Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Who is Your Master?
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Who is your master?
Joaquin departed, and I stepped off the train.
Adelin still had her hand resting on her sword hilt, while Luna stamped her feet anxiously.
As soon as I got off, Killien and the soldiers boarded, and the train set off as if its business was done.
"You managed to come back alive, huh?"
"Did you think I wouldn't?"
"Fifty-fifty. I was debating whether to collect your corpse."
"...Whose corpse are you talking about?"
Adelin snickered.
Despite her words, relief was evident on her face.
"Halibal...! Are you okay? What did His Highness the Prince want?!"
Luna grabbed my sleeve, her voice nearly breaking into sobs.
It wasn't something to make such a fuss over.
"It was nothing much. He just asked me to run an errand."
"An errand...?"
Luna tilted her head in confusion.
"The great Red Lion himself, doing it personally? Can't he just use one of the knight orders under him?"
"That's what I said."
I kept my words brief. I couldn't mention anything about the stopped world or the true ending.
Instead, I relayed only the surface-level goal Joaquin had demanded.
"So, what errand did His Highness give you?"
"He told me to retrieve an item from a shipwreck."
"A shipwreck? You mean the one on your schedule?"
"Yes. I was planning to go there anyway, so no loss."
Adelin stared at me intently for a moment.
Her eyes caught that my words held no lies, but not the full truth. Still, she didn't press further.
"Fine. You're not the type to make a deal where you lose out."
"Thanks for trusting me."
"It's not trust—it's evidence since you came back unscathed. That means you stroked the prickly prince's ego, right?"
"...Who knows."
It felt like I had, but also like I hadn't.
I couldn't be optimistic.
Even in the original story, he was the type to betray humanity without hesitation if things went south. The chance of him turning hostile remained high.
Looking up at the sky, the dark clouds were receding.
'Looks like no rain tomorrow.'
Right on cue, Luna handed me a pamphlet.
"Um... this... It's the weekly weather for the Rainport sea area."
"Oh, perfect timing. I needed this. When did you grab it?"
"It was at the station, so I picked it up just in case. It says it's accurate about seventy percent."
She grabbed it without being asked, just in case?
Impressive.
Unfolding the pamphlet, it showed clear skies for tomorrow. Staying one night and heading out would be ideal.
"So, straight to the shipwreck like this?"
"No. Baran first."
The sea area with the shipwreck was impassable for regular ships due to treacherous currents.
There wouldn't even be scheduled boats from Rainport to there.
You had to clear a specific quest in Baran to borrow the speedboat Vels Tia.
And above all.
"Since we're going, better as a four-man party."
I needed to keep my promise to Aren. With her joining, the climax conditions would be met too.
Four dealers, though.
"Ah... yeah? Baran... tsk."
Adelin's expression twisted oddly.
"Baran, huh... haa... He's gotta be there, right? That damn old man."
I knew the reason.
'Baran has True Master Jin.'
Apocalypse Academy favored swordsmen heavily, starting with the protagonist.
With top combat power holders all being swordsmen, the title of Empire's Greatest Sword was inevitably special.
Among them, the absolute top tier were Adelin and True Master Jin.
So, was Adelin truly the Empire's Greatest Sword?
Yes. She defeated True Master Jin in an official duel.
The issue was that it was under so-called 'full gear' conditions.
When Adelin stacked Abyss Cores and top shards, she barely won against True Master Jin.
Thanks to the game's setting that gear counted as skill, she was recognized as the strongest.
But in no-gear fights, it was different.
"Haa... Guess I need to mentally prepare too."
Her 'mental preparation' meant bracing for a beating.
In pure swordsmanship duels without gear, Adelin had never beaten True Master Jin.
By lore, they'd fought over a dozen times—she lost every one.
Adelin was stronger overall, but True Master Jin had deeper swordsmanship.
With no proof their full gear was equal, communities always held endless Adelin vs. True Master Jin debates.
Plus, True Master Jin had the rare battle maniac trait.
The old guy wouldn't rest until he crossed swords with any decent swordsman he spotted.
He might spot Adelin and pounce with a 'Swordsman detected!' No, he'd definitely do it.
"Nervous?"
"Not nervous—disgust."
Adelin shuddered and shook her head.
"Is that old man still swinging a wooden sword around?"
