Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: The Holy Sword and the White Dragon
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-Huu....
The demon sword let out a heavy sigh.
I felt like sighing myself at this, who knew how many times it was today.
They say yawns are contagious, but are sighs too?
It’ll still take a while to digest?
-Don’t nag me... It’ll be fine....
Looks like it really will take a while.
At this rate, it might not even be done digesting by the end of finals and summer break.
It was so confident before....
-Quiet down....
Sigh.
Nagging won’t suddenly make it digest faster, so I’ll just wait.
If it were something that could be solved overnight, I wouldn’t have worried in the first place.
Today I had plans with Leon anyway.
I left the dorm a bit early, and there he was, standing in front of the clock tower in the distance.
“What, you’re out this early?”
“Just got here.”
Leon replied lightly.
Just got here, my foot—he must’ve come out at least thirty minutes early.
We’re meeting twenty minutes before the appointed time right now.
Next time, I should schedule it thirty minutes later than I think.
That way, if I leave at the time I planned, I’ll meet Leon right on time.
If I don’t know, fine, but it’s obvious he comes thirty minutes early, so waiting until the appointed time feels awkward instead.
“More importantly, you’re in uniform even on the weekend.”
“You’re in uniform too.”
Leon replied calmly.
I have no choice since Theo didn’t prepare any other clothes, but Leon’s probably the same—though this guy would wear the uniform even if he had plain clothes.
“What’s up? Why’d you call me?”
“Oh, didn’t I say?”
“You just asked if I had time.”
“And you came running...”
“I won’t do anything weird.”
You like people too much.
At times like this, be a little suspicious.
It’s my fault for not explaining anyway, so I let it slide.
“Nothing big. We’re going to get your weapon.”
I think we made this promise last week.
To keep it, we set off from Esterro Academy.
5
“...How much farther are we climbing?”
“Almost there.”
“You said that an hour ago too.”
“......It’s only been three hours.”
Honestly, even I felt guilty saying it.
I grabbed a nearby tree trunk and climbed the steep mountain path.
I didn’t know mountain hiking would be this tough.
Should’ve just told him the location and rested at the dorm.
Regrets flooded in, but it was too late....
The place we’d come to was the Grace Mountains near the capital Eseth.
The terrain was rugged, so there wasn’t much human traffic.
Thanks to that, the paths were all beast trails, making them hard to climb.
Good thing I’d memorized the routes while playing the game.
Otherwise, we’d have hiked three more hours.
“Getting a weapon in a place like this mountain....”
“What, you don’t trust me?”
“That’s not it.”
Leon replied with a puzzled look.
Who’d believe you could get a weapon from a mountain, honestly?
I wouldn’t either, but in games, something always pops up when you climb a mountain.
Yeah, doubt me plenty now.
You’ll regret it once you get that sword up top.
Who’d imagine a legendary holy sword abandoned in a place like this?
We kept climbing.
Only when my breath was right up to my throat did the destination finally come into view.
“Huu... We’re here.”
“...A cave.”
A cave in the mountainside.
A combination of words that stirred the romantic imagination.
A cool breeze blew from inside the cave.
An extraordinary aura mixed in the wind chilled my fingertips.
A vivid sensation I couldn’t feel through a monitor.
“Something’s inside.”
Leon had sensed it too.
Of course there was something incredible inside.
“How’d you find a place like this?”
Leon asked with pure curiosity.
How the hell did he know about a cave in a mountain few people visit?
I couldn’t exactly say I found it hiking for fun in Broken World, so I just shrugged.
“Why so many questions? Let’s go get the sword first.”
Before Leon could pry more, I took the lead into the cave.
There’d be more annoying situations ahead where I’d have no explanation but would need one.
Dodging every time would be tough—maybe set up a con like I’m a prophet or have foresight...?
Nah, no good.
In a world full of guys explaining their circumstances, adding that setting would make me a nosy speedwagon type.
We entered the cave quietly.
The interior was an unrealistically mystical space.
Blue crystals growing on the walls emitted a soft glow.
The grass bathed in that light was purple, and a small stream trickled along.
Stalactites hung long from the ceiling.
“Oho....”
It felt so much more three-dimensional than on the monitor.
A damp, fishy smell rose with the flowing water.
I couldn’t help but marvel, and Leon, following behind, tilted his head curiously.
“You’ve been here before, right?”
“...Even seeing it again, it’s amazing.”
“Definitely an astonishing sight.”
Good thing this guy doesn’t suspect people.
We proceeded deeper into the cave quietly.
The glowing crystals meant no need for a lantern.
After a while, a wide cavern opened up.
The ominous aura we’d felt from the entrance grew thicker.
It was as if gravity applied differently only in this cavern—my body felt heavy.
Even breathing was hard, but I’d expected it.
In the center of the cavern, something pure white lay curled up, sleeping soundly.
