Chapter 163
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: Clearing the Tomb of Swords
A powerful flash of blue light—Melissa's sword energy—repeatedly struck the starlight swirling around me. The faint starlight, which looked as if it would shatter at a touch, perfectly blocked the lightning-fast blue sword energy.
Lost in a trance-like state, I scattered starlight all around me. Through the movements of my sword, I defended against all external threats.
An eternity in my mind, perhaps only a few seconds in reality, had passed.
When I stopped my swordplay, the starlight still lingered around me.
There was no longer a need to aim directly at my opponent.
[Sword Barrier: Launch]
*Fwoosh!*
I swung my sword with force. The starlight that had been hovering around me instantly scattered, spreading in all directions and beginning to shred everything in its path.
*Kwakwakwakwakwa—!!!*
Melissa's apparition was swept away by the gale of starlight.
"Hah."
I placed a hand on my chest, calming my pounding heart.
[Sword Barrier]
[Invincible while casting (Cooldown: 1 minute)]
[Sword Barrier: Launch]
[Follow-up to Sword Barrier]
[Unleashes a powerful slash in a 30m circular area centered on the caster]
The first stationary invincibility skill for a Swordsman, the first area-wide skill.
This made it certain.
The skills that users would obtain at the end of the tower—or at least, the skills for Swordsman users—were being created based on my techniques.
While all ranged classes possessed stationary invincibility skills, melee classes had none. The only invincibility skill usable without a target was ‘Backward Evasion.’ ‘Counterattack’ couldn't be used without a target.
Charge-type skills like the Fighter's ‘Dragon Fist’ and the Swordsman's ‘Flash Strike’ did have invincibility frames, but the window was extremely short and they had a recovery delay, making them difficult to use intentionally unless you were someone like me.
But the new ‘Sword Barrier’ was different.
It could be used without conditions, without a target, while standing still. While casting, it blocked all attacks. And, the sword energy used for defense could be unleashed as an attack.
A perfect union of offense and defense.
Astria Online’s ‘Skill System’ activated the moment you decided to use it. Other players would likely be able to use this for temporary invincibility. However, the launch was my unique technique. To unleash slashes, you had to physically move the sword to leave a trajectory of sword energy.
In game terms, it was like a command skill. It could be activated instantly with a hotkey, but inputting the command would transform it into a more powerful technique.
Had I regained my past strength?
No, my past self could not do this.
I clenched my fist tightly.
"I've grown stronger."
Stronger than my past self.
This time, I had finally made the teachings of Melissa, a woman who had transcended time and space, completely my own.
After briefly savoring the afterglow of my epiphany, I quickly turned my head.
The battle was over.
What about Melissa's apparition?
Swept away by my sword energy, Melissa had ceased all movement, still enveloped in a blue aura of light.
[Ancient Swordsman ■■■]
*Woong.*
[Ancient Swordsman ‘Melissa’]
The nameplate interface changed, and her name was etched upon it.
I gave a bright smile to my companion, who had reclaimed her name.
Now, it's goodbye again.
Melissa's apparition was shrouded in a halo of light.
Her lips.
Parted.
—Rain.
“...!”
—Rain, Rain, Rain.
“Ah...?”
I just stood there dumbfounded, letting out a faint sound.
Why?
This tower was built by the Roeid family before Melissa and I had ever met.
The Melissa here should be the one from before she met me.
So why does the Melissa here...
know my name?
—Rain, where did you go? My little fledgling.
Was Melissa alive?
Even after I left this world?
But, I was certain.
“Sister, Melissa...!”
I screamed, reaching out my hand as I approached the light.
I couldn't touch her. My hand passed through the empty space where the apparition of Melissa, her role fulfilled, stood.
—Why, why did Rain disappear, and I remain?
—Everything I've done until now was for you, to make you happy.
—I want to believe you're not dead. I want to believe you returned to the world of your past life, the one you used to speak of as if in a dream.
—But this is as far as I go.
—For the you who will one day return, I'll use the last of my strength to remain as myself and leave a message here.
—Rain, if, if you have returned to this world.
—For the sake of the Astria Continent you loved.
—The me who is consumed by demonic energy, who will seal herself in the eastern gorge.
The me consumed by demonic energy.
The soul of a knight who was a master in life, tainted by demonic energy.
A Death Knight.
A fallen knight.
A lingering desire for a higher realm. Unfinished business in this world. A dense demonic aura. Those things turn them into Death Knights. The demonic energy swirling around the Demon King's castle where we last fought was more than enough to raise a dead knight.
