Reincarnation Sword God

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00460 Dark Heaven Village ————————————————————————=

When I crossed the boundaries of the nation and arrived inland not far from the British Empire, I stumbled upon a bizarre procession of people wearing strange masks. Rather than proper masks, they looked like rudimentary leather contraptions that served as ventilation ducts for gasping for air. They had long, pointed noses glued onto them, resembling crows.

Dressed in black clothes.

I felt an unsettling curiosity about them and, using the Heavenly Secret Technique, summoned a distinguished spirit from the area to inquire about their identities.

[Those individuals are doctors who heal the Black Plague.]

The spirit confidently identified himself as the creator of Tersio, bearing the peculiar foreign name Gonzalo de Córdoba. He was a famous general from the West. Perhaps because he had fought in battles in this area and died a warrior’s death, it seemed he had only recently passed.

“The Black Plague?”

[A truly terrifying disease once ravaged this continent. It has been around since I was a child.]

“Is the Black Plague still present on this continent?”

[I believe it was recently eradicated. Thanks to those doctors you see before you.]

“You mean they treated the Black Plague?”

[That’s the word on the street. However, they are mysterious beings, and I don’t quite know how they heal their patients. Even now, nearly a hundred years later, they continue to journey across the continent in search of its remnants.]

“Hmmm…”

Gonzalo’s words piqued my interest. Noting that he had only recently died, I posed another question.

“Gonzalo, what is the current situation on this continent? And could you enlighten me about the nation called the British Empire?”

[Well… it may be somewhat different from what I know, but I’ll do my best.]

He hesitated before continuing.

[At this point, the continent is divided into two powers: the British Empire and the Holy Roman Empire, both vying for supremacy, while the remaining kingdoms are merely keeping an eye on the two nations. The British Empire may be small in land, but it possesses outstanding technological prowess, while the Holy Roman Empire holds vast territories under the rule of Charles V.]

“Charles V?”

[He is the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.]

“So, he’s the greatest power in the West.”

In other words, two empires dominate the Western world. I glanced at the world map, finding it perplexing, and asked Gonzalo.

“Isn’t the British Empire merely a small island nation? It’s not much larger than a single province of the Central Plains. How does it claim to be an empire?”

[It seems the British Empire hasn’t reached your eastern homeland.]

Gonzalo replied.

[While the landmass of the British Empire itself is small, the nation is actively establishing colonies around the world based on its immense naval power and technological prowess. They extract considerable wealth and resources from various small nations and foreign peoples, which allows them to influence the economy and politics of the entire continent. Moreover, their military might is formidable, hence their title of empire.]

“Colonies…”

That word made me think of the southern continent. Come to think of it, the ones massacring the indigenous people there were soldiers of the British Empire. If their fleets were spreading out in dozens, waging expansionist wars, it certainly could lead to vast territorial gains. I asked Gonzalo another question.

“Gonzalo, how advanced is firearms technology on this continent?”

[How much do you know about guns?]

I answered based on what I knew, and to my response, Gonzalo chuckled softly.

[Flintlocks and powder flasks are outdated. Unlike those shallow firearms called muskets, here, firearms ignite the main charge in the chamber with gunpowder. The time difference in firing is minimal, and the reloading time is likely less than half that of a musket.]

“……”

I felt I was starting to grasp the technological disparity.

‘The British Empire possesses the world’s finest firearms technology! The next comes the Western powers.’

To compare, the British Empire was roughly decades ahead, while the neighboring continental powers were trailing closely behind. Furthermore, this latest technology was being imported to southern Ayutthaya, and the Central Plains had basic knowledge of firearms but failed to properly train a competent gunman.

The reason the British Empire was number one, as Mangnyang explained, was that they had developed cartridge-based breech-loading firearms. According to Mangnyang, there was a world of difference between weapons with cartridges and those without, asserting that the British Empire currently possessed the best technology in the world.

