The Protagonists Are Murdered by Me - Chapter 42

Celeste’s swordsmanship was quite…

Right, it was quite beautiful.

Modern swordsmanship is just heavy and rigid movements like hitting something with a hard rock.

And a flower that bloomed in the crevice of such rock could not look anymore beautiful.

A dance that seems to express the flow of water.

No, that’s not right.

It was like a flickering flame.

A flower blooming and withering, as a butterfly flies up and settles down.

Every time Seodam blinked his eyes.

A different picture unfolded before him.

‘…This, when did she get to such a level?’

Seodam looked at Celeste with a puzzled look.

He knew she was talented.

Because he had taught her how to control her footwork, body movement, and breathing to complement her swordsmanship.

However, it was ‘crude.’

Makeshift methods with no foundation.

Somehow, Celeste had managed to raise her skill to this extent in a short period of time with just that.

Seodam’s teaching obviously played a big part, but with her talent, she might be able to create her own swordsmanship in the future.

Though, it would still take hundreds of years for the swordsmanship she creates to catch up to the other worlds.

“What’s that…”

“What the hell is that footwork?”

“…What kind of swordsmanship is that?”

The master swordsmen began to mutter among themselves.

And a few people glanced at Yoo Seodam.

Some even recognized him.

‘Come to think of it, that man took down a B-Rank mutant without wearing an aether suit…’

‘Huh. There was a case like that a few months ago.’

‘I thought it was amazing when I saw his sword, but did he teach her that?’

Eventually.

Kwang!!

With one final push of her sword, Celeste knocked down Sanagi.

Clap clap clap!

Despite it being only a sparring match, the master swordsmen applauded.

Only?

No.

Rather, it was tenser than usual.

It was common knowledge that a superhuman cannot overpower someone of higher rank.

Seodam, having finished recording the match with his phone, lightly clapped.

‘I think the video came out well…’

“What? Is it over already?”

“Yeah. She won.”

Taylor, who was late to her seat, spoke nonchalantly.

“What’s the video for?”

“I heard she’s going to upload it on social media.”

“…Shit.”

Not having any fond memories of Celeste’s social media, she frowned.

“I guess she’s planning on spreading the fact that she beat a C-Rank. Isn’t that child worse than me in a way?”

Celeste was confident she would win.

Otherwise she wouldn’t have asked Seodam to record the match.

While Seodam checked the video taken on his phone and waited for the next match, several swordsmen in uniform approached him.

“Excuse me, but you’re Yoo Seodam, right?”

“Yes. May I help you?”

“Out of curiosity I came to meet the Costantini family eldest daughter’s sword instructor.”

They were speaking in English, but it came out in Korean through their expensive translators.

Though, it wasn’t necessary since Seodam spoke both Korean and English.

They weren’t the only ones approaching.

Most of the ordinary master swordsmen started sneaking a peek at Seodam.

Yoo Seodam.

He knew how desperate they were because he knows the sorrow of being ordinary.

They have spent their entire lives seeking only the sword.

But just because they don’t have superpowers, they were no match against even children.

It was a situation similar to martial artists who have reached a bottleneck and are searching for a chance to break that wall.

Or like a bee wandering for nectar.

They were very eager.

If only a price was given…

‘…Why don’t I make my mark after learning proper swordsmanship from other worlds?’

Superhumans who have absorbed aether into their body cannot cultivate the mana of other worlds.

However, what if you’re an ordinary person who hasn’t done that?

By cultivating other worlds’ mana, you’ll be able to learn both martial arts and magic.

Mistreated and ignored.

A mark only for the ordinary.

Gaining superpowers through magic.

Teaching martial arts to those who want to be on the forefront of the battlefield.

Soon, it will be my strength.

‘If only I could give retired hunters a chance…’

Such thoughts suddenly dominated Seodam’s head, and with difficulty, he shook it off.

He’s certain there will be other ordinary people who want the ability too.

Although it’s advantageous for him, it would give hope to those who had no choice but to give up their dreams.

However, it’s not the right time yet.

Seodam has more time in other worlds than on Earth.

For now it’s crucial that he grows strong enough to be able to protect himself, and he also hasn’t reached a level where he could teach someone.

He just casually sparred with Celeste a few times, yet she managed to learn everything on her own.

A genius like Celeste, how many more are there on Earth?

‘It’s still too early.’

If only he could gather all those who are unable to show their talents as allies.

It would be a great force.

---

One by one, I took the business cards from the master swordsmen.

Their interest was only a curiosity, and there were many who didn’t approach me because they weren’t swordsmen, but it doesn’t matter.

