Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: The Demon Sword Awakens
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“Hmm. This is harddd.”
-Wind like this... no, like that?
Our training sessions were surprisingly gentle.
In the past, we had to build up our power by pushing our bodies to the limit and tempering our flesh. But now, we were in a state where we didn't need to train physically at all.
Silpi, for instance, had never needed to temper her body from the start, thanks to the properties of wind and the surrounding mana. As for me and Cheong, ever since becoming spirit beasts, the essence of metal had been forging our bodies on its own. Just sitting still was enough for our forms to naturally perfect themselves.
Kuung.
“Ugh. This isn't what I wanted. Should I twist my wrist more?”
-Ah! Why is the wind scattering here!
What we needed now was imagination—to wield our powers more freely.
Sparring was for establishing techniques through imagination first, then embodying them into our bodies afterward.
[The temperature feels warmer today than usual.]
As I watched Cheong and Silpi practice their techniques, I focused inwardly on amplifying the power of the Yeouiju.
The stronger the force within the Yeouiju grew, the more the energy accumulating in my body would amplify and increase naturally.
I spent the time observing the five elements, wind, and thunder energies racing freely through me. That day, I didn't open the gallery at all.
[If something comes up, they'll just leave a comment.]
I'd already written out the best route I knew for the newbie 'Sparkle Sparkle' in the comments, so there was no need to worry.
Truth be told, the situation was starting to feel a bit overwhelming if I kept focusing only on the newbie.
[Then let's head straight to that place we saw at dawn today.]
[Understood.]
While the moon rose and everyone else slept for tomorrow, I headed back to the communal graveyard where I'd seen the wraith, riding the wolf spirit beast.
[You're out earlier than expected today.]
Just before leaving the cave, I pointed deeper inside in response to the wolf spirit beast's question.
[They were unusually diligent with training today, so they fell asleep quicker than usual.]
That allowed us to set out a little earlier this time.
Now that we were heading straight to where the wraith was from the start, I was sure we'd get some information about whatever was going on.
'Especially that sword from before. I need to inspect it properly.'
It might even be connected to the cause of the wraith's appearance.
With that, I climbed onto the wolf spirit beast's back, and it dashed powerfully toward the wraith's graveyard.
Rustle.
-Did he go?
“Yeah.”
-Where the heck is he going at this hour?
“Let's follow him!”
-...Should we?
[We're here. No big changes from yesterday.]
[Nothing much to you, huh. That might make things more serious than I thought.]
The wolf spirit beast looked at me with a puzzled expression at my words.
[What do you mean? What's different from yesterday?]
[Yeah... If I'm not imagining it, the sword's malice is thicker today. Thick enough to affect the surroundings.]
And unlike yesterday, the wraith was now clearly glaring at the sword with hostility.
The wolf spirit beast still looked clueless even after hearing me out.
[Stay back for a bit.]
[Yes. I'll be behind you. Call me if you need any help.]
I sent it to the rear since it hadn't noticed the changes here—better not to risk something going wrong while it was nearby.
Shhh...
[Wraith. What the hell is with this sword that's got you so pissed off?]
-......
Still not talking, huh.
But I could feel it.
Its gaze had shifted ever so slightly—from the sword to me.
I seized the moment and cut straight to the chase.
[Why are you here? Is it connected to this sword? Tell me how you ended up abandoned in this humanless place.]
-......
[...I see. Got it.]
The wraith still said nothing.
But it had answered me.
It was a tiny gesture, but it unmistakably pointed right at the sword in front of me.
[Fine. What the hell are you, spewing this malice and ruining the place?]
Its malice was even thicker than yesterday, so I bared my hostility just like the wraith.
If this growth continued, it would surely wreak havoc on Ceres's paradise.
Kugugugu.
“Tong.”
[Pull out that sword.]
It felt too risky to touch it myself, so I ordered the golem I'd made from earth and metal essences.
The mindless, loyal golem reached out without hesitation and yanked the sword free.
Shring.
