Chapter 126. Cut the Crap, You Bastards! (3)

Alex and the others, who had been stunned by Patrick's outrageous remark, came to their senses a beat later.

And then....

“You crazy bastard!”

“Apologize! Apologize to him.”

“No, get on your knees and beg.”

“We are sorry. We apologize on his behalf.”

His companions rushed at Patrick.

Kalin, in particular, was horrified and tried to force Patrick to apologize by pressing down on his head.

“Hey, what are you guys doing….”

Patrick kicked those companions away and shouted.

“Did I say something wrong? When a senile old geezer is spouting nonsense, isn't it natural for anyone to be suspicious like me?”

Seeing Patrick yelling at the top of his lungs, his companions tore at their hair.

Why were they so powerless?

If only they had the strength, they could shut that mouth of his.

“Hoho... Hohoho….”

The Sword Saint was dumbfounded.

He had thought it unlikely, but he never expected this kind of reaction.

He spoke to Patrick.

“Did my offer displease you so much?”

“No, it's not about being pleased or displeased, are you in your right mind?”

As Patrick spoke in a manner that went beyond rudeness and bordered on picking a fight, the others squeezed their eyes shut.

There was no stopping him now.

If that Sword Saint drew his sword in anger, who could possibly stop him?

But the Sword Saint's reaction was different from what they expected.

“What is it that you find so disagreeable?”

Truly the Sword Saint.

Truly the model for all knights.

He showed the common sense to ask for the reason before getting angry without cause.

At the Sword Saint's overflowing consideration, Patrick snorted and said.

“Ha, is this old geezer asking because he doesn't know?”

“……”

“Wow, you really don't seem to know. Well, well….”

“Explain it to me.”

“Becoming your Grace’s disciple means I would be changing my allegiance to the Empire, does it not?”

“It does.”

“No, are you seriously telling a perfectly fine noble of another country to suddenly switch his allegiance? Is that something you should normally say?”

“Hmm….”

The Sword Saint was taken aback.

In principle, what Patrick said was correct.

A noble of the kingdom, especially a feudal lord like Patrick whose father owned a fief, was born with the duty of loyalty to the Kingdom of Atronia from the moment of birth.

Telling such a noble to switch his allegiance was no different from inciting betrayal.

But that was a matter of principle; in reality, wasn't it common for people to switch allegiances for honor and success?

Besides, he was the Sword Saint.

Logically, he thought that the offer to accept someone as his disciple wasn't something to get so angry about.

“Think carefully. Think about what is more beneficial for your future.”

The Sword Saint calmly tried to persuade Patrick.

At that, Patrick's face twisted into a scowl, and he said with a crooked smile.

“Aaaah... my future? Benefit?”

“Yes. Think carefully. I'm saying this because your talent is too precious to waste….”

“Does this old geezer take me for a fool?”

Patrick cut the Sword Saint off.

And with a voice twisted with resentment, he continued.

“‘I am the Sword Saint and I am great, so if you become my disciple, it will be much better than living as a country noble’?”

“……”

“‘So, throw your loyalty to the kingdom, your duty as a noble, and your honor into the gutter and make a choice that is realistically beneficial to you’?”

“...Hmm….”

“Isn't that what you're saying? Huh?”

“Ahem….”

The Sword Saint was greatly embarrassed.

The interpretation was extremely aggressive and twisted, but the core of it was correct.

Patrick smirked.

“They say people are the same wherever you go….”

He had heard such offers plenty of times in his past life.

[If you come to our sect, you are guaranteed to be the next Sect Leader. You can become the Sect Leader of the great Wudang Sect. Do you not know what that means?]

[Come into our family as a son-in-law. Do you want to waste your life struggling, tied down to such a countryside sect?]

[Benefactor, do you not know what a great opportunity this is in your life? Are you thinking of throwing away such an opportunity just because you don't want to shave your head?]

The Sect Leaders of prestigious orthodox sects, the heads of great clans, and even the bald heads of Shaolin Temple....

Those lofty gentlemen who lived for their own pride offered sweet rewards from behind the scenes, as if luring a child with candy.

Of course, the Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon refused them all.

Outwardly....

[What? Can't get married? Live alone for the rest of my life? You go live like that, old monk.]

[What are you talking about? Your daughter is ugly as sin.]

[What? Shave my head? Master, do you want to die?]

He refused with such excuses, but his true reason was just one thing.

A bowl of porridge.

[Eat up.]

In those cold and hungry days of his youth.

That one bowl of porridge his Master offered him, even when he had nothing to eat himself.

As long as Patrick remembered that warmth, he would never abandon the Twin Dragon Sect.

The Sect Leader of the Nine Sects One Gang.