"Never met him myself."
"Haa... He'll charge at me again, dying to fight. My bones ache already."
The Empire's Greatest Sword whining over one old man.
Others would faint hearing it, but I understood her feelings.
In the game, True Master Jin was the Wall of Lamentations.
Not a boss crushed by physicals or gear, but a gimmick boss unbeatable without perfectly dismantling his patterns.
Worst matchup for a physical monster like Adelin.
"Just slap on an Abyss Core and fight, right?"
"No way."
"Why not?"
"A swordsman's pride."
No helping it when she was like this.
That's why she could accept me getting beaten up in a fight too.
"Well, it's something you have to face eventually. Think of it as getting it over with early."
"You're so casual since it's not you?"
Of course. It wasn't my problem.
Truth be told, facing him made me uneasy too, but Adelin would draw all the aggro anyway.
I'd probably never cross blades with True Master Jin.
But Adelin whispered with a sly smile.
"Don't let your guard down? That old man's no joke. Total monster."
'Yeah, to you.'
We headed straight to the harbor to check boat schedules.
"Let's go. Lunch boat tomorrow."
I led the grumbling Adelin and relieved Luna to the inn.
It had been a long day.
⁎⁎⁎
Next day, lunch.
As the pamphlet predicted, the rain stopped, and we boarded on schedule.
Leaning on the railing, I sank into thought.
'Heavenly Compass.'
A junk item rotting in my inventory the whole game. What connection did it have to the stopped world Joaquin saw?
'I'll find out when I get there.'
No point overthinking.
Shaking off distractions, I breathed deeply, the salty sea breeze filling my lungs.
About two hours passed. The silhouette of a silver island emerged on the horizon.
Our destination, Baran.
"Wow...!"
Luna clung to the railing, exclaiming, and Adelin put on sunglasses, smirking.
"Fine, I'll admit it. Minus that old man, this place always feels good."
She glanced at me.
"So, what do you think?"
"Hm?"
"You. First time seeing the sea, right?"
That was the setting. I'd even told Aren that.
Rainport's sea was shrouded in rainclouds and fog year-round, more fog blob than sea.
But this was the real deal.
Emerald waves and dazzling white sands—the first such sight since waking in Halibal's body.
Yet.
'...Why does it feel familiar?'
Déjà vu hit strangely.
A scene I'd definitely seen before. Mixed memories from the game?
"It's nice. Beautiful and clear."
"Heh. Who'd have thought I'd be your first sea view."
"Um, I'm here too..."
"I'm grateful to both of you."
The ship docked meanwhile.
Rainport had been overcast sans rain, but here it was perfectly clear.
Adelin rummaged in her bag, pulling out a thick robe and scarf to wrap her face.
"Uh... Instructor? Won't you be hot?"
"Of course I'm hot."
"Then why..."
"You wouldn't get it as a mage. What happens if word spreads the Empire's Greatest Sword is on the Sword Island?"
'Ah, right.'
Baran was a southern resort and tourist spot on the surface, but had another name underneath.
Sword Island.
Derivative land of the Extreme God One Sword, True Master Jin's hometown.
Thus, a holy site drawing empire's top warriors to learn from him or claim fame by beating him.
Aren's awakening even had a quest roaming the island, dueling swordsmen.
Stepping off the pier, sharp-aura warriors dotted the tourists.
"Eugh..."
Adelin yanked her hood low the instant her foot touched the island.
Sunglasses, scarf—more suspicious now, but she was serious.
"That necessary?"
"Don't be naive. Half these guys will rush me for a duel on sight."
"Popularity's a hassle."
"Shut it. Think you can talk? Watch your Longsword name doesn't spread here. Place is full of crazies."
Leaving the harbor, palm-lined streets unfolded.
Golden beaches stretched endlessly, people vacationing peacefully.
Seeing this peace made Joaquin's cynicism oddly understandable.
Frontlines and dungeons had soldiers dying to monsters, yet the rear lounged like this.
Seemed we were the only busy ones here.
"Heading straight to Bright House?"
"Yes. They're providing lodging."
"Drop bags there, then?"
"Info gathering right after."
Shipwreck Dungeon was a ghost ship type, position shifting with currents.
Not fixed, so prioritize local fishermen or info guilds for recent sightings.
