Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Empire's Sword
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"Anyway, with the story more or less wrapped up, let's finally give in to Mitra's wishes and do some arm-pillow cuddling."
[I never asked for that.]
"Yeah, sure, let's pretend you did."
[Hmph.]
Mitra huffed indignantly, but she didn't leave Cheon-ho's embrace.
She wriggled around a bit before settling into the perfect position, then whispered to him.
[Tomorrow's going to be busy too. We've got to visit Bergaf's lab.]
"Yeah. And eastern scouting."
[Right. So let's get some sleep. Good night, my hero.]
"Good night, Mitra."
Mitra closed her eyes, and Cheon-ho did the same.
Leaning against each other, they drifted into a deep sleep without either one falling asleep first.
&
[Rigid Lv3]
[Diligent Lv7]
[Loyal Lv8]
[Hero's Sword Lv10]
[Hero's Eye Lv1]
[Endurance Boost Lv1]
[Strength Boost Lv1]
[Recovery Magic Lv1]
[Chain Thunder Expansion: Doubles the maximum number of enemies Chain Thunder can target.]
Chapter 9: Empire's Sword
The man and the woman were in different places.
Phaien.
To the man, it was a world of swords and magic. A second home, one might say.
The man had spent over ten years in Phaien.
From a bright-eyed seventeen-year-old boy to a weathered thirty-year-old man—no, young man.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he'd traveled the whole time during those not-at-all-short years.
He'd visited many places and met many people. The connections he'd built were like mountains.
The man was heading toward the place called the Holy Kingdom.
A nation that had risen to become the continent's strongest power under his own influence.
The Holy King of the Holy Kingdom treated the man like an older brother, and as the Holy King's sworn brother, the man held the rank of grand duke.
'Come to think of it, I wonder if she's doing well.'
Gazing at the Blue Gate, which could be called the gateway to the Holy Kingdom, the man suddenly thought of a certain woman.
Back when he'd first arrived in Phaien.
She was the woman who had taught him so much when he knew nothing.
Without her, he wouldn't be who he was today.
As an immortal elf, her appearance would surely be unchanged, but still, had things stayed exactly the same?
'I hope she's doing well.'
His first love, his first teacher, his first companion—the fairy girl.
Passing through the Blue Gate where he'd first met her, the man lost himself in memories for a moment.
* * *
While the man reminisced about old times on his way to the capital, the woman was heading toward the place where she was born and raised—the place the man often called her parents' home.
The tower that touched the horizon was visible even from afar.
The tallest tower on the continent.
The greatest mage tower.
A tower that no one had ever conquered since it was built—and the man had conquered it.
And then, to top it all off?
"Hmm."
The woman's face flushed faintly as she stopped for a moment and cleared her throat. She didn't want the mage tower's residents to see her like this.
To them, she was like a goddess.
The woman revealed the horns she'd been hiding. She unleashed the power she'd been holding back, fully manifesting her presence.
A golden aura like the sun radiated from her, and the overwhelming power transformed the entire area around her.
She took a steadying breath and stepped forward.
As if welcoming her, countless beings began gathering from afar.
From the weak magical beasts in the mage tower's lower levels to the mighty ones in the upper levels.
They were all her vassals.
* * *
Cheon-ho opened his eyes.
As expected, the familiar ceiling came into view.
"Hero, did you sleep well?"
Turning his head at the gentle voice right beside him, he saw Lucille.
Lying next to him as always, her beaming smile made the whole world brighten.
"Uh......"
Cheon-ho blinked first. Come to think of it, hadn't he fallen asleep in the bath last night?
"You must have been really tired. You fell asleep in the bath, so I moved you to bed."
"You did? Really?"
Moved him from the bath to bed?
"Uh, L-Lucille?"
"No, Orenol and the rock dwarves helped."
Lucille smiled brightly again.
"Hmm."
What should he say?
This weird mix of disappointment and relief.
"It's good that you're sleeping soundly these days."
Lucille said as she unfurled the wings that had been covering Cheon-ho.
It wasn't just that her power had grown stronger after becoming a 5th Rank Angel—the holy aura was intensely palpable.
'As expected of an angel.'
How could she be so kind, beautiful, and pure?
[Ahem. Did you sleep well, my hero?]
Just then, Mitra's voice rang out.
Kind and beautiful like Lucille, but not so pure—the holy sword.
[What? What do you mean?]
"Put your hand on your heart and think about it."
Cheon-ho whispered very quietly as he fully sat up in bed.
Thanks to sleeping so deeply, just as Lucille said, he felt refreshed.
"Thanks as always, Lucille."
"I'm your angel, Hero. Just tell me anything. I'll do my best to help."
Her adorable fist clenched tight—it was utterly lovable.
[My hero, I'm your holy sword too. If you need anything, just say it. I'll do my best to help.]
Mitra hurriedly chimed in.
But it felt plagiarized, so it wasn't as lovable as Lucille. Cute, though.
"Then from now on, cover up the jewel when I bathe."
