Chapter 603: Troubles of a Lifetime (1)
-Incorporating these ideas, the Holy sector has decided to control the location of the gray sword for the health and safety of the continent’s people.
-Are you saying that the Holy sector and the Continental Protection and Management Commission will deprive the public of the right to challenge the test?
-Ah, I apologize, but questions will be taken after the presentation is over.
-No. It’s okay, Bishop Glenn. That is in line with what I will tell them later, so I think it would be better to answer right away. Let me tell you the exact truth about this. Our Holy See and the Continental Protection and Management Commission are not trying to deprive the continental people’s right to participate. Those who wish to be examined can formally submit a request through the guild or Benignore Net in all continents. They will then be selected through a simple preliminary exam presented by the Holy See.
-If the…
-The test will be transparently disclosed, and we will make sure that everyone can attend it. Challengers of the gray sword will also be openly broadcasted through the Goddess’ Mirror. If suitable candidates do not appear after a certain period, we will randomly select them.
-…
-All the costs for selecting the gray sword’s owner will be paid by the Holy See. We won’t even ask about your age or origin. We don’t care where you are or what you are doing. We won’t judge the right person by the adventurer’s titles or pre-existing reputation. If you truly have a good heart for the continent, you won’t need any qualifications.
-…
-Again, we promise that the Continental Protection and Management Commission and the Holy See will screen out all the chosen warriors that can be mobilized by any means and method. That is all.
-…
-Yes, so far, a spokesperson for Jaina’s position has been announced. We’ll be taking quick questions now. Reporters…
-I am reporter Bang Joon-woo! We’re curious about the current condition of Chairman Lee Kiyoung. We want to ask about the aftereffects of receiving the Goddess directly into his body and exactly what symptoms he had.
-Honorary Cardinal Lee Kiyoung is currently taking adequate rest. Although he is physically tired, we’ve determined that there is nothing wrong with his body.
-Please tell us how the Holy sector and other churches are interpreting Benignore’s words! How did Chairman Lee Kiyoung react to it?
-That’s not an issue to be addressed here. We will try to make it public in the media in the near future.
-The continent’s interest in the gray warrior is growing. If a suitable person appears, we would like to know what kind of support and benefits he can get. Please let us know if they’re going to be part of the Holy sector or the Continental Protection and Management Commission as well.
-Nothing has been decided yet. At the moment, the Holy sector is devoted to finding an individual who can draw the gray sword. Discussions about future work are still ongoing, so I would like for all of you to wait a little longer. Regarding affiliation, we will respect his opinion as much as possible. I hope this answers your question.
-What is the exact name of the gray sword?
-We can’t check the sword’s information as of this time.
-Is it related to the function of the sword?
-We decided not to disclose the information of the gray sword. We will not answer any questions related to it.
-Then…
-The people’s attention is focused on us. Please brief us on-!
-Due to time limitations, we will be ending the Q&A portion here.
-Just one more word!
-Just a little more! Does this have anything to do with the demon contractors’ recent appearance on the 5th District?
-Please tell us about the demon contractor situation! Where and what was the Holy See doing?
-Chairman Lee Kiyoung’s current condition!
-We will release more information soon.
-Bishop Glenn! Archbishop Jaina! One more word!
‘They look like a horde of zombies.’
A voice came next to me as if agreeing.
“The reporters are scary.”
“We can’t help it.”
That was how much attention the matter had.
“I think they’re too enraged recently… Shouldn’t we do something about them?”
“No, I expected them to react like this. Rather, if there isn’t that much of a reaction, I would’ve been disappointed.”
“Well… that’s true.”
Considering the attentiveness of the entire continent, the reaction itself wasn’t all that unusual.
Wasn’t it the chance to change one’s life?
The Holy sector hadn’t announced plans on how to support the warrior yet, but they all must’ve been imagining something similar.
‘Going from rag to riches! Winning the lottery! Holy Sword Coin!’
They were thinking of the attention, honor, strength, and power that would pour out the moment one was chosen. Tutoring from high-ranked adventurers, Hero-grade items, and better.
I could guarantee that they forgot that they’d have to fight at the frontlines of the battlefield. I didn’t criticize the common people for focusing on what they could obtain rather than on the responsibility they would gain. Of course, I also understood what they were feeling.
If I hadn’t been sitting in a seat like that and drinking delicious coffee, I would have thought just like them. Most of the applicants would obviously dream about challenging it themselves.
“By the way, oppa. This… Is it true that you got this from…?”
“Yes, it’s a holy sword I got from there.”
“I think the procedure is going to be too cumbersome… Are you sure there will be someone who can use this properly?”
“I think so…”
“Isn’t your answer too unconfident?”
“That’s because I really don’t know. Still, wouldn’t there be at least one or two suitable people on the continent? I think it will probably react to you. Would you like to try to be the chosen warrior?”
“What nonsense…”
“No. There is a real possibility. At least I don’t think it would show any rejective behavior… You’ll be able to endure longer than the paladin who passed out right after barely touching it.”