A sharp sound that no rusted, obviously unremarkable sword should make.
At the same time, a long gash appeared on the golem's hand holding it.
[Just pulling it out wounded it?]
-You damn rock bastard, I was sleeping fine, and you dare pick me up? You get 5 seconds. Drop me now, or I'll grind your body to dust.
A sharp voice rang out along with the thick malice spreading naturally from the drawn sword.
[A voice from the sword? An ego weapon with intelligence?]
Among equipment, ego weapons were rare ones where a soul dwelled in the weapon.
Once contracted with an owner, they supposedly had infinite durability until the owner died, preventing damage to the weapon itself.
They were hard to get even in Jijiyong, so encountering one felt oddly thrilling.
'But judging by the energy from the sword, it's probably a demon sword.'
Everyone had an image that came to mind with demon swords.
It wasn't much different in Jijiyong.
Cursed blades that burdened the user and led to ruin in the end.
And one with a soul to boot—how terrifyingly powerful must it be? Just thinking about it was worrying.
-Fi-ve! Fou-r! Th-ree! T-wo!
[Golem, set the sword down for now...]
-One! Die!!
Kagagagagak.
Before I could finish the order, tiny slashes erupted from the sword, shredding the golem to pieces.
I figured the golem, infused with earth and metal essences, was tougher than average steel.
Yet the demon sword's slashes tore through it effortlessly.
[This is more dangerous than I thought.]
It didn't seem contracted to anyone, judging by its state.
Yet it wielded such fearsome power anyway.
-Kyahahaha! Who told you to grab me, you rockhead!
But why was this demon sword pretending not to know us?
Sensing something off in how it focused solely on the golem holding it, I approached the sword closely and spoke.
[Hey, demon sword.]
-Feels good to stretch my power after so long!
[Can't you hear me?]
-Trying to touch me, you rock? In your dreams!
Hmm, another unexpected issue.
Who'd have thought an intelligent demon sword couldn't see its surroundings?
It might be ignoring me on purpose, but getting this close convinced me otherwise.
[I see. The weapon got damaged, and its soul did too.]
If no one touched it, it'd probably never detect anyone forever.
[So, what's your beef with this sword?]
-......
[Did this demon sword's owner massacre humans?]
-......
No answer.
Unlike before, its sustained hostility toward the demon sword made me sigh.
“Why are you sighing?”
[I thought I'd found a solution to the problem, but it turns out it's even more complicated than before.]
“Hmm. All because of that weird sword, right?”
[For now, yeah, but jumping to conclusions is premature... Cheong?]
“Hi, El!”
Why was Cheong here?
No joke, why the heck were you popping out from there?
-Was it because of this sword that you couldn't sleep and went out?
[Silpi, you too...?]
I jolted at Cheong suddenly appearing beside me, while Silpi—who must have arrived unnoticed—used wind to lift a dagger falling to the ground.
[Silpi, be careful. That sword's no ordinary blade.]
-Yeah, I can tell just by looking. It's got a vicious aura... kinda like that weird guy from before.
“Exactly! I smelled that same weird guy from the sword who came last time!”
The weird guy Cheong and Silpi meant had to be the one shrouded in darkness.
Was this demon sword his doing?
What the hell was that guy's identity to be linked to something like this?
“So, what now?”
[I'll try talking to it first.]
-Talk? Doesn't seem like it'll listen.
Spin. Spin.
-Whoooaaa! The world's spinning! What's going on?! Did the golem vanish and we're falling off a cliff?!
-More importantly, can this thing even see?
“Doesn't seem like it can hear us either.”
Silpi and Cheong realized the demon sword's state was off too.
An odd demon sword that wouldn't communicate unless you grabbed it.
[Guess I'll have to pick it up myself.]
“No way!”
-Yeah, let's make the wolf back there do it.
[A-hem. O Sword of Despair, I...]
[It's fine. I have a plan.]
Of course, I wasn't entirely sure it'd work... but if things went south, my tail could regenerate even if severed. If it got too risky, I'd just chop it off.