The Approaching Darkness (4)

That's how it all happened.

Raphael spent the next six hours explaining everything that had taken place.

"Whoa... Master, you really are an angel..."

"Hehe, Ian. When exactly do you plan on growing up?"

"Ah, Master, that's not the important part!"

"You think there's something more important than you finally maturing?"

"I became a Demon Hunter!!"

"............?"

"What... what??"

"A what hunter...?"

"A Demon Hunter!!"

When Raphael fell silent, Ian called out to her.

"Master? Master??"

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

"...It's nothing, my child."

"I see. So you've become a Demon Hunter."

"First, did you finish all your homework?"

"Yes!! I've obtained the four major attributes along with the chakras of light and darkness!"

"Good. Come to that unused training ground over there."

Raphael released the Blessing of Healing and manifested her faint divine form once more. As soon as the blessing faded, the people gathered around slowly began returning to their homes. A few offered her tributes, and she bestowed holy power upon them in return.

Ian had definitely grown stronger. To think he could already use the Changing Blade... It was clear that Ian's talent lay in handling chakra. Even she had taken seven full days to obtain her attributes, yet Ian had acquired six in just a single day. If that pathetic Demon King were to revive, Ian might actually stand a chance. And if he obtained the Holy Sword on top of that, he would become truly powerful.

"Huu... Master... is it really possible to become that strong using only physical techniques...?"

"Hmph. That's because you don't put in any real effort."

"I even used the Changing Blade and you still blocked everything with one finger;;"

"You're seriously, impossibly strong."

"Indeed. So you finally recognize your master's true power, do you?"

"Hmph. I'm weak right now, but I'll become even stronger than you later!"

"You talk a big game. Tsk tsk."

"Ian. I shall teach you one skill. It will be a great help when you're in danger."

"First, materialize the chakra ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of every attribute you possess."

"...Won't the sword break if I do that??"

"I'm not telling you to imbue the sword. Manifest them around yourself."

Ian did as Raphael instructed and materialized the six attributes he possessed.

"...! This is..."

"Master...? Am I doing this right?"

"...Yes. That is your heart."

"Huh?? What does that mean??"

"It's nothing."

"Master! All the attributes I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠materialized are in the shape of blades!!"

"...."

"I see."

"Ian, arrange those elemental blades behind your back."

"Huh? Why??"

"Just do it and see."

"Yes!"

Ian positioned the six blades behind him as instructed. The blades suddenly connected, fused together, then separated once more.

"...! What is this??"

"As expected... it worked immediately."

"Master, what exactly is this? I feel some kind of indescribable energy."

"I can sense all six attributes from the six blades??"

"You're sensing it correctly. Each blade contains all six attributes."

"Each individual blade will be incredibly threatening. Think of it as a degraded version of the Emperor's Divine Descent."

"The ability allows the blades to automatically attack and protect against any opponent you designate."

"Also, when you first materialize chakra, your personal disposition appears in its form."

"Yours took the shape of extremely sharp blades. You possess an indomitable will, Ian."

"Um... I don't really understand what that means, but it's a good thing, right?"

"...Sigh. Yes, it's a good thing, Ian."

"However, using this skill will cause you to collapse after about five minutes. It puts a heavy strain on your body, so use it with caution."

"And the name of this skill is Attribute Descent."

"I created it after observing the Emperor's Divine Descent."

"This is the degraded version?? Then just how strong is the Emperor??"

"That man is the official overpowered character of this world, so he's ridiculously strong. Of course, he's still no match for me."

"I don't know what 'overpowered' means, but it sounds like the Emperor is incredibly strong and you're even stronger!"

"Correct. So feel how great a blessing it is to have become my disciple."

"Ah. And do not use this skill in front of the Empire's bloodline."

"Why not??"

"The moment they see your skill, they'll immediately think of Divine Descent."

"Then they'll try to recruit you. Those people once shouted that they'd make even my past self a battalion commander. If they see a talented young man like you with no backing, they'll use any means necessary to pull you in."

"So if you don't want to be tied down by the Empire, never reveal that skill."

"I feel like I just heard something incredibly important... Ahem."

"As you said, Master, I won't use it in front of the Empire's bloodline!"

"Good. You should go now, Ian. It's already past curfew."

"Ack! Goodbye!"

"Farewell."

Raphael watched Ian's retreating figure and thought of the hero from her past.

'Baden... I wonder what that guy is doing these days.'

'He probably got married. With a twenty-year time difference, he'd be about forty-five now...'

