***
***
“Jihan~”
Upon arriving at the Sword Palace, Sophia waved cheerfully at Seong Jihan the moment she saw him.
“I watched the last match against Japan. How about it? You need me, don’t you?”
“Well, not really.”
“Why not!? There aren’t many supporters like me. Plus, in the Golem Duel, my gift will be as effective as if it’s SSS-rank, right?”
Sophia’s SS-rank gift, Trinity, enhanced all buff effects threefold.
In a map like the Golem Duel, where only buffs and heals are applied, her gift proved even more effective than its original grade.
“Just tell me to come, and I’ll naturalize immediately! I’ve gotten better at speaking Korean too.”
“It’s fine, really.”
Sophia, having been with the Daegi guild for a while, had quickly climbed to the Diamond League, surpassing her previous capabilities.
In the United States, they were preparing for her possible recruitment as a supporter once her level rose slightly more.
Actually, if it weren’t for the USA national team’s criteria of only choosing those above level 245,
Sophia would have been selected long ago.
Thump! Thump!
Watching this from the side, Yoon Seah nudged Seong Jihan in the ribs.
“Uncle… Sophia wants to come over so much, bring her now! If the USA team recruits her first, it’ll be harder to get her!”
“I won’t bring her.”
“I don’t get it… With her, isn’t it a confirmed win for Korea in the Champions League?”
“That’s what I’m saying! We can win for the first time as a third world country!”
Winning the Champions League.
Although its value had declined since the inauguration of the Space League in 2020,
it remained a goal every player dreamt of and sought to achieve.
Yoon Seah couldn’t understand why her uncle was stubborn when a shortcut to victory was right before them.
As Yoon Seah patted her chest in frustration, Seong Jihan spoke up.
“I don’t want to poach talent from another country.”
“Why?”
“Think about your dad.”
“Ah… Dad was enchanted, but this is her choice!”
“That’s right! I just want to come to Korea because I like you, Seong Jihan!”
“That’s why it’s troublesome.”
Sophia’s one-sided favor.
For Seong Jihan, who might have to face death at any moment as the Martial God, there was no room to accept it.
‘Besides, she’s even more aggressive than in my past life.’
For now, it’s overlooked as there’s distance between Korea and the USA.
If she naturalizes to South Korea and they got closer, it’ll be harder to push her away.
“Plus, I can’t tell Sophia to leave her family and come to Korea just for the Champions League.”
“It’s about time I become independent anyway! My parents will surely understand!”
“It doesn’t matter. I won’t accept it even if you come.”
“Wow… that’s so mean! Didn’t you say you’d accept me if I become the top supporter?”
“Compete for the top spot first, then.”
“Huh… why let this opportunity slip…”
As Seong Jihan rebuffed the eager SS-rank supporter, Yoon Seah felt a tinge of regret.
With Sophia in the national team, victory seemed within grasp.
“Sigh… Usually, you’d be the one asking me. That’s a pity. What if I get recruited by the USA team?”
“Well, nothing can be done then. So… was the urgent matter about naturalization?”
Sophia cast a sidelong glance at Seong Jihan, trying to change the subject, then wore a serious expression.
“No. My personal desire for naturalization is separate… ”
“Then what is it?”
“I’ve received a revelation.”
“A revelation, you say?”
“Yes.”
A revelation.
Even for a Priestess class, could such a thing be possible?
Looking puzzled, Seong Jihan listened as Sophia lowered her voice.
“Priestess Jeanne D’arc appeared in my dream.”
“Jeanne D’arc?”
Jeanne D’arc was the priestess who had led France to victory but ended up condemned to the flames.
‘I never heard Sophia mention Jeanne D’arc in my previous life.’
Why would she suddenly appear in her dream now?
Initially, Seong Jihan thought it was another difference from his previous life.
“…So, Jeanne D’arc says she’ll help lighten the burden of the priestess engulfed in the void.”
As Sophia began to describe the revelation of Jeanne D’arc, he felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
If it’s the priestess engulfed in the void, it must refer to his sister, Seong Jiah.
And to lessen her burden…
‘It sounds similar to what Pythia said.’
Pythia claimed that upon awakening Gilgamesh’s authority, the fifth Annihilation Technique, she would help lift the burden of the Witch of The Void, Seong Jiah.
Now, Jeanne D’arc in Sophia’s dream was saying something in a similar context.
Till then, Seong Jihan was skeptical.
“…And, Jeanne D’arc stated that if you hear about this, you will know what it means.”
“And?”
“She declared confidence in you keeping your promise and said she’d prepare a space in advance for it.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. She intends to pass the Holy Flame to me for that purpose.”
By now, he was convinced of Jeanne D’arc’s identity.
‘Was Jeanne D’arc, Pythia?’
Nostradamus, Jeanne D’arc.
He wondered since when had the Prophet undertaken the role of a priestess.
‘Since her actual power was water rather than fire, she’s preparing to transfer the energy she accumulated to Sophia, isn’t she…?’
Seong Jihan recalled Pythia’s power.
The intensity of the flames in the fallen sanctuary of Apollo.
Such a potent force, being passed on to Sophia just like that?
“The Holy Flame… Won’t it be dangerous?”
“Ah! Are you worried about it?”
“Of course.”
“Hehe. Don’t worry! Jeanne D’arc said she couldn’t pass too much at once. She said it will build up slowly, so I’ll have time to adapt easily.”
Sophia’s face brightened as Seong Jihan showed concern.
Yoon Seah watched her from the side, shaking her head.
“Sophia… Honestly. Getting pleased by just one word from him, what will you do in the future? You’ll end up being led around by him!”
“It’s okay. I want to keep being led around by him!”