After gathering a rough knowledge from Gonzalo, I sent him back. I felt a myriad of questions about the doctors treating the Black Plague, but I was hesitant because it was connected to a disease.

Swishhhh—

So, had I run for about two days at a crazed pace? I found myself at the beach. Since the harbor was crowded, I sought an unpopulated shore. I gazed at the horizon, murmuring to myself.

“Damn… I’m hesitating.”

With my immense internal power, crossing the sea using water walking posed no significant issue. Geographically speaking, this place wasn’t far from Le Havre. The problem was that this area had become a den of demons, and I had heard the naval forces there were formidable, so recklessly entering might lead to a massive battle.

Yet, entering straight on also felt quite troublesome. A person with black hair and black eyes would stand out immensely on this continent. Moreover, the British Empire had limited interactions with this land, making it like threading a needle to sneak in.

After much contemplation, I ultimately decided to charge through head-on. I could resort to shadow skill or concealment techniques to take the back route, but that would be overly complicated. No one would think a man would attempt to traverse the waters without a boat, so it should work in my favor.

Tatata—

I began running toward the horizon using water walking. This high-level light body technique required far more internal energy than regular techniques, and after running about fifty li, I felt cramps begin to creep into my legs. The physical limits approached rapidly, and my energy consumption surged. I took a deep breath, rapidly boosting my internal power, causing my potential to explode, and soon, my internal power was restored, allowing me to continue running.

Pa-at!

Feeling the blue waves of the sea brushing beneath my feet became familiar.

Had I run about four hundred li? I noticed my breathing became ragged and sweat was flowing down my forehead.

‘As expected… this is far more taxing than just running on flat ground.’

Though land was not yet visible, at this rate, I felt I might collapse into the sea. I looked around, searching for a place to rest. Yet, perhaps due to the vastness of the ocean, there were no visible reefs, and instead, I had to steel myself.

“Uwaaaah!!”

I screamed, pouring all my will into converting my internal power into physical strength. I then dashed across the water, determined to circumnavigate the sea before my strength failed. As the water walking became rough, I found myself plunging into the sea up to my ankles.

Five hundred li…

Six hundred li!!

“Land!!”

Seeing the dark land brought a rush of excitement, and I shouted. Though there were signs of ships and human presence nearby, at least I could see a place to rest. I poured every last ounce of my strength into reaching land, collapsing onto the ground.

Thud!

“Hah… hah…”

Clink!

As I lay there gasping for breath, I suddenly felt the presence of a blade near my body. Glancing around cautiously, I saw about ten colorful-eyed soldiers brandishing firearms aimed at me. I heard the leader among them shouting.

“@^&@!!!”

How did they notice my arrival?

As I pondered, I suddenly recalled that the roughness of my water walking must have created a splash as I approached the shore. There was no doubt the soldiers could have seen me. I felt a mix of hope and defeat over my foolish mistake, then muttered to myself.

“What does it matter? I made it here. So I’ve won.”

Boom!

No sooner had I finished speaking than I utilized the Soul Removal Technique and fled swiftly. Though I was drained and collapsed, I had frequently faced extreme situations, preserving a minimum amount of potential. As I used the Soul Removal Technique, the soldiers panicked, firing their weapons in various directions but couldn’t hit me.

I easily broke through the encirclement of soldiers and continued to escape into uninhabited areas. I could have shaken them off earlier, but this was the heart of the demon’s territory. It wasn’t impossible to meet a bizarre creature and face untimely demise.

‘Should I take a brief rest there?’

I chose a building marked by a cross pattern as my resting spot. It appeared deserted and quiet, so I stealthily entered using the Soul Removal Technique and picked a suitable empty room to cool down and rest.

“Hah… hah…”

Sitting there, I began recovering my strength while contemplating.

