Chapter 273
Chapter 273
Chapter 273
Epilogue (2)
"You rascal! Where are you, you brat!"
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Along with the sound of furniture being overturned, a middle-aged noble's shouts echoed through the mansion.
"M-Master! Please calm down!"
The butler and maids employed at the mansion desperately tried to restrain the noble.
But the middle-aged noble showed no signs of calming down at all.
"In just a little while, there will be Count's succession ceremony... and he... he couldn't wait for that and ran away!"
The noble's name was Reagan Retsutain, Baron.
He was the lord of the tiny Retsutain territory attached like a mouse tail to the corner of the eastern Iskar region of the Morian Empire, and a father suffering headaches because of his one and only child.
"Of all people... when the master of Iskar is changing...!"
Golden Lion Calline von Iskar.
About 7 years ago, he was the war hero who single-handedly blocked an invasion of as many as 100,000 from the Kingdom of Rohans using only Iskar's strength.
Even before that war, he had been famous as Iskar's scoundrel, but from the war onward, he was said to have completely changed as a person.
And now he had risen to become the undeniable heir to the next Count of Iskar territory, and someone who commanded universal respect through his excellent character.
Moreover, following in the footsteps of Lion Hearts Derrick Winhousen who had reached the Master realm, he had pioneered the highest level of Sword Expert realm and was making his name known throughout the Morian Empire as a distinguished knight.
Skill, character, and status too.
Calline was someone who would undoubtedly stand at the very front if you gathered all the eligible bachelors from across the empire, and he was also an idol and goal for countless knight aspirants.
"My grand plan to make a strong impression on that person at this succession ceremony and then send that boy to Nevan Academy...!"
It was said that scoundrel Calline's complete transformation began after he attended the Maha Empire Academy in the capital Nevan.
As Calline's stock rose, the Academy's evaluation also skyrocketed along with it, and Baron Reagan had struggled to the point of nearly uprooting his family's foundation to send his son to that academy.
But...
But...!
Before he could even bear the fruit of all that preparation and hardship, his son, who was properly hit by adolescent rebellion, couldn't wait and ran away!
"Bring that brat Abel back right now!"
The baron's desperate cry echoed throughout every corner of the mansion.
***
"Phew, finally escaped."
A young man just over twenty whistles as he walks across the earth.
The jingling sound of money around his waist made the young man's mood soar.
Reasonably high-quality traveler's clothing and a pure white sword at his waist.
Plus a reasonably handsome face to boot!
Wasn't this perfect as the start of an adventure that would embody the 'romance' of a fantasy world!
"Great weather! Perfect for adventuring!"
Actually, even though he was from a provincial noble family, he was still a noble.
He lacked nothing materially, and the life of being revered by those around him wasn't bad either.
Well, among the nearby noble families, his family's influence was lacking, so he couldn't hold his shoulders high at young nobles' gatherings, but... for Lee Geon-ung, such things weren't a big problem.
Lee Geon-ung, or rather Abel, felt that the biggest problem was that life was too boring.
Even though this was a fantasy world where Sword Masters existed, and magic, psychic powers, and spirits were real...
In a rural place like Retsutain territory, the possibility of actually encountering such supernatural abilities was very, very low.
Even Abel himself had only encountered magic once in real life, when he accompanied his father the baron to visit the main castle of Iskar.
There was no internet, no online games, and no entertaining ball sports like soccer or basketball to watch either.
He was evaluated as having talent for swordsmanship, but the current era was truly peaceful...
In the midst of this, the pure white goddess who descended before Abel's eyes whispered to him.
-Take this sword and set off on an adventure.
The one who handed Abel the pure white holy sword called 'Grandia' was a beautiful goddess named 'Medaiel'.
Abel trembled at the sacred power contained in that sword and shouted:
-I see! The world is about to face a crisis soon!
-Huh? That, that's...
-You're telling me to set off on adventures with this sword, build up my strength, and save the world!
-...
For some reason, the goddess didn't answer.
Furthermore, she was looking down with a somewhat subtle expression.
But Abel, who was insensitive to others' reactions, didn't pay much attention to the goddess's expression.
After all, there was no way such a holy sword would be given to him without any particular reason.
-Watch carefully, Goddess! The process of me becoming this era's hero!
-Ah, yes. In the name of Medaiel, god of order, I pray that blessings will be upon your future.
As if something was urgent, the goddess hurriedly turned away and disappeared somewhere.
While disappearing, there were mutterings close to lamenting her fate like "I did as I was told, so don't blame me anymore..." or "Castor will be troublesome again, how should I respond...?" but...