For the first time, I realized how hungry these masters swordsmen were for swordsmanship.

I left to go to the bathroom when I found the chance, and washed my face with cold water at the sink.

This swordsmanship debate had given me many ideas.

“…!”

Suddenly, I felt a chill down my back.

Instinctively, my hand was already on the aether blade at my waist, and the other hand was holding the trigger of my aether pistol.

“…What are you doing?”

Said someone, pointing a sword at Seodam’s neck.

I raised my head, looked in the mirror, and saw a middle-aged man with a stern face.

“What the hell are you doing? To spread martial arts to Earth. That’s strictly forbidden. Have you forgotten your oath?”

What?

I felt something very different.

That strange and mysterious way of speaking as if from another world.

And the energy he exudes.

Surely he’s…

“…You, just to be sure. Are you a dimensional returnee?”

Then, as if it’s natural, the middle-aged man spoke.

“Isn’t that obvious? In the Murim you reveal your affiliation.”

“Huh.”

I never thought I’d see a dimensional returnee.

In other words, a person who fell into another world and returned with the unusual power called ‘wugong.’

There are not many, but their individual strength exceeds A-Rank and some even S-Rank, so a number of forces have tried to recruit them, with only a few succeeding.

One of the reasons is that there is an ‘unwritten rule’ and ‘pact’ among the people of Murim.

Don’t pass on wugong to Earth.

Don’t have relations to Earth.

“Ji Jian is in seclusion around here. Also, I’m sure one of the ‘Kings’ is hiding in Korea. Wouldn’t it be bad for you to provoke them?”

Ji Jian?

Kings?

I’ve heard dimensional returnees were unusual, but I had no idea what to make of this conversation.

“If I’ve broken the oath…”

I stopped there because I wasn’t going to have a proper conversation with someone who was pointing a sword at my neck.

“Excuse me, but let’s put down the sword first.”

“…Excuse me.”

Only then did the man slowly put away his sword.

I turned my head and saw a badge hanging on the man’s neck that shows he’s one of the staff members managing Jamsil Stadium.

Hmm.

At a glance, he’s not giving off any energy, but is he really living as a normal person?

‘If we fought, I think it’s possible to hold out.’

I’m sure Taylor would come running in a reasonable amount of time after sensing something is wrong, so there’s no problem just having a conversation.

The name ‘Kim Duhak’ was written on the name tag.

“I don’t know what you are thinking, but it’s a misunderstanding.”

“I’m sorry to threaten you. But if you’re a traitor who has renegade on the terms, then it’s my mission to dispose of you immediately…”

“No, not that. I’m saying I’m not a dimensional returnee.”

“What?”

I’ve heard some rumors while active.

‘All dimensional returnees engrave their affiliation onto their heart.’

It’s to prove that even if they’ve returned to Earth, they would never forget the teachings they had learned in the other worlds, so they swore an oath to the heart.

The tattoo, which was engraved using an unusual skill, could never be removed or changed.

I unbuttoned my shirt to show my chest.

Duhak, seeing that there was nothing but surgical scars, looked surprised.

“…No way.”

“Now do you understand? You got the wrong person.”

“Impossible. It must have been ‘wugong.’ How…”

“Is there a law that says there can’t be wugong on Earth?”

As soon as I said that, Duhak with an embarrassed look, hurriedly cupped his fist and palm together.

‘Is it a greeting or something?’

“I sincerely apologize! Since I’m the one at fault, I want to make up to you.”

“No, you don’t have to…”

I’ve heard that all dimensional returnees had a unique personality, and the one in front of me is certainly the case.

They value righteousness, keeping their promises, and helping the weak.

However, there were those who couldn’t adapt to life back on Earth, so there were news reports of dimensional returnees from time to time.

Naturally, most were found dead the next day.

“…You don’t have to apologize.”

I took out my F-Rank Hunter business card.

It’s in pretty good condition even though I haven’t used it in a while.

Then, with a smile, I spoke.

“Let’s find some time to get to know one another.”

Dimensional returnee.

I felt the need to look into it a bit more.

---

I’ve thought about it before.

Is there no more protagonist on Earth?

Or, am I the protagonist?

From what I’ve concluded.

‘There must be a protagonist on Earth.’

And if there is one, it’s not me.

The reason is simple.

The Client had said, ‘according to the protagonist’s mutual non-aggression pact, Epilogue will occur if two meet each other.’

‘Is that so?’

< Yes. >

The Client, who had returned, answered my question.

Though, she didn’t answer the question of where she has been.

Anyways.

Last time, she said if Lee Yeonjun were to exit the dungeon, the blessings of two protagonists would collide, resulting in the Earth’s epilogue.

