The Second Salvation Myth of a Retired Regressed Hero

“Enough.”

A soft yet heavy voice that seemed to strike within their heads halted them.

The students frowned at the sudden voice, looking towards its source. The Headmaster was walking this way.

‘Phew…’

The Headmaster lamented the current situation.

He had even included a regenerative elixir as a prize specifically for Doyun. Unlike the other instructors, the Headmaster believed Doyun would perform well in the tournament despite his mana deficiency handicap.

Of course, it was impossible for him to defeat Sophie or the other top candidates. But there would be 4 winners in this tournament regardless.

If the bracket draws favored him, Doyun could have claimed a prize. However…

‘…An unforeseen variable has arisen.’

Normally, unauthorized weapon possession or misconduct by students should have been immediately discovered.

But the Cradle was in too much tumult currently. All the instructors’ minds were occupied by the phenomenal boss monster killer issue.

‘It’s all my fault.’

If even the Cradle’s head, himself, was preoccupied with the killer incident, how could his subordinate instructors be unaffected?

It was all due to his own negligence, the Headmaster thought.

‘…But now, I must focus on my role.’

Correcting mistakes could come later. As the Headmaster, properly handling the current situation was the right course of action.

He looked at Torn with a cold, hardened gaze.

“Torn.”

“Wh, what is it?”

Torn responded with an involuntarily trembling voice. It felt as if something was constricting his throat.

The Cradle was one of the most crucial facilities for the allied forces. No nation would appoint just anyone to the position of overseeing such a facility.

As a mere new apostle, Torn could hardly withstand the piercing gaze of this overwhelming Headmaster.

The presiding instructor signaled to the assistant instructor. Now that the Headmaster had intervened, the situation was effectively over.

With hundreds of matches in progress, the armory would be out of swords. They would need to act quickly to procure one.

The assistant instructor, who had watched Torn with disdain, dashed towards the swordsmanship students’ arena.

“The Cradle will conduct a thorough investigation into this incident, determining whether it was a simple management oversight or someone’s malicious act.”

“…Why are you telling me this…”

“And if someone’s involvement is revealed, moreover if that person is a student, they will be referred to the disciplinary committee for cheating in the exam and possessing unreported weapons.”

“…”

Newly arrived dimensional immigrant apostles were highly unstable mentally. Thus, they posed many potential risks.

This was why possessing unreported weapons, poisons, or the like brought from other dimensions was strictly prohibited at the Cradle – a rule they had been educated on repeatedly during the first week.

“There’s no need to address the cheating aspect. Anyone possessing unauthorized weapons within the Cradle will be deemed to have intended terrorism.”

“Wh, what…!”

“They will be expelled from the Cradle and subsequently barred from receiving any protection or benefits provided to Cradle students.”

Bone-chillingly cold words, as if pronouncing a death sentence.

Expulsion from the Cradle meant being branded a risk factor. Regardless of ability scores, they would become a potential criminal posing excessive burdens to any affiliated organization.

Naturally, no group, including guilds, would dare take on such a risk.

Torn shouted as if having a fit.

“Non, nonsense! For some rusty javelins to be called terrorism…! Th, that’s an unreasonable stretch! I absolutely had no such intention!”

Someone let out a deep sigh – such a foolish reaction. He had essentially admitted to being the culprit himself.

Of course, no one sided with him.

The atmosphere was utterly frosty. He had no allies here.

Even setting aside his recent statements, in a clash between the troublemaker Torn and the exemplary Doyun, it was clear who the organization would support…

“Of course, if it’s simply a management oversight, no one will receive such treatment. So Torn need not worry.”

“Y, yeah. Who would do such a thing. But…”

“I’ve brought a sword!”

Torn’s words were cut off. The assistant instructor who had gone to the swordsmanship students’ arena to retrieve Doyun’s sword had returned.

“But, but…”

However, the sword he had brought was also in poor condition.

Patches of rust covered the blade, and the edge was heavily chipped.

While in far better shape than the javelins Torn had sabotaged, it was still unsuitable for actual combat – especially against a large hammer.

Torn, who had been utterly cowed by the Headmaster moments ago, simply grinned upon seeing the sword’s state.

“Ah…”
“The condition again…”

In contrast, the watching students let out laments of disappointment.

“Thank you.”

Doyun calmly accepted the sword.

“…Student Han Doyun. If you wish, we can postpone the match. We can wait until another match using swords finishes, so you don’t have to use that kind of…”

“No. This will suffice.”

