#58.
The Palace of Immortality.
That place staged a spectacle so grand it would be a disservice to call it mere scenic beauty.
A river of mercury and luminescent stones set into the ceiling recreated the night sky.
Could anyone think this place was a tomb, or underground?
But I could not marvel or cause a commotion.
「….」
Because at every passage, soldiers were stationed—hulking giants with frames incomparable to ordinary soldiers—glaring fiercely.
If I caused even the slightest disturbance, I would likely be turned into a pincushion by their attacks.
‘Even the merit of bringing the imperial seal amounts to but a speck of dust.’
The reason I had been able to enter the Palace of Immortality was that I had brought back the lost imperial seal.
But that merit was insignificant at best.
At most, it was merely the qualification to set foot inside the palace.
That was why I had to hold my breath for now.
I simply followed Lord Changpyeonggun’s guidance through the long corridor, finally arriving at an unnamed hall prepared within the inner palace.
「We shall now commence the merit evaluation ceremony!」
A thunderous voice.
In the distance, a platform had been prepared, and upon the jade throne upon it sat Qin Shi Huang, clad in a golden dragon robe.
But.
‘Hazy.’
I could not see well.
At most, a distance of about 50 meters.
It was a distance where even blemishes should have been visible, yet as if fog had settled, I could not properly make out Qin Shi Huang’s figure.
‘Does this mean I can’t even confirm its true form at this distance?’
The event currently taking place was the merit evaluation ceremony.
It was a stage held to reward my merit for retrieving the lost imperial seal—stolen, to be precise, by Meng Wu and Wang Jian.
I turned my gaze not to Qin Shi Huang, but to his surroundings.
I could see the figures lined up below the platform.
Their distinguishing feature was that, as if invisible lines had been drawn, the 1st Line, 2nd Line, and 3rd Line—each had their assigned positions.
‘Depending on one’s merit, one can stand in a position closer to Qin Shi Huang.’
And my current position was—
「Your place is here.」
Not far from the entrance, an empty spot—that was my place.
Lord Changpyeonggun, who had thus assigned me my place, walked alone to the position closest to Qin Shi Huang, the 1st Line, and took his seat.
「What is your name?」
An elder presumed to be the master of ceremonies for the merit evaluation ceremony asked me.
“Yoon-chan. Sin Yunchan.”
「Outsider Sin Yunchan, step forward.」
In the empty central path, I positioned myself there and knelt.
I might lack experience in such settings, but I knew how to observe courtesy.
「The outsider Sin Yunchan has recovered and returned the imperial seal seized by the traitors Meng Wu and Wang Jian. Therefore, this shall be recognized as a merit of the third rank.」
A third-rank merit.
It was neither special nor a grand special merit.
It was a reward just barely worth mentioning at the merit evaluation ceremony.
「To the outsider Sin Yunchan, who has earned a third-rank merit, we bestow an advance of thirty paces and a treasured sword.」
An attendant approached and held out a treasured sword wrapped in silk.
A treasured sword decorated with gold bands all over its scabbard—one that looked quite fine no matter where you looked.
『Sword of Goujian
Classification: Sword
Durability: 200/200
Unique Effect: Sharpness increases significantly
Description: Made of bronze, 55 cm in length, a symmetrical double-edged sword. It boasts a blade sharp enough to cut through steel.
-Below the blade, golden characters are embossed.
Personal sword of Goujian, King of Yue-』
The Sword of Goujian.
Though it did not qualify as a treasured artifact, it was a treasured sword imbued with the soul of a master craftsman.
‘If I can enhance it, it’ll be quite a usable sword.’
The part that especially caught my eye was the unique effect.
A drastic increase in the blade’s sharpness was an effect that could be compared to a renowned sword.
Since it was being given for free, I’d take it.
I received it and stuffed it into my backpack.
And then.
Thud.
The thirty paces permitted to me—I advanced toward Qin Shi Huang.
The distance to Qin Shi Huang was 20 meters.
Thanks to that, the thick fog that had obscured him lifted slightly.