The steward of the Five Great Clans?

Patrick was someone who had kicked all of that away.

‘It's not that I feel that kind of grace from the Kingdom of Atronia. No, but still….’

Patrick's hometown came to mind.

His father, who did his best with his limited abilities to protect the people who lived with simple smiles even in a harsh environment teeming with monsters.

The vassals who believed in and followed that father.

His mother, who loved that father and stayed by his side without change.

The soldiers who, despite their lack of talent, followed his orders as he pushed them.

The green-green ‘uwoooargh’ bastards.

‘There are quite a few.’

A small smile escaped him.

In any case, in this world, what he had to protect already existed.

It was already decided.

It was impossible for Patrick to abandon it himself.

Reminded of that fact again, Patrick smirked and said to the Sword Saint.

“Listen here, Your Grace.”

“...What is it?”

“Give up your futile greed, apologize, and get lost.”

“What did you say?”

“Otherwise, it'll be hard for you to walk out on your own two feet.”

At Patrick's threat, the Sword Saint let out a hollow laugh.

“Ha... Hahaha….”

What did this young brat just say to him?

A threat? To him?

He was trying to be patient because his talent was a waste, but....

“Laughing? Right. You find this funny, is that it?”

As if to show his words were not just a threat, Patrick brought his hands to his twin swords.

At that, the Sword Saint also wiped the smile from his lips and looked at Patrick intently.

‘Is he serious?’

A chill ran down the Sword Saint's spine.

This young brat in front of him was seriously planning to draw his sword on him.

No, just from his eyes, it seemed he even intended to win.

Let's say he didn't know who he was before.

But now, he had revealed his identity.

A Duke of the Empire and the man called the Sword Saint in the world.

And that young brat was seriously planning to draw his sword and strike at him.

In that moment, two emotions surfaced in the Sword Saint's mind.

Displeasure and a fighting spirit.

‘This is absurd.’

The exchange he had shown a moment ago was surprising.

It was only a single move, but the attack he launched at him was so sharp that he had to counter it reflexively, and that young brat even managed to dodge that counterattack.

But....

‘Even so, to feel a fighting spirit. I, of all people….’

For a moment, he felt like engaging him once more.

But....

This was not right.

This shouldn't happen.

It was already a breach of etiquette to enter another country's waiting room at the Arcana, but to have a sword fight here?

This was an act that would tarnish the name of the Empire and his family.

He was an adult with too much to lose to simply act as he pleased.

In the end, he took a step back and said.

“If my offer was unpleasant, you don't have to accept it.”

“Is that an apology in the Empire?”

“...I was rude.”

It was the best compromise he could offer.

For him, the Duke of the Empire and the man called the Sword Saint, to concede this much, it was normal for the other party to understand and let it go.

Yes. Normal and ordinary, but....

“High-and-mighty nobles, I swear.”

“……”

“Look at that stiff neck on someone who's apologizing. I wonder if it'll get better if I snap it in two?”

Normal? Ordinary?

Here was a man who had no connection to such things.

The killing intent and fighting spirit had disappeared from Patrick's face, but in their place was a wicked playfulness and swagger.

And he spoke to the trembling Sword Saint with a sly grin....

“Rude? What was rude?”

“……”

“I don't know. Hmm? Who would know if you just say it like that? You have to be specific.”

“……”

“Specifically, what rudeness did you commit, what are you sorry for, and how much compensation will you set... Kuwek!”

“Cut it out, you crazy bastard!”

“Are you a girlfriend who's found something to hold over me?”

“Stop. Please, just stop!”

As the Sword Saint's face turned as red as a ripe apple, Alex and the others intervened again.

They struck Patrick on the back of the head and tried to restrain and gag him again.

At the absurd sight, the Sword Saint's anger subsided slightly, and in the meantime, Professor Leyte stepped forward to resolve the situation.

“I apologize, Your Grace. Our boy here is still immature….”

“You all must have it tough.”

“Words can't even begin to describe it.”

Seeing Professor Leyte's sorrowful expression, the Sword Saint's anger subsided, and a sense of sympathy welled up.

“What did I do wrong... Uuumph!”

“Gag him tightly!”

“Die. Just die. Please die!”

Patrick tried to worsen the situation again, but his companions succeeded in gagging him safely.

And Professor Leyte looked at the Sword Saint and said.

“We are grateful that Your Grace thinks highly of Mr. Schneider.”

“Hmm….”

“However, he is a noble of our Kingdom of Atronia.”

“Ahem….”

“Therefore, we will accept only the sentiment of Your Grace's precious offer to cherish young talent. We hope for your generous understanding.”

A polite but clear refusal.

It wasn't a head-on collision like Patrick's, but it was still a refusal.