But for Melissa's noble soul to become a Death Knight?
Did she have that much lingering regret tying her to this world?
Her regret, her unfinished business, was...
"Me."
I fell to my knees.
*
Our now-familiar home, Chris's and mine.
From the terrace of the penthouse, the balcony offered a clear view of the outside.
The landscape of a large, artificial city, and the massive river cutting through it.
It was raining.
The sounds from outside, blocked by the window, were barely audible.
I stared blankly down at the rainy scenery of Seoul.
"Rain."
A familiar, warm hand rested on my head.
Chris had appeared beside me at some point.
In contrast to the harsh rain outside, a quiet moment flowed between us.
Before I knew it, words seemed to tumble out of my mouth.
"Do you think... I should keep playing Astria Online?"
“...”
Chris didn't answer my question.
To be honest, even I didn't know why I had said such a thing.
After a period of silence, Chris, who had been studying my expression, finally spoke.
"You didn't get hurt today, did you? Hmm, looking at you, you seem to be okay today."
"My body is fine."
I clutched my chest.
My body is fine.
So why does it hurt here?
How long did Melissa wander?
Fighting against the demonic energy consuming her soul, unable to find rest, battling the voices in her head telling her to destroy the world—how many long years did she fight?
All just to find me.
To find me, whose very existence had vanished from the world.
Believing I wasn't dead.
"Was I wrong?"
I had despaired and run away.
The gulf between dimensions is deep.
A thousand years is a long time.
Should I not have left?
If I had stayed there, would I have been able to meet Melissa again?
Even if not in her living form.
"Rain."
Chris's calm voice echoed in my ear.
"I've seen you cry while playing Astria Online, but I haven't seen you cry here, have I? A-ahem. On second thought, there was that one time you were drunk... well, anyway!"
“...?”
"It's okay to cry."
Chris smiled brightly.
I lowered my head.
I can't hide my true feelings in front of Chris.
She must have read the undeniable sorrow in my eyes.
Cry, and then what?
There's no one to blame.
Just the cruel reality to swallow.
The duty of the Hero.
I felt it in the past, too, but it's too heavy a burden for someone as weak as me.
Does being a Hero mean you have to cut down your own comrades if it's for the sake of saving the world?
"What in the world is making Rain's heart ache so much?"
“...”
"Will you be okay?"
"...I don't know."
I really don't know.
"It just feels like everything is so unfair, only to me."
I complained like a child.
"You won't leave my side, will you, Chris?"
"I won't."
"You absolutely can't. I won't forgive you if you do."
"I'm not going anywhere. Ever."
The person who made it possible for me to live again, when I had lost everything and was on the verge of being consumed by the world.
The person who gave me the strength to move forward.
*Snuggle.*
Chris pulled my head into an embrace.
In her arms, I wept in silence.
*
Finally, today.
*Wooooong.*
The seal on the Celestial Basin in Erin's Gorge had been broken.
I saw many familiar faces around. Members of the Red and White guild, members of Skada's attack squad. Everyone gathered here was filled with anticipation for the new dungeon.
Skada glanced my way, gave a slight smile, and nodded. I bowed my head in return.
Then, I lightly licked my lips.
After returning to this world, I thought I would no longer get involved with people. I had resolved not to make any more comrades.
But now, I've formed quite a few bonds. Besides Chris and the Red and White guild members, there's our cute Swordsman newbie, Nagi, and the excellent squad leader and Mage, Skada.
Is the only thing left of my solo player identity the fact that I challenge elite and raid dungeons alone?
The vanguard parties began to disappear into the dungeon one by one.
"Rain."
Chris, standing with Beimerung, Death of Death, and Cherni, took my hand.
"Yes."
"Alone again this time?"
"Of course."
I grinned.
Thanks to Chris, I had found the courage to face others once more.
For her sake, I must bid farewell to my past, along with the duty of the Hero.
To live happily not as ‘Rain,’ but as ‘Iseulbi.’
That is what Igraine wished for.
And probably Melissa, too.
Her form disappeared into the basin.
Now alone, I stood still, gazing at the entrance to the valley leading to the Celestial Basin.
The identity of the second Corps Commander, the Eastern Corps Commander, was now certain.
A Death Knight that was once Melissa.
I will face it.
As an enemy that must be defeated.
The elite dungeon before me is just a path I must cross.
Beyond this, I will reach Melissa's side.
*Woong.*
As I crossed the threshold of the valley, my body was enveloped in a strange sense of floating.
[Entry Level: 53]
[Elite Dungeon (4-person party recommended)]
[Celestial Basin]