Chapter 131
Chapter 131
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Holy Sword's Trial (2)
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Elisicia's eyes widened.
It's a sword, but anyway.
-A simplified holy sword trial...?
It was a statement that treated even the holy sword's pride so lightly.
-Jalak, what the hell are you talking about?
-To ensure tomorrow's conferment ceremony proceeds without a hitch, we're making adjustments! It seems the conferment is a big deal for that guy!
"No, Jalak...! How can you be so considerate!!! "
-Does it move your heart!?
"Of course it does! If you're being so accommodating, how could I not gladly participate!"
-Kuhaha! What a flexible guy! The more I see, the more I like him!
-...?
"...?"
"...?"
Was this conversation really flowing right?
Hero. Holy sword. Elf.
They all looked at each other.
Then, their gazes turned toward Bellota, who stood far away.
"... "
Bellota averted her eyes.
"??? "
Why avert her eyes?
It's not a difficult question?
Our kid isn't like that?
Their confusion was mounting by the second when—
"So, when do we start?"
-Whenever suits you!
"Probably best to start right now, don't you think? We're all gathered anyway."
-Great idea!
-...Huh!? W-Wait a minute! Jalak!!!
Was this really about the holy sword's trial?
No way, right?
But just in case.
Elisicia quickly made her judgment and hurriedly intervened, but it was already too late.
Elisicia let out a scream.
"J-Jain...! "
"Yeah—"
Jain steadied his resolve, pushing the frantic Elisicia behind him.
No helping it now. He was determined to pass Jalak's trial no matter what.
"Jain! I will prove my worth!"
"Rishir. I'm ready."
"Good! If you're ready, grasp me!"
Jain seized the Blade of Advance faster than Rishir could.
"Jain, I ask you! What is a sword to you!?"
"... "
The moment the question was posed, massive ripples stirred within Jain's heart.
What is a sword?
As expected of a holy sword's trial—the very first question was profoundly difficult.
Jain sank into deep contemplation.
He closed his eyes and delved into his inner depths, posing the question to himself.
What is a sword to me?
What do I swing the sword for, and what do I seek at its end?
It took a long time for Jain to open his eyes again.
His pupils trembled faintly.
He couldn't be certain if the answer he'd arrived at through repeated self-questioning was correct.
Even so, he steeled himself and spoke.
"A struggle for justice and ideals. A fight to never lose oneself."
Jain gripped the sword tighter.
His eyes still trembled, but his gaze was fixed straight ahead.
The hero knew his own immaturity, and that made him vulnerable; knowing his vulnerability made him resolute.
Jain gripped the sword tighter.
The imagery embodied in his swordsmanship unfolded through the Blade of Advance.
-Uuum!!!
Jalak groaned deeply.
-I can feel it clearly! The imagery you pour into the sword! Such profound insight at your young age! Now I understand why that haughty Elisicia chose you!
Tua and Mangnus, who had been watching the entire scene nearby, gazed at Jain with eyes gleaming in admiration.
The young swordsman's attitude toward the blade.
The sincerity within it reached them.
It was undoubtedly uncertain.
Yet utterly straightforward.
They were certain.
In the near future,
Jain would cast aside all the uncertainties that formed his doubts and face his complete sword.
Where would his blade point then?
No one could know.
A swordsman's fate could shift with a single drop of blood or tear.
Thus, those who knew swords did not presume or place blind faith.
Even so.
There was something about that young swordsman that inspired expectation.
That was why the Sword of Ideals had chosen him as its hero.
That was why his comrades followed him.
The young swordsman's presence etched itself vividly into the space.
He lacked nothing to be called a hero, nothing to be the holy sword's master.
"... "
At that moment,
Jain looked down at the Blade of Advance in his hand.
It felt not as if he held the sword, but as if the sword held him.
A familiar sensation as the holy sword's master.
Jalak, the Blade of Advance.
It was sizing him up.
Just like a swordsman test-swinging a blade that catches his eye.
'Nice.'
The process leading to this trial was still bewildering.
But it was fine.
The hero of ideals flashed a confident smile.
He had faith he could yield the best outcome in any situation.
With a relaxed smile on his face, he handed the Blade of Advance to Rishir.
-Rishir! What is a sword to you!?
The question came immediately.
And the answer followed just as swiftly.
Rishir gripped the sword tighter.
The imagery embodied in his swordsmanship unfolded through the Blade of Advance.
"A technique for harming people."
The response, devoid of even a hint of hesitation to the point of seeming perfunctory, stood in stark contrast to Jain's answer, forged through layers of contemplation and poured entirely into his words.
Camilla and Elisicia were momentarily stunned.
What hero candidate spouts something like that in a discussion about swords?
Their conviction grew even stronger.
