Solo Swordmaster

Chapter 13: The Bare-Minimum

The person who involved the Liberation Brigade in masterminding Limon's death.

The Director of the PAB, known to players as the King of the Underworld.

Kang Jungsoo revealed himself among the PAB agents and told Limon in a rigid voice.

"…Sir, please do not make this into a bigger problem than it has to be."

He had been thinking about revealing himself depending on the circumstances, but he would've never expected Limon to call him out first.

"You shouldn't have started it in the first place if you didn't want a bigger problem."

"I didn't start it because I wanted to."

He had kept his formal tone throughout the exchange.

But maybe it didn't sound like so because there was no respect behind his words. Or maybe it was because of his reproachful eyes.

Limon shook the pointless thoughts out of his head.

He looked down at the body he was holding in one arm, and spoke in a low voice.

"I can see where you're coming from. And as the bare minimum, I'll ask you too."

If it was anyone else, he would have gotten started right away.

But their relationship was stretched across three generations.

"Why?"

Kang Jungsoo clenched his jaw.

Ever since he was little, the adults would talk about Limon until it was engraved in his ears. He knew the meaning behind that question.

But he'd already made his choice, and there was no turning back.

No, he wouldn't, even if he could. He didn't do anything wrong. He only did the best he could with the bad hand he was dealt.

"…This is all your fault, sir."

"My fault?"

"Yes. None of this would've happened if you hadn't disturbed the Infinite Monarch."

"……"

"Did you really think you could get away with crossing the Infinite Monarch's brother-in-law, just because you were the hero of a past nation?"

At Limon's silence, Kang Jungsoo continued in a begrudging tone.

"Get a hold of yourself, sir! This isn't the Heroes' Age anymore!"

Kang Jungsoo knew very well what Limon's presence was like in the past. He knew how incredible his feats were as a great hero, and the kind of respect he received.

And he knew what a wild animal he was.

"The country used to put up with anything and everything you did. They needed your strength then. But that time's over."

Before the world entered the Iron Age, Limon was undoubtedly the Absolute Ruler.

In a time when neighboring countries would look for any opportunity to take territory and evil men conspired, overwhelming strength was needed to maintain peace. Swordmasters were the only ones who could provide that.

That was why it was called the Heroes' Age.

As the world was protected by only a few heroes, all the trouble they caused were overlooked — allowed as an act of heroism.

But times change.

"Now, there are players and Monarchs."

The players turned the world held together by power and force into a peaceful one of wealth and abundance. Moreover, with the appearance of Monarchs, another Absolute Ruler had appeared.

People realized that Swordmasters were no longer irreplaceable.

"You're in the way of this country's progress."

If only Limon wasn't so important.

If only he'd accommodated the new generation and quietly fell into the world's backdrop.

At the very least, if he'd tried to compromise with the new reality he'd found himself in.

He would've been immortalized in history books as a hero, even if he did lose his place as an Absolute Ruler.

"Why can't you understand that people have to change to suit the times? It's not the other way around!"

After he lost his power that was beyond the crown,

Robbed of his assets he'd gathered for centuries,

And had his glory as the Guardian of Humanity forgotten.

Even after he met his miserable downfall, reduced to nothing more than an insignificant civil servant, Limon still hadn't changed.

This hero of the past continued to live by that damned chivalrous justice and kept trying to play hero.

"How much more do we have to give up for your antics, just because you did some things in the past?!"

Kang Jungsoo didn't forget.

No, he couldn't forget.

His grandfather was a war hero deserving of praise.

But instead, he was mocked all his life — that he only escaped death thanks to Limon, and that his achievements in battle were thanks to him as well.

His father was a politician deserving of respect.

But he wasted his political career trying to protect Limon's place in a changing world.

And as the Swordmaster fell from grace, so did he. He had to resign from the presidential elections and was kicked out from the world of politics.

But Kang Jungsoo tried to not resent Limon, even though their association meant that he couldn't enter politics, and had to endure all sorts of hardships.

Recalling Limon's feats his grandfather has told him ever since he was a child, he had spent his life cleaning up behind Limon as his father did.

He'd reached his limit.

"I'm sick and tired of sticking my neck out for you. Blame yourself for being behind the times!"

In the end, Limon had still provoked the Infinite Monarch. Kang Jungsoo's hands were tied.

Whether it was for political benefit or his family…

Between the disgraced Swordmasters and the new Absolute Rulers…

It was clear whose side he should take.

Limon didn't have much to say about Kang Jungsoo's outcries.

"What's this nutjob rambling about?"

***

***

"…Eh?"

"Oi, you little shit. Did I ask for your excuses?"

Limon growled at Kang Jungsoo, who was frozen in shock at being disregarded after he'd just poured out his heart and soul.

"Didn't I tell you to put all the blame on me when I kicked that son of a bitch's ass?"

"That…"

"Get away with? Have my back? Shit, people are gonna think I'm indebted to your family or something.

Limon had a cynical grin.

Kang Jungsoo spoke as if his family had sacrificed themselves for generations for Limon.

But was that really the case?

Kang Jungsoo's grandfather may have been made fun of for getting lucky, but Swordmasters were the Absolute Rulers at the time.

Getting rescued by a Swordmaster three different times was something more than worthy to be proud of. Flaunting their friendship was also how he was able to succeed in the military.

It was the same with Kang Jungsoo's father.