「Then, with this, the merit evaluation ceremony is concluded—」
“Wait!”
I cut off the attendant’s words that were trying to conclude the ceremony.
「….」
The eyes in the hall gathered on me.
In those gazes lay clear hostility and displeasure.
And rightly so.
After all, someone who had earned only a third-rank merit had interrupted.
Yes, right now I was nothing more than an officer who had earned a third-rank merit.
But from now on, it would be different.
“I believe my current position is very unfair.”
「Unfair?」
From the jade throne—Qin Shi Huang’s languid voice flowed out.
“Yes. I have not yet shown you my abilities. If you grant me the opportunity, I will clearly show you what capabilities and talents I possess.”
It could be a statement that might turn dangerous.
But.
‘Qin Shi Huang is a king of greed. His ambition is filled not only with immortality and treasure but also with a desire for talent.’
Because it was Qin Shi Huang, such a provocation was possible.
His greed for talent was extraordinary, so the mere mention of proving one’s ability made everything permissible.
Of course, if I stepped forward without the ability, I would have to accept death.
「Hoh? You wish to show your ability?」
“Yes.”
「Then prove it here and now.」
“If that is your wish, gladly.”
「Thousand-Man Commander, step forth.」
Thousand-Man Commander.
A low-ranking officer capable of commanding one thousand soldiers.
「Yes!」
5th Line.
One of the officers positioned exactly twenty paces ahead of where I stood, in the 5th Line, moved.
A man of robust build with a beard.
His armament certainly looked like that of a Thousand-Man Commander—somewhat meager equipment.
“Might I make a proposal?”
「Surely you aren’t saying you’ve grown frightened at this point?」
Srrr—
Killing intent, tangibly materialized, swirled around Qin Shi Huang like red mist.
“How could that be? What I propose is that one Thousand-Man Commander is insufficient.”
「…Continue.」
“Ten.”
There were currently fifty Thousand-Man Commanders in the 5th Line; I was referring to ten of them.
“I shall face ten Thousand-Man Commanders at once.”
What I needed now was impact.
To leave a clear impression on Qin Shi Huang and the officers gathered here, I had to face ten, did I not?
「Impudent!」
「Arrogant!」
Those who weren’t of high enough status to even have their names known by Qin Shi Huang erupted in fury.
「Silence.」
But their anger vanished at a single word from Qin Shi Huang.
「You will face ten Thousand-Man Commanders? Is it confidence, or arrogance?」
“Would you not know if you watched?”
「Hahaha! Indeed. One can know everything by watching.」
Snap!
Qin Shi Huang flicked his fingers.
Clack, clack, clack.
The ten Thousand-Man Commanders who had been fuming just moments ago lined up.
「Your skills—I shall verify them clearly with my own two eyes.」
It was a somewhat dangerous method, but it seemed I had succeeded in drawing his interest.
Having achieved my immediate goal.
Srring—
I drew the sword with the strange band.
「You—」
The very moment the enraged Thousand-Man Commanders were about to charge.
Swish!
A faint sound rang out.
「…Huh?」
The vanguard—the Thousand-Man Commander who had been charging at me the fastest—halted.
And then.
Ssssss—
His body began to crumble into dust and scatter.
Tristan’s sword of swiftness.
That invisible blade was not something a mere Thousand-Man Commander could receive.
“Why? Changed your mind now?”
The Thousand-Man Commanders flustered by that blow stiffened.
“But what to do? I have no intention of letting this slide.”
A sword strike to firmly imprint my existence upon Qin Shi Huang.
Shhk, swish!
The arcs traced wildly through the air were more than enough to claim the lives of the Thousand-Man Commanders.
*
Crack!
The charging sword shattered into pieces.
It wasn’t that a perfectly fine sword had simply broken.
The sword with the strange band—Lancelot’s ability, the effect of the Strongest Sword, had activated and snapped his blade.
「Hup!」
The startled man stumbled back.
It was understandable that he panicked, having carried a sword that he had thought was quite treasured, only for it to break so futilely.
But that unavoidable incident became a fatal opening.