And just as Patrick had said before, he pointed out that their national affiliations were different, clearly pointing out the Sword Saint's discourtesy.

“Hoooo... I will be taking my leave now.”

“Take care.”

The Sword Saint let out a deep sigh and left the Kingdom of Atronia's waiting room.

And as the Sword Saint left the waiting room, the others let out a sigh of relief.

“I... I thought I was going to die.”

“This is why my mom told me to be careful when choosing friends.”

“What kind of mess is this because of that crazy bastard?”

“My lifespan has shortened.”

Everyone's gaze turned to Patrick, who was tied up in a corner.

“Mmmph! Hmm?”

Patrick, even while tied up tightly, was angry and seemed to be arguing, as if to say, ‘What did I do?’

‘Forget the Arcana and everything, I just want to go home.’

‘I miss my mom.’

‘Oh, Yupinel….’

Unfortunately, the tournament was still far from over.

***

“Ooh, the view is nice.”

On the roof of a tall building in Richmond.

Someone who had climbed up there sat down, opened the cap of the liquor bottle in one hand, and began to drink straight from it.

“Keeeeuh... nice. The view is so good, the alcohol goes down well too.”

Naturally, this was Patrick.

Now that he was an adult and could officially drink without caring about what others thought, a lifelong habit is a lifelong habit, isn't it?

From his past life, he drank hiding from his Master, hiding from his wife.

Reborn, he drank secretly from his parents, secretly from his professors.

“Come to think of it, I think alcohol tastes better when you drink it in secret.”

Licking his lips and taking another sip, Patrick enjoyed the warmth of the alcohol spreading through his body, with the splendid night view of Richmond as his side dish.

“The Sword Saint….”

When he had emptied about half the bottle, the word that came from Patrick's mouth was ‘Sword Saint.’

“So there are monsters like that here too.”

Honestly, he was surprised.

He had seen many strange things since being reborn.

Things like magic and divine power were truly amazing.

To the point where he thought he could make a fortune if he could take them to the Jianghu.

But martial arts were different.

Seeing the knights of this world, who had developed in a simple and crude way while fighting with heavy armor and shields, Patrick had thought.

‘Incompetent and barbaric things.’

He had thought that it would take a thousand years for the martial arts of this world to catch up to the wondrous martial studies of the Central Plains.

Perhaps the high density of ki in this world and the existence of magic and divine power played a part in that.

So, although he knew of the existence of the Sword Saint, he hadn't paid much attention.

At best, mid-level or high-level of the peak stage?

But the Sword Saint he actually met was beyond his expectations.

It was surprising that he had secretly entered the room he was in, and it was also surprising that he had blocked the rather sincere attack he had launched afterwards.

‘He even counterattacked.’

To others, it might have looked like just a single attack, but in the moment they exchanged that brief blow, at least fifteen exchanges had occurred in the minds of Patrick and the Sword Saint.

Honestly, it was surprising.

“Would they be on the level of the Grand Elders of the Nine Sects One Gang?”

The Radiant Dragon Great Master Jin Cheon of his past life had beaten up the Sect Leaders and elders of the Nine Sects One Gang.

Among the hundred duels he fought, there were quite a few Sect Leaders of the Nine Sects One Gang.

And after knocking those guys down, there were white-bearded monsters who would unofficially step forward.

[Grand Elder. He hit me. Punish him.]

The true masters of the prestigious orthodox sects, who would come out as if they couldn't refuse the whining.

No, they were beings who should be called monsters.

Monsters who had already retired from the Jianghu and rarely acted, but who had entered a non-human realm as a result of continuously honing their martial arts.

They were the ones who should be called the true supreme masters of the orthodox Murim.

The Sword Saint's skill seemed to be on the level of such Grand Elders.

“At this point, I'd like to see the 12 Paladins of the Holy Theocracy or the Guardians of the Tower of Truth as well.”

Each of these were the strongest titles symbolizing the military power of the three great powers.

Although the Sword Saint's name was the most glorious, they too were considered quite monstrous.

If he fought and won against them, would his name spread widely across the continent?

Along with the martial arts of the Twin Dragon Sect?

“Don't be ridiculous.”

Patrick smirked.

It's ridiculous. In a world that doesn't even know what the Twin Dragon Sect is, what's the point of spreading the martial arts of the Twin Dragon Sect and raising its fame....

And what was he, thinking this, knowing it all too well?

“Master, they say people only change when they die, don't they?”

Patrick raised his drink to the moon, took another sip, and said.

“That's a complete lie. I know because I've died, and I haven't changed. I haven't changed.”

In the moonlight, his Master was smiling.

He was smiling with that unchanging smile.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.