A pair of pure white wings, and scales covering its entire body so smoothly seamless you couldn’t find the joints.
The creature you can’t skip in fantasy.
The pinnacle of all beings, living in a realm beyond humans.
A dragon.
Even asleep, its overwhelming presence pressed down on the surroundings.
But that presence held no hostility—only nobility and elegance overflowed.
It was just so intense it felt heavy, beyond imagination.
Like pure oxygen turning toxic to humans.
Leon reflexively put a hand on his sword hilt.
I shook my head to stop him.
Even a hundred practice swords couldn’t scratch that white dragon’s scales, and there was no need to wake a sleeping dragon needlessly.
“That thing’s dangerous.”
“It’s fine. Just follow me.”
We approached the dragon slowly.
Leon looked uneasy but followed since I led.
We got right up close, but the white dragon didn’t stir.
Circling to its shoulder, I spotted the holy sword embedded between its wings.
The blade looked forged from platinum.
A graceful, beautiful sword wrapped in faint golden light, engraved with runes.
The hilt, perfectly proportioned, blended gold and blue in perfect harmony, boasting flawless beauty.
It surpassed the artistry of most famed swords.
As decoration alone, it could captivate anyone.
Exactly like the design in the game.
As I admired it, Leon unconsciously approached the holy sword.
He realized a beat late it was right in front of the dragon and stepped back, but even Leon being drawn in meant it was that beautiful.
Of course, that holy sword wasn’t just beautiful.
Its durability was infinite, it could cut magic, and fully powered, it unleashed devastating strikes.
Just now, sealed, it could only activate during daylight.
Even with that penalty, its performance ignored it completely.
“Go pull it out?”
“...You serious?”
“Of course. We came for a sword. You won’t find anything better. You know that, right?”
It was a sword even Leon himself was unconsciously drawn to.
Knowing that best, Leon hesitated a moment.
But soon, he clenched his fist tight and nodded.
“I’ll trust you.”
Trust me, my foot.
In Broken World, pulling the holy sword does nothing.
Legend has it the devs meant to stick it in a rock like some famous one but put it in a dragon for flair... the dragon’s just background.
Leon, unaware, climbed the white dragon’s body tensely.
Gripping the hilt carefully with both hands, he pulled with all his might.
The holy sword came out smoothly.
Leon raised it high to the sky, his figure overlapping for a moment with the one lifting the holy sword in Broken World’s finale.
A scene still far in the future.
But as the protagonist, he looked cool.
Guess it means time’s steadily progressing and the story’s advancing.
Leon carefully climbed down from the dragon.
As expected, nothing happened, but the tension drained from my shoulders.
Had I been tense without realizing?
Now we just leave.
As I patted Leon’s shoulder and nodded toward the exit—
-The one who woke me... it’s been quite a while. I’m pleased to have more blessings to bestow.
A calm, polite voice pierced directly into my head. I looked around.
In the cave: me, Leon, and the sleeping dragon.
Not Leon’s voice.
The dragon was still asleep.
Not even Deathwise’s.
By elimination, only one conclusion.
My gaze fell to the holy sword in Leon’s hand.
No way the holy sword talks.
I don’t remember that setting.
No, wait—Leon pulled it, so why’s it talking to my head?
-Regrettably, my user can’t communicate with me. But you already have precedent. It’s incredibly easy to talk to you.
-Hah, of course. Even rotten, he’s this body’s user.
Deathwise suddenly chimed in.
The holy sword sounded impressed.
-Deathwise, I never imagined you’d be here. How long since you entered the mortal world?
-Hmph, none of your business. You’ve been out of sight a while too.
Wait, why are they talking like they know each other?
No way they’re acquaintances?
-Indeed. This body and that fellow Exwise are twins, simply put. Born at the same time.
-The word “born” may not suit swords, but yes, we’re twin blades created together.
Demon Sword Deathwise and Holy Sword Exwise.
Hearing it now, even the names were similar.
Broken World’s lazy naming was par for the course, so I’d overlooked it... but twins?
-You didn’t know? Otherwise, how’d you find this place....
-Certainly, Deathwise’s user is an unusual one.
-Hah, obvious. You think a mere mortal could wield this body?
Don’t chatter in my head.
My skull’s ringing....
I reflexively clutched my head.
Leon, unable to hear the holy sword, looked puzzled.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, fine.... Just tired from the hike.”
Aside from the anxiety of having to listen to the demon sword and holy sword bickering every time I meet Leon from now on.
Did I get the holy sword too early for no reason?
As that doubt arose, a warm breeze blew from behind.
I turned reflexively, and blue eyes stared at us.
Let me say it again: three living beings in this cavern.
Me, Leon, and the dragon.
Neither I nor Leon has blue eyes.
So blue eyes means only one possibility.
The white dragon had opened its eyes.
Talk about a real variable.
Why can’t I ever catch a break?