Aren knew fishermen; her help would work.
Crossing the bustling area, palms gave way to bamboo groves.
Sign Bright House was near.
My hand naturally went to my chest.
'Bright House... Looking forward to it.'
First visit to the original protagonist's home. Even I was tense.
Bright House was commoner stock—no mansion.
Just a serene wooden house with a training yard.
Influenced by live-in guest True Master Jin, it felt more like an old dojo than a home.
How long did we walk?
A gate with a 'Bright' nameplate appeared.
"...Do we have to go in?"
Adelin fussed.
"We agreed to stay here."
"Hotel's fine. I'll book a suite on me. Huh?"
"Save your money. Prepare for old age."
I dragged the sticky Adelin to the door.
That instant.
Bang!
"Welcome! Halibal!"
"Eek."
Sensing my presence, the door flew open like shattering, a black shadow bulleting out.
Black training uniform—youth. No, girl.
Aren Bright stood there.
"I've been waiting."
Back home, maybe?
Her academy gravitas much lighter. Clothes casual, expression brighter.
But.
'Her hair's longer.'
First thing I noticed: her back view.
Always short hair now grown into a ponytail.
Small change, but vibe subtly different. Softer lines, maybe.
"Grew your hair?"
"Haha... No big deal. Grows fast. Vacation slacked it, got bushy in days."
Aren looked away casually, but red ear tips betrayed her.
Then, Adelin peeked from behind me.
"Hi, Aren Bright? Long time."
"Ah, Instructor Adelin. You... what's with the outfit?"
"Ahh... You know why."
Aren nodded 'ah' at the obviously shady getup.
"No choice. Instructor's fame precedes her."
"Appreciate the understanding."
"And this lady is..."
"Hello..."
"Luna... Grace lady, right? First time talking, I think. I'm Aren Bright."
"Y-Yes..."
Luna avoided not just me, but everyone equally.
Awkward air dripped between them.
Aren cleared her throat repeatedly, seemingly sorting thoughts.
She'd expected just me, but I brought two extras.
Sorry, but both were necessary.
However.
'Adelin and Luna don't know Aren is a girl yet.'
She wanted to relax at home. Felt a bit bad.
Thought gathered, Aren turned.
"Come in first. Told my parents..."
"Wait!"
Adelin cut in urgently.
"Th-the Master? Where is he now?"
"Master? Saw him at the backyard pavilion earlier."
"Backyard? Sure?"
"Yes."
"Phew... Safe."
Adelin patted her chest, whispering to me.
"Hear that? Backyard. We drop bags and head straight to info. Got it?"
"No greetings?"
"Greetings what! If I run into him, I'm dead!"
She meant it.
How much trauma for even Adelin to shake like this?
"Got it. Let's move quietly."
As we tiptoed.
"No running off without greetings."
A gravelly voice sliced the air.
Flinch.
Leading Adelin froze solid.
When'd he appear? An old man sat on the hallway railing's end.
Frayed uniform, loosely draped robe. Wrinkled neighborhood grandpa look.
But his presence devoured the space entirely, vast.
Founder of the Extreme God One Sword.
Jin Teio.
He approached cackling.
"Well, well! If it isn't the Greatest Sword! Where you rushing off to?"
"Ah... haha..."
Crystal clear up close.
Adelin's eyes quaking like an earthquake behind sunglasses.
"L-long time, elder. You're spry..."
"Spry? Remember last year when you broke my bones and bolted?"
"Th-that was a duel accident..."
"Accident my ass. You bulldozed with malice, couldn't control your strength."
The old man's eyes gleamed sharply.
"Come, loosen up after so long."
"W-wait! I'm here as my student's guest today! See! This kid's the guest!"
Adelin yanked me forward desperately, shoving me as meat shield.
'No, damn.'
Suddenly frontline, I bowed awkwardly.
"...First time meeting. Halibal Belder, friend of... Aren."
"Hoh. So you're the one?"
Jin Teio strode up, shoving his face in mine.
Intimidating.
But he said something unexpected.
"Smelled rotting corpse vibes, and here the culprit is—you."
Rotting corpse smell?
"Not alive nor dead, dangling on strings like a puppet."
Shadowy darkness rippled deep in the old man's eyes.
"You—who is your master?"