...Abel paid no attention at all!
The holy sword's enchanting appearance had stolen his gaze!
Thus, after obtaining the holy sword Grandia, Abel began establishing a plan to run away from this tedious life!
***
Actually, even though the Iskar region had few monsters and mostly flat terrain, it wasn't usually easy for an ordinary person who hadn't received any special training to travel alone for ten days.
But Abel possessed the body that had occupied the protagonist's position even in , which was evaluated as having that hopeless worldview.
His talent potential was truly called the strongest in history.
After wandering around energetically for about ten days like that, Abel discovered the entrance to an old ruin in the corner of some mountainous region and cheered.
"I smell... adventure!"
An old ruin that seemed to have been abandoned for a very long time.
But contrary to what his instincts warned, no threatening monsters or death-dealing traps appeared.
"Hmm, it seems completely abandoned..."
Abel continued moving inward while not letting his guard down.
And... At the end, he discovered a jet-black sword.
'...A demon sword!'
That jet-black blade contrasting with the pure white Grandia.
And the dense concentration of demonic energy emanating subtly!
He wondered why such a high-level demon sword existed in this abandoned place rather than in an ancient dungeon, but...
'Is this what they call a fateful encounter?'
Whatever the case, if he could properly handle that demon sword, his capabilities would surely improve dramatically!
Just as Abel was about to reach out to the demon sword's handle.
"Don't touch it."
Somehow having tracked him from behind, a clear woman's voice was heard from the rear.
"...Who's there!"
Abel quickly withdrew his hand and drew Grandia while taking a stance toward the rear.
"...Huh, what?"
Abel was flustered when he confirmed the other party's identity.
The one who appeared before Abel's eyes, cutting through the darkness, was a tremendous beauty with impressive purple hair!
'An, an incredible beauty!'
She had slightly sharp eyes, but was an impressive woman with a charisma that couldn't be seen in ordinary noble ladies.
And it wasn't just her.
Behind her, another beauty with impressive, voluptuous emerald color appeared!
"...My goodness!"
The woman with a slightly languid impression who looked like a kind older sister gave the completely opposite impression from the previous purple-haired woman.
'A true heroine!'
Abel realized his face had reddened and hurriedly shook his head.
"If you grab that sword, you'll have your body and mind dominated by the demon king sleeping inside the sword. That would make things quite complicated."
"...On what grounds can you guarantee that?"
Abel's expression hardened.
Regardless of the other party's beautiful appearance, the words themselves couldn't be ignored.
At Abel's questioning, the purple-haired woman smiled faintly.
"I can only say... experience."
"...Experience?"
"That sword's owner is predetermined. If you rashly ignore my words, you'll face great trouble."
"..."
Abel realized the other party's words weren't just empty threats.
"Fine, alright. I'll trust what you say."
More than anything, it was a possible choice because his interest in the suddenly appeared person was much greater than his interest in the demon sword.
But...
"Huh? What, you were already here? I thought it would take a bit longer..."
When a young man's voice suddenly came from even further behind them, Abel's expression hardened.
"You're late, Rudian."
"Sorry, sorry. Evan kept trying not to let me go..."
Toward the young man scratching the back of his head with an awkward voice, the emerald-colored woman pouted her lips.
"He's the type who acts spoiled endlessly when you indulge him, you know? You need to be a bit more firm."
"Still, he's taking over the denomination work instead of me, so I can't say that."
At those words, the woman's expression became slightly sulky.
"Rebecca can't move because of prenatal care either... sigh, we who gave birth first are the sinners..."
"Ma, Maria!"
Enjoying Rudian's pale expression, Maria began humming and muttering.
"I heard there's a nice restaurant in Farel..."
"I'll finish work quickly and escort you there, my lady."
"We're fairly high-level personnel, so it won't end with just once, right?"
"Of course!"
Rudian, who instantly became a servant, imitated the loyalty oath that knights commonly made.
"Gi, giving birth? Su, surely...!"
And Abel, who heard all this conversation near them, was shocked.
"She was married!"
That face, that figure, and she's married? And she's even had children?
Even at Abel's shock, the purple-haired woman, Luciella, calmly replied.
"That's right, but?"
"Th, this is fraud!"
Abel's gaze immediately turned to Rudian.
Abel, with his sharp mind, realized from reading between the lines of the conversation that those 'two' weren't all there were.
"...Four people?"
At Abel's expression as if he was going crazy, Rudian awkwardly nodded.
"Well, it just happened somehow...?"
"Enemy of men!"