“It should be used by someone capable. I don’t have enough power. And that’s not the problem. I don’t know if we can really find someone like that. The range is too broad. It feels like looking for a needle in the continent. What if no one gets chosen?”
“They won’t be as picky as you think.”
An academic theory stated that Mythic-grade items were usually very picky, but I thought the sword wouldn’t be that much. It wouldn’t have the same personality of choosing its owner with great care like the holy sword from the first round.
If one suited its taste, wouldn’t it rush to claim them right away?
The problem was that it wasn’t just that one who needed someone suitable.
The chosen warrior was just as important for me. They wouldn’t just be a one-time use, but a talent that could be utilized multiple times.
It went without saying that it was convenient to select the right person for me. I didn’t care about the disposition, but… for example…
‘Someone young and with a personality that can be easily swayed.’
I needed a talented person who was full of unnecessary responsibilities and was free to change their mind.
‘Someone not interested in power or material things…’
If they were pure as well, then I couldn’t ask for a better candidate.
There was also a story that the Fallen Angel used the gray holy sword, so it might’ve had a kind of secret that corrupted pure humans.
Even if it didn’t, I was willing to agree to some extent.
In the end, the most important thing in the current job was the intersection of the person the sword desired and the person I wanted.
Of course, it wouldn’t be easy. Just because I found someone who fit my conditions, there was no guarantee that the sword would accept the same person easily.
An appropriate consensus was needed, and that was why a public test had to be conducted.
After selecting someone who best suited the qualifications I desired, I then went with quantity in letting the sword choose its user. It was a special measure that I put forward, considering if I constantly pushed candidates fitting my description to the sword, it would most likely find at least one that it desired.
‘That’s plausible.’
“I have no choice but to admit that the promotional effect is amazing.”
As Lee Jihye said, it wasn’t bad in terms of publicity.
“Although it makes me feel sick when I think about parting ways with this new thing again.”
“I would like to stay together, but… actually, I can’t afford it either… There are really many things to prepare, so I’ll be stuck in the 5th District for the time being. I’ll visit you often, so don’t worry too much, Jihye. I’ll be in touch every day. I’m going to go back and forth at almost half the time.”
“You have to keep that promise. I’m serious. I’m having a really hard time these days, not to mention the troops from the joint training center will be arriving tomorrow… It’s going to be tiring deploying them at each forward base. This incident also happened, so even if I had ten clones, it wouldn’t be enough.”
“After this work, let’s take a rest, go somewhere, and enjoy a vacation.”
“That’s what I’ve been waiting for.”
“Or would you like to take a week off? I can ask manager Kim Miyoung for the time being…”
“That’s a bit… In fact, I feel anxious if I don’t work. For some ridiculous reason, everything I’ve piled up so far feels like it’s about to be ruined, so how could I stay still? If I didn’t have anything, I would have told everyone to go ahead and ruin everything, but… I have so much to lose now.”
‘This one is really…’
“My power, my man, my money, it wasn’t easy to get all of this… so how could I give up on them all?”
She had a way of thinking that I had to respect. I wanted to commend her.
“Well, if we’re done talking, I’ll be going back to work. Will you come too?”
“Yes, I should start as well.”
“Are you sure there’s nothing wrong with you?”
“I guess.”
‘Although there really is nothing.’
It was something that I didn’t need to mention to Lee Jihye.
Cho Hyejin didn’t backstab me, nor did Jung Hayan cause any trouble. Rather, Han Sora and Jung Hayan were working hard on their research, so it could be said that I was in my best position.
Yuno Kasugano was also looking into the future to see if there were any variables she wasn’t aware of before, and Kim Hyunsung had also regained his mental stability due to the news Cho Hyejin delivered.
It was unclear whether he had completely lost suspicions, but there was progress in his state.
Perhaps his gaze was focused on the holy sword.
Kim Chang-ryul and Kim Ye-ri were assigned to other missions, and Elena, Sun Hee-young, and Hwang Jeong-yeon were concentrating on guild work.
At least at the time, I loved the situation.
Heera, Dialugia, the Holy See, and the named ones spread across the continent had grown well and were doing their best in their positions.
The problem wasn’t on the continent but in heaven.
‘Why can’t I contact Benignore again?’
There had been no feedback from her since the Holy Sword frame-up. However…
‘She is reliable.’
Just because I took a Bomb of Light potion and spoke of the prophecy for her, she wouldn’t turn her back on me.
Benignore and I were inseparable from each other, even if it was just because of the contract with Belial.
I could’ve also solved it myself. It wasn’t convincing to say that it was impossible to give feedback due to a lack of divine power since the request wasn’t divine in nature in the first my head, one thought passed the frontal lobe of my cerebrum.
‘Is she being scolded by a supervisor?’
There was no way I could know.
However, I thought it wasn’t improbable.
‘You’re detained or something, aren’t you?’