Requiem Of A Failed Hero

"You know demonic sword? How do you know demonic sword?" Raith asked lowering his brows and his eyes fixated on Dong-Hyun.

"Will you look at this brat speaking informally to me..." Dong-Hyun yelled back at Raith. He was a man that was heavy on the importance of respect.

By looks alone, he looked like he was in his late thirties, compared to him Raith was twenty-one. But it's not like Raith at any point has ever been a respectful fella.

No, not even to an asura that was clearly a thousand years old.

Raith didn't mind that part about him speaking informally, and he didn't care. He just pressed on his question about the demonic sword, more rudely.

"I said... How. Do. You. Know... about the demonic sword."

The man looked at Raith and looked back at Mok Jae-Hwa who turned away his eyes immediately.

Tae Dong-Hyun walked closer to Raith and craned his head up to look him in the eyes, standing chest to chest with him.

"Who the fuck are you?"

Dark smoke began to loom around Raith's feet as he furrowed his brows more and clenched his fist. Mok Jae-Hwa seeing how intense the atmosphere was getting came in between the two of them.

"Okay, okay, okay... this is enough." He gently separated them from each other, paying more attention to Dong-Hyun who was not looking like he would bulge.

"This is the guy I told you about from the association. The one Turner is after." Mok Jae-Hwa whispered to him as he tried to make him back away from Raith.

"Oh..." Tae Dong-Hyun's lips carved out an 'O'

"No wonder he is this cocky," he added.

"Yea right... he did lose to me though." Mok Jae-Hwa whispered and turned his face to Raith with a cunning smile.

Raith plucked his sword out of the ground.

"Wait... this sword... where did you get it?"

Raith lifted his jaw and looked down at Tae Dong-Hyun, "Why should I respond to you?"

"Because you want to know how I know about demonic swords."

"True..." Raith nodded and looked at him one last time before he began to talk.

"I got it from a shop."

"Really?" Tae Dong-Hyun tilted his head.

"Yes," Raith replied firmly, his gaze unwavering.

"Okay... I've been dealing with swords and armor since for twenty years now. I won't doubt the fact that I'm still inexperienced but I have seen quite a number of things. And I have been blessed by him."

"Him? Him who?"

"The blacksmith god. He gave me a skill and in my brief moment with me, I was able to witness the birthing of a demonic sword. A sword carved out using the blood and hearts of demons."

Mok Jae-Hwa gasped in disbelief. "You've met a god?"

Tae Dong-Hyun hesitated. "This is precisely why I didn't want to tell you," he admitted and continued, "Do you remember the S-rank gate from twelve years ago? That's when everything changed. Our weapons suddenly became more efficient and powerful."

Mok Jae-Hwa's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"

Raith interjected. "Did this god tell you about demonic swords? Is that how you can recognize them?"

Tae Dong-Hyun remained unperturbed by Raith's inquiry, and answered calmly,

"The sword's ferocity and aura of darkness and corruption are enough to discern its demonic nature. It's a potent weapon, but it will harm anyone who isn't its rightful owner. You mustn't give it away."

"I understand," Raith replied, nodding in agreement.

Raith glanced at the sword in his hand. "If you know about demonic swords, does that mean you're familiar with demons too?"

Tae Dong-Hyun looked at him with a perplexed expression. "What do you mean?"

Raith's interest waned when he saw Tae Dong-Hyun's confused face, and he lost interest in the conversation.

At that moment, a stocky young man with a low haircut arrived, bearing a striking resemblance to Tae Dong-Hyun.

"Hyungnim!" he greeted Mok Jae-Hwa.

"Ah, right. Joon-Ho," Mok Jae-Hwa tapped the young man's broad shoulder as he greeted him. "Hunter Raven, this is the man you will be working with today. This is Hunter Tae Joon-Ho."

Raith looked at the hunter in front of him and then at the blacksmith. Both of them were macho men with a striking resemblance to each other, but Tae Dong-Hyun was more of a macho man than Tae Joon-Ho. With such a significant difference, Raith looked at Tae Joon-Ho and deduced, "...his younger brother huh..."

This is the man you will be working with today. This is Hunter Raven," Mok Jae-Hwa introduced Raith. "Let me take it from this point. I just came here to fetch Joon-Hossi. You continue with whatever you are doing. We have some recruits to supervise." Mok Jae-Hwa bid Dong-Hyun farewell and entered the elevator with the two of them.

After a while, they arrived at the base of the building, where all the other hunters were already geared up to proceed to the gate location. As Mok Jae-Hwa reached there alongside two others, the recruits stiffened up and froze before him. "Hyon-U." "Yes, Sir!" The boy in front of the rest of the recruits answered and moved forward.

He was heavily cladded in silver armor, with the only thing missing being a helmet, which he carried in his arms.

"This is Hyon-U, the team leader," Mok Jae-Hwa turned to the young guy. "These are the two who will be supervising you," he said.

The boy's eyes landed on the two men before him. Hunter Tae Joon-Ho was a familiar face, having been an instructor and teacher during their Hunters' boot camp. However, the man standing next to him... The boy couldn't quite place him. After a few seconds of staring, the boy averted his gaze.

The team quickly gathered what was left of their supplies and filed into the black Mercedes bus, with the exception of Raith. Mok Jae-Hwa noticed that Raith was frozen in place, his eyes conflicted as he looked at the bus.

Is something wrong?" Mok Jae-Hwa asked, concerned.

"Your car keys?" Raith demanded abruptly.

"Excuse me?" Mok Jae-Hwa was taken aback.

"Give me your car keys," Raith repeated. "That bus is already full. There's no way I'm getting in there with them."

Hunter Mok Jae-Hwa was at a loss for words. "Wow," he finally managed to say.