Chapter 51
Chapter 51
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: The Sword Saint's Vendetta
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Sahā Village Pioneer Association exclusive bathhouse.
Steam filled the bathhouse.
Leyzon crouched down to pick up the soap and slid it over to the side.
A thick, furry hand reached out and took the soap.
For some reason, Leyzon felt chills run down his spine.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
To shake off the sudden unease, Leyzon quickly finished washing and got out.
Hanok shuddered all over before hurrying after Leyzon.
As he entered the bath, a warm aura enveloped him.
Hanok dipped only his feet in and splashed around.
Soon, once he'd adjusted to the temperature, he submerged his body.
Hanok's ears drooped limply, and his mouth fell open.
Leyzon glanced at Hanok's gaping expression for a moment before closing his eyes.
A pleasant sensation washed over his entire body.
Truly, people need to bathe to live properly.
Splash—
At that moment, the soap guy from earlier entered from the other side.
When the even hairier man plunged into the bath, water overflowed.
Impressive build and weight.
'Tank-class warrior, probably.'
Likely a shield warrior type.
And there was a vibe about him.
'He's strong.'
Since entering Dungeon Replay, Leyzon had met all sorts of people.
Everyone he'd encountered was a powerhouse in their own right.
As a result, Leyzon's ability to sense the strong had grown ever more refined.
The burly, hairy man before his eyes.
This guy was no different.
'At least top-tier Pioneer level.'
What business did someone like him have in Sahā Village?
For some reason, the Shadow Warlord, Rafila... now this.
Sahā Village seemed to attract demons like moths to a flame.
'Is someone playing a flute that summons the mighty?'
Who could say.
"Hmmmph."
At that moment, Hanok, soaking in the hot water, let out a relaxed groan with a blissed-out face.
He was clearly unwinding after a long time.
"Sword-Tooth Clan, eh."
Then the hairy man spoke up.
"A mighty rare race. Who'd have thought I'd see one here. A slave?"
"Yes, a slave."
No point hiding it.
Hanok's bone necklace bore a blatant slave brand.
Hanok could have had the slave brand removed by now.
But he hadn't bothered.
Leyzon had never given Hanok any orders as his slave, either.
"Haha, you've got guts. Not afraid of the Shadow Warlord, I take it!"
"He's outside the ship."
"Puhaha! You've got a sense of humor. Bold one, aren't you!"
Guess he liked jokes like that.
A hearty fellow all around.
Leyzon decided to make use of the open conversation.
"You seem like quite the expert yourself, sir. What brings you to Sahā Village?"
Sahā Village had nothing noteworthy beyond the Sahā Realm dungeon.
It was odd for a powerhouse like him to be here.
"Heh, business trip. My boss suddenly got it into his head to come here, so I had no choice but to follow."
"I see."
Leyzon felt a pang of sympathy.
This was why office life was tough.
"It's fine. He does this occasionally, but mostly he keeps to himself quietly."
"So he doesn't do any work, then?"
"Hahaha, not quite. He just has his own matters, making him rather detached from the world.
It's been ages since I've seen him show any emotion."
Sounded like he'd served his boss for quite some time.
"Hang in there. It'll work out."
"I will."
He sank fully into the hot water and let out a breath.
Living as a person wasn't easy for anyone, it seemed.
Twitch—
At that moment, Hanok's ears, submerged in the water, rose above the surface.
Hanok poked his head up and looked around.
His eyes went wide.
Leyzon whipped his head around following Hanok's sudden movement.
And witnessed something unexpected.
Cracks were spiderwebbing across the bathhouse wall.
'What the—?'
He stared blankly, not comprehending.
Crack-crack-CRACK!
The cracks intensified across the entire wall.
BOOM!
The bathhouse wall shattered completely.
"Whoa!"
"Gah!?"
Men screamed and fled from the collapsed wall.
Hanok and Leyzon leaped from the bath simultaneously and stood ready.
"Leyzon."
Hanok positioned himself in front of Leyzon.
Leyzon snatched a nearby towel and wrapped it around his waist.
The area filled with dust and smoke from the crumbling wall.
"Ugh, what a mess."
Meanwhile, the hairy man pushed through the smoke and emerged.
Leyzon peered through the haze as best he could.
Then, a red shadow flickered into view.
'Syria.'
No doubt about it.
Syria was fighting someone.
Bang!
Suddenly, someone vaulted over the wall toward them.
Leyzon caught sight of long red hair whipping through the air.
A man in uniform landed.
His eyes burned with deep fury.
"Lord Begriss!?"
The hairy man gaped at him.
Leyzon instantly realized this was his boss.
And that he was the one clashing with Syria right now.
'This guy.'
Stronger than Five.
The name he'd just heard etched itself into Leyzon's mind.
Leyzon hadn't forgotten the info blackout during his purchase of Hanok.
So over the past century, he'd gathered intel diligently.
Among the figures who emerged in that time.
