Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Face Thief
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Mangnus, vice-captain of the Duvillan Knight Order's Special Task Force.
His instincts, honed to the level of a master, were screaming at him.
'Move!'
'He's shaken from his attack missing!'
'Press the advantage, right now!'
In real combat, split-second decisions determined life or death.
What a swordsman had to trust above all else was the intuition forged from experience.
Kwachak.
Mangnus tightened his grip on his sword.
His center of gravity pitched forward, as if he might launch himself at any moment.
"Damn it—"
But that was as far as he got.
Having experienced and learned from the irrational entity known as the Face Thief during the fight, Mangnus's reason held him back.
The Face Thief wielded the swordsmanship of multiple swordsmen in one body.
His repertoire easily exceeded five styles, including the hero's swordsmanship that Mangnus himself had witnessed before.
And not only that—in the course of the battle, Mangnus's own style had been added to the list.
The blade he had tempered over decades had been stolen in mere minutes.
The rumors were true.
He could truly observe and steal the sword of a 7th-circle swordsman on the spot.
A monster who could pilfer the swordsmanship that naturally talented swordsmen honed over decades in a single instant.
And such a monster had made that kind of mistake?
Failed to steal someone's swordsmanship?
It was hard to imagine unless it was a sword master's blade.
That was why Mangnus hesitated to exploit the Face Thief's opening.
He hesitated to even confront him.
No. He was afraid.
Mangnus clearly felt it.
The discomfort he felt toward the Face Thief had evolved into fear.
Thud.
Mangnus unwittingly stepped back.
'What the hell was that strike just now...!'
The trigger was the blow the Face Thief had just unleashed.
That strike was more dangerous than any swordsmanship he had displayed so far.
Perhaps even more than the sum of all his techniques.
More dangerous than the Face Thief's ability itself.
Mangnus unconsciously touched his neck.
Had he ever felt death so vividly?
Had he ever faced a blade so perilous?
Probably not.
If he had, he wouldn't be standing here alive.
Mangnus had no choice but to admit it.
The real reason he couldn't close in on the Face Thief.
It was because he feared that nameless strike he had unleashed.
A blow tuned solely to the purpose of killing, devoid of 'form' or 'style'.
Right now, in this moment.
The confidence of a master who believed he could counter any sword was shattered.
That blade was not something a wretch like him could handle.
"...!"
In that instant.
Mangnus's expression twisted.
"Haa... haa..."
Something was off with the Face Thief's condition.
His breathing, which had never lost its 'form' even when unleashing any swordsmanship, began to falter.
Not from stamina depletion, but emotional overflow.
This was not the demeanor of a swordsman controlling his blade.
The Face Thief.
He was being dominated by the sword.
By an imperfect sword he hadn't fully mimicked yet.
The Face Thief unwittingly stepped back.
'What the hell is this? What kind of messed-up sword is it...!'
Sword techniques containing overwhelmingly vast intent could sometimes devour the swordsman themselves.
Known as killing swords.
The Face Thief was a former assassin guild master.
Having lived an ascetic life for long years, he had reached mastery in self-control.
That was why he could maintain his ego even after accepting the Faceless One's vessel, and through it, the swords of countless swordsmen.
Thus, the Face Thief could not accept it.
'Me? I am being dominated by the intent...!'
"Haa... haa..."
Regardless of his will, his breathing kept accelerating.
His pupils dilated, blood flow surged.
His heart pounded.
Reason faded. Instinct filled the void left by reason.
Like a beast excited by the scent of blood.
"Heok...! Heok...!"
The Face Thief felt a craving he had never experienced in his life.
A thirst for blood.
"!!!"
The Face Thief pierced his own palm with his sword.
He sought to regain his cool through the pain, to suppress the boiling instinct.
To control this intent.
"...!"
But then, something unbelievable happened.
Torn skin and flesh.
Flowing blood.
Far from bringing clarity, those traces of pain only fueled his craving for violence.
Could the acrid, fishy scent of blood feel this sweet?
The Face Thief was seized by the impulse to smear that blood across his face.
"Uwaaaah!!!"
The Face Thief roared to shake off the impulse.
'What the hell is this sword!!!'
What kind of human could harbor such intent?
What swordsman could wield such intent?
He was certain.
This sword's owner was no human.
Definitely a demon, or something akin to one.
How had that mage freely wielded such a horrific blade?
He didn't know.
The only certainty in this situation was one thing.
Right now, in this moment.
