Chapter 40
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Plague Disaster (1)
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‘Tomorrow, the chaos will arrive.’
Edward stroked his mask with the palm of his hand as he thought.
It had been a long time. From being nothing to grasping power and reaching this point.
Only hatred.
Hatred toward humans alone had sustained him.
Clack.
Edward placed the mask on the table and stared into the mirror.
If anyone saw the face revealed beneath the mask, they would be horrified.
The Ain race.
A species with appearances similar to humans.
Among them were not just those of a different ‘race,’ but also hybrids mixed with other bloodlines.
“……Mother.”
His mother, who had been human.
His mother, who had been an excellent doctor.
But what she birthed was not human. It was a monster, a half-human, half-goblin.
The result of a horrific accident suffered by his adventurer mother.
Normally, Edward’s life would have ended the moment he was born.
But his mother, already driven mad by the time she gave birth to him, did not perceive him as a monster.
She raised him believing he was her child, and even as she was stoned to death by the villagers who discovered her, she died thinking of him as human.
“It won’t be long now.”
Aside from his hideous appearance, he was just like a human. If he covered his face, anyone would think he was an ordinary person.
On the contrary, Edward was born with exceptional intellect.
Perhaps it was influenced by the cunning goblin blood.
However, because low-grade monster blood flowed through his body, Edward could not wield mana.
But he had medicine.
The medical knowledge learned from his mother. And the countless books she left behind.
Through self-study, Edward reached a level comparable to any skilled doctor.
Yet he did not stop there.
He had no intention of stopping until he exacted revenge on the humans who killed his mother.
“With my greatest masterpiece and this flesh…….”
Unable to wield mana, he had gone through countless trials and errors to strengthen his own body.
And as a result, he obtained a bizarre power.
No disease or poison could harm his body; instead, they became his blood and flesh.
Why was this possible?
Such questions arose, but Edward gave up pondering deeply. As long as he could destroy this world, that was enough.
* * *
Imperial Martial Tournament semifinals.
Reaching this stage meant you were a true powerhouse, transcending age.
It was a glorious position that countless talents dreamed of attaining, but right now, I had no mind to care about that.
“As Clay said, we’ve started road controls and are bringing those showing symptoms into the imperial city.”
“Roughly how many suspected infected are there?”
“We haven’t confirmed everyone yet, but considering the current growth trend, about 10,000.”
Ten thousand. A significant number, but small considering the empire’s population density.
“According to the physicians, the disease’s transmissibility isn’t that strong, but since it spreads during the incubation period too, it’s easy to proliferate.”
“They’ll be walking around without symptoms, so yeah.”
“Still, it’s all thanks to Clay. How did you make the medicine in just one day? The physicians said it was impossible.”
“Ah, that’s…….”
I smiled awkwardly, and Riya looked at me with a curious gaze before grinning.
“I’ll let it slide since it’s a secret. But you have to tell me someday?”
“Got it. Thanks.”
“I’m just repaying a debt. My life is pretty valuable, you know.”
Riya turned away confidently with a smile.
“Don’t worry about this and focus on the tournament. You have to make it to the finals, got it?”
“Yeah. That’s the bare minimum requirement.”
“Exactly. Then good luck, Clay Banheart Count.”
As I watched Riya’s retreating figure after she finished speaking, cheers erupted from the coliseum.
[If you win today, finals tomorrow?]
“That’s right.”
I hadn’t originally planned to go all the way to the finals.
But to obtain the Human Sword Genova, reaching the finals was the minimum condition.
‘Fabian made it to the finals when the plague broke out and the Founding Festival got canceled.’
But this time, that wouldn’t happen.
And besides……
‘This will be his grave.’
* * *
“I send my praises to the heroes who have illuminated this Founding Festival.”
The emperor of the empire, Gideon Asktalin.
One of the Continental Seven Heroes and reputed as the continent’s greatest mage.
The only mage on par with Gideon was the Tower Master, Soila Fran.
“I have great expectations especially for the four heroes who have reached these semifinals.”
The emperor’s gaze shifted toward Ian, then to me.
He looked at me as if I were some strange creature.
[Typical of that girl’s father. What a filthy gaze.]
‘Watch your language.’
But as Gransesia said, the emperor’s stare felt like he was dissecting me. I didn’t like it much either, but I couldn’t exactly call out the emperor of the empire.
The emperor averted his gaze from me and continued his speech.
“To the hero who wins the Imperial Martial Tournament, I shall bestow fitting rewards along with an honorary title of the empire.”
At those words in the speech, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes in surprise.
An honorary title of the Asktalin Empire.
It was beyond what I’d expected.
“Then, for the sake of the imperial citizens, please show us a splendid match!”
With the emperor’s shout, the four of us, including me, saluted and raised our swords high.
“Clay Banheart, I got careless last time, but this time I’ll expose your true power.”
Arsavin Hochen, the warrior of Darsha, glared at me with blazing eyes as he lowered his sword. He still hadn’t forgotten the humiliation from the first day.
[Doesn’t he know you’re not a Sword Master?]
‘He has eyes; he must’ve seen my matches and figured it out.’
I’d racked up easy wins so far, but that was largely thanks to the Silver Star Sword.
