Sara remained on guard.

She believed that Kang Oh could, at any time, return her to the confines of the sword. Kang Oh felt like this behavior was undeserved on his part.

"Weren't you the one who decided to be sealed?"

That's right. After he defeated her, Sara had allowed herself to be sealed in order to keep the Ice Soul's power from going out of control.

Kang Oh hadn't forced her into it!

"T-That's..."

"I picked you when I was presented with the choice between you and the Ice Soul. That way, you were able to see the world, albeit indirectly. Am I wrong?"

The Trial of the Demon Sword had forced him to pick either Sara or the Ice Soul. Kang Oh had picked Sara, which allowed her to maintain her ego.

"And yet, you act as though I've imprisoned you," Kang Oh said logically, causing Sara to bite her lip.

Everything he said was the truth.

She furrowed her brow, thought things over, and said, "Thanks."

"Good. We can get to talking now."

"Talk about what?"

"For starters, don't run away from me. And don't attack me either. If you don't escape my control, then I can give you some measure of freedom."

"Freedom..."

"You can see the world with your own eyes, touch things yourself, and explore places with your own two feet." Kang Oh completely understood what it was that made Sara tick. "That's what I'll do for you," Kang Oh added.

"Really?" Sara's eyes gleamed.

"Yeah. But I can't set you free. After all, you possess the Ice Soul's power, capable of freezing half the continent."

"I don't have that kind of power anymore..."

"Do you want to stay in the sword?" Kang Oh suddenly asked.

"No!" she immediately yelled.

"Then will you accept my terms?"

"I won't run away, and I won't attack you either. In exchange, you'll give me some measure of freedom, right?" she repeated.

"Yeah." Kang Oh nodded his head.

"Alright. I'll do it."

It wasn't a bad offer. It was a hundred times better than staying inside of the sword.

"Good choice. Ah, and I want you to help me in battle. And if I need Demon Sword Sarahoff, then I'll need you to return to being a sword."

"Ok." Sara nodded her head obediently.

"Good!" Kang Oh smiled in satisfaction.

"I'm Tasha," Tasha suddenly said.

"I'm Sara. A Yuki-Onna."

"Yawn. Are we done, Master?" Akite said tiredly.

'Please just go already!'

"Yeah, good work," Kang Oh said.

"Take care. Don't visit too often!"

"Yeah, I'll come frequently."

When someone tells you not to do something, it just makes you want to do it even more!

"That's the direct opposite of what I said!" Akite yelled.

'Don't interrupt my sleep!'

"Eh, I'll think about it. Alright, we're leaving."

Kang Oh smiled, and left with Tasha and Sara in tow.

Akite's Nest was submerged in a comforting veil of darkness once more. It immediately entered a deep sleep.

* * *

Kang Oh headed for the Holiseum. But upon entry into Altein, the continent's largest city, Sara widened her eyes.

"Wow, wow, wow!" Sara looked around and marveled at all the sights.

'To think that there was stuff like this in the world! There are tons of people, all kinds of buildings, and... some strange buildings here too.'

"Don't be such a drama queen." Tasha scolded her. However, she couldn't hide her astonishment at the city's majesty either.

'It's a lot different than before.'

The knight, Grande Loxia, had lived in this city before. Of course, she was sealed within a sword then, but she could hear, see, and feel everything that Grande Loxia did.

Thus, she could remember what Altein was like in the past. However, Altein was a lot different from what she remembered. It only made sense though.

Altein was once the capital of the Altein Empire, and was special amongst all the cities.

Kang Oh could hear Sara marveling at the city's sights, as well as Tasha telling her off, but he didn't concern himself with them. After all, their reactions were much to be expected.

Plus, their beauty didn't really stand out, as characters could be built however one wished. Thus, they didn't overly draw people's attention.

'As long as people don't see through my disguise, that is.'

Kang Oh had raised the Avenger set's hood, and was wearing a smile mask as well. Obviously, no one had recognized him yet.

He, Tasha, and Sara reached the Holiseum without any issues.

"Wow, to think such a huge building existed!" Sara looked touched. It was the largest building she'd seen in her life.

Tasha likewise looked surprised. It was only natural. Those who saw the Holiseum for the first time would be taken aback by its beauty and grandeur.

"This way."

Kang Oh went down the stairs that led to the Holiseum's basement.

He greeted a few gladiators he was acquainted with, and then headed straight for Valan's room.

Knock, knock.

"Come in."

He opened the door and was greeted by the sight of Valan. His caretaker, Darion, was nowhere in sight.

"Why are you here?" Varion wasn't all that happy to see him.

Kang Oh grinned. "I've completed your quest, Master Valan."

Sara and Tasha came inside.

"Hoh, this energy... It feels like your demon swords. Are they the demons sealed within?"

Valan was as sharp as ever. He had immediately ascertained Tasha and Sara's identities.

"Yes. This is the secret move that I created: Demon's Descent! It allows me to summon the demons within my swords."

"Hah, you've created quite the dangerous secret move."

As expected, Valan knew the downsides of the move too. He had realized the risks that were involved.

"Don't let them control you," Valan said firmly.

"I won't."

"We'll see."

"Anyhow, I came to tell you that I completed your quest."

"Yeah." Valan slightly nodded his head.

[You have completed the quest, Trial to Become Stronger.]

[As a reward, closeness with Valan has increased slightly.]

[You have completed an extremely difficult quest. You have acquired Sara's Collectible.]

Considering how difficult the quest was, the reward sucked. All he got out of it was increased closeness with Valan! It was also tagged with the 'slightly' to boot!

Still, Kang Oh was satisfied that he was able to complete such a difficult quest. Plus, he unexpectedly got something out of it too.