“Ugh. Seriously… What’s so great about the uncle?”
“Why? He’s the world’s greatest warrior. The coolest in the world.”
“…Sigh. Forget it.”
Yoon Seah gave up on advising Sophia.
What’s the point of playing hard to get when she’s so straightforward?
“Well, even if you say that, I don’t plan on dragging her around.”
“It’s okay. You’ll see my face often from now on! You’ll naturally be drawn to me.”
“…Aren’t you going to the United States?”
Sophia responded to Seong Jihan’s question by smiling bright and open while spreading her palm.
Whooosh…!
Then, a small white flame sprouted lively from her hand.
“Jeanne D’arc said that to fully transfer her Holy Flame, I need to be near the Abyss.”
“The Abyss in North Korean land, you mean?”
“Yes. She mentioned that preparations must be made here for a definite sharing of the burden…”
Expecting Seong Jihan to awaken the abilities of Gilgamesh early, that’s why Pythia was diligently making preparations.
Seong Jihan mused,
‘She’s really keen on it. We haven’t even found a clue on our side yet.’
The fifth Annihilation Technique, associated with the Wood attribute.
He knew about its elemental alignment, but beyond that, there wasn’t a lead to follow.
Yet, on their end,
Expectations were that Seong Jihan, who completed the Ice Heaven Sword Rain quickly, could also swiftly achieve it.
“So, it seems I need to stay in Korea a little longer to accept the Holy Flame~”
“Oh, Sophia. Is the Korean national team coming too?”
“Yes… initially, I planned to stop everything once Seong Jihan asked.”
Flick!
Sophia twisted her body as the Holy Flame, unable to sustain itself long, extinguished in her palm.
“Are you okay, Sophia?”
“Ah… indeed it’s challenging. I need to get used to managing this fire; I’ll consider the next steps afterward.”
Pythia’s flame.
Even Seong Jihan had to counter it through Ice Heaven Sword Rain before it became quenchable.
For Sophia to inherit and wield such power wouldn’t be an easy task.
Sophia winked at Yoon Seah.
“It’s most important to receive Jeanne D’arc’s flame right now, right? For your mother… and for the elder brother too.”
“Hmm, elder brother?”
“Yeah. It’s not just for husbands and older sisters; you can call them elder brother too, right?”
Saying that, she tilted her head with a smile.
“But isn’t ‘elder brother’ something men call each other? Why is a woman using ‘elder brother’?”
“Well, um… Anyway! Since my elder brother acknowledged me as his sister-in-law. I need to do my best too!”
Brimming with determination, Sophia clenched her fists.
Yoon Seah, grateful for her efforts to save her mother, thought, ‘Seah. You can call her auntie in advance.’
‘Nah,I’m fine!’
She felt goosebumps at the thought of calling her friend “auntie”.
“Seong Jihan. I’ll borrow one of the rooms in Sword Palace then~”
“Fine with me. The building owner is Seah anyway.”
“Ah. That’s right~ Sophia. Want to go see the rooms? I’ll give you the best one!”
“Sure, let’s go!”
Still, it was nice of her to offer help in saving Seong Jiah.
Thus, Yoon Seah decided to personally show Sophia the best room in the Sword Palace and they left.
Left alone, Seong Jihan spent a moment quietly observing the house and thought,
‘Since Pythia is so keen, I need to hasten my training on Gilgamesh’s authority.’
The fifth Annihilation Technique associated with the Wood attribute.
Wondering how to attempt it, an idea struck him.
‘I’ll try utilizing the energy of life.’
The World Tree could be considered the epitome of the Wood attribute.
Could there be an intersection with the Wood attribute and the life energy it held?
‘In the absence of clues, it’s worth a shot to try anything.’
With that, Seong Jihan began his attempt at the fifth Annihilation Technique, skipping the usual order.
* * *
Meanwhile,
In the Abode of the Martial God,
Dongbang Sak, an old man with a white mane, stroked his beard while holding his smartphone.
‘Pythia… has she lost the will to fight?’
The Korea vs. Japan match ended at 3:2.
The scores alone showed a close game.
But it was the Japanese coach’s luck in card selection that narrowly edged the game.
In terms of power, Japan was no match for Korea.
Although the supporter Mizuhara Aoi showed a strong fire power in the first game.
She had been quiet since the second.
‘Through the Eye of Divination, she must have seen something in him…’
Then,
Flash!
As Pythia appeared from the vast void, Dongbang Sak took his eyes off the smartphone and looked at her.
“Pythia… why did you spare him?”
“I saw something amazing in him.”
“You were supposed to teach him a lesson.”
“I’ll leave that to you.”
With that, Pythia spread out one finger.
“Dongbang Sak,… can you defeat Seong Jihan in one minute?”
“One minute?”
“Yes. On a full power basis.”
Dongbang Sak twisted his beard, lost in thought.
“Full power… has the fighting spirit of the Eye of Divination disappeared?”
“Why?”
“You know well, if I use full power, it will end in a single strike.”
Dongbang Sak said nonchalantly.
As certain and routine as the sunrise from the east.
“That wouldn’t be a lesson, would it? I wouldn’t have fun either.”
“Still! I made a bet with him. If he lasts a minute, I’ll have to give a free prophecy.”
“You crafted quite the trick… what did you get in return?”
“If I win, he’ll tell me all his martial art names.”
“Hmm…”
The name of the martial art.
Behind Dongbang Sak, the Taiji symbol appeared.
Initially rotating clockwise, the black and white pattern of the Taiji,
“If you tell me too, I’ll use my full power.”
“Good.”
then began to rotate counter-clockwise.
“I guess I’ll have to bring out the Taiji Demon Sword after a long time.”
***
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