As expected, there was only one fitting master for the Blade of Advance.
And that was—
-Ooooh!!! Marvelous! Rishir!!! Outstanding!!!
"... "
-Jalak! Cut it out!!!
Elisicia shouted, leaving the once-again dumbfounded Camilla behind.
-Outstanding!? That shallow conviction devoid of any real thought!?
-No! It's not shallow!
-No! It can't get any shallower! That's the mindset of a lawless thug!
-Exactly!
-What?
-The sword Rishir wields is a demonic blade, fit only for a bloodthirsty killer! A sword that exists solely to crave blood! Rishir perfectly grasps the essence of the blade he wields!
-...Demonic blade? Did you just say demonic blade? You're going to make a swordsman who wields a demonic blade the holy sword's master?
-Just as you said, this guy 'wields' the demonic blade. Neither dominated by it nor swayed by it.
-What does that even...
-The more I see, the more entertaining he is! To walk the righteous path while gripping not just any blade, but a demonic one! The complete opposite of some novice who struts the path without knowing a thing about their own sword!
-...Jalak! Your tastes lean more toward the latter! How can you accept a mutant walking the righteous path with a demonic blade—
"Elisicia."
At that moment, Jain restrained her.
"Thanks, but it's fine. I don't want to be chosen like this."
-Jain...
Even in this moment, Jain was smiling.
A bold, spirited smile.
"Jalak, this can't be the end, right!?"
-Of course not! How could it be a trial without proof!
The Blade of Advance slipped from Rishir's hand.
Floating in midair, it emitted a golden flash.
When the light faded, translucent golden mana barriers stood before Rishir and Jain.
Jain closely examined the golden barrier before him.
"This is..."
-This barrier is made based on your limits.
Elisicia began explaining in his place to vent her frustration.
"What does that mean?"
-With your own power alone, you'll never destroy it. So, what do you do?
"The Blade of Advance's power."
Jain muttered what he'd heard beforehand from Elisicia about the Blade of Advance.
-Exactly. This trial tests how well you can wield the Blade of Advance's power.
-Just as Elisicia said! With your own power alone, you'll never shatter this barrier! So if you want to prove your worth, advance! Break through your limits and smash the wall!
Jain reached out and touched the barrier. It was a kind of authority—an unyielding solidity that would never crumble for those who hadn't surpassed their limits.
-This is insane.
Elisicia voiced her discontent, interpreting Jain's action.
-This trial was originally meant to span a long period. That way, there'd be enough time to comprehend the Blade of Advance's power.
"... "
Jain silently listened to Elisicia.
Her tone grew even more agitated.
-What the hell are you trying to do, Jalak? What's the point of this trial? In this absurdly short time, what can anyone overcome, prove, or gain?
"Elisicia."
-No! This time, I have to say my piece. I can't take it anymore. What whim is this? Conducting the holy sword's trial like this is an insult not just to you, but to me too.
"It's fine."
-No! It's not fine at all! Let me be clear: yielding here isn't kindness or generosity. It's just foolish!
"I know. I have no intention of yielding either."
-What?
Elisicia belatedly checked Jain's expression within the mental world.
His eyes, staring straight ahead, sharpened moment by moment.
"I can do it. I will."
It was no longer the face of a wrinkle-free youth who would easily bow his head.
The hero of ideals.
He muttered as if driving himself onward.
There wasn't a shred of doubt.
-...Yeah, you can do it.
Jain approached the Blade of Advance without hesitation.
Jalak, who had been waiting for their conversation to end, prepared to deliver his rehearsed line.
Since this trial couldn't proceed without the Blade of Advance, each would get one strike in turn.
If ready, grasp me.
Just as the proper trial was about to begin—
"Hoo."
A clean breath.
With it, Rishir's foot stepped forward.
Then came the sound of a sword leaving its sheath, the blade slicing through the air.
Jain. Elisicia.
Their attention, fixed on Jalak, shifted to the source of the noise.
Rishir. His sword had already been swung.
The translucent golden mana barrier split in half slowly lost its form.
Rishir watched impassively, nodding to himself.
"The Blade of Advance's power... So that's its name."
No.
He was jumping to conclusions.
"...?"
Jain and Elisicia's gazes intensified.
Unconsciously, they checked the sword in Rishir's hand.
It wasn't the Blade of Advance.
Of course not.
It was right there in front of them.
See?
They turned back to the Blade of Advance, still in its place.
Then what the hell was that?
'What does he think he understands?'
Jain and Elisicia grew serious.
In that instant,
They recalled Jalak's bizarre behavior earlier.
No way, had Jalak foreseen all this—
"Huh?"
Jalak uttered a dumbfounded sound.
"?"
"?"
Jain and Elisicia's faces finally turned slack as well.