The Face Thief's confidence—that he could mimic any sword he faced—was shattered.
This blade was beyond him.
"...!"
He absolutely could not face that killing sword alone!
Mangnus seized the opportunity while the Face Thief writhed in the intent and widened the distance.
"...!"
Shaking off this intent was the top priority now!
The Face Thief, taking advantage of Mangnus pulling away, further increased the gap.
In the end, the two withdrew from the site simultaneously, as if by prior agreement.
The shadow of a murderous ghost that no longer existed in this world had repelled both the Hero Slayer and his pursuer.
"Come to think of it, Klana. Mind if I ask one question about the sword?"
The Hero Slayer.
A monster who could observe and replicate a 7th-circle swordsman's unique style on the spot.
Thua's warning that such a being might target me had properly rattled me.
I immediately returned to my room and began sword training, seeking Klana's guidance while warming up.
-What.
Klana replied cynically but still materialized as a spirit to face me properly.
"Bit late to ask, but are there any precautions when handling your sword?"
-Precautions?
"Yes. After completing the enhancement ability this time, I realized—techniques that draw out power beyond limits usually come with side effects. I wondered if your sword had something like that."
-...
Klana glared at me with all her might.
"What? Suddenly."
-Don't you feel anything when you swing my sword?
"Of course I do. I feel it to my bones every time I wield your swordsmanship."
-...Really? You feel something when you swing my sword?
"Naturally. How powerful and convenient it is. Every time I crush an opponent in one strike, I feel it deeply."
-...
Ah.
The little murder sprite let out a sigh, head tilted upward.
"Am I doing something wrong?"
-Shut up.
Klana left those words and returned to the intent realm.
"Hey, Klana! That's not fair! Telling me there is a precaution but not what it is! Don't you know the two ways to drive someone mad? One is not finishing your—"
-Inanimate wench!!! How dare you trouble Quininni!!! Remember your place!!!
-Please, just shut those mouths for once.
For some reason, the distraught Klana ultimately refused to reveal why.
In the end, I had no choice but to undertake solitary sword training alone.
Without mastering 7th-circle yet, my training was predetermined.
Maintaining the enhancement ability while practicing the Klana style.
"Cough...!"
How long had I been at it?
Blood was gushing from every orifice on my face.
Handling that power while maintaining enhancement far exceeded my expectations in difficulty.
Never mind how tricky it was—the strain on my body was absurd.
In real combat, using this ability like water would equate to 'quitting the game, rolling alts'—pure waste.
About 5 seconds.
Or one strike.
That was my current limit.
'For decisive moments. Only when I absolutely need it.'
A so-called ultimate technique.
Being able to use this ridiculous skill even limitedly in real combat was something.
The results of the all-out training were satisfactory enough.
-Inanimate wench!!! Because you wouldn't help, Quininni is heartbroken!!!
-If he gets heartbroken over that, he'd never be satisfied no matter what.
-Of course!!! Quininni reigns above all things in this world!!! As if he'd care for satisfaction!!!
"No, Dangaleon. Honestly, I'm pretty satisfied right now. This enhancement ability pairs perfectly with the Klana style. If it were any other swordsmanship, I couldn't even utilize it properly."
-As I thought! What humility! What restraint!!! One of Quininni's many virtues!!! Hey, inanimate wench! Express your gratitude! Quininni has given overly generous praise to your pathetic flailing!
-Hey. If a situation arises in real combat where you must use that ability with my swordsmanship simultaneously—do not exceed one move.
"Yes. I thought the same."
-My god, what alienation...! Quininni!!! Please, bestow upon me too the glory and mercy you granted this inanimate wench...!!!
"Glory and mercy?"
-Please contain Dangaleon's hellflame in Quininni's grand vessel!
"Hellflame? Oh, that black flame—"
-Not black!!! It was dark, you must have seen wrong!
"Hmm..."
Honestly, it piqued my interest.
The power of Dangaleon's black fire from the back alley meeting was downright demonic.
The problem was, it was too demonic.
'Inextinguishable black flames... Isn't this too devilish?'
The back alley ruler who used a relic infused with Dangaleon's power was even suspected of being a warlock.
That said it all.
"Using that power casually would make people suspect you're a warlock or demon worshiper."
-Quininni!!! How can you say such...! Does Quininni scorn demons!?
"Usually, yeah?"
-Impossible!!! Then I, the sacred flame Dangaleon that shuns evil! Cease to be a demon effective immediately!!!
"...You could just quit if you wanted?"