“Hm?”

Doyun calmly walked to the designated position. The instructor thought he must have misheard.

“You truly intend to fight with that sword?”

“Yes.”

“Haah…”

He let out a sigh of exasperation.

‘This is troubling.’

It seemed Student Han Doyun was thoroughly angered. Hence this reckless insistence.

His decision to use a sword was already incomprehensible. Mastering fist styles at such a young age was an astonishing enough achievement, so how much could he have learned swordsmanship?

Using javelins would have been understandable, but suddenly insisting on a sword – that too, stubbornly fighting with such an unfit weapon out of wounded pride.

‘If I were in that situation, I’d be furious too, but…’

This wasn’t the way. Even for his sake, he should dissuade him. Doyun was well-reputed even among the instructors, making it even more so.

While the impartial judge shouldn’t overstep, more than that… the instructor felt immense pity for Doyun’s predicament.

“…Student Han Doyun. I understand your feelings, but first calm your heart…”

But he could only trail off and close his mouth.

‘…Huh?’

He had looked into Doyun’s eyes. His pupils, fixed on Torn, held not a shred of emotion.

No anger, no derision, no grievance. Just… inhuman, cold eyes gazing at Torn.

‘What… is this?’

Could these really be the eyes of a man in his 20s?

The instructor felt a chilling sensation creep up his nape. Unconsciously wiping the back of his neck with his palm, he took an involuntary step back.

“Th, then… I understand. Let’s proceed with the match.”

At that declaration, the watching crowd unanimously let out sighs of exasperation. It was over. The outcome had already been decided.

“Ah, really…! Just endure it a bit longer…”
“I understand the anger, but…”
“That damn cow bastard. I really want to kill him.”

Everyone denounced Doyun’s decision, but also understood on some level. The current situation was utterly preposterous for him.

And simultaneously, they jeered at Torn.

“Cow bastard! Criminal scum!”
“You’re not even seed worthy of cultivation…”
“Let’s see who the superior male is, you said! Are you even a male, you dickless bastard?!”

But Torn only burst into raucous laughter at such reactions.

“Pffhuhuhahah! Yes, let’s have a go! Let’s determine who the superior male is through fair competition!”

Just as his scheme was about to unravel, his opponent’s wounded pride had turned the situation back in his favor.

‘Foolish human!’

It would be troubling if another match ended and a proper sword became available. He urged the judge to hurry.

“Start the match already!”

“…”

The instructor openly frowned but could no longer intervene after Doyun had taken that stance.

“…Both students, step forward.”

There was no other choice. As Torn said, they had to proceed with the match.

Watching this unfold, the Headmaster looked at Doyun with incomprehension.

‘…Why? He’s not the type to stubbornly cling to misplaced pride.’

It was a completely contrary reaction to the Doyun he had observed until now.

Just as he was about to wonder if this was Doyun’s true nature, someone beside him let out an exclamation.

“Oh…! So Han Doyun really was our nation’s representative!”

‘Hm?’

The Headmaster turned his head. It was a student from the swordsmanship class, likely having come here after hearing the rumors when his match ended.

But there was one peculiarity.

‘An Earthling?’

He was an Earthling like Student Han Doyun.

“…Student. What did you just say about calling Han Doyun a ‘national representative’?”

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“You mentioned something about Han Doyun being a ‘national representative’ when you saw him, didn’t you?”

“Ah, that.”

Unaware the person before him was the Headmaster, he cheerfully rambled on – having befriended the instructor-scouts couldn’t hurt.

“I’m from the same Earth, the same country as him, you see. I had felt like I’d seen his name and face somewhere before.”

“Student Han Doyun?”

“Yes. So I pondered it, and his name is the same as our nation’s kendo representative, you know?”

“Pardon?”

“But seeing him use fists and javelins, I thought it couldn’t be him. But now that he’s using a sword, I guess I wasn’t mistaken! That’s Doyun, our nation’s kendo representative, alright!”

The Headmaster couldn’t understand his words. It seemed Han Doyun was some famous figure related to swords in his world…

“What is this ‘national representative’ position you speak of?”

“Huh? Ah, I guess that term doesn’t exist here. Umm… let me think…”

He contemplated deeply. Explaining this would be quite difficult.

But soon, a term befitting this fantasy world came to mind. Yes, that’s it!

“A Sword Saint! He was a Sword Saint on Earth!”

“…!”

The Headmaster was rendered speechless by his words.