He was able to take advantage of the past hero's popularity to get votes.

If he hadn't shown off his friendship with Limon to his voters, he wouldn't even have been a council member, much less a presidential candidate.

And Kang Jungsoo himself?

He was talking as if Limon was the cause of all his troubles.

If he hadn't known Limon, would a commoner like him have been able to become the director of the PAB?

But Limon didn't bring those points up.

"Whatever, that doesn't mean shit. I don't even care about why you would stab me in the back in the first place."

People attribute success to themselves and blame failure on their ancestors.

Kang Jungsoo was free to think that he could have lived a better life if not for Limon.

But more importantly, Limon simply didn't care about him.

He only wanted to hear one thing.

"My question is… Why did you do this to Na-kyung?"

As if he only noticed Yoo Na-kyung's body in Limon's arms, Kang Jungsoo flinched, and his face turned sour.

"……It was agent Yoo Na-kyung's choice."

"You think she had a choice when there were hostages involved?"

"I didn't do that."

"But you allowed it."

"I protested! But what else could I do when the Monarch had the final say?!"

If he made a rash decision, both Yoo Na-kyung and the hostages would've disappeared.

Even if he disobeyed and died, another PAB director would've taken his place and done the same thing.

"You should have fought back."

Limon said in a low voice.

"…Excuse me?"

"You should have fought back like a madman until the very end."

Whether he died by crashing in with the PAB agents, or by talking badly about the Infinite Monarch on television. Even if he'd at least stepped forward to give himself up instead of Na-kyung.

"You should have done something."

Limon said in a calm voice.

Kang Jungsoo was dumbfounded.

"A-are you telling me I should have died in agent Yoo Na-kyung's place?!"

"Yes."

"……"

"You're the PAB director. Regardless of whatever threats a player makes, at the very least, you should've given yourself up instead of throwing a subordinate under the bus."

The PAB was an organization made to regulate players.

Its director shouldn't be scared of a player's power.

As the former head of a group that eventually become the foundation for the PAB, and as well as a hero of the past, Limon stated coldly,

"I can understand if you weren't brave enough to die. But even then, you ought to be at least ashamed of yourself for being alive."

Not everyone can be a hero, and not everyone can die to do what's right. That's why Limon could forgive his betrayal.

"But Jungsoo… Not once have you hung your head to Na-kyung, let alone me."

"……!"

Excuses, excuses, excuses, excuses.

Even with Yoo Na-kyung's body in front of him, Kang Jungsoo was crying out his reasons for betrayal and insisting on what's right and wrong.

Limon knew the reason Kang Jungsoo wasn't apologizing.

That was just the way those drunk with power thought. It was their habit to not feel shame or regret since they saw people as tools.

Ultimately, death wasn't what Kang Jungsoo was afraid of.

He had betrayed Limon and ignored Yoo Na-kyung's death to throw away his old connections with the Swordmaster to hold a Monarch's hand instead.

That crossed Limon's line.

"…Say whatever you want. No matter what you say, nothing is going to change."

Limon stoically locked eyes with Kang Jungsoo, who seemed like he'd given up on making excuses.

"You think so?"

"Is there any reason for me not to?"

"Yeah, since I'm going to kill you."

"Ha!"

Kang Jungsoo laughed in his face, and pointed to the troops surrounding him.

"Do you really think you can get through all these guys and kill me?"

Those surrounding Limon were no ordinary soldiers or players.

30 PAB agents specialized in combat.

40 frontliners from the country's leading big scale guilds, 『Stardust』 and 『New Divinities』.

50 rangers from Squad 909, the most elite military troop, armed with high-level items and cutting edge weapons designed to kill players.

Another 50 S-rank mercenaries of Black Wolf, a private military organization notorious for doing anything so long as they were paid.

And 30 murderous criminals brought in with plea bargains and a great deal of money.

200 in total.

Furthermore, each and every one of them were at least level 60 high-level players.

It was enough manpower to decimate five to six cities in the blink of an eye and start wars.

Kang Jungsoo was certain this was enough to fight even a Monarch. That it would be impossible for a goner like Limon to get past these people and kill him.

As if looking at a colony of ants, he slowly scanned the 200 people with calm, settled eyes.

"Before I answer that, let me ask you one last question."

"What?!"

Was it his eerily calm tone?

Despite his overwhelming upper hand in the situation, Kang Jungsoo reacted angrily. A feeling of uneasiness was building up inside him.

"Is it truly your own choice to kill me, or is it that old cackling one-eyed woman who's eating your head?"

Limon asked in a low tone.

Without realizing, Kang Jungsoo instantly flinched.

It wasn't just because of the random question he didn't know the meaning behind. Instead, It was Limon's unblinking eyes looking at something that couldn't be seen through his soul.

A dark glow as black as the night sky lurked in what was supposed to be his golden eyes. Chills ran down his back.

"What kind of nonsense is that?"

"By nonsense, are you saying this was solely your decision?"

"Yes!"

Maybe he was embarrassed at Limon's overwhelming stare.

After staring at him with stoic eyes, Limon slowly nodded at Kang Jungsoo's confident answer.

"……Alright. As long as this was by your own will."

Limon took his eyes off of him as if he was finished making sure.

"I declare."

Looking around at the 200 people…

No, the 200 eerie shadows half conjoined with the people sneering like a predator looking at their captured prey.

"What I'm about to do to you bastards, I call it mercy."

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