Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: The Saint's Man
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Rishir had a dream.
In the dream, the mischievous Berbantes...su! from the little sand dune was testing his lung capacity.
"Maaaster~~~~~~"
Maybe it wasn't a dream after all.
What greeted Rishir when he woke was Berbantes sitting on his chest, drawling out his name like she was singing a song.
She beamed when his eyes opened and pressed her face close.
"Master! You didn't die!"
"Was that dirge just now yours?"
"You~ wouldn't wake up, so I~ sang super loud!"
"Aigoo, you worked hard... Thanks. Now I'm super awake because of you."
"Master! Are you okay!?"
"Of cou—"
He was about to say that when it hit him.
Finally aware of his body's state, Rishir winced at the searing pain throughout his body.
"Master! It hurts!"
"Looks like it."
"Don't hurt!!! Hurting is hard!!!"
Berbantes furrowed her brows sharply as she spoke.
'No way... she's not worried, she's scolding me?'
Rishir sobered up and replied.
"I won't hurt. Won't be hard either."
"You gotta be healthy!!!"
"Healthy healthy..."
After that healthy exchange, Rishir began retracing his memories.
'Did I pass out again? What a mackerel? Every overload... No, wait. This time it wasn't overload— Ah, right!'
Rishir's eyes flashed open. He recalled the last thing before losing consciousness.
'I struck Gaderok with that blow...'
Thump!
Recalling the sensation made his heart race. A fierce exhilaration swallowed him in an instant.
Enchanted, he sat up in bed to grab his sword.
"Don't."
But Klana's voice stopped him.
Startled, Rishir looked straight ahead.
The voice had come from outside his head.
There stood the murder ghost, arms crossed, with a haughty expression.
"What a cutie."
That was Rishir's first impression upon seeing her in the flesh.
The imposing murder ghost from his inner world was gone.
Now manifested, she took the form of a young girl.
Just like Berbantes...su!
"The real deal's got some babyface going on."
"Even in that state, you spout nonsense so casually. Scum's still scum."
"So, what's with the look?"
"Learned how to manifest as a spirit."
"You can just learn that kinda thing?"
Rishir was baffled by Klana's nonchalant attitude after pulling off something insane.
Klana looked equally baffled at him.
"You saying that to me?"
"Pardon?"
Klana approached with her signature lawless aura despite her girl form and perched on the bed.
She leaned in cockily and said,
"You. Do you even know what power you used?"
Rishir intuited it immediately.
She wasn't talking about the essence of Breath Thief.
She meant the decisive power that turned a feint into a lethal strike.
He recalled the sword he had unleashed.
The sword that sliced through a 7th-circle mage's mana barrier.
The power at its tip.
It was unlike any magic or swordsmanship he'd seen before.
To Klana's question, Rishir shook his head confidently.
"Of course not."
"Ah."
Klana sighed.
But only briefly. She nodded and said,
"Figures. You're you, after all."
"What's that supposed to mean? Too much of a leap, no?"
"Shut it. Don't wanna hear it from scum like you."
"Sheesh... So, what was it? The power I used."
"It's called Sword Aura."
"Sword Aura?"
"The manifestation of your will to cut."
"Can't explain it simpler? I don't know much about swords."
"That's what you say after unleashing Sword Aura?"
Klana sighed deeply before continuing reluctantly.
"Simply put, you gained the power to wield your will like a weapon."
"Ah, like basic magic. There's something similar in magic fundamentals called 'formalization.'"
Klana closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Or she'd suffer mana backlash.
"Even simpler: it's a power you need at least 8th circle to handle properly."
"How'd I wield that?"
"Because you're Rishir."
"We're talking swords here. Isn't that too flippant?"
"Please shut up."
Klana hopped off the bed like fleeing and went to the nightstand.
She pointed at the blue lotus beside it and said,
"Anyway, remember this: Sword Aura's too much for your level. You used it, so your body's wrecked. Use it again now, and it'll be irreparably broken."
"Got it. Thanks for worrying."
"Just couldn't overcome the frustration."
"Even you get bashful."
"You really say whatever."
Klana sighed at the blue lotus.
"How'd I end up with this guy..."
Then she turned to Rishir reluctantly.
"I acknowledge you."
"Pardon?"
"That Breath Thief you used. It was unmistakably my sword."
Klana picked up the blue lotus and handed it to him.
"You're permitted to call me master."
"...!"
Rishir's eyes widened in joy at her recognition.
"Thank you, Klana!"
Klana mocked herself inwardly.
Never thought I'd play master.
Irked yet somewhat excited, she said,
"You casually mouth your master's name?"
"Ah, well— Klana. FYI, I already have a master. She's my one and only."
"?"
Klana blinked.
Then what am I?
After a moment's thought, Rishir lit up.
"How about a respected friend to discuss the sword with?"
"..."
Klana drew the blue lotus across her throat.
Of course, as a spirit, she wasn't hurt.
The slashed Klana returned to his inner world.
'Klana, you okay?'
-Don't talk to me.
The murder ghost.
Pouting.
'What happened after I collapsed? Did the council stuff with Lan go well?'
After his talk with Klana, Rishir got out of bed.