'It would be nice to share a drink with him after so long...'

Thud. Thud.

The morning after Ian learned Attribute Descent, someone was walking toward the entrance of the Hero Academy.

"Who goes there? This is the Hero Academy. Please present your identification."

The man scratched his head and spoke.

"Hmm... I seem to have left my identification behind. How about this sword stands in for my identity?"

"How could a mere sword possibly serve as—"

The sword the man revealed was enveloped in an overwhelmingly powerful holy energy. Just looking at it made the skin tingle; such was the divine power flowing through the blade.

"......! H-H-Hero!!"

"Shh. I have business here, so keep it quiet."

"Yes! Loyalty!"

"Good. Carry on."

The hero Baden had arrived at the Hero Academy.

Ian was looking forward to the Demon Hunter initiation ceremony that would take place that night. He drooled while imagining himself as a Demon Hunter, hunting down demons.

After all his classes ended, he checked the time. It was four in the afternoon. Ian was thinking of heading back to his dormitory when someone called his name.

"Ian? Are you Ian?"

Ian looked at the man calling him with a puzzled expression.

"Yes, I'm Ian. May I ask why you're looking for me...?"

The man ignored Ian's words and began appraising him.

"Hmm... Overall, your strength and magic power are in excellent balance... And this is chakra...?"

"...! Who are you!!"

Ian raised his sword, extremely wary of the man before him.

"Hmm... Your killing intent is quite threatening. You have actual murder experience, I see. You've been hiding your true self quite well."

Ian thought as he stared at the man.

'Dangerous. The moment this man saw me, he analyzed my condition.'

'It's like he's been evaluating me this entire time.'

'Can I beat ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this man? I can't sense anything from him at all.'

'The fact that I can't sense anything makes him even more dangerous. He's controlling even the tiniest traces of magic power.'

Ian gathered his courage and asked.

"Who are you, and why are you looking for me?"

"...."

"...What is your relationship with Raphael?"

"I can sense the energy called chakra that only Raphael possessed coming from you as well."

"I don't know anyone named Raphael!"

"Lies. Did Raphael tell you to say that? Knowing her, she's extremely cautious, so it's possible..."

Ian threatened him with his sword.

"If you come any closer, I will attack immediately in self-defense."

"So please do not approach any further."

"Puhuhuhu... It seems you really don't know who I am. If you did, you wouldn't be saying such things."

"How interesting. How very interesting. Ian, was it? Follow me to the training ground in the plaza over there."

"Why should I? I don't even know if you're safe to be around."

Shiver—

For a moment, Ian felt as if his neck had been sliced clean through by a blade.

"...........!"

The man in front of him had definitely attacked with killing intent. Was it possible to kill someone with nothing but killing intent? Just who was this person...?

"Now then. Shall we go quietly?"

"...Understood."

Ian and the mysterious man arrived at the sparring grounds. The man watched the students training and spoke.

"Heh. It's always pleasant to watch young heroes in training."

"...Does someone who enjoys watching young heroes threaten a student into sparring with him?"

"Puhuhuhu... You have a point. And even that grumbling personality is the same."

"...? Who am I supposed to resemble? I've never heard anything like that before."

"Raphael. The woman I loved."

"Eww. Do you know there's something wrong with your eyes? You should visit the temple and get them treated."

"Kukuku... Even the way you talk is identical. It's like Raphael is standing right in front of me."

At those words, Ian felt a chill run down his spine.

"Hiiik. I don't have those kinds of tastes."

Twitch—

A vein bulged on the man's forehead.

"Hehehe. This impudent brat really doesn't know when to shut his mouth. It seems I need to teach you some manners."

"Hmph. I don't show manners to people I don't know."

"...What kind of nonsense is that? Doesn't that mean you don't show manners to anyone you meet for the first time?"

"So you've inherited even Raphael's terrible personality and ruined sense of etiquette... Tsk tsk."

Ian's face and ears turned bright red as he walked forward without saying another word. They continued walking until they reached the sparring ground in the plaza.

"Hmm... Shall we have a little spar then?"

"I'll only use a wooden sword."

"I'll use a real sword. Since you're much stronger than me, that should be fine, right?"

"Kukukuk. Sure, sure. Do as you wish, disciple of Raphael."

"I keep telling you I don't know who Raphael is?"

"Then how does a guy who doesn't know her dare say my eyes are broken?"

Ian stood there blankly for a moment before focusing his mind for the spar.

"...I'll go first."

"Come. By all means, come at me, disciple of Rael!"