Sword Saint Begriss Fernante.
Heir to the renowned Fernante marquess family of swordmasters.
Former imperial tournament champion and the youngest to achieve Hero-grade Pioneer status.
Rumors said he'd been hired as a palace knight afterward.
But now he apparently quit everything to work at the Pioneer Association.
And now he was fighting Syria.
Bang!
He kicked off the ground and lunged at Syria again.
Leyzon didn't have time for long thoughts.
"Hanok."
Leyzon and Hanok bolted out of the bathhouse together.
Outside was chaos from the commotion within.
Leyzon grabbed his clothes.
Too many eyes here.
'Most importantly, I can't let them know about me.'
He had to keep his identity as the Abyss hidden.
He'd accidentally crossed paths with this guy's subordinate.
Getting tangled up would spread his face far and wide.
"L-Leyzon, what about Lady Syria?"
"She'll be fine."
He'd confirmed it upon seeing Begriss up close.
'No sword.'
The man was a swordsman.
No matter the Sword Saint title.
Bare-handed, he couldn't beat Syria.
"And."
Leyzon tapped the shadow at his feet.
"Syria always keeps a shadow on me."
She was convinced imperial forces had ambushed him before.
Ever since, she'd attached a shadow to him as a precaution.
Syria must have noticed the situation here.
"Syria, head to the Western Great Forest."
Leyzon's eyes gleamed quietly.
"Lure him."
The shadow at Leyzon's feet writhed.
Begriss Fernante.
Once a promising prodigy hailed as the Sword Saint.
Given the talk of him becoming a royal knight.
His swordsmanship was exceptionally superb.
Yet at some point, he set aside his blade.
Many offered theories on why.
But one common trigger was mentioned.
Fifteen years ago, there was the Bluebird Knight Order.
An imperial knight order that gathered the most troublesome, hard-to-handle knights.
Thus, it was derisively called the Blue Chicken Order.
Unexpectedly, the Sword Saint sought to join that very Bluebird Knight Order.
But before he could enlist.
The Bluebird Knight Order was annihilated.
Leyzon recalled his info while sprinting toward the forest.
So why was the Sword Saint picking a fight with Syria now?
Leyzon's mind raced.
'He reacted like he knew Syria.'
His eyes had fixed on her with fury and grudge.
'Something definitely happened between Syria and the Sword Saint.'
Leyzon hypothesized swiftly.
The annihilation of the Bluebird Knight Order he'd wanted to join.
'Did Syria wipe them out, by any chance?'
The reason for the Bluebird Knight Order's annihilation remained a mystery.
'The info on their annihilation was deliberately scrubbed clean.'
Leyzon had actively gathered intelligence all this time.
That's how he'd learned of the Bluebird Knight Order's end.
But the why was a complete blank.
'Just like with the Hundred-Legged Overlord.'
Like how the empire hid the Hundred-Legged Overlord's death, they'd concealed the Bluebird incident too.
The official announcement wasn't even annihilation—it was disbandment.
'The empire hides anything tied to my undead as much as possible.'
Especially undead that damaged the empire.
'So, high chance Syria was involved in the Bluebird Knight Order's annihilation too.'
He could just ask Syria, but now wasn't the time.
First, resolve this mess.
Thud!
Something sounded from behind Leyzon.
He glanced back to see a red shadow streaking through the sky.
Syria.
Begriss pursued her, leaping between trees.
Unlike before, he'd properly grabbed his sword this time.
'No sign of that bearded uncle.'
Probably off calling for backup.
'Can't let the fight drag on.'
Reinforcements would come soon to subjugate Syria.
'Quick and decisive.'
Leyzon pulled a black mask from his bag.
'Can't let imperial affiliates see my face any more than necessary.'
Equipment: Black Mask.
Effect: Pitch Black.
When equipped, it coats the face and entire body in inky blackness.
Distinctive features like ears vanish completely.
Making visual identification outright impossible.
The moment Leyzon donned the mask, his entire face turned pitch black.
Double-layered face concealment.
Much harder to pinpoint now.
Being hunted by the empire under the dangerous name Abyss.
The more cautious, the better.
"Hanok, go to Five and Rafila until I call. Update them on the situation."
"Y-Yes? Leyzon, are you sure you'll be okay alone?"
Hanok, running alongside, asked in surprise.
His opponent was the Sword Saint.
Even if he'd rested without a sword for years, his strength remained.
Proof: Syria hadn't ended it instantly.
"Yeah. I've got a plan for times like this."
Hanok eyed Leyzon briefly.
Then perked up his ears.
Hanok trusted Leyzon completely.
He believed whatever he said.
"Got it! Be careful, Leyzon."
With resolve, Hanok plunged into the underbrush.
"Hoo."
After sending Hanok off, Leyzon exhaled shortly.
Through the two masks, Leyzon's gray eyes flashed.
Alright then.
Time to hunt the Sword Saint.