Shhk!
A straight slash accurately grazed past the neck area of the Five-Thousand-Man Commander, and—
Pssss—
Just as had happened to the Thousand-Man Commander and the Three-Thousand-Man Commander, the Five-Thousand-Man Commander’s flesh also crumbled into dust and scattered.
「….」
A moment of silence fell.
When he had first faced ten Thousand-Man Commanders, the gazes had still been belittling.
When he faced seven Three-Thousand-Man Commanders, there had been slight wariness.
And now, when he had won against five Five-Thousand-Man Commanders, silence stretched on.
But that moment was brief.
Clap, clap, clap.
The sound of applause spread.
Its source was the jade throne—Qin Shi Huang.
「Splendid!」
For the first time, praise came from his mouth, which had offered no particular evaluation before.
「To face five Five-Thousand-Man Commanders in a single breath. This is a difficult feat even for a general commanding ten thousand soldiers. As you claimed, your abilities are truly extraordinary.」
Only after facing five Five-Thousand-Man Commanders did I finally earn Qin Shi Huang’s recognition.
「Outsider Sin Yunchan, listen!」
It wasn’t an attendant.
Qin Shi Huang himself began to recite my merits.
「I shall permit you ten paces, and I specially bestow upon you the renowned sword Red Thunder.」
An attendant approached.
Respectfully holding out a sword wrapped in silk, just like before.
『Red Thunder
Classification: Sword
Durability: 50/50
Unique Effect: At a low probability, inflicts an electric shock upon clashing blades with an opponent, causing Stiffness.
Description: A wooden sword carved from wood struck by lightning. 1.5 meters in length, with scorch marks of a lightning strike remaining black upon it.
-The aura of lightning remains, flowing that power into the opponent upon impact.』
It wasn’t metal like bronze or steel.
A wooden sword carved from lightning-struck wood—its durability was not good.
But.
‘It’s a renowned sword.’
A wooden sword that had reached the realm of renowned swords, one tier higher than the Sword of Goujian I had received earlier.
Especially the stiffening effect—it was quite a good one, opening many variables during battle.
I put this into my backpack as well without a word.
Since I could feel something pulling at it.
‘Seems someone is coveting it.’
I could tell William, hiding inside my backpack, had taken it.
Thud.
I immediately moved my feet.
Ten paces, just like before.
When I reached the 2nd Line, the remaining distance to Qin Shi Huang was thirty paces.
Only upon approaching that far could I see a distinct form—every part except Qin Shi Huang’s face.
But it still wasn’t enough.
「Do you still intend to prove more of your ability?」
To Qin Shi Huang’s question.
“Still… it is not enough.”
A general—a rank capable of leading ten thousand soldiers.
But the 2nd Line was not where I belonged either.
‘1st Line.’
The place where those who had earned the title of Grand General stood—fewer than ten in number—was my immediate goal.
「Uwahahahaha!」
Rumble!
Laughter reverberated through the underground palace as if thunder had struck.
「Very good! I welcome those with ability. And if they have ambition as well, it couldn’t be better.」
His attitude, which had been languidly observing until moments ago, changed.
It seemed one had to be at least around the 2nd Line to be worth his attention.
「I wish to make a proposal here.」
A proposal.
In truth, it was not a proposal but a notification.
There was no one here who could possibly refuse Qin Shi Huang’s words.
So I couldn’t say anything and simply listened quietly.
「Your ambition seems considerable. If so, is there any need to drag out time?」
That certainly aligned with what I pursued.
「Li Xin!」
At his summons.
「I accept the command!」
A figure emerging from the left side of the 1st Line.
Unlike the other Grand Generals, his physique was not particularly robust.
Slightly larger than an average adult, a balanced body, wearing a helmet decorated with feathered ornaments, he was—
‘Li Xin!’
Grand General Li Xin.
A general who had received Qin Shi Huang’s favor and was counted among the top in terms of martial prowess.
「Cross blades with him.」
Not only skipping the 2nd Line, but it was none other than Li Xin.
Qin Shi Huang was truly trying to test me.