Most spectators wouldn’t notice, but a powerhouse like Arsavin would see right through it.
‘Well, Arsavin aside, the real problem is…….’
The semifinals pitted me against Arsavin, and Gelvin Ribina against Ian Silverst.
‘No matter how genius Gelvin is, he can’t beat Ian.’
Gelvin was a genius.
The claim that his talent rivaled Byan’s was no exaggeration.
But…… Ian Silverst was a monster beyond that.
“Clay Banheart of Talua Kingdom! And Arsavin Hochen of Darsha Kingdom!”
At the referee’s call, I stepped into the now-familiar arena.
The first match was mine against Arsavin.
Arsavin shouldered his massive greatsword and glared at me.
“Just as I was humiliated last time, I’ll make you suffer the same.”
“If you can.”
I grinned back, and Arsavin’s face twisted as he raised his sword straight.
“Insolent cur from Talua Kingdom!”
With his shout, the bell signaling the start of the match rang.
I closed the distance with the now-familiar Meteor Step.
“Ooooh! So fast!”
Cheers erupted from the crowd, but Arsavin scoffed.
“As I thought, you’re no Sword Master! You’re just fast, that’s all!”
Arsavin warriors were obsessed with realms.
Of course, realm did signify strength.
But……
‘Higher realm doesn’t always mean stronger.’
I knew that better than anyone. Realm wasn’t everything in determining victory or defeat.
Kakakak!
His sword tried to push mine away, but my blade’s trajectory bizarrely curved.
‘Silver Star Sword latter half, Second Form: Self-Rotation!’
A technique that turned the opponent’s attack against them, striking back with greater force than one’s own.
That was the Silver Star Sword’s latter half Second Form, Self-Rotation.
Pwoof!
“Kuugh?!”
The swords used in the tournament were blunted, without edges.
Even so, getting hit by the flat of a blade hurt like hell. No matter how much mana protected the body, the opponent was a mana-using swordsman too.
“You bastard……!”
Arsavin’s mana reserves were several times mine.
But laughably, my swordsmanship was superior.
‘Side effect of forcibly pulling up his talent.’
If he’d trained steadily over time, Arsavin would’ve reached high Sword Expert easily.
But by forcing his realm up with elixirs and shortcuts, a gap formed between his swordsmanship and body.
And since Arsavin himself got cocky with his sudden power and neglected his swordsmanship, this was the result.
But I was the opposite.
I perfectly understood the sword arts I’d learned, but my body couldn’t keep up.
‘We’re similar in using cheats to boost our abilities.’
Maybe I was worse. My Setting Addition negated human effort entirely.
But the decisive difference between Arsavin and me was attitude.
He was arrogant; I was shameless.
I shamelessly worked to make the power I gained truly mine.
“Kraaaah!”
He swung desperately, but he was the one getting wounded.
One hit, two, three.
As time passed, Arsavin’s body became covered in bruises.
“Why…… I’ve reached a realm close to Grand Warrior…….”
Arsavin staggered, panting. Bruises covered his body, and blood trickled from his split lips.
My arms tingled from blocking his power, but that was it.
“When cowards like us fight…….”
I smirked at the faltering Arsavin.
“The more cowardly one wins.”
And probably no one was more cowardly than me.
“Ch-Chief…….”
With those words, Arsavin collapsed. He’d probably fainted from exhausting all his strength.
“W-Winner, Clay Banheart!”
The referee’s voice trembled, perhaps flustered by the one-sided fight.
The stands fell silent for a moment, but soon thunderous applause and cheers exploded.
“Waaaaah!”
“Overwhelming! As expected of the knight’s nation!”
Amid the cheers, I glanced at the statue I’d seen before.
It looked the same, but only to the naked eye.
[It’s real. Some curse or magic? The moment you won, a golden light shimmered on the sword and vanished.]
Gransesia, with her Insight Eye, saw something more fundamental.
Hearing that, I finally relaxed.
‘Looks like the condition’s met.’
[Then you don’t have to go to the finals tomorrow, right?]
‘Can’t disappoint the imperial citizens when they’re expecting it like this.’
[Since when do you care about that?]
Gransesia sounded incredulous at my absurdity.
[What’s the real reason?]
‘……Yeah.’
Truth was, preparations were already complete.
Now I just had to wait for tomorrow.
“Clay Banheart.”
As I slowly descended the arena, Ian Silverst approached. He stared at me intently before speaking calmly.
“I look forward to tomorrow’s match.”
“……What?”
He brushed past me toward the arena after those words.
I was dumbfounded by Ian, who spat his piece in informal speech and vanished.
“He’s totally acting like his win is set in stone.”
[Well, yeah. Even Gelvin can’t bridge that skill gap. And for the record, you can’t beat him either.]
“I know.”
No matter how well I fought beyond my realm, there were limits. I couldn’t beat a Sword Master no matter what.
“It’s a shame for Ian Silverst, but…… we won’t even have to fight anyway.”
[Didn’t you just say you can’t disappoint the citizens?]
“No reason for disappointment.”
I gazed at the sword in the statue’s hand: the Human Sword Genova.
Truth was, I’d been agonizing over it.
Whether I deserved to wield that sword.
“I plan to show something far greater.”
The answer had been decided from the start.