[W-What? Why?]
"Hand on your heart again."
[Tch, that's cheating.]
"You're openly lewd now."
[N-No, I'm not lewd. If you want to cover the jewel, go ahead.]
Mitra flustered.
The Spear of Light was right after all.
A lewd, cute, sucker of a holy sword.
"Uh... Hero?"
"Oh, just talking to Mitra. Lost track of time."
"Oh, okay."
But why bring up lewd?
Lucille tilted her head curiously but didn't pry.
"Anyway, time to get up. Looks like we'll be busy from breakfast on."
"Yes, Hero."
Lucille rose from bed with her usual pretty response.
* * *
After washing his face with hot holy water, Cheon-ho headed to the dining hall.
As befitting the massive Sylphian Fortress, there were multiple dining halls, and the group plus Lucas were gathered in one.
"Hero, good morning!"
"Yes, Eizel. Sleep well?"
"Yes, Hero! And you?"
"Me too."
As Cheon-ho smiled and replied, Lucille standing beside him added,
"He slept soundly again today."
Lucille, who always worried because Cheon-ho didn't sleep well, seemed thrilled about his good rest, but Eizel was different.
"Y-You just... slept soundly yesterday too? Nothing happened?"
"Yeah, out like a light."
Lucille beamed innocently, and Eizel slumped her shoulders before looking up at Cheon-ho and murmuring softly.
"You're amazing."
In all sorts of ways.
To the point of inspiring awe.
"Hmm."
Cheon-ho struggled to keep a poker face, and for some reason, Mitra chuckled softly.
"Anyway, let's eat."
At Lucas's words from the head seat, the angels took their places.
[A feast fit for breakfast.]
Perhaps thanks to the feast that had raged all through last night, the spread was quite lavish.
Lucas said while eating roast chicken shredded finely.
"The support troops from Count Burk and Count Orlando should arrive this afternoon. We've repelled Bergaf's undead legion for now... but since the Winter King might invade the 8th floor, I plan to keep them tied down at Sylphian Fortress."
The news of Bergaf's defeat had already reached the marching support troops, but neither side had turned their armies around.
They needed to know exactly what had happened at Sylphian Fortress and whether the Winter King really might advance to the 8th floor.
"After breakfast, I'll head out for eastern scouting with the troops. Elriel will stay to assist you."
Saschiell said while eating a huge roast deer haunch.
They planned to scout as far as the pillar if possible, leveraging their high mobility.
"The God of Healing also said she'll reinforce the support troops. Mid-layer heroes and angels will gather at Sylphian Fortress."
Raguel said calmly as always.
Cheon-ho glanced at her anew and asked.
"How's the grimoire coming along?"
"I haven't examined it properly yet... but I think I can manage."
Her smile at the end looked a bit strained.
Using necromancy with an angel's body wasn't easy, it seemed.
"Sorry for asking too much."
"No, Hero. Compared to your efforts, it's nothing. I'll work harder. Don't worry."
Raguel smiled again.
Like Lucille, Raguel was a true angel of an angel.
[You're fighting for our world even though you're from another one. I'm grateful to you too.]
Strictly speaking, they were the ones summoning people living well in other worlds and asking them to fight.
In novels or comics, summoned heroes often acted shamelessly entitled, but the Labyrinth World's angels were different.
Come to think of it, the God of Healing was the same.
One of the top gods in the Labyrinth World, yet she'd never once ordered Cheon-ho.
When they met, she'd thanked him first, and even with the primordial forge and divine artifact searches, she'd asked rather than commanded.
'They've got principles.'
No wonder he wanted to help.
"But Mitra, you're plagiarizing a lot today."
[Hmm.]
Cheon-ho chuckled softly, patted Mitra's golden gem, and said to Lucas.
"Then after breakfast, I'll go look for Bergaf's lab."
"Bergaf's lab is pretty far north. The surrounding area's been laid waste, so it won't be easy to find."
[It's fine. I absorbed the magic sword Bergaf wielded for so long. If we get close, I can track his magical traces.]
Lucas nodded when Cheon-ho relayed Mitra's words.
"Then I'll mark the approximate location on the map."
Several decent-sized villages were nearby on the map.
Wizard labs were usually in remote areas, but Bergaf, who loved people and alcohol, had built his near villages, according to Lucas.
"I'll join you to investigate the wizard's lab."
It was natural for Raguel, the group's mage, to come along.
"Then I'll join for protection."
"I'll just tag along!"
Aurael followed by Eizel's bright words.
Cheon-ho nodded with a small smile.
"Then for the lab: me, Mitra, Lucille, Elriel, Raguel, Aurael, Eizel—the seven of us."
The combat angels led by Saschiell were heading for eastern scouting, so the rock dwarves would guard the home base.
"Alright. To introduce the support leaders, we'll prepare a banquet tonight, so don't be late."
"Understood."
With the discussion wrapped up, all that was left was eating.
After filling their bellies, the group left Sylphian Fortress.