Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Holy Sword Excalibur
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"Cawwww!"
A crow perched on a withered old tree cawed ominously.
The taboo land most shunned by the empire's citizens.
On the outskirts of the capital, Dead Man's Forest Cemetery.
A place shrouded in thick fog that never lifted through all four seasons, permeated with a damp chill that pierced straight to the bones.
Even seasoned grave robbers had long since turned away from this realm of death.
Whoosh.
A cold wind sliced through the fog, brushing cheeks, and Eris, the girl trailing behind, shuddered violently.
She clutched her patched leather armor as if it might rip apart.
Of course, what she was really gripping tight was the heavy pouch of gold coins tucked safely in the inner pocket.
"Um, excuse me... Thug Uncle?"
Eris called out in a quivering voice.
White breath escaped her lips on its own.
"What."
"You said we were going to get weapons, so why come to the cemetery? Don't tell me you're actually a grave robber..."
"Something like that."
Darcor answered flatly.
"The master's sleeping, so I gotta wake him up."
"M-Master's sleeping? Here in the cemetery?"
Eris's face drained of color.
The more terrified she grew, the tighter she squeezed the gold pouch.
Darcor glanced at her desperate expression and smirked.
'About time...'
The first trial that awakened the hero Luke in the novel.
The place where the holy sword Excalibur lay dormant was right here.
Step. Step.
The fog thickened until not even an inch ahead was visible.
Finally, their footsteps halted at the cemetery's remotest corner.
An abandoned grave overrun with weeds, the tombstone's shape unrecognizable.
A shabby, weathered stone stood precariously, blanketed in moss.
Seeker, do not covet. Do not awaken. What you seek is not here. Sinister warning words.
'It's here.'
That's why Darcor was certain.
In the original story, Luke had trained relentlessly day and night for months in the cemetery to overcome the grief of losing his family.
A legendary scene where his sincerity and tears touched the heavens, causing the firmly sealed door to open on its own.
A heart-stirring part that squeezed tears from readers.
A masterpiece you couldn't watch without shedding tears.
'Heart-stirring my ass. I'm swamped as it is.'
But Darcor had no time for that.
What he needed now wasn't some touching drama.
"Kid, step back."
"Huh? What are you gonna... Aaaah!"
💥 BOOM! 💥 Darcor kicked the tombstone without a second thought.
A heavy roar echoed as the stone, which had stood for decades, shattered and scattered everywhere.
"A-Are you insane? Why kick someone else's grave! What if you get cursed?"
"Cursed my ass. That was just knocking."
Darcor grinned calmly, brushing off the dust.
"Gotta do it rough to wake him. This guy's got heavy ears."
Rumble.
The earth screamed and trembled.
Beneath the shattered tombstone.
A bluish chill surged from the cracked crevice.
The surrounding fog froze solid in an instant, and an overwhelming murderous intent choked the air, blanketing the cemetery.
Whoosh!
A pillar of blue flames erupted skyward.
A massive shadow slowly emerged from the blaze.
A giant knight clad in rusted plate armor.
But no head sat atop the neck where one should be.
Instead, flickering blue flames danced in its place, proclaiming his identity.
Death Knight Dullahan.
Guardian of the holy sword. Disaster that had sent countless intruders to hell.
[Who dares.]
A grotesque voice shredded eardrums.
[To disturb my rest.]
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Scraaaape.
As the Dullahan dragged his massive greatsword across the ground, a spine-chilling sound reverberated.
"P-Please, spare me!"
Faced with this unprecedented overwhelming presence, Eris's legs buckled, and she collapsed.
Even breathing felt impossible.
A whole different league—the raw terror of death.
She knew it instinctively.
That thing wasn't for humans to face.
[Greedy fool. Die.]
The Dullahan hoisted the greatsword high.
Blue aura raged along the blade, as if ready to freeze space itself.
Eris squeezed her eyes shut.
'Mom... sorry. Guess I'm going out like this over some greed for cash.'
The instant death loomed before her.
Claaang—
A dull thud shattered the silence.
The expected pain never came.
"Huh?"
When Eris timidly opened her eyes.
She doubted her own vision.
An impossible scene.
The Dullahan's massive greatsword, swung down.
The knight's killing blow.
Darcor had caught it barehanded.
