Chapter 140
Chapter 140
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: The Fallen One
The Fallen One.
Ermé and I stepped outside.
"Do you know about the Godsmith?"
"The Godsmith? Of course. There probably aren't many warriors who haven't heard of him."
He was incredibly famous for a reason.
Now firmly established as the Sword Hero, he was the only one who had ever forged a holy sword.
No one had been able to forge one for over a thousand years.
But he was the sole person capable of doing it.
"If you're talking about the Godsmith, then your win is basically guaranteed, right?"
"Well, in the thief category, anyway."
The sword and mage categories hadn't been decided yet.
They were the most popular fields, with the most races and participants, so they would take at least a week.
The thief and saintess categories were different stories, though.
-Those damn thieves are mostly scum with faces smashed in from beatings. They go around raiding villages for loot without a second thought.
'…….'
-And the saintesses? No need to explain. Over the past thousand years, the Church has been 'intentionally creating' them. At some point, it became the norm for saintesses to come from the human race.
Intentionally creating saintesses.
The process must have been utterly horrific.
'The Church.'
I thought of Veronica.
The symbol of the so-called Church. And my friend's voice warning me about it.
The Church was rotten.
As a player, it had to be destroyed—no exceptions.
……Of course, I was staying quiet now because I lacked the power.
Anyway, back to the point.
I was stuck here until the warriors and mages competed a week from now.
"……At least on the final day, you'll get to face off against the selected heroes, and there are plenty of prizes."
"Like starlight crystals?"
"Yeah, among other things."
Ermé looked a bit dazed as she spoke to me.
"But you're entrusting it to the Godsmith?"
"Yeah, he recommended it."
"Well, he's the only one who can handle starlight crystals these days."
……?
Ermé's oddly intriguing words. But I tucked them away in the back of my mind.
'Meaning others might be able to in the future.'
Still, it felt too late to wait until then.
-Your intuition?
'No……I just want it done quickly.'
-…….
The holy sword fell silent, as if at a loss for words.
*
Our date wasn't anything extravagant.
I just ate with Ermé, chatted, and wandered around.
Eventually, we parted ways.
"……."
Then I ran into a man.
A man wearing a mask.
His hair was an inky black that seemed to draw people in, like ink had been spilled over it.
[……?] He tilted his head curiously as he looked at me.
[How strange. Last time, your vessel was overflowing……but to elevate your hierarchy and fill it to the brim in just one go?] -Kuhahaha! This guy's got some guts! He's already mastered the hero's authentic swordsmanship, steps, and breathing!
"……."
My expression hardened in an instant.
A boisterous voice, different from the holy sword's, echoed everywhere.
-Ah, that damn copycat bastard.
-Who're you calling a copycat! Unlike you, I'm the most radiant sword, forged as humanity's hope!
-Yuseong, shut that guy's mouth right now!
-Puhahaha! Your master's talented, sure, but can he beat my master, the perfected monster?!
-Shut that guy's mouth now!
Ah, shut up.
I squinted and picked up the sword held by the man, who seemed connected to the Demonic Cult.
Unlike my holy sword, disguised as ordinary, this one was already wreathed in dark bloodlust, exuding an extraordinary aura.
-I could do that easily too! You're the one who went into the thief hero category for no reason, and now look!
'You said I was a real thief yourself.'
-Puhahaha! The Primordial Sword, reduced to a mere thief hero's blade!? The Sword Hero among heroes?
-That guy—shut his mouth! You can do it!
-Nah~ Impossible. Our master's hierarchy is at least one tier higher~.
-Just surpass one hierarchy.
Even if they nagged, I wasn't suddenly jumping to level 7.
I looked at the masked man.
A difference of one hierarchy.
Yet I felt an eerie certainty that I absolutely couldn't win against him.
-Looks like your master's got a good sense of his place?
-Him? No way…….
'That guy's only level 7??'
-Level 7? What are you talking about?
-Our master's at hierarchy 8. Your master's senses must suck. Puhehehe.
As the holy sword spoke, the sword blabbing about hope sneered.
That thing acts like a demon sword, but it calls itself a holy sword too?