Apparently, Dangaleon's sense of alienation(?) was genuine.
His earnest persuasion continued afterward.
Probably wouldn't stop until I accepted.
I had no choice but to agree to learn his black flames.
It was certainly a power that could be immensely strong and useful depending on application.
-The vermins' negative gazes can be quelled by Quininni's radiance!
Plus, as Dangaleon said, any negative attention from using that power could be handled with my 'radiance'.
For reference, 'radiance' here meant 'discretion regarding time and place'.
"Alright then—shall we take a taste?"
-Perfect mindset for approaching demonic power.
-You, inanimate wench!!! Watch your mouth!!!
Klana sneered, and Dangaleon freaked out yelling.
Worried her words might change my mind, probably.
-Demon!? How dare you lump me with such vile, lowly things!!!
Ah.
So that's what bothered him.
-Take it back now, or I'll curse your existence eternally—no, bless—no—uuugh...! What? What am I supposed to do!!! What does a sacred non-demonic being do in this situation!!! Quininni, please guide me...!
"Not sure, but they say love is stronger than hate."
-Kraaaah!!! Inanimate wench!!! I love you!!! Die!!!
-My god. My bad, so please shut up.
A demon going through growing pains.
I was sitting on the bed, enjoying the rare spectacle to soothe my training fatigue, when—
"Hm?"
The detection sense activated during training hadn't fully subsided yet.
It caught presences outside the door.
Multiple presences approaching rapidly.
-Clunk!
The door burst open without a knock.
I'd anticipated it, so that wasn't surprising.
What startled me was the intruders' lineup.
"Sir Thua?"
Thua, now changed from armor to casual clothes.
And Duvillan knights, presumed to be her subordinates, stood at the door.
I jumped up in surprise.
Thua calmly gestured for me to relax and spoke.
"Sorry. To dispel this man's misunderstanding about you, I had no choice but to be rude."
Then, Thua pointed to the middle-aged man beside her.
"Let me introduce. This is Mangnus, our Special Task Force vice-captain. He testified that this afternoon, he was lured by someone who looked exactly like you on the street and engaged in combat."
It didn't seem like a serious situation.
Thua trying to reassure me.
To meet her expectations, I expressed my relief with a joke about how relieved I was.
"Someone who looks exactly like me? Handsome guys like me aren't that common, uhaha."
"As you say, handsome ones like you aren't common."
But Thua took my joke seriously and nodded.
She continued to Mangnus beside her.
"Mangnus. As I've said many times, Rishir has been in this mansion all day. I vouch for his identity, so drop the suspicion now."
"..."
Mangnus eyed me up and down, then reluctantly nodded.
'Ah, so that's it.'
I could roughly guess what was going on.
I said to Thua.
"Don't tell me that Face Thief stole my face and impersonated me?"
"Exactly."
"Whoa... when did he even steal it..."
I was genuinely shocked.
Stealing my face without me noticing and impersonating Rishir.
If Thua hadn't fully vouched for me, there would've been a huge commotion between me and this vice-captain Mangnus.
Clashing with a high knight order executive.
Dizzying just to imagine.
"Hm?"
Then, suddenly.
A question arose.
Considerable time had passed since Thua and I parted in Dray's room.
And I'd been alone in my room since leaving Dray's.
Enough time to suspect I'd slipped out and caused the incident.
That's where the doubt comes in.
How could Thua be certain that 'Rishir might be the Face Thief' was wrong, and instead believe 'Rishir is being impersonated by the Face Thief'?
How could someone with her personality trust me without a shred of doubt?
I voiced the question directly to Thua.
Thua gave Mangnus a meaningful look.
Embarrassment crossed Mangnus's face.
"Kh—"
"..."
The surrounding knights stifled laughs.
"The Face Thief made a foolish mistake."
"Foolish mistake?"
"Yes. He impersonated you, a Gray Tower mage, and used swordsmanship."
Thua's icy expression cracked with a faint smile at how ridiculous it was.
The knights burst into full laughter at their stoic leader's smile.
Even Mangnus, the victim, chuckled as if it was amusing.
"..."
I cautiously asked Thua.
"Sir Thua, didn't Sir Dray tell you anything about me?"
"You know how chatty he gets bragging about his people. He tried to corner me mid-bustle and yap, so I stopped him forcibly. Any issue?"
-Quininni's radiance has guided them to the right path!!! As expected!!!
"N-no... good call..."
I carefully avoided Thua's gaze.