‘This is troubling. If I wore myself out like this, there’s no way to circumnavigate the vast ocean…’

If I became tired just walking over this distance, I could not reach beyond the ocean without a ship. The travel route I was currently on was indeed superhuman, but the human body has its limits. I lounged about for nearly a meal’s duration, then attempted to cast the Heavenly Secret Technique to summon nearby spirits.

“……?”

Not working.

Was there no powerful spirit around? As I sat there somewhat bewildered, a voice came from outside the door.

[A precious guest has arrived. Please come this way.]

I followed the mysterious voice, which originated from a large hall. Inside, under a cross decoration, sat a middle-aged man kneeling in prayer. He was playing with a round, glass-like object in front of him, sending barely perceptible waves to me.

[You must find it difficult to understand our language, having come from afar.]

This man was a sorcerer with considerable power, as the waves themselves were a form of advanced magic.

I decided to test my luck and thought silently.

[Who are you?]

[I am the master of this church. I received prior notice from Master Mangnyang.]

[What?!]

[I suppose you are worried about your arrival in this worst land. Hence, a gentle blessing was bestowed upon you to protect your journey and guide you here.]

What on earth is that supposed to mean?

Why would Master Mangnyang make an appearance here?

And that he regulated my journey?

When I looked at him in bewilderment, he gestured for me to take a seat at the table.

[His blessings are not limited to the East. He is a cosmic being.]

[……]

[I don’t know what brought you to this land, but please take care of your business and leave promptly. This place has become a magical realm.]

I organized my thoughts and replied.

[I came aware of the magical realm. I need to go to the underground of the governor’s residence.]

He seemed startled.

[Heavens…!! You absolutely cannot go there. Give up.]

[I have the ability to take care of myself.]

[That place is the main sanctuary of the Black Brotherhood. You will surely die.]

[Black Brotherhood?]

He nodded.

[It is a congregation of evil sorcerers and fallen beings who worship Outer Gods. The boundaries between the human realm and that place have blurred.]

[……]

So, the governor’s residence serves as the headquarters for the Evil God sect. After a moment of contemplation, I asked him.

[I’ve heard that in the West, there are protectors who safeguard humans like Master Mangnyang. Where might he be?]

His expression twisted with pain as he answered.

[He… has sealed himself in the Sacred Land to protect the last bastion.]

[When you say ‘Sacred Land,’ do you mean Paliath?]

[You are aware of it. Should that place fall, humans will be completely livestock, so he sacrificed everything.]

[Ummm…]

The situation seemed far more serious than I realized. Unlike the East, this Western continent could collapse at any moment. Technological advancement was astounding, yet, proportionally, human rights and dignity had sunk to the lowest depths.

‘It wouldn’t do to force my way to the governor’s residence in this situation…’

I could forcibly reach London. Still, there might already be traps laid out or special barriers preventing escape, making it more like putting my head into the tiger’s jaws. From the moment I was spotted by Pa-at, my infiltration into the British Empire had reached peak difficulty.

After much contemplation, I asked.

[What is your name?]

[Thomas More.]

[I will return. Until then, please take care of yourself.]

Pa-at!

I employed the Shadow Skill to return to Jangryeong Valley. Then I recounted everything that had happened to Zhuge Sa. After listening intently, he spoke.

“Well done. You are wise in knowing when to retreat.”

“Zhuge Sa, are Paliath and the Golden Eagle Guards still there?”

“Most likely.”

Zhuge Sa chuckled.

“To obtain the Golden Eagle Guards, one must breach the headquarters of the British Empire and face the evil sorcerers and high-level otherworldly beings residing there. Given the sheer density of magical power, even the human sorcerers would be exceedingly formidable~”

“What should we do?”

“What do you mean? We have neither the capability nor the justification to attack there right now.”

Zhuge Sa continued.

“For now, let’s put the exploration of the West on hold and conduct the Offering Ceremony for the Celestial Realm once more.”

“Aha.”

I grasped Zhuge Sa’s intent. It was a ritual to summon the Great Immortal.