Chapter 31
“Thanks for the good suggestion,” Nyx nodded.
“But Raul doesn’t agree. No matter the losses, he insists on pushing forward. ‘We can just fill the traps with our blood,’ he says.”
“Fill the traps with our blood…”
That was Raul Delta’s usual motto. Pale shook his head in frustration.
“That’s just suicide. We don’t even know how big the northern region is. Anyway, the Delta family isn’t part of the Sword King faction. So, did the Black Luna family and Delta join hands?”
“I confirmed that there was some deal made over who becomes the next Sword King. I’m not sure about the details yet.”
It was like monsters and devils teaming up. Pale sighed, feeling helpless.
“So then… why did Black Luna destroy the Granble family?”
“Hmm?”
“Granble never got involved in power struggles. Why would Black Luna go so far to wipe them out, even risking being seen as traitors?”
The conversation circled back to the beginning. Nyx closed his eyes and stayed silent for a moment.
“…That was a mistake.”
“A mistake by them?”
“No, by us—the Sword King faction. First, let me tell you, the Granble family was firmly on our side. They just didn’t show it publicly. Roa Granble supported us.”
“The family head…”
“You knew him, right?”
“He was my mentor. He helped me qualify as an inspector.”
“Roa liked people with potential. He was the strongest among us.”
“Yes, his swordsmanship was… wait. Don’t tell me you were planning to make him the next Sword King? Is that why they destroyed the Granble family early on?”
“Close, but not exactly.”
Nyx shook his head.
“Granble was famous for its swordsmanship. But Roa wasn’t a big threat in the succession race—his swordsmanship was great, but his aura was lacking.”
“His aura sensitivity was mid-level, 5-star.”
“Not low, but not very high either. His position stayed around 20th place in the succession list.”
“It was 18th just before he died.”
“You know a lot. Usually, the person in 1st place becomes the next Sword King, right?”
“Yes. It’s always that way.”
“Not always. The 2nd to 5th places can challenge the 1st. If they do, a final battle is held.”
“But that’s…”
“It’s a life-or-death challenge. No one will blame you even if you die in the fight.”
“And you were still planning to move him up?”
“Roa was going to rise to the top 5 within six months.”
“You think that’s possible? Even if it were, could he beat Raul Delta? Raul has broken through aura level 8 and can control aura spheres freely!”
Pale raised his voice without meaning to. Nyx stayed quiet, biting his lip.
“Well… it doesn’t matter now.”
“What do you mean?”
“Roa is dead. Our hidden sword is broken. So it’s fine to tell you. You know Granble had something special, right?”
“Yes. Roa’s unity sword style was the best I’ve ever seen.”
“That’s true, but there’s something more important.”
“What do you mean?”
“The ‘gap.'”
“The gap?”
“Not the usual meaning. It’s a secret technique from the Granble family. Greek could explain it better than me… but anyway, know this: Roa Granble was unbeatable in the succession match.”
“What?”
It made no sense. Pale was speechless.
“That can’t be. I don’t want to insult my mentor, but if he was unbeatable, why did he die?”
“Because his enemy was from the Poison King faction.”
“The Poison King?”
“Maybe it was the Poison King Cult. Anyway, he wasn’t invincible in everything—only in the succession matches.”
“How is that possible?”
“That’s what makes the Granble family special.”
“Who gave them that power?”
“Deon Black Luna.”
Silence filled the room.
Deon Black Luna—the first Sword King and the creator of this whole system. Nyx smiled at Pale’s shocked face.
“Yes, that Deon. 200 years ago. He passed a secret skill to his fourth son, the founder of the Granble family. A technique that could defeat anyone trained in Sword King swordsmanship.”
“That’s the ‘gap’ you were talking about?”
Nyx shrugged. Pale muttered to himself.
“Unbelievable… But Roa did feel strange during training. Like he knew all my moves in advance…”
“Now you’re getting it. Our plan was leaked. They realized Granble was a threat.”
“So they destroyed the family?”
“Exactly.”
“Haah…”
Pale let out a long sigh.
It still felt like a dream. Roa Granble, a god of duels? Unreal. No proof. And yet, one of the eight main Sword King families was wiped out for that?
“Black Luna’s reaction was…”
“Crazy?”