That means there’s definitely another protagonist out there somewhere on Earth.

I initially thought it might be one of the SS-Rank superhuman, but after meeting a dimensional returnee, I changed my mind.

‘If another protagonist really exists on Earth, there’s a good chance it’s a dimensional returnee.’

I almost couldn’t even detect a normal person from Murim who possessed such a powerful force.

So a master from Murim who has a ‘nickname’ might be at least SS-Rank, or even higher.

Of course, this is all just a guess.

It turns out that the prowess of wugong is so great that it’s no different from Earth’s superpowers?

After quietly returning to my seat, it seems the debate is nearing its end.

If masters have been fighting each other to compare swordsmanship so far, now it’s really become a platform for discussion.

The main purpose of the event is to bring together people who wished to show off their swords and discuss it with one another.

The one who’s currently receiving the most attention is Celeste.

It could be said that Sanagi was the protagonist last year, but now she’s nowhere to be seen.

To be honest, I felt a little sorry for her, but what can I do?

I didn’t feel much sympathy because I’ve always been treated like that.

Ba-boom!!

Unlike everywhere else, a loud sound rang out in one corner of the stadium, and sure enough, it was Aren.

That crazy fellow, what’s wrong with him?

“It’s because of you.”

“What did I do?”

“Aren, that bastard, came as the Okamoto’s eldest daughter master. But if a woman he taught lost to the woman you taught, wouldn’t he want to punch you?”

Taylor, who seemed to be in a bad mood until a moment ago, has a big smile on her face.

I’m not sure, but something good must have happened.

[A total of seven types of artifacts have been detected on the target.]

[Do you wish to start the search?]

“What?”

I check again to see if I saw it wrongly.

Seven types.

‘Not two?’

I slowly nodded my head, and White Witch’s Library activated.

[Searching…]

[Search complete: Original spells imprint.]

[Magic identified as Enhance Strength (B), Enhance Speed (C), Flame Bullet (C), Reduce Friction (C), and…]

Crazy.

So many?

From the pictures, only two artifacts were found, but when I checked in person, I was able to detect every magic that came from the artifacts.

That’s pretty much a magic swordsman, no?

‘But how does he have so many artifacts?’

[It’s possible with advanced magic.]

[However, the target has used too many artifacts and it has clogged his body with residue.]

[If the person’s mana and the artifact’s mana interfere with each other, it may overload and cause mana poisoning.]

…So he’s not just carrying a few body enhancing artifacts on him, but also a ticking time bomb.

Soon that fellow will be maimed or killed.

He might not feel any changes in his body right now because of his ‘strong physique.’

But very slowly.

The magic will eat away at his body.

‘It’s not strong enough where others will get caught in the explosion, right?’

[Yes.]

[Do you wish to try cracking?]

After a short thought, I shook my head.

The artifacts are a part of his ability, so there’s no need for me to justify it.

Besides, equipment benefited me the most, and none of mine are damaged.

‘Let’s leave it alone. Unless necessary…’

“Miss Costantini.”

When I was about to instruct the White Witch’s Library, I looked up.

“As a senior hunter and a master swordsman, how about we spar?”

Before I knew it, Aren, with a smiling face, had approached Celeste asking for a spar.

Wow, I was speechless.

What are you trying to do against a child?

Celeste showed a troubled look, knowing that this was a real confrontation under the pretense of a spar.

In the end, this was inevitable.

“…start Cracking.”

If someone tries to fuck me on purpose, I have no choice but to give it back.

I’m not the type to sit still and get hit.

---

Translator’s Note:

This chapter took a while because I had to double check some of the things mentioned in this chapter.

1. The first nickname is Jian Ji (劍姬) / 검희 / (https://namu.wiki/w/검희) which is this character from another novel, I think.
2. The second nickname is 지존 (https://namu.wiki/w/지존) which means something like best of the best, but in a tacky respect kind of way. So I went with King.
3. Murim is like a hidden world of martial artists.
4. I just went with the word wugong for the word 무공 (武功) / (https://namu.wiki/w/무공). It’s ‘martial arts,’ but is more like superpowers.
5. I might have to start using capital P for the protagonists that are on the mission list, and lower case to mean normal conversation protagonists like Taylor, Aren, Celeste, Seodam, etc…don’t know if it’s confusing or not. For example in this chapter Seodam wonders if there is another Protagonist on Earth (the one that absorbs the world blessing). But he had also mentioned that there are protagonists on Earth (everything just seems to fall in place for them ie S-Ranks, politicians, celebrities, etc…).