-Yeah, it's a demon sword. Hate comparing, but it's the closest to me among all swords.
'Similar to you?'
-Kuhuhu, you're admitting it too. Yeah, had to be.
-Similar. I was made to exterminate demons; that one to exterminate humanity.
-Nonsense! I just slaughter everything! My last master was just weird……!
So, it's a demon sword, then.
[Quiet.] The demon sword's master suddenly exuded a heavy presence and spoke.
The demon sword shut up immediately.
-That guy……he's no ordinary bastard.
The holy sword's tense voice.
I felt it too.
-The good news is, you can probably escape.
-Ha? Your senses are rusted. Taking that genius-killer kid as master lowered your standards? Our master's insanely strong, unlike him!
-What'll you do? Volkan's place is close; you can catch your breath there.
Ignoring the demon sword, the holy sword spoke to me.
I stared at the demon sword's master.
He just watched me with an intrigued gaze.
[How did you do it?] "Do what?"
[Expanding your vessel was within my expectations. But filling it to overflowing? That wasn't my intent.] With an androgynous voice, he gazed at me as he spoke.
[I'm curious what trick you used. Though you won't tell me.] -Hey, master. Is that guy worth your interest?
[Yeah, very much so. I thought I was the only one beyond gifts with a 'divine domain'…….] -Divine domain? Wait, divine domain—that power isn't allowed to humans yet. Only you have it……!
[Even if it existed, the Day of Cataclysm should have begun. So how did you acquire a divine domain already?] "……."
Was the Thief's divine domain that big a deal?
I squinted at the masked figure.
[Not talking is fine. Not being swayed by power, staying wary of me. But……what you should be wary of isn't me.] The masked man subtly pointed to one spot with his finger.
[Over there……there's someone about to cause an incident. Go there.] I squinted at the masked man.
I still couldn't read him. Not with the Thief's divine domain handiwork or the eyes from the ethereal dance.
[Or will you watch?] He tilted his head slightly as he said it.
-No idea what it is, but……better accept it.
-Wait, no! Wasn't that for her?!
[Changed my mind. If there's potential, it should go to the one who has it.] "What are you handing over?"
[Potential.] He tossed it out casually.
I squinted.
The conversation had been superficial from the start.
'……Something about this guy.'
He reminded me of someone I knew.
"What exactly is this 'potential'?"
[Can't say. Too vague. I just want to stir a tiny ripple in a still lake.] -Even if someone could harness that ripple, there'd be fewer than five in the whole world.
The demon sword grumbled peevishly.
"Then one more thing."
[Sorry, time's up.] "What?"
Ssssh.
Like noise in a video, his form started glitching out.
And then.
"……What the hell."
The figure vanished into thin air.
*
I really had no clue.
He seemed friendly toward me.
But also kinda doing his own thing.
'It's a bit annoying.'
-If the demon sword's master is that level, count yourself lucky.
'Why?'
-All his masters have been utterly bizarre. Not one of the four divine artifacts meant to slay the Demon King, but a man-made knockoff……so most who wield it go mad.
'……Real demon sword, huh.'
I scratched my head, trying to make sense of it.
Hard, since the guy only said what he wanted.
'Still, one thing's clear.'
I turned dark eyes toward where the man had pointed.
An ominous aura was creeping in.
I didn't know why.
But he genuinely seemed to want me to grow stronger.
'The Day of Cataclysm, already gaining a divine domain.'
The Thief's Extremity.
Evolved into the Thief's divine domain.
Having that meant.
'He's got the Sword's divine domain or something.'
My head hurt.
Times like this, I needed to move.
Only one option, then.
The source of the creeping ominousness was where the masked man had indicated.
Crack.
I cracked my neck and headed that way.
📜 SUB QUEST 📜 Hero's Path
Chapter 3. The Fallen One
A rebel group known on the surface as Rebellion is plotting to sabotage the Hero Tournament.
What they're planning could kill most people here.
Stop them and protect the future assets.
"……."
-What's wrong?
I was stunned.
Someone was seriously trying to ruin the Hero Tournament?
And from the looks of it, it could cause a real disaster.
'……The Eastern Continent is a total mess.'