“Too much. No one even knew if that would happen.”
“I agree. I still can’t imagine it. Could Roa have really beaten someone like Wind God? In the end, it’s all about belief.”
“Still, the Sword King faction caused this. We can’t ignore our role.”
“We didn’t just cause it. Granble was part of us.”
“…”
“Anyway, no excuses.”
Nyx sighed.
“I’ll take the blame. If I’d been more careful, Granble wouldn’t have been wiped out.”
“They’re not gone yet.”
“Hmm? Oh, you mean that boy—Ray Granble, right? You’ve been helping him a lot.”
“He helped me, so I can’t just let the family vanish.”
“Good man. Since things are like this, why not join us officially?”
Pale sighed. He had no choice now—he was already considered part of the Sword King faction.
“So, what now?”
“You hide until the storm passes. Since you’re already here…”
Nyx stood and walked toward the fire pit.
“Let’s show some torture. The Counterintelligence team is known for being brutal. If someone’s listening outside, scream a little.”
He picked up a glowing hot poker.
“Want me to brand you for real? The Black Luna folks will totally fall for it.”
“I’ll pass. But what is the Sword King faction planning to do next? We can’t let Black Luna run wild forever.”
“For now, we wait.”
Nyx put down the hot iron.
“They’re probably confused too. We’ll slowly move to the next plan.”
“So there is a plan?”
“Of course. But I can’t tell you everything yet. You’re new.”
“I understand. Just hearing all this already gives me a headache.”
“Digest it fast.”
Nyx smiled. Pale sighed again.
“I guess I’ll have to lay low for a while. Can I ask a favor?”
“Go ahead. Want to send a message to someone?”
“No. Even if there was, it’s better to keep distance right now.”
“Smart. So what’s the favor?”
“I need to send money.”
“Money?”
“There’s some saved at the inspector’s office… but if I send it, it might bring trouble. So please send just 10,000 sil anonymously. That person might need it for now…”
Meanwhile…
High humidity. Rotten smell. Crushing darkness. Red smoke. Wet floor.
I lie there, unable to move.
Everyone is coming to kill me. But no one is coming to save me.
I’ll die soon.
Maybe.
No.
No—I’m not alone.
Everyone protected me. Even if it meant their death.
So this isn’t real. Just a twisted memory stuck in the past.
…
I open my eyes and see the ceiling.
A nightmare.
The mattress is soaked in sweat.
Can I wash this? Phil worked hard to bring it from the orphanage… There’s straw inside, so I probably shouldn’t wash it in water.
Anyway, this isn’t that place.
I’m in my room now.
Actually, the room of Spy #1, starting yesterday. It’s the only one connected to the secret tunnel, so I had to move in.
Is the room cursed? Is that why I had a nightmare?
“Bad energy, maybe…”
I sat up and opened the window. Morning air and forest light flooded in.
This is the Highwind Dorm, deep in Grave Hill.
I’m Ray Granble, first-year Class B student at the Northern Academy.
But I still feel like I’m somewhere else, as someone else.
A poisoned child, crawling in a poison cave.
Months have passed, but I still dream of that time.
Maybe I haven’t truly escaped.
Part of me is still there—watching everyone die, doing nothing.
How long until I can leave that place?
Months?
Years?
Or forever?
Suddenly, I felt like jumping out the window. It’s only the second floor. I wouldn’t die.
But maybe I need something higher. Like the tall tower next to the Academy’s main building…
Grrr.
I’m hungry.
Painfully hungry.
– Hurry.
– Eat something now.
– You’ll feel better.
– Something tasty. Something fragrant. Something greasy and rich…
It’s like a voice whispering.
But I have no strength. I can’t even clench my fist properly.
Even eating takes energy. So does opening the door and going outside.
So I just stand still at the window, frozen.
Then I suddenly remembered: today I have to talk to a friend.
Not Phil.
I need to bring another Class B student into this plan.
In other words—today, I need to make a new friend.
So for now…
I should eat something.
I took a bite of the pickled potatoes Phil brought yesterday from the orphanage (everyone hates them, so there’s always leftovers), and slowly clenched and opened my weak fist.
Not bad.
Good enough.
At least for today—I think I can move.
