Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: 14-2. The Black Heart to the Knight
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"Then, Heavenly Demon. What must I do?"
Back in the forest. I asked White Magnolia exactly what the training entailed.
But she just stood there with her arms crossed, lost in deep thought.
"Heavenly Demon?"
"...Boy, just swing your sword once. That'll tell us everything we need to know."
"Pardon? No demonstration or instructions first? No quest to fetch some elixir or secret manual...?"
Something felt off. In martial arts tales, didn't you ascend through realms by gaining enlightenment via imagery, or popping a pill or snagging a manual for instant power?
"Quiet. A swordsman speaks with his blade, not his mouth. Since when did we start chattering like fools?"
"...Understood."
I voiced my doubts, but she just pressed a hand to her forehead, looking even more irritated.
Shing.
The silver steel slid from its sheath with a crisp ring. The holy sword had returned to Kainel. All I had left was your run-of-the-mill common-grade weapon.
'Shadow Slash should do the trick.'
A technique that cleaved through light and shadow, striking the connected real form. I assumed the first form of the Drake style. I planted my feet firmly into the earth. Inhaled deeply, circulating my blood flow throughout my body—
"Stop. Boy."
"...Pardon? What's wrong?"
Why cut me off now? Did I overdo the power? The Heavenly Demon approached step by step, her face etched with displeasure.
"...You've got too many stray thoughts, boy."
"Me...?"
"Yes. That snot-nosed master's swordsmanship was never this cluttered with thinking."
It felt like a dig at Master Drake, but I listened closely. Too many thoughts? First I'd heard of it. Needing pre-motions or something...
"There you go again, boy."
"..."
So many insights I'd gained by thinking things through here. It was a habit born from not trusting anyone in reality except the Saintess. A negative one, sure.
"The realm you need to escape this forest is the Heart Sword. You must be able to slice the Demon King's power with nothing but your inner will. Boy."
"Can't I just swing like Demon King Slayer?"
"Wrong. Sigh... Where do I even start?"
She turned away from me as if I'd said something foolish and perched on a distant rock. Then she drew a sword and tossed it between us.
"It's not about the physical. It's about mindset. Boy."
Thud. The steel plunged vertically into the ground.
"..."
"You think too much about the sword. It's an advantage over others, but it won't help you here."
"I... see..."
Come to think of it, yeah. Overthinking kept me from even considering the crown prince route for our Saintess. For her, I'd do anything.
The moment I learned Sharutineth was the Second Saintess, my composure shattered. I bowed my head. My helmet clinked.
"Ever lost out because of all that overthinking, boy?"
"...If we're splitting hairs, plenty of times."
"Exactly. What a ridiculous tale. Khahaha! A brooding swordsman in this era. The Martial Alliance Lord would love you."
Finally getting through, she grinned and approached the sword. Her black robes fluttered.
"You're running from something deep inside right now, boy."
"...What do you mean?"
"What folks call a heart demon. You wouldn't even know what 'inner devil' means, yet it's already taken root. So our training starts there."
She gripped the hilt and slammed the iron sword into the earth again. Boom. The ground trembled.
"...I've seen and learned much since coming to this world."
"Even you have new lessons, Heavenly Demon?"
"This place is a chaotic mess, stitched together from humans of every realm like patchwork with thread and needle."
True enough. It hadn't been that long since Emperor Locke unified the four nations into the Granasia Empire.
"Fair point."
Nex wanted to hold his wedding in what used to be the land of water. The emperor hailed from the earth nation, hence his earth affinity.
"Among them, Drake told me something curious."
"...No way."
That sparked a hunch. I eyed the iron sword again. The Heavenly Demon just stared right through me.
'This looks familiar...'
Over half-buried in the dirt. A scene from countless games. Crude and physical, sure.
"'I pulled the sword from the stone and became king.' What nonsense. As if a person's worth is decided by something so simple."
"..."
Kainel's case proved it. He wasn't kind or just because he was chosen as the Light Hero—he was always a good soul.
"...True enough, Heavenly Demon."
Chosen as hero, yet the Hero Cult made his life hell. The setting book said even his village scorned him.
"Getting it now, boy? What I'm driving at?"
"The wielder matters more than the sword itself, right?"
Meaning the holy sword doesn't decide the hero. Crystal clear.
"Yes. Foolish words, a parable, and a metamorphosis. You need the resolve to overcome this tale, boy."
"...So pulling this sword is my task, Heavenly Demon."
