Chapter 509
Chapter 509
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 509
Chapter Title: Junior Priest Kim Katt
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-Pshaaaak!
The murderer, twisting and screaming in agony all over his body, finally unleashed his Seven Apertures Blood Explosion.
"Gaaahhhheeeek...!"
Bloodied from head to toe, his appearance was unimaginably horrific—something no one in this world had ever seen. No limbs left, blood gushing from every orifice on his face. I was utterly shocked by the inhuman spectacle.
"Th-this can't be real!!! It's too gruesome!!!!"
A cry of horror burst from me as my entire body trembled uncontrollably. Damn it, such a brutal scene! This should never happen!
-Vwoooom.
Even amid the chaos, the pitch-black sword hovering in midair spewed dark energy while muttering something.
"Pay the price, human."
"Kyahaaaak!!"
"H-heavens!"
-Whoooosh.
At that moment, the murderer's body suddenly floated up just like that sword.
"Poltergeist phenomenon!!!!!!"
A poltergeist phenomenon straight out of legends!
Unreal events that wouldn't even make for a joke among kids kept happening one after another, stabbing into my brain with intense panic. My vision warped as the mana in my body surged wildly.
"D-demon sword! Blackie, Sis! That's a demon sword!"
"A demon sword?!"
Winia's shout snapped my mind back to reality.
-Whirrrl!
The demon sword floating in the air spun around before zigzagging wildly like a drunken bumblebee and shooting off like an arrow.
-Screeeeeam!!
The launched demon sword tore through the air at ferocious speed and pierced straight into the murderer's heart.
-Stab!
"Kehk...! N-no...! No! Please stop...!"
With that, the murderer was skewered like a shish kebab.
"Kekeke, everything as per the contract."
"G-giiiit!!!"
If that's all there was to see, it might've just been a rare spectacle of a flying sword stabbing the heart of a floating man. But the situation didn't end there.
Just like there's a deeper abyss at the end of the abyss, another shocking event erupted. Once a disaster strikes, it can't be stopped.
-Squish squish.
"Giyoooooot!!!!!"
"No way!"
Every time the sword piercing his heart pulsed, the murderer's body began to shrivel!
No way!
Is that sword sucking the life force out of the murderer right now?!
"Oooohhh!!! Oooooohhhh!!!!!!!!!!"
With each shrivel of the murderer's body, the demon sword let out ecstatic shrieks of joy. Drained of energy, the murderer's body withered like a mummy, crumbling from his toes and fingertips into dust, vanishing forever.
-Poof.
"Kuhuhuhu... Finally! Finaaaally!!!"
The demon sword kept devouring life force relentlessly, unconcerned. It seemed intent on reducing the murderer to complete powder.
"You bastard! Using such vile sorcery!"
I got a good look at the spectacle!
Now's the chance while it's still feeding. That sword's tempting, but no choice right now. No idea what powers it has, but time to slice it apart!
"Reaper Sword Aura!!!"
-Crackle!
Focusing my mind instantly, sword aura rose and enveloped the blade. I kicked off the ground. -Boom! The true essence of Heavenly Demon Supremacy Step propelled my body skyward like a rocket.
-Screeeeeam!
Gripping my sword tight, I soared high in a diagonal arc, aiming for the demon sword.
By then, only the murderer's upper body remained. He'd long since been drained dry and died.
Did he make some contract with the demon sword? Is that why he was committing murders? That's question enough. The rest can go to investigators after we resolve this.
-Thus, Flying Reaper Swordsmanship.
Even in midair, my honed swordsmanship knows no difference between sky and ground. Closing in on the demon sword, I swung!
"Reaper Slash!"
-Slash!
Sword aura made of mana can cleave steel and sever impure beings.
Slightly different from Holy Enchantment, but with sword aura alone, I can easily chop up most monsters. Even the incomplete Andromalius got sliced by my blade.
That power, combined with my skill, produced the result: severing the demon sword.
-Clang!
My sword cleanly sliced through the demon sword's blade.
"Damn bitch! Your ambitions end here!"
As the severed blade fragment plummeted, I landed.
Oh, damn! That jump was insane!
I cleared meters of height and distance in one leap!
-Fwoosh!
-Thud!
-Thud thud!
At the same time, Winia's Fire Bolts fired in succession, colliding with the still-floating demon sword and exploding. I grabbed the fallen blade fragment and pulled back before the sparks hit.
"D-demon sword! A demon sword!!! I can't believe it!!!!!!!"
The man hiding behind the tree was practically rolling his eyes back in screams.
To a normal person, a demon sword would be shocking content. Even I was stunned—what chance does a regular farmer have at staying sane?
"Calm down! The demon sword's toast!"
"Demon swoooord!!!!!!!"
"Calm down!"
I smacked his shoulder to snap him out of it and yelled to stay hidden. Trembling, he buried his face at the tree base and sobbed.
"Cloudy! Winia! We're screwed, it's a demon sword!"
"Toss it, now!"
Winia freaked at the black blade fragment I held. This was our trophy for the church and proof of our mission success.
"Toss it?"