Abel leaped from his spot and rushed at Rudian.
Then he swung Grandia down at Rudian's head.
"This is the share of all men in this world!"
Since he struck with the flat of the blade, it wouldn't kill him, but since he had subtly infused it with magic, it would still hurt quite a bit!
But...
THUD!
Abel's full-strength strike was blocked by a single finger that Rudian extended.
"Now, now, I understand your feelings, but calm down."
"...!"
Abel looked at Rudian with an expression as if his soul was leaving his body.
Although the amount of magic wasn't much, the speed itself was at a level that would be absolutely impossible for an ordinary person to react to.
And he didn't just dodge it but precisely blocked it with a single finger!
'An incredible expert!'
Leaving such Abel behind, Rudian slipped past him and headed toward the demon sword Diablo.
"Sigh, the seal is completely makeshift too. No wonder demonic energy is rampant around here."
"So that's why the demon realm has been so quiet all along - it was being restored this way..."
"That guy Uriel definitely didn't tell us to mess with us. I guarantee it."
Rudian grabbed Diablo's hilt with an indifferent expression.
And...
CRASH! CRASH! CRASH! CRASH!
Tremendous demonic energy that shook heaven and earth enveloped Rudian and began soaring straight up to the sky.
"Da, dangerous!"
Abel finally understood the meaning of the warning Luciella had given him.
If one were bathed in such demonic energy, unless they were a god, there was no way they'd be safe!
But...
When that pillar of demonic energy subsided, in its center was still Rudian's figure, standing while holding the demon sword.
GULP!
Abel tensed up.
Having been bathed in that much demonic energy, as long as he was human, there was no way he'd be fine.
'Perhaps a demon that never existed in the world might be born...'
That thought was instantly deflated by a single complaint that popped out of Rudian's mouth.
"Ah, damn...! You little bastard, just because I was a bit late, you curse so colorfully... What kind of demon king is so good at cursing? No, maybe he's good at it because he's a demon king?"
"He, he's fine?"
How many times was he going to be surprised today?
There was no sign of being tainted by demonic energy, and the demonic energy that had been spewing ominous energy was now quietly sleeping like a shy bride on her wedding night.
Rudian, who had retrieved Diablo, turned his gaze to Abel.
"Hey."
"Yes, yes!"
Abel, who had instantly become docile, answered stiffly like a new recruit meeting a drill instructor.
"Do you want to go on adventures?"
"...!"
Abel's pupils dilated greatly.
Regardless of why the other party knew that keyword, an answer naturally popped out of Abel's mouth without any particular thought.
"Yes."
"Then... would you like to follow me for a while? Considering the next place we're planning to visit, it should be quite a good adventure."
"..."
As a man, he felt resistance to following that damned enemy of men, but...
The excitement of adventure attracted Abel's attention much more than that.
"Where do you mean?"
"The demon realm autonomous region, Tartaros."
"...Gasp!"
The place of trade between the demon realm and the middle world established in the northern part of the continent about 5 years ago.
However, while it was called a place of trade, due to its establishment period it was politically very unstable, and since its location was almost at the northernmost tip of the continent, it was treated as an otherworldly realm by the public.
Rudian grinned and said:
"It is indeed dangerous for ordinary people because demons swarm nearby, but... for guys like you, if you can survive, it's also a place where dramatic improvement in skills is possible. Actually, I designed it that way targeting adventurer specials."
"You designed it that way?"
No information about the nation that established Tartaros or the person who led it was circulating in the world.
It was truly the most classified of classified information, with all nations participating in information control.
And now, the very person responsible was standing before Abel's eyes.
"How about it, doesn't it whet your appetite?"
"..."
Rudian extended his hand.
And Abel stared blankly at that hand for a while.
"Surely, that's not all there is?"
"Of course not."
Rudian chuckled at Abel's almost reckless appearance.
"As the world is being 'restored'... there are things that need to be dealt with scattered everywhere. You'll probably get to taste unforgettable thrills."
Restored?
Abel tilted his head at the incomprehensible words, but that didn't seem to be the important thing...
"Alright, following you will make life very interesting."
CLAP!
Abel grasped Rudian's hand.
"Then before going to the demon realm autonomous region, shall we clear just one dungeon?"
At Rudian's words, Abel's expression immediately brightened.
"Great! Where is this dungeon?"
At that moment, Rudian made an expression as if recalling some distant past, then...
"A place where one annoying black-eyed bastard sleeps. I have a strong feeling it should be around."
He broke into the brightest smile and burst into laughter.
《》 ends