Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Light Sword Hela (1)
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“ Is it truly a fact that Count Deolic was involved in such immoral deeds?”
Under Duke Gail’s orders, Aldred Ribina was moving with a considerable number of knights to apprehend Logan Deolic.
Among them was his son Gelvin, whose face showed utter disbelief at the current situation.
“ It’s only natural to be surprised. I couldn’t believe it myself until His Grace explained the details…….”
The Ribina family and Deolic family were the leading martial houses of Talua, destined to clash frequently.
Having competed fiercely for generations, Logan and Aldred could never be close, yet they shared a strange sense of kinship.
“ He was a greedy man, but never a fool…….”
Had age changed him?
Just thinking of Logan left a bitter taste in Aldred’s mouth.
“ Do you think Father believes Count Deolic will submit quietly?”
“ I doubt he’ll resist. He’d lose everything he’s built if he did.”
Sending him was merely a precaution for any contingency.
The matter was grave, no doubt, but not enough to take down Logan entirely.
His reputation would plummet, but he wouldn’t suffer the near-ruin that other nobles might.
“ That’s Count Deolic’s villa in the capital right now!”
The Deolic family’s villa in the capital came into view.
Aldred approached slowly with dozens of knights.
‘……Something’s off.’
At that moment, Aldred felt a strange unease. The closer they got to the mansion, the stronger it grew.
“ Halt!”
Finally, Aldred raised his hand, stopping the knights advancing toward the mansion.
‘ This aura…….’
A single presence emanated from within the mansion.
The energy flowing from it was utterly alien, something even he, who had traversed countless battlefields, had never felt before.
It was so savagely ferocious it couldn’t possibly be human.
“ Father?”
Sensing the tension from Aldred, Gelvin couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
Who could make a Sword Master tense like this?
“ Fall back.”
Aldred slowly withdrew the knights while reaching for the sword at his waist.
“ What in the world…….”
The moment Gelvin couldn’t hold back his curiosity and opened his mouth.
The mansion’s door shattered, and something pitch-black shot toward Gelvin’s head at tremendous speed.
No one there could even react.
Clang!
Only Aldred moved.
He hurriedly deflected it, and the whip-like thing instantly retreated back into the mansion.
“ W-What was that?”
“ The mansion’s door……!”
The knights began murmuring at the sudden event.
“ Get a grip!”
Aldred’s shout silenced them instantly.
Facing the knights who drew their weapons with tense expressions, Aldred slowly spoke.
“ Plans have changed. Leave this to me and withdraw immediately…….”
Creak.
Before Aldred could finish, someone slowly walked out from the broken mansion entrance. All eyes that had been on Aldred turned there.
“ As expected of Aldred. Impressive skill.”
The one who spoke while slowly emerging was none other than Logan Deolic.
“ Logan……?”
Seeing Logan, doubt flickered in Aldred’s eyes.
Did that mean the earlier strike was Logan’s doing?
It was unbelievable.
Even he, a Sword Master, had barely reacted to it.
Then, the sword-and-blood-red blade in Logan’s hand caught Aldred’s eye.
“ ……Logan, just one question.”
“ Ask away. Between you and me, right?”
“ What have you done with that sword.”
Logan grinned at Aldred’s words.
“ A great many things.”
“ ……You.”
Aldred narrowed his eyes at the words laden with countless implications.
No, he didn’t need to ask. The thick scent of blood wafting from the mansion explained everything.
“ Drop that sword now, Logan.”
“ Why should I?”
Logan raised the sword, gazing at its crimson blade with ecstatic eyes.
“ With this sword alone, I can grow stronger. Beyond Sword Master…… no, beyond human limits.”
“ Even if it means killing countless people?”
“ You wouldn’t understand.”
Logan slowly lowered the sword and stared at Aldred.
He wasn’t in his right mind now.
Yet he was oblivious to that fact.
He believed he had perfectly mastered the demonic sword, that everything was under his control.
“ If it weren’t for you, if only you weren’t there, I would have been the kingdom’s greatest swordsman. It’s all because of you that I never reached Sword Master!”
His earlier composure vanished in an instant as Logan’s eyes turned pitch-black, gleaming fiercely.
“ But now it’s different. I’ve gained the chance to surpass you. It’s almost time. Tomorrow, in front of everyone…….”
Logan stopped mid-sentence.
Then, like a broken machine, his head jerked with a creak.
“ ……No. It doesn’t have to be tomorrow.”
It was a quiet mutter, but Aldred heard it clearly.
“ You came here for a reason anyway, didn’t you? Bringing knights means it’s nothing good.”
“ Logan.”