"Why'd you bring that, Ebby! Blackie idiot! Toss it first!"
"Is it dangerous?!"
I flung the blade fragment to the ground like trash. But then—black smoke billowed from it upon impact!
You squid bastard!
-Slash!
Luckily, Cloudy slashed before the smoke spread, whipping up a sword wind that dispersed it without a trace. Thought something was about to happen.
Even a demon sword's no match for sword aura.
"Demon sword... intriguing. Can we take it?"
"It's already in pieces."
"Still. First time seeing one like this. Does Risha know?"
Risha surprisingly doesn't know everything.
-Thud.
Anyway, the burning demon sword in the air lost power and fell. Whatever it was, we interrupted its contract fulfillment with the murderer—no recourse left for it.
Need to recover it...
"Blackie, Sis. Don't touch that for a sec. Heard demon swords invade your mind the moment you grab them... or something like that."
"Really? Even after I shattered it?"
"Still don't know."
"Got it."
Then we'll just inspect it.
We approached where the demon sword had fallen.
-Gurgle gurgle.
A bizarre sight unfolded.
The demon sword, severed at the waist. From the cut surface, black liquid gushed like oil, pooling into a puddle. Looked just like demon blood.
Is this demon sword part of the demon kin?
"Winia? Are all demon swords like demons?"
"Dunno... Probably various types. Gotta check books."
"Fair enough."
Swords vary wildly—why not demon swords?
"Looks ordinary. Possessed by a demon? Or a demon turned sword?"
Cloudy eyed the demon sword with keen interest.
"Bleeding like that, maybe just a demon shaped like a sword."
The demon sword itself looked rugged. Rugged meant practical design—ordinary, except for the pitch-black color.
Winia stood guard a few steps away. I pondered with Cloudy what to do with it.
"Hmm... Gotta take it, but awkward to hold."
As Winia said, grabbing the hilt might drive us mad like that murderer.
How to transport it?
No holy water on hand either.
"Katt, what about that blade piece earlier?"
"Oh, just tossed it and came."
So much unknown.
Back home, research demon swords thoroughly. Ask Risha or Karin, or hit the library.
Anyway, I closely examined the sword spewing black fluid. Cloudy got bored midway and went to check the fragment.
"Fucking bastard."
If this vanishes too, we're in deep shit. With the serial killer's body gone, no proof of mission success.
Only witness is that trembling guy—won't cut it for rewards or village trust.
Gotta secure it somehow.
"Hm?"
Then it happened.
Something rippled on the surface of the black puddle—like an illusion.
No, not illusion? Looking closely while alert, the reflection on the surface was... some eerie background.
What the?
Thought to poke with my sword—
-Flash!
"Wh-what?! Fuuuuck!!!"
My vision went black instantly.
* * * "...Where's this?"
Vision flickered briefly. Darkness swirled for a moment, then surroundings lit up. But not sunlight—some eerie lighting.
I stood alone in some space.
"Real space... no."
Unreal space.
Scanning sharply with honed senses. Odd place. Black floor, orange light shining from above.
Like stepping into a dark alley at midnight and an old streetlamp flicking on.
"...?"
-Swords.
-Blades.
Innumerable swords stabbed into the ground around me—all pitch-black. Decorated like this, someone's collection?
Shifting gaze while inspecting, a sofa-like thing ahead.
"..."
What now?
Feels like the demon sword's mental attack. This surreal sensation proves it—like when Hildegaard mixed her dream into mine via Dream-Link.
-Step step.
I approached the sofa.
-Flicker.
Walking, the floating orange lights above blinked. Darkness and light repeating. When the light reignited, anomaly struck.
"Heh, heh heh. Heh heh ha ha ha ha."
A black figure sat on the sofa.
Black skin. Horns on head, devil tail behind—proving it a demon. It sat arrogantly, laughing grotesquely.
"Welcome, human. You splendidly interrupted just as I reclaimed my power."
"You?"
"I am Vuigal, demon of the sword."
"Vuigal? You pulled me here?"
"Indeed. Sharp one."
-Clap clap clap clap clap!
"Ha ha ha. Ha, heh heh ha ha ha ha."
Fiercely clapping, it laughed mockingly again. Its mouth split wide, revealing countless teeth and long tongue. Purely demonic.
"Why laugh so much? You... laughter evangelist?"
"Ha ha ha... No idea what you mean."
Anyway, this guy's the demon sword.
"You wield a sword well. No interest in higher realms? I can give you the power all humans crave."
"..."
It tempted with confident tongue.
"My authority elevates sword talents. Greater skill yields greater power. Felt walls in training? Someone to surpass? Jealous of others' talents? Offer fitting tribute, gain desired power without side effects. You seem most fitting."
Wonder if these guys always use the same script.
Hard to fall for such temptation, but more gullible fools than you'd think.
-Offer tribute for great power.
No bone-shattering training or life-risking battles needed—easier path to surpassing strength.
Irresistible temptation.
"No long talk. To avoid death, contract with m—"
"—Shut up!"
I smashed Asura Blood Murder Chestnut on the demon's head.
-Crack!
"Gehk!"
Its skull caved, eyes popping out.