[...]
The Dullahan's greatsword hung frozen mid-air.
The blue flames flickering in the armor churned wildly.
[A being that shouldn't exist... What are you?]
An otherworldly aura.
Blocking a sword with mere human flesh.
"What else."
Darcor's red eyes gleamed coldly.
"The guy here to help you move on."
Woooong.
Red battle spirit erupted from Darcor's body like an explosion.
⚡ SKILL ACTIVATED ⚡ Tyrant's Intimidation Forcibly suppresses the target.
Crack. Craaaack!
Cracks spiderwebbed across the Dullahan's greatsword.
[Th-This bastard!]
The knight strained desperately to yank the sword free, but Darcor's grip held firm.
"Hand it over."
Darcor tilted his head, voice low.
"While I'm asking nicely."
[Grooo...]
"The thing you're squatting on."
Shatter!
The greatsword's blade exploded into shards.
Weaponless, the knight stumbled back.
In that split second.
Darcor closed in, seized the Dullahan's collar, and hoisted him up.
"Why scare the kid? Not very mature."
[You... you dare, against the guardian!]
"Guardian my foot."
Darcor slammed the knight into the ground without mercy.
Booom.
[Groooaaargh.]
The earth cratered, dust billowing.
The Death Knight Dullahan sprawled pathetically.
"Wh-What the hell is this guy?"
Eris gaped, mouth agape.
A human throttling and slamming a Death Knight.
Where did such a thug even exist?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Darcor ignored the downed knight entirely, eyes shifting to the pit he'd guarded.
He rolled up his sleeves and dug into the dirt mound.
"Lemme see. Should be around here."
"Wh-What are you doing now?"
"Can't you tell? Pulling the holy sword."
Soon, an ornate antique coffin surfaced from the earth.
Darcor wrenched the lid off without pause.
Creeeak.
Dust cleared, revealing the interior.
No corpse—just a sword plunged inside.
Golden hilt, pristine white scabbard.
A holy sword radiating noble light even in darkness.
⚔ HOLY SWORD EXCALIBUR ⚔ "Found ya, you rascal."
Finally.
A satisfied smile curved Darcor's lips.
He beckoned to dazed Eris.
"Kid. Come pull it."
"Eh? M-Me?"
Eris recoiled in shock.
"Wh-What if something goes wrong? He tried to kill me earlier!"
Her eyes flicked to the corner.
The Death Knight, cratered on the ground, crouched and finger-scribbled on the dirt.
— Death Knight's Scribble These young ones nowadays have no manners. End times, end times... Thoroughly thrashed, the knight drooped pitifully.
Utterly dejected.
Darcor shrugged brazenly.
"It's cool. He actually wants someone to take it. Just grumpy from the long wait."
Eris gulped dryly.
"Hurry and pull. No time."
The fearsome Death Knight.
And the even scarier thug uncle.
Eris edged toward the pit cautiously.
Holy Sword Excalibur gleamed brilliantly before her.
Enchanted by the sacred glow, her hand extended slowly.
Tap.
The instant her fingertips met the cold hilt.
Zing.
A thrilling jolt surged through her body.
Like reuniting with a lost half—an inescapable tug of destiny.
She gripped the hilt with both hands firmly.
"Hup!"
With a heave, she yanked.
The steadfastly embedded sword slid free smoothly, like a lie.
Shiiiing.
Dazzling light turned the night sky to noon.
A holy pillar banished the darkness, towering grandly at the cemetery's heart.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The true master has taken hold of the holy sword. The grand, moving birth of a hero.
Darcor nodded approvingly, arms crossed.
'Plan's on track.'
Now just rampage the battlefield with the holy sword and lop off those Daroa scum's heads.
That was the plan.
[Aaaaack!]
A tearing scream burst from the holy sword.
"Eek! Wh-What was that..."
Eris nearly dropped it in fright.
The blade quivered.
A voice brimming with annoyance and complaint spilled out.
[Hey, don't you ever moisturize? Hands so rough.]
"Huh?"
[Rough, way too rough! The last guy had silk-smooth hands. Eugh, calluses. Gross.]
The sword shuddered in disgust.
[And why're you so short? You a kid?]
Darcor pressed his forehead, a forgotten fact resurfacing.
'Right, this thing...'