“ Don’t call my name so lightly. I hate you. Yes, now that it’s come to this, why not.”
Logan slowly raised the sword, aiming it at Aldred.
“ From now on, I’ll kill you and take a seat among the Seven Heroes.”
“ You’re not in your right mind! Drop that sword now!”
“ Heh heh heh. Why should I? This sword is the only thing that can save me.”
The sword in his hand began to tremble.
To Aldred, it felt less like a sword and more like a living creature.
“ ……Gelvin.”
“ Yes, Father.”
Gelvin responded tensely to Logan’s eerie demeanor.
“ I’ll handle this. Take the knights and get out of here fast. And make sure no one approaches this place.”
“ But……!”
“ It’s fine.”
Crack, craaack!
Cracks spread across Logan’s body like stone, revealing pitch-black innards.
“ I am Talua Kingdom’s Red Lion, one of the Seven Heroes. I won’t lose to something like that.”
Though he smiled as he spoke, his voice betrayed unmistakable tension. He had sensed Logan was no longer ordinary.
“ Go, Gelvin.”
Gelvin gritted his teeth and turned away at the sight of his father emitting red sword energy.
Aldred watched Gelvin briefly, then turned to Logan approaching slowly.
“ Come to think of it, it’s been quite a while since we crossed swords, you and I.”
Though he had no desire to fight like this.
Aldred smiled bitterly.
* * *
Having finished all business in Lavanteira, I hurriedly retraced my steps back with Riya.
‘ Please, let nothing have happened!’
I had been in Lavanteira for three days.
Honestly, not a long time.
But the unpredictability of the situation was the problem.
The moment we passed through the familiar capital gates, a familiar face greeted us as if waiting.
A man with squinted eyes and an ordinary look—Jade.
“ Welcome back, Count. Right on time.”
His tone was the same as always, but I could sense the anxiety in his voice.
“ ……Nothing happened, right?”
“ I’d love to say nothing did…….”
Jade’s squinted eyes slowly widened, his fierce gaze directed somewhere.
“ It blew up.”
“ Where?”
“ Logan Deolic.”
“ What?”
I couldn’t help but be shocked at the unexpected name.
Why Logan Deolic?
He had no connection to this incident.
“ Among those who participated in the slave auction this time, there was Logan Deolic. And he…… bought the sword you mentioned, Count.”
“ ……So, you’re saying he drew that sword?”
“ Yes.”
Boom boom boom!
An explosion echoed from afar.
The ground shook, and a sudden gust fluttered our clothes, screams rising from all directions.
“ Sir Aldred is barely holding it off right now…… but honestly, I advise against going to help.”
“ Why?”
“ Because it’s not a fight between humans.”
I could guess what he meant.
That explosion wasn’t something from an ordinary human battle.
‘ But those two can’t compare to it.’
I had already witnessed battles between those who transcended humanity.
Sword God Damian and Saintess Gransesia.
Their clash far surpassed human realms.
Perhaps because of that experience, I felt no real fear.
“ It’s fine. Where?”
“ ……Sigh. I figured you’d say that.”
Jade lightly nodded toward the direction.
Before following Jade, I spoke to Riya, who watched me quietly.
“ Riya, can you prevent the damage from spreading around?”
“ Of course. But…… are you sure you’ll be okay alone?”
I had heard those words before.
No, every time we faced a disaster, Riya asked me that.
And my answer was always the same.
“ Of course. I never start something I can’t handle.”
“ I believe you.”
The moment Riya replied, I dashed after Jade.
As we drew closer, what I thought was an explosion turned out to be the clash of swords.
‘ This is…….’
A chilling energy made my spine tingle.
My instincts strongly warned that getting closer would be dangerous.
[ You’ve faced those disaster things several times now…….]
Then Gransesia spoke calmly.
[ But this is the first time something that’s not even undead gives me such a filthy vibe.]
That described it perfectly.
The aura and feeling resembled when I met Nether King Rugal.
No, back then it was simply deathly qi, but this was different.
“ Jade, this is far enough. It’ll be dangerous for you if you go further.”
“ ……How did you know? As expected of you, Count.”
Jade shrugged and added.
“ A bit further, and you’ll reach the frontline set up by the knights. The limit of where humans can stand.”
The limit where humans can stand?
A profoundly meaningful statement.
Questions arose, but there was no time to ask.
“ Got it.”
“ Then I’ll withdraw.”
With that, Jade vanished in an instant.
For him, this was already exceptionally loyal.
‘ I’ll repay him properly later.’
Where there’s giving, there must be receiving.
I glanced briefly in the direction Jade vanished, then sprinted toward the source of the clashes.