.

[Amy♥: For real?]

Yes, for real.

This is a chance for a grand display.

Swoosh!

The stigmata shone, and the sword was grasped in Jian’s hand. All preparations for the new magic device were complete. Jian had obtained the magic device after consuming the fruit of Yggdrasil in the crystal cave, and there was plenty of Mp due to its unique properties.

‘I didn’t expect to use the magic device so soon.’

Sizzle, crackle!

The mana burst forth from Heukhyang, making the armor flutter. The black sword, Heukhyang, had a nature to slice.

[Magic Device – Gongjeopcham]

[1500 Mp has been consumed.]

[Current Mp: 511 / 3300]

Even space itself was not safe before it. The sword drew slowly through the air. Where the sword passed, wounds remained, and fissures formed. Beyond the torn fissures, the inside of the factory was visible.

Crackle! Fizz!

The fissure sparked with mana.

It was the moment when the ironclad gate, created by the alliance of three parties, crumbled under a single magic device.

* * *

Contrary to the opening, the caster Venon’s voice had become quite serious.

“Celia Academy… It’s hard to believe this is the teamwork of first-year students.”

“Yes, really. They could pass for active professionals. There’s a very clean and organized feel to it, isn’t there?”

Bluema, who was at the level of a 6th-grade Saber, was genuinely amazed by the breath of the Celia Academy students.

‘Indeed Celia… Worthy of its reputation.’

[Celia Academy]

[Lucia Elquines – View]

The guide written in the corner of the main screen.

The trio from Celia Academy walked proudly on the road, but now no one stopped them.

Kua, who freely manipulated water.

Demona, with a halberd taller than herself.

Lucia, walking with a sword in hand.

Their prowess and teamwork were on a different level from other academies.

Fearlessly blocking Lucia’s path, the party was swept away by Kua’s tidal wave and shattered by Demona’s halberd.

Effortlessly annihilating four parties on the road alone.

“It seems the destination Celia Academy is heading to is the school. They must be going to catch the boss mob [Witch],” said Venon, to which Bluma nodded.

“Yes. There’s enough time until the air drop, and the Celia party can certainly catch the Witch.”

Pop!

Suddenly, the main screen changed. It was no longer the three members of Celia walking down the road, but a man dressed in black.

‘Changing the main cam in this situation?’

Venon was puzzled but didn’t panic, quickly commenting.

“Ah! The main camera has switched to Arcana. Viewers might be more familiar with the student nicknamed A… Huh?”

The place where Gian stood was the notoriously infamous factory. The screen showed the situation inside the factory at a glance. Nine students huddled together and Gian sneaking in.

It looked reckless at first glance.

“Wait, did he just enter the factory now? How, no, why!?”

Bluma was so astonished that she forgot she was on air and blurted out informally. Venon shared her disbelief.

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“Uh… Did he really sneak into the factory alone? He’s up against nine people! This is total suicide! What is Arcana thinking?”

Crack!

As if responding to Venon’s outcry, Gian struck a huge pipe with his sword.

Hiss!

A massive amount of steam burst from the pipe. Gian quickly retreated. Venon finally seemed to grasp the situation and began to explain.

“He broke the steam pipe to create a smokescreen effect. This is… quite skilled, isn’t it?”

“Well, he’s certainly experienced in combat, but no matter how confident, entering alone against nine is truly reckless. Could this be the arrogance of forgetting the party leader’s position?”

Despite her words, anticipation was evident on Bluma’s face. It was natural. Gian was a first-year who had defeated the fourth-grade boss Hiperus and thwarted Desire. Bluma was well aware of Gian’s other feats.

‘I’m honestly surprised, but with Gian’s skills, it might be possible.’

What bothered her, though, was something else.

‘Hmm… If he gets too big, he’ll be out of reach.’

Bluma smiled wryly as she watched the screen. She wasn’t the only one paying attention to this tournament. No matter how much Bluma wanted him, if Gian caught the government’s eye, scouting him would become difficult.

“That’s right.”

But Venon, without a hint of doubt, blamed Gian’s recklessness.

“If the party leader is disqualified, the whole party is out. I can’t understand such a rash decision.”

Despite everything, it was an undeniable fact that the main camera, which favored Celia, had returned to Arcana thanks to Gian’s reckless challenge.

* * *

A factory obscured by steam.

On Amy’s monitor, only Gian’s blurry back could be seen.

‘To laugh or to cry?’

A situation that naturally tugs at the heart.

Inside the booth, Amy gnawed on her nails, forgetting her lines.

– Nail-eating broadcast ON!

– (Roughly about eating popcorn)

– ㄷㄷ The genius of quick defeat

– But the viewership is a hit, agree?

“Ah, I love that the main cam caught this! Right in the action!!”

The Celia party, sweeping through the streets as a trio, had somewhat caught up with their viewers.

Such is the effect of the main cam.

On Twitch, with numbers like these, Amy couldn’t even guess how many people were watching the live broadcast.

“But a 9 to 1 ratio is too much!”

This complaint wasn’t an act.

‘I get that it’s tough… but is that person insane? To go in there?’

Amy’s reaction only made the viewers enjoy it more.

– Jintenㅋㅋㅋ Sobbingㅋㅋㅋㅋ

– And there’s the party leader~

– Informal mode activatedㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

When the sound from the speaker grew louder, Amy pressed her ear against the monitor.

“Ah! The sound! I can hear it! Everyone, quiet!”

– Shh, the chat’s going to be noisy!

– Right, guys, the chat’s too loud, we might get caught ㄷㄷㄷㄷ;

– ㅇㅇ Let’s keep our infiltration a secret!

– Sudden stealth mode, so thrilling~

‘Those little…’

Amy stared intently at the monitor screen. But the steam made the view hazy, and the situation remained unclear. The only certainty was the growing murmur.

“Ah? Is it approaching?”

From the increasing volume of the speaker, it seemed that Jian had moved close to the opponent.

“Eek! Surely it’s not planning to fight right away?”

A sudden onset of stealth action.

Amy’s face turned pale blue.

At least in this steam, the numerical disadvantage of ninefold might be slightly mitigated.

“But still, to Jian, everyone inside there is an enemy.”

After all, it doesn’t matter if you can’t see. If you feel the mana, just slash everything.

“Maybe there’s a bit of a chance…”

Just then, a woman’s voice came out clearly from the speaker.

“Did you keep watch at the entrance properly?”

Probably one of the nine voices holding out in the factory. Suddenly, due to the steam enveloping the factory, signs of division were showing among the three parties.

“Ugh, that’s why I told you to shoot when I was loitering around.”

“When did you say to wait until stepping on a trap?”

“Sorry, but that was said by the woman with glasses, you know?”

“Ha, seriously, no matter how urgent, why would you join hands with that ragtag school?”

“These guys, always listening to rumors.”

Voices tangled in the steam. When the sight is unseen and the parties are showing signs of division, adding chaos to chaos.

“Don’t make a fuss. Stay together. Just hold on… Argh!”

A death cry blew the whistle for the start.