Sara's Collectible!

It was a material that was used to reinforce Demon Sword Sarahoff.

If he explored an area he'd never been to before, defeated a monster he'd never fought before, or completed a difficult quest, then there was a low chance that he'd gain one of them.

Though the chances were low, Kang Oh had acquired one of them from completing Valan's quest. It was good news.

At that moment...

Valan grinned. "Strike when the iron's hot. I'll give you another task."

"I'm fine! I refuse!" Kang Oh said decisively.

'No! I don't want to!'

"I refuse your refusal!"

A quest popped up.

[Inherit the Absolute Secret Move]

Grandmaster Valan's secret move, 'Divide the Sea', is special. It contains the power to cut through anything.

Valan has acknowledged you as his successor, and wishes to teach you this secret move.

However, Slash must be mastered before Divide the Sea can be learned.

Master Slash!

Current Proficiency: High-Rank Slash 92.1%.

Difficulty: Easy.

Minimum Requirements: Valan's Successor.

Reward: Divide the Sea.

Failure: There is no reason to fail.

[There is no reason to refuse.]

[The quest has automatically been accepted.]

Kang Oh anxiously read over the quest. 'What kind of crazy hard quest will it be this time!?', he thought, but as he read it, his expression gradually relaxed.

"Huh?"

Valan's quest was way too easy. The difficulty was set to easy, and it even stated that there was no reason he'd fail it.

It was only natural.

In order to master Swordsmanship, Demonic Swordsmanship, Wizardry, etc., one needed to achieve a great feat and break through the wall.

However, normal skills and magic could be mastered by increasing one's proficiency.

Of course, these 'normal' skills/magic couldn't surpass one's class skill (Swordsmanship, Wizardry, etc.).

Let's say Kang Oh's Demonic Swordsmanship was still at high-rank 50%. That would mean that all of his other skills could only reach high-rank 50%.

However, Kang Oh had mastered Demonic Swordsmanship. Thus, all he needed to do to master Slash was raise his proficiency in it.

"There isn't even a time limit."

That just surprised him even more. Valan's quest didn't have any time restriction to it.

Valan had given him a nigh impossible quest with a time restriction of 100 days, yet this new quest had no such limitation!

"Why? You want me to add a time limit?" Valan grinned impishly.

"No!" Kang Oh replied immediately.

"I shouldn't have to add a time limit. If you want to learn Divide the Sea, then I'm sure you'll do your best."

This quest had Valan's secret move on the line. Since it had such a huge reward at stake, Kang Oh couldn't afford to take it lightly.

"Of course!"

"Anything else?"

"No."

"Get going then." Valan waved him off with his good arm.

"Stay healthy." Kang Oh left with Tasha and Sara in tow.

He passed Sara her collectible. Sara's Collectible was a cube that glowed with sapphire light.

"Wow!" Sara suddenly jumped up.

Now he only needed two more. When he collected the other two, Demon Sword Sarahoff would be upgraded.

* * *

Kang Oh arrived at Eder's house. He had already sent Sephiro a message to meet him there.

"This is my friend, Eder." Kang Oh introduced Tasha and Sara to the white gown wearing Eder.

"Who are they?" Eder tilted his head.

These women gave off a peculiar vibe. Where had he met them before?

"They're the beings that were sealed within the demon swords. This is Tasha, who was once called Blood, and this is the Ice Queen, Sara."

"Excuse me?" Eder looked shocked.

"So..." Kang Oh explained their appearance in more detail.

"Aha, I see. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Eder." Eder smiled brightly.

"Tasha," Tasha crossed her arms and said. She didn't trust anyone besides Kang Oh. No, she hated them.

Kang Oh knew this fact well. That's why he didn't say anything like 'Let's get along' or 'Let's be friendly'.

'I'm sure things will change with time.'

Eder was a good guy. If she interacted with him some more, then she would eventually open herself up to him. Just like how her and Kang Oh had gotten close.

On the other hand, Sara stretched out her hand with gleaming eyes.

"I'm Sara. A Yuki-Onna!"

It was because she'd seen the people of Altein joyously greet each other with a handshake. She had wanted to try it out.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Sara." Eder reciprocated.

"Just call me Sara."

"Yes."

Now that they were done with their introductions, a maid came in with refreshments.

"Wow, what is this!?" Sara looked shocked as she tried a sweet snack.

'It tastes good!'

Tasha sported a haughty expression, but she was wolfing down the snacks.

Kang Oh and Eder just watched them and sported satisfied expressions.

Sometime later...

Sephiro came inside with Waryong.

"This is my other friend, Sephiro. And that's his wyvern, Waryong!"

"My name is Sephiro. As you can see, I'm an archer." He shook the Lasselpino Bow.

Kya!

Waryong bobbed its head up and down. It looked like it was trying to bow.

"Tasha."

"I'm Sara!"

"These two are..."

Kang Oh revealed their identities.

"Ah, I see." Sephiro just accepted it. "Anyhow, why did you call me?" he asked.

Sephiro's gaze contained a hint of jealousy and envy. It was only natural.

Kang Oh had become a Master! It felt like he'd die of envy.

Unfortunately, Kang Oh could feel those negative emotions being directed at him.

"Are you jealous?"

"What do you mean?"

"That I became a Master."

"N-Not at all!" Sephiro strongly rejected his claim.

"I don't think that's true."

"I said I'm not!"

"Haha. If you're that jealous, then please try harder." Kang Oh grinned impishly and stared at Sephiro.

Sephiro grimaced and changed the topic. "Ahem. Anyhow, why did you call me today?"

"I completed Valan's quest, so it's time to look for dungeons again." Kang Oh grinned.

'It's time to get back to work!'