He planned to head to Lan's office and chat.
"Huh?"
Then it hit him.
The incongruity he'd missed while talking to the two spirits(?) came late.
'This... ain't my room?'
Rishir looked around.
As spacious and luxurious as Lan's guest room—
Maybe more so—but definitely not his.
"Master! You're awake! Raaah!!! Such joy!!! Ultimate relief!!!"
Someone called to the confused Rishir.
A fist-sized grayish-white flame floated in the air.
"Dangaleon?"
"Yes! Your faithful servant, the blazing pure white flame Dangaleon, greets you, Master!"
Hasn't the name changed a bit?
Anyway, what's with the spirit mode?
Is my inner world a spirits' lounge?
Pushing aside trivial doubts, Rishir asked,
"Where'd you go?"
"Scouted the mansion's status!"
"Mansion? You know where we are?"
"Of course!!! Put all worries aside! I, the blazing snow-white flame Dangaleon, shall resolve all your questions! What happened while you slept!"
Three days.
That's how long Rishir had been out.
"During that time, those saint and master pests dared invade your quarters!"
"Ah. Actually, those two are my comrades. Very precious ones."
"No wonder!!! I thought they were extraordinary and excellent pests— no, folks! Those two— no, the pair helped with your recovery!"
"Gotta thank them properly later. So, where are they now?"
Fienne.
While Rishir was out, she'd handled the aftermath with Lan in his stead.
"Soon, good news from the council!"
"You know that much?"
"Yes! While you slept, I roamed the mansion gathering intel!"
"Oh, right— where are we anyway?"
"This is the mansion of the Golden Barley merchant guildmaster!"
"Golden Barley?"
Rishir's eyes widened at the name of Bondales' largest trading company.
"After you collapsed, the saint took charge of your treatment! So you were moved here to the grand mansion where the saint is staying!"
"Ah, so that's what happened."
"Impressive skills! Without her treatment, you'd have taken longer to wake!"
Dangaleon praising a human like this.
Rishir was inwardly impressed and deeply curious.
'How long since I met that one?'
A pleasant smile formed as he pictured reuniting with his comrade.
"She around the mansion now?"
"Yes! Handling visitors in the garden!"
"Visitors?"
"Worthy of being your comrade! Quite the reputation! Followers keep coming; the place is packed day and night!"
"Hoo."
Seeing Rishir's keen interest, Dangaleon cried,
"Let's go meet now! I'll guide you!"
Rishir followed Dangaleon out of the room.
Arriving at the courtyard with Dangaleon, Rishir looked around and let out a small gasp.
'Better than Gadoom's mansion, maybe?'
A fitting home for a guildmaster.
The garden before him outshone the corrupt councilor's.
The endless guests made it like a plaza.
No party, yet crowds mingled and socialized.
'Saint's here?'
-She was here moments ago!
Rishir wandered the garden searching for her.
He eyed the groups chatting.
'Not seeing her...'
No matter how hard, she was nowhere.
"You there."
Then a group approached him.
Their gazes were odd.
His disheveled, just-woken look clashed with the fancy vibe.
"What's your business here?"
A young noblewoman with bold lipstick demanded.
Rishir thought perfect timing and replied,
"Ah, looking for the— saint."
Saint.
The moment the word left his lips, their stares shifted.
Familiar yet distant from noble society, Rishir knew it instantly.
They were sizing him up.
Soon, sly smiles crept on their faces.
"First time here today?"
"Yes."
"I see. Makes sense. You wouldn't know then."
"Pardon?"
"The saint isn't someone you meet just by barging in like you."
She nodded at some figures nearby.
"See them? Each wields huge influence in Bondales high society. Even they couldn't schedule with the saint and are killing time here."
The woman smiled sweetly.
"Same for me. So if you learn how to meet the 'saint,' do share."
Her entourage snickered subtly.
-These pest bastards!!! Master! Reveal your name now!!! They'll bow to your fame instantly! Or command me! I'll burn their eyeballs right now!
'Calm down. It's just noble folk games.'
Classic noble shade.
Familiar to Rishir, he tried to brush it off.
"Huh?"
Then their eyes turned somewhere.
Rishir followed.
Commotion in one corner of the garden.
"No way...!"
The nobles exchanged glances and hurried over.
Rishir trailed them.
A crowd formed around something.
Rishir peeked through.
'That guy's—'
First in view: Rock, the guard from the back-alley meeting.
He adjusted his angle.
Next to Rock, a curly-haired young lady.
And beside her—
Healthy bronze skin.
Golden hair gleaming like ripe barley.
An androgynous beauty evoking fondness in all ages, fending off women's handshake requests.
A dream for many men, but boredom plain on her face.
Women didn't mind.
They grew more fervent at her aloofness.
'Still the golden sun!'
Rishir thrilled for different reasons.
"Hey!"
Overjoyed, he reflexively raised a hand and called out.
"...!"
Her bored expression changed at the voice.
Sky-blue eyes scanned quickly.
"Ah...!"
Finally, they locked on Rishir.
"Saint-nim...?"
The noble ladies around the saint looked baffled.
Because the saint, who had enchanted women with refined looks and mystique, now wore a 'woman's' face.