"Khahaha! A disciple of Dennis after all, chosen by that damn god of intellect. How nostalgic."
Not that pulling the sword makes you a hero—but you're already one, so you pull it. I stepped toward the blade. The silver steel gleamed invitingly.
...Nope. Not even a budge.
I gripped the hilt boldly and yanked, but the deeply embedded sword didn't stir. Not just planted there.
"Khahaha...! What's wrong? Not going your way, boy?"
"...Yes. A little advice, please."
I'd planted it with the intent of 'it won't come out.' No normal means would work. Straining with all my might, I called for her help.
"Simple. Seek out your heart demon within. Boy."
"But what exactly is that...!"
"Even if I told you, you couldn't conquer it. Not without awakening on your own."
And so began my endless tug-of-war with the sword. Thought it'd be martial arts, inner power training—not like wrestling a claw machine.
Meanwhile, at the academy's sword training grounds, three figures had gathered.
"Hey, Mardol."
"..."
"Mardol, sorry Kai's so clueless... At least return the greeting..."
The golden-haired hero Kainel, the Blazing Flame Mage Ariel, and the glass knight. They sighed right off the bat.
"...So, Mardol. Found any trace of Licht?"
"No. Nothing."
"Professor Dennis is searching too... But no progress."
A status report on the absent Black Knight. They spoke of Licht, who had nearly become the Demon King to save them.
"That bastard Licht. If he comes back alive..."
Kainel ruffled his hair, swearing unlike himself. For all his words, the trio here fretted over the man.
"Helmet guy... He didn't really die... right?"
"Ariel. That's too much."
"Ah... Sorry, Mardol."
Ariel voiced her worries with a teary face, but Pine stopped her. He had to return alive.
'What if he pulled a mom card this time too...'
The thought alone was horrifying. Her old trauma resurfacing, breathing grew hard. Cold sweat beaded inside the glass helm; her ears and tail drooped.
"Ugh..."
"Mardol, you okay?!"
"Fine... Yeah."
She clutched her chest plate, took deep breaths to calm down. The negative thoughts finally ebbed. The hero couple watched her pitifully.
"Mardol, maybe take a break?"
"I'm good. So... Kainel..."
"Yeah? What?"
"Who did Licht say he liked...?"
"Oh."
The sudden question tilted the golden-haired hero's head. Even becoming the Demon King, his request to the glass knight was just that.
"...Someone with beautiful white hair, he said. Mardol."
"That's it?"
"Also called her the Nameless Saintess. Said she'd be chosen as a saintess in the future..."
"...Too vague, Kainel."
"I don't know details either. Said she had rotten luck and needed protecting... Hero Cult might've been after her, or something."
"Sigh... You don't know much after all."
Pine sighed. He'd confessed early she was imperial blood, provoked Magic Hat to protect her mother.
'Nameless Saintess? No matter how deep I dig, nothing. Licht...'
Shed asked two of the Ten Heroes already, mobilized all her power to honor his dying words.
But the replies were unexpected.
"No Nameless Saintess in our [Truth Library]... Doesn't seem to exist in the past, Princess."
"Not even in my future sight. Sorry, Pine."
Searched via imperial guards Goldna, every connection. Told Beatrice about a future saintess—only denials.
"Least as far as I searched, no such person. Kainel."
"What? Thought you could find her, Mardol... What about Licht?"
Pine wore a gloomy expression inside the glass helm. White hair matched her own. Strands peeked from her armor.
"...Licht. I'm worried."
But no mention of wolf ears or tail on a saintess. No clue beyond white hair. Needed more info.
'If it was me, he wouldn't tell me to protect myself...'
Didn't add up. No way he'd ask himself to guard himself. Nor would she be chosen saintess later.
A future-seer sage would've tipped her off.
"...Talk of a Third Saintess. In the end."
Her close sister was the vampire Second Saintess, Sharutineth. The Light God's picks weren't random.
"..."
Did that person even know of Licht's sacrifice? Kainel said he'd never contacted or written anyone.
"Helmet guy... So you've been getting stronger for her from the start. Didn't know..."
Pine confirmed once more it was unrequited love. Her grip tightened unconsciously into a fist.
'Least after Licht vanished, she could've come to us.'
She hated the plea to protect someone who never helped in danger. An incomprehensible sort.
"...Doesn't make sense. Lame."
Inside the glass armor, wolf ears